For the road bikers out there

[pbray]

Compact or triple crankset? Keep in mind that my bike maintenance skills are zero, so any time anything needs to be changed I'll be bringing it in to the bike shop.

(Yes, I'm thinking of buying my first road bike in the modern geologic era. I've been riding a hybrid since 1995.)

Riding in New Hampshire tends towards the hilly, if that makes a difference.

Comments

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

I use a triple chainring -- my Trek is officially considered to be a "loaded touring" bike. Hills. And my legs are a few decades older than yours.

I haven't run into a lot of maintenance issues on that. Replaced the chain and rear cogs a year or so back, had a shifter replaced, bottom bracket bearings, new rims,etc. The bike has upwards of 15,000 miles on it, over ten years old.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'm leaning towards triple for the range of gear choices that will give me for this terrain.