I just watched my own 39T clip again. This has made me think about compact vs standard, different ring sizes, etc. I may race training races in my own gear limited fashion, maybe a 53x14 or similar. I think the 53x15 was too low; also, I should point out that in the 39T sprint it was a sprint in the 3rd group. There were probably 20 riders ahead.

A former teammate (the one that got 2nd at Battenkill in his first Cat 2 race and then promptly quit) used only compacts.

Dropping a chain is easier if you have a bigger chainring size difference. I used to run a 54x45 or so just to keep the chainring size difference minimal (51x42 also). It's also easier to drop a chain off a smaller chainring, hence people dropping chains off mountain bikes with their 22 or 24T rings.

I'd think that for general use a 52x36 (i.e. compact) would be close to optimal.

Part of the reason for using such a wide spread in chainrings is to try and keep a narrow spread in the cassette. 1 tooth jumps may not seem significant when training on your own but they make a big difference when at the limit and trying to find a gear that keeps you in an optimal cadence range. In time trials I've found one tooth jumps to be a bit much - I used to run a half step set up, 48/52, so that I could get every inbetween gear.

I still like the big gears. I like moving up when it's easier to move up, and that's usually in fast tailwind sections (no one wants to move up when you have to pedal 120 rpm), downhills (ditto), etc. With my current (and temporary) 55x44 setup (I'm using tandem rings since I've worn out my two sets of regular ones), I've done some massive moves on downhills, rolling a 55x11, then waiting for the others on the flatter bits. It's a lot of fun. Of course the others killed me on the uphills so it's all even.