A very large gear is very handy when dealing with extended descents. If you're maxing out your gears then you can use higher gears, up to perhaps 50-55 mph. Usually it's better to sprint and then tuck though, since you slow when you are pedaling (versus a nice tuck). Problem is then people expect you to be good when it goes uphill lol.

It's useful even at slower speeds, say down to 35-38 mph, because you can use the big gears to accelerate or move up without digging into your aerobic or muscular reserves. I love scooting by riders who are spinning uncomfortably fast on a slight downhill and I use this tactic all the time in both group rides and races.

I used to run a 54x11 but now run a standard 53. I loved the 54 because if a guy behind me copied my cog selection, I'd have a bit more top end compared to him. Depending on how things go I may get another one for 2008.

Regarding Cat 1s and compacts, one does not necessarily make the other. For example a lot of pros used them too, but that doesn't mean we should run out and get one too. A good strong rider I know moved up to Cat 2 in 2007 (he was a 5 in 2006 I think). He has an insane aerobic engine and spins like a mofo all the time. I'd be spinning up a hill in a 53x16 and he'd be spinning his 34x12 or so (at that point he was still a 3). I thought he made a mistake and forgot to put it in his big ring (I did that once, did a very fast crit in the small ring, a 45T, realizing my mistake at the bell lap). Since we'd talked previously about tactics and techniques (my first observation and his correction led to his first win), I rode up to him and discretely pointed out he was in the small ring. He looked at me like I was crazy and said that's what he wanted. If I was rolling around sitting in the field I'd blow up spinning at 120-130 rpm, but he liked that. He later bridged a 30 second gap on his own in very windy conditions - so his high rpm thing didn't bother him too much apparently.

I'd see if there's a way to trade someone a compact for a standard or some other relatively inexpensive way of doing it.

cdr