Originally Posted by
non-fixie
28T largest cog and a 50/36 chainset
Surprised you went there. When I tried 14-28t with a Chorus crank, the 53/39 chainring difference is so wide, I found it easier to use a 25t big rear cog. That way, all of the usual gear combinations work (except, of course, big/big and small/small). With a 28t, I either put a lot of RD strain when on big chainring combinations, or I lose some combinations in the higher gears on the small chainring (due to chain length). These are the constraints of using the short cage.
28T largest cog and a 49/36 chainset...
Assume you can be less careful with this combination with the chainrings closer together. Still, that seems beyond the limit of NR (without adding a Soma long cage).