Originally Posted by Cypress
I'm going to clear this up so that every "racer joe" that comes in here doesn't tell me that my climbs are "too easy". Going to the sun road, Big Mountain rd, Pipestone pass, the Beartooth Highway...these are not sissy climbs gentlemen. If you haven't gathered in other threads, I'm not a spinner. Leg presses for me reach deep into the 6-700lb area for REPS. About the knees, aside from a torn lateral meniscus, and having "big bones", my knees are tip top.
If you need a compact to go up hills, that's your thing. Don't tell me what I'm doing "wrong".
Cypress, Let's look at the math of your claim. As for spinning out 53x11 at 120rpm is 46.4 mph. the only way you're spinning this gear out would be on very steep descents at a speed where the extra speed gain by continuing to pedal isn't worth the energy expended.
On the other side, you're right those aren't sisssy climbs, lets assume you're doing extended climibing in the 8% range. (I imagine in reality your climbs are sometimes steeper than 8%). you say you don't touch the 25, so your low gear would be 42x23. At 80 rpm 42x 23 is almost 12mph. If you can do sustained big mountain climbs at 12mph, quit your day job and concentrate on cycling because that rate of asencion is at least enough to finish in the professional pack.