Originally Posted by
merlinextraligh
I think the "leverage" and chain references are him simply trying to say a compact crank isn't geared high enough.
53 tooth ring pulls more chain per revolution than a 50 tooth. Therefor you go further per revolution for a given rear cog.
Sure, so if you don't like that "leverage" combination, just change up or down one or two at the rear. The whole idea that the leverage depends only on the front rings is nonsense - you can't take it in isolation to the rear.
All that the compact gearing can give you is a different spread of ratios, packed a little closer at the botom end rather than at the top.