 Was wanting a triple, but it's out of stock... so, my options are a) waiting (not a good option!!); b) getting a compact; or c) getting a compact and putting a 12-27 cassette on the back making it slightly easier for me! (rather than a 12-25) Anyone have an opinion on this?? 
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 Hello Mrs Doolittle I've got a compact (50 x 34) with 12-27 on the back. I really love it, and much prefer it to the triple on my other bike. The gears still go very low, and it is just generally slicker and less hassle than a triple...IMO the less you have to change between the front rings, the better. I too was unsure before I tried the compact but as soon as I got it I didn't look back! Bry
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 I have a compact on my road bike - 48 x 34 on the front (TA vega lite rings) with a 13-29 campag chorus cassette on the back. I has served me well up cols like porte d'aspet, port de bales, col de mente, col d'aspin etc in the pyrenees - just hope it will be ok for the marmotte in July!!! Have had compacts on my road bikes for the last 10 years so have forgotten what a triple is like!
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hmmm, sounding good then... gonna cost me £70 more for the 12-27 though. Wondering whether to stick with 12-25........it's just that I'm quite a bit over budget already.  maybe I should try the 12-25 and see...
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It probably depends where you live/cycle and what you want to do. In a week in Majorca, I barely used the 27, but the climbs (although long) are not steep. But if I'm doing a sportive here, I'm usually pleased to know I've got the 27 because sometimes you get really horrendous hills that are 25%. If you're not planning on doing anything like that, the 25 might be sufficient. You could get the 25 for now, and then if you feel you need the 27, you could ask for it for Christmas or something!  Am surprised there's so much difference in cost though between the 12-25 and the 12-27!
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yeah true.
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 I have a compact and find it fine! You can always change the cassette at a later date if you need more gears.
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In any case, the difference between having a 25 and a 27 won't be that great. And if you haven't ever had a 27, you won't miss it, you will just cope with what you've got...if you know what I mean!
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Yes my winter bike has a 25 my summer bike a 27, I hadn't noticed it till I got the new bike!
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well I've bought the bike with a standars 12-25, so we shall see how I get on!
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well I've bought the bike with a standard 12-25, so we shall see how I get on!
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OH my god you really are a roadie now!! TUT TUT Mrs doolittle!
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you're just jealous.. 
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I'm sure I remember reading some research on the net somewhere that triple chainsets were potentially an issue for women because of the extra width of the axle thus widening the distance between the pedals and this in some case caused knee problems. Howeverthe truth of the matter is that I just can't be bothered to carry all that extra weight around, you end up with many more duplicate gear ratios, and faff about with multiple gear changes trying to find the right gear, also didn't want to get laughed at on the club run.
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