gearing question?

I'm considering getting a new bike and in doing so making a switch from a 24 speed triple, to a 20 speed compact double. The Compact double would be a a 50/34 with a casset of 11-28.
I don't know exactly what my current 24 speed triple is, but everything is sora.

I ride where there are some quite steep hills, and I'm wondering how different the compact est up will be? I don't use my triple all that often, but when I drop it down, it's because it's STEEP.

Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
CP

How steep is steep? How long?

OK, steep is steep. I ride in western Maryland, West Virginia, and western PA. I've also lived and rode quite a bit out in CO.
Most of the hills I'm climbing are moderate, with extreamly steep, but short pitches. They are steep

To anyone else out there listening...............
How big of a change is it to go from a 24 speed triple to a 20 speed 50/34 compact?

My father is 73 and just switched from a triple to a compact and he loves it. He says that the easiest gear is very close to what he had on his triple. He rides in North AL and middle TN where there are some pretty big hills.

You need to specify what your current cassette's cogs are ... and, the chainrings on your Triple.

Presuming the Granny is a 30t, the approximate equivalent cog you would have your chain on in the back would be a 25t to equal the 34t inner ring & the 28t largest cog.

If you're using a larger cog than a 25t when your chain is on the Granny, then you may struggle on a few rides.

Can you ride the hills with your triple? what is your set-up?
I had a triple with a 50/39/30 and 12/25 on back. I switched to 50/34 compact with a 11/28 on rear and it's the same gearing. So for me it was no change in gearing but a huge improvement in ease of use, smoother shifting and overall a lot more enjoyable.
I ride in the north metro Atlanta area, lots of hills...

The small ring on a Sora triple is 30t. Small ring on a compact is 34. 2-3 teeth on the front is 'worth' about 1 tooth on the back. So going to a compact is 'similar' to changing from a 11-28 to a 11-26 or so. If anytime you are in the smallest ring on the triple but down a few cogs (higher gear), on the back, not on lowest gear, and don't need to go there, then perhaps the compact will give you the gear range you are looking for. BUT, there is really no big penalty for a triple. Little heavier, not quite as good a shift on 3 rings, particularly with Sora(no trim) but all in all. not a 'problem'.

Also remember that also you can select 24 or 20 'gears', there is a lot of overlap in terms of actual ratios.

I am in the same booties. Moving from 30 (30/39/52 and 12/25) to compact 20. My new setup was to be be 34/50 and 11/28 which is virtually equivalent top and bottom gearing but I think I'll go with 34/50 and 11/26 which will be equivalent to the existing one minus the largest rear ring. I also ride steep hills (sometimes exceeding 12%; but not for long :-) and recently learned I can survive without the lowest ratio. To check the ratios go to the page - Bicycle Gear Inch & Shifting Pattern Calculator.

Use a gear inch chart,
Then you know.

Here ya go.........

Bicycle Gear Inch & Shifting Pattern Calculator

Peter, agree there is no big penalty for a triple, other than cost if switching out an existing bike. Compact will always be lighter, but I prefer the 53/39/30 triple since it keeps the road chainrings I've used too over the years, while adding the granny ring for climbing. On the short rollers here the triple allows for big chainring jumps without having to run up and down the rear cluster.

Either way, the important thing is to have low enough gears to enable best performance, particularly on multi-day rides. Was out your way last month, and believe having a good selection of climbing gears helped a lot to take the sting out of the long climbs we were doing most every day. Really enjoyed that Left-Hand Canyon loop from Boulder: one beautiful ride!

It is and the conflicts between those that live up there and cyclists seems to be a little calmer also.

Hard to beat that ride or turn left and go to Ward. Little farther but the same 5-6% with a big grunt at the end. Ward is more than a little weirder than Jamestown tho. Watch out for the guy with the sword.

That's indeed a very good calculator:

Some help on using it: selecting your gears