Well with the setup I've been using for 20 active years (50-39 x 14-26 six speed) but since I just came back after an 11 year layoff, I spent most of my time on the 39 x 18 and the 50 x 20 which is pretty much in the middle but different rings. And that's a jump from 57.7 to 66.5 gear inches. (I've never even used my very top gear since I came back yet.)

I'd kinda like something in between for distances and will be looking forward to using my 46 x 20 (61.2 gear inches) and hope to get my century time down w/o having to do too many intervals . I can also keep close to what I use now on either side of that, and on the same ring, w/o having to cross-chain any.

I'll also have more good grade options on my 36 ring that I'm looking forward to on both bikes. On the Trek 500 that would include the 36 x 18 (53.2) and I can still cruise on the 36 x 16 (59.9) stretching that chain line at my limit of an ultra narrow 7 freewheel on rolling terrain.

I like to stay two sprockets away from the edge of an ultra 7 freewheel on the big ring and one away on the small ring.

As for my '83 Trek 970 here's the modest range for that one which pretty much fits both my limitations and the NOS freewheel that I have sitting around. Not planning on doing that much climbing on it. It's for shorter blasts mostly unless I show it off in a relatively flat century. I gotta be sub 6 hours (including stops) before I show my face in a century in tight shorts on my 970.