All I know is that the compact helps me climb hills ( I sometimes go to the lowest gear, even with a 12-27) and still I never run out of high end gears.

I would also bet that the even the best riders on this thread will not need a higher gearing.

In old days a car had a three speed transmission and no overdrive. Today they have six speed transmissions. Today's bikes have rear cassettes with ten gears in the back and compacts up front.

Change is good, carbon is better than steel and compact is better than standard (for most people).


PS I am happily married and not interested in misinformation.