Originally Posted by bbattle
The local club e-mail list had a discussion of gearing "back in the day". One guy was told by his coach that if he needed something lower than a 42-19 he should get off and walk. This was when the 52-42 chainring was paired to a 13-19 straight block.
"Back in the Day" I used a 52/42 with a 13-21. We were young, there was no need for anything lower. Then 6 speeds, and later 7 speeds came out, and I'd rather have the extra cogs in the middle, than go bigger than a 21. The hills in CT aren't that bad. You'd just grunt your way up the steep ones. I appreciate the 39-23 now for those steep parts.