I’m sort of getting into two blogs a week, one about my weightloss usually on a Thursday (weigh-in day) and one after the weekend to say what bikey things I’ve been up to. So here goes with the latter…
Friday was a good day as I finally got round to discussing my new MTB leadership qualification with the new Community Cycling Development Officer for Swindon (in partnership with the CTC/National Lottery). Discussions with her predecessor had led me down the route of getting trained, but the details of why were all a bit vague to say the least. Anyway, the agreed outcome is that a big chunk of my training costs are being covered in exchange for me running a series of free lead rides and skills days in Swindon this summer. I think the American’s call this a win-win 
Saturday was a good day as I went and test rode a Cannondale Synapse – it’s a road bike with a more relaxed geometry supposedly better for all day comfort (I believe the term is Sportif rather than Race?). Sounded like a great choice for a new road bike as I’m never going to be a racer, like my longer rides and the position is less of a shock when flitting between road & mountain bikes.
Unfortunately, the only way from the bike shop I was at is UP – the choice is stonking hills (one is 12%) on quieter roads or a long nasty hill on a main road. None were a great option especially as it was the first time on drop bars for nearly 20 years. This is a big step for me because, if you recall, I had a nasty accident on a drop bar bike resulting in 42 stitches in my lips.
I liked the bike but I didn’t like the stretch between the bars and the brakes on the drops coming down hill. Basically it hurt my hands (between the thumb and fore fingers) and didn’t leave me feeling I was in control. I mentioned this to the bloke in the shop and he thought it was a most odd comment so got down another Synapse (the actual model I’m interested in). As it was a larger frame I couldn’t sit on it but just standing aside the bike I could tell the brakes were in a far more comfortable position so at least I know it’s just “setup” and not a major factor with the bike. My other comment was that the combination of my fitness and the big hills meant I soon ran out of gears with the compact I was riding.
We then had a chat about the various models – it comes in hi-mod carbon, carbon or alloy with various groupset options on those. The guy in the shop successfully talked me out of the considering the hi-mod carbon model saying the only real difference was the posher carbon and posher wheels, neither of which I was likely to notice, and £500 which I was likely to notice. So that left me looking at the normal carbon one in Ultegra spec, which is available in a compact or a triple. I’m fancying the triple because it gives a better range of gears, including higher ones (big front cog is 52 on triple, 50 on compact), which given the varied riding I want to do will suit me. The only downsides of a triple as far as I can see is a bit of piss taking from serious roadies and a little extra weight. Can say that I’ll happily put up with either if it means I’m happier with the bike.
So unless anyone responds in the next 24hrs with some good reasons as to why not to buy it, I think I’ll be placing an order. 
If I do go for the triple I think I’ll get the shop to change the 12-25 cassette to a 12-23. I think I’ll also get the tyres changed as I’ve had such good success (lack of punctures) with the Vittorria Rubino Pro. Hopefully the shop will give me “trade in” on the new parts otherwise it’ll be ebay time
Sunday was a good day because Matt came over for a ride. You can read his take on the event over on his blog entry “Valentines day with love from Rafe”. But my take on it is that whilst he said he wanted a 15-mile flat ride, “want” and “need” aren’t necessarily the same thing so I threw in a couple of short but challenging hills. He also didn’t look totally knackered towards the end so I added in a few extra miles (taking it to about 21.5 miles). What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger
Fair play to the big fella he managed it all, didn’t complain and even declined the offer of a biscuit at the end. What can I say other than that I’m very impressed and that it was a total pleasure!
I did that route (well the short version, but still with the hills) at the beginning of 2007 and had to walk up two of the hills. September 2007 I did London to Paris with 65 miles one day, 120 miles the second day. So I have high hopes for Matt’s fitness. I hope we can do it again a couple more times this year, just so Matt can see how much he’s improving.
Comments
I love Cannondale bikes. On paper they’re always relatively poorly spec’d compared to the competition but out on the road they always give a top notch ride.
The downside to a triple is you get fewer useable gears per chainring. So in theory you’ll be changing gear at the front more often.
Was aware that you get fewer usable gears per chainring (in practice one isn’t 20 gears and one 30) but never considered the ramifications of that (i.e. might have to change front ring more often). I’m used to triple on current road bike and of course mountain bike so can’t say that now I have considered it that I’m bothered!
I think it’s funny that I’m getting sound gear advice from the man that avoids gears!
Aup Rafe….I was going to get a Connondale Synapse when I bought the Merida….the only reason the Merida was it came from a local shop (and they were a Merida dealer)
I concur with Red…A Triple gives you more gears, but only half of each range is usable….
I personally loath changing up and down gears all of the time, Picture your self going down a steep hill with a steep climb going back up at the bottom of the dip…
You are on a Triple…..Big chain ring 52/12 as you start going up teh other side you start changing down on the rear…13-14-15-16 then drop onto the middle chain ring…..17-18-19 then granny ring….
The chain is most likely to whip or fall when changing on the front….
Now the compact…you would change have way down the back then drop onto the small chain ring……
I have 3 bikes a Triple Hybrid, A compact Road Bike (50/39) and a Double Road Bike (52/45 – or similar)
If I was to get another bike it would be a compact….
The double does not have enough range to cope with teh steep things
The Triple has to many unusable/overlap gears..
The Compact has enough to get up anything with more usable range.
- The down side to the compact where the double wins is I can ride all day on teh small ring and hold a nice high Cadence on the double I tend to push bigger gears….
If you want myvote..I would go Compact.
BTW did you see my Matt ride thing for next Saturday??????
Interesting stuff John…
Just realised I can’t do Saturday as I’ve a meeting with the above mentioned Community Cycling Development Officer.
But if you want to cycle over to Matt, you could do worse than follow the route you did when we went out. Except between Charney Bassett and Hanney we took a left (to Hanney) you’d turn right to Denchworth then Grove (where Matt lives). On the way back I’d go to Wantage then follow the road parallel to the Ridgeway (B4507) which is the same road we came back on (and split up on). Hope that makes sense.
I can’t help – I prefer my triple (30) over my double (18) as its easier to climb steep hills.
Saying that I rarely change from the middle batch of gears unless I’m going uphill or coming down the other way.
How many gears are practically available with the compact? All 20?
Just checked, the Synapse comes in Triple (30/39/52) or Compact (34/50). Both come with a 12-25 cassette. I currently ride with the same sized triple but a 12-23 cassette.
According to Sheldon Brown @ http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/
All based on 700 X 25 tyre with 170 mm cranks:
Triple with 10-speed 12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-21-23 Cassette:
| 30 | 30.0 % | 39 | 33.3 % | 52 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 4.9 | 6.4 | 8.5 | ||
| 8.3 % | |||||
| 13 | 4.5 | 5.9 | 7.9 | ||
| 7.7 % | |||||
| 14 | 4.2 | 5.5 | 7.3 | ||
| 7.1 % | |||||
| 15 | 3.9 | 5.1 | 6.8 | ||
| 6.7 % | |||||
| 16 | 3.7 | 4.8 | 6.4 | ||
| 6.3 % | |||||
| 17 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 6.0 | ||
| 5.9 % | |||||
| 18 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 5.7 | ||
| 5.6 % | |||||
| 19 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 5.4 | ||
| 10.5 % | |||||
| 21 | 2.8 | 3.7 | 4.9 | ||
| 9.5 % | |||||
| 23 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 4.5 |
OR
Compact with 10-speed 12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-25 Cassette:
| 34 | 47.1 % | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 5.6 | 8.2 | |
| 8.3 % | |||
| 13 | 5.2 | 7.6 | |
| 7.7 % | |||
| 14 | 4.8 | 7.0 | |
| 7.1 % | |||
| 15 | 4.5 | 6.6 | |
| 6.7 % | |||
| 16 | 4.2 | 6.2 | |
| 6.3 % | |||
| 17 | 3.9 | 5.8 | |
| 11.8 % | |||
| 19 | 3.5 | 5.2 | |
| 10.5 % | |||
| 21 | 3.2 | 4.7 | |
| 9.5 % | |||
| 23 | 2.9 | 4.3 | |
| 8.7 % | |||
| 25 | 2.7 | 3.9 |
So from that am I right in deducing that I’d be no worse off (practically) if I went for the compact with the stock 12-25 cassette? Talking purely about lowest gear obviously, though no real difference in the highest gears either.
Absolutely spot on Rafe…
You would just end up with less gear overlap and less pointless changing.
I changed my cassette to a 12-26 to give a little more for the 25% hills that I force myself to go up….Just to prove I am nuts…
I end up cruising around everywhere in the Big chain ring, only dropping onto the small for real hills….But like I said I end up pushing to big a gear all of the time…(But hopefully I have trained myself out of that this winter)
Doh! Never thought of going to a bigger cassette to compensate for the bigger small ring up front. Could keep that as a reserve plan.
Thanks guys, a compact is looking more likely now.
Spot on for yesterdays ride, was blooming great, cant wait to do it again, and hopefully finding it easier! Have taken those tips regarding tires and gear on board and will pump the rear tire up and try to smooth the gear changes out.
Im no expert, and don’t really understand all the over lapping gears etc on a triple but, mines a triple and Im forever changing gear to try and find one that suits and seem to spend most of my time on the middle or big one at the front. Only using the little ring at the front for hills, though I dont do them too often 
Sorry for the non-technical thoughts there.
Thanks Matt. Not sure you contributed anything to the gears discussion there, but I’m pleased for your input into helping my blog have so many comments for a change
We will definitely do it again and you will definitely find it easier (assuming you stay focused with your new life goals). Shame I can’t make a ride this Saturday, but have fun if you meet up with John. Just make him go at your pace not the other way round because he’s a nutter
That was a fascinating discussion. This’ll be the place to come for advice when I’m in a position to think about a road bike.
Bike has been ordered!
Did you go for the compact in the end?
Sorry, yes I did go for the compact on the basis of what John said, the realisation (again thanks to John) that I could go for a 12-27 cassette and on the basis of the “science” I gleaned from Sheldon Brown’s (RIP) website.