He's riding compact chainrings...

You'll do a bit more spinning than the mashing you are used to. You'll not ride in the same rear gear that you rode previously at the same cadence. You either will learn how to increase you spin rate for more speed, or drop it down a gear or two in the back.

If you are super powerful rider, and you have a 12-23 in the back, you can always go to an 11-21 in the back if you want that slower muscle cadence feel.

Pick up your cadence and the speed is there.