Originally Posted by
chasm54
Hmm, I agree, but I think you may be responding to one of those rarities. Homeyba is plenty strong, by all accounts, and likes to push a big gear.
Actually, my Merckx reply was meant to be flippant. I don't know what gears he pushed in TTs. You're certainly right about needing tallish gears for the downhills, though, it's quite difficult to keep the power on as the road slopes downwards.
I have a friend, built like linebacker, who we like to say "flattens the hills" rather than climbing them, and he does so at a really low cadence. His torque is off the charts, and hanging with him on the flats is truly challenging.