Originally Posted by
Barrettscv
The Compact crankset are the least usefull of all crankset options on flat routes. I'd rather have a single chainring in the 44 to 48 range on a flat route than to use a compact.
Choice of crankset is personal and a function of your power/weight ratio. While a compact might not be suitable for you on the flats, for others it is just fine. While I'm using a std at the moment a compact makes it a little easier to stay in the big ring when going into a headwind. If I use a compact I do less shifting on the front.