Originally Posted by Hanzo
So what does it feel like to have the compact crank? Just lowers you're gearing overall?
It does a bit more than simply lower your gearing overall... it seems to have put me in the tighter part of the cassette for more of my riding.
For example, I used to use 39 with 15-17-19-21 for most small hills, with the 24 and 27 for climbing. Now, the 34 with 13-14-15-17-19 gives me the same ratio spread, so essentially I've picked up an extra gear (thus smaller jumps between gears) for light hills.