Originally Posted by
kwcahart
Have you thought about leaving your rear stuff alone and going with a triple chain ring? I did and am VERY happy with it, gives me 24 gears, and with the "granny" low ring of 26 it is wonderful on hills. All you have to change is the FD, crankset and left shifter. Compact double cranksets are okay unless you want that extra "easy" gear, then the triple really shines. I have two bikes like that and I like them.
Triple cranks work great for road riding among people who can't spin a 23-26 cog with a 39 ring over the majority of their climbs and enjoy the rest.
26x25 is like 34x32; but comes with great spacing for flatter rides in the form of 53-39-26x13-14-15-16-17-18-19-21-23-25 not 50-34x12-13-15-17-19-21-23-25-28-32.