All of us who bought "touring bikes" in the 70's were buying cafe racers (europe's idea of touring) with 52/42 and 24 was the biggest rear cog. No freaking way you could really tour (without taking a stroll now and then) with that so we would swap out free wheels to get 34 minimum on the back (and swap short arm derailuers to long arm). Thus 42-34 took me over the Canadian Coast range and Rockies. When I got home I liked having more low out back so I went to 42-28 low thinking I was being creative. That was ok 30 years ago but not now. I like the 80-90 cadence and I'm glad that manufactures no longer think we are all ape legged at 50 rpm. I've no issue with triples as rapid fire shifters make life so much easier but I see triples are fading away in favor of compacts. I've also noticed that retail sales people really don't understand compacts and if they would just say something like "similar low gearing less moving parts", most would understand. Dig this article.

http://bikehugger.com/m/view/the-ris...-compact-crank