You are missing one other thing about the compact crank. As a spinner my self having the 39 ring is a lot more user friendly than the 34 as you would only be using 1-4 on the inner ring then 2 through 10 on the big ring. The 34 is to small a gear for spinning on. Crank and front deraileur. If i had a bike with the triple it would be with the 12-23 and use the inner ring for the bail out gear since this wouldgive a much better gearing for roller hills without mountain bike style gearing.