The other side of this is that compacts are a little more demanding in how they are shifted. They can throw the chain a little more often than a standard double. That's why a lot of folks run compacts with chain watchers or the "Dog Fang" on the down tube. Just like in cyclocross circles. If you pay attention to the FD adjustments you can have a very reliable shift. If you want to just slap it from anywhere, sooner or later you'll drop the chain.Insight Driver said:Now the one thing that does favor a compact over a triple is that you have a crisper-shifting front DR. It's only a slightly better shift, but noticeable.