OK guys, I'm a retro grouch FG noob. I normally post over at C&V, but I recently did a ghetto FG conversion on a '78 Schwinn Traveler III, and set it up with 48 x 17. It seemed slightly tall for me, but it's relatively flat in Indy. I want to try something different. I have a 50/34 compact crank, and thought I would try a 34 x 13 or 34 x 14. Is there any advantage or benefit to big chainring over smaller one, or does it really matter? Is it aesthetics that drives the use of big ring?

geek