I went from an 11-31 on a triple to a 12 25 on a compact double to an 11 27 on the compact and I'm loving it. While I could get up anything here in Colorado on that triple that bike was just heavy as a car. When I got the compact double I lost some speed on the flats but I got it back when I switched over to the 11 27. Best move I ever made. I found a nice cadence in the 27 gear and it lets me mosey up most hills without killing my legs.