Originally Posted by
ColinL
This is all well and good, but did the OP actually ever use his biggest cog while in the granny ring?
I never have on my MTB or hybrid other than out of curiosity. I've never ridden a triple road bike enough to really qualify, but I do wonder who needs less than 1:1 and what are they climbing?
not really, I'd use the granny ring for steep hills - there's a training hill here that is 22% at some spots and it was granny ring and 1st gear - low and slow...
I think the lowest comparison on the compact is like granny & 3rd on my old bike... definitely more oomph needed, but the bike is MUCH lighter as well so there's some give and take...