Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
2. Look for these three things:
a. Does the easiest hill climb gear meet your needs?
b. What about the fastest down-hill gear?
c. (Important) you'd like for your favorite flat road no-wind gear to fall right in the middle of your cassette on one of your chainrings.
c seems a bit surprising.
Aren't you fine, if your flat gear is your 3rd or 4th highest? -- non racing... a substantial amount of downhill gears doesn't seem that important