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Looking at road bikes and noticed that sometimes there are 2 options, one being compact.
What is the difference? Compact geometry or gearing?!
Compact normally refers to the front gears. which will be 34/50 for compact as opposed to standard 39/53
but some frames get referred to as having compact frame geometry which have sloping toptubes ie Giants
Are there any advantages of having compact gearing?
Climbing a 20% gradient is much easier on a 34x26 gear than a 39x26 gear.
compact gearing is basically lower than normal doubles. normal doubles have 53/39 toothed front chainrings, compacts are 34/49 (i think?) personally i found my compact was too 'spinny' I changed it for a double after about 3 months.
