Bob Ross said:Here's an observation which rarely comes up in the compact double versus triple discussions:
Depending on your cruising speeds, a triple may actually allow more efficient shifting.
I'm riding a compact double (50/34) with a 12-27 in the back. For climbing it is awesome, and I can get up nearly anything I could get up in a triple with almost as much ease.
But on the flats when cruising between 18-20mph, I find I'm always switching between the 50 w/ mid-to-large cogs, and the 34 w/ mid-to-small cogs; at that particular speed (where a lot of the club rides I do happen to wind up) it falls right on the cusp between chainrings. Whereas when I ride a 52/39/30 triple I can pretty much leave it in the 39 to maintain that speed.
(Obvious solution: go faster!)
These are good observations. I think that for certain types of riders--one who can cruise in the 20 mph range and rides a high cadence (90+), that a compact means a lot of front shifting as a lot of the riding is done in that 60-80 gear inch range.