When I got my Cascade it was a totally stock mountain bike and had a 28/38/48 Biopace on that same Deore crank and I took it out mountain biking with friends, they were stunned that despite not having as low a gear as them (I had a 14-28 freewheel) that I could out climb them on some exceptionally steep off road grades.

Mind you, I used to be a hill climbing machine and used to rock those same climbs on an SS mountain bike... now that I am older and more busted up am appreciating the Biopace more than ever.

I have suggested and fitted Biopace to many customers bicycles when they expressed that they had knee issues and the feedback was that they do reduce a lot of stress... my right leg works harder than my left so I appreciate this too as my right leg works harder than my left and is under more stress and this really helps me keep up a good spin.