Originally Posted by
sleepykitty
I'm comfortable with the smaller 39t chainring. But on occasion I do max out when I'm on the 13t on the cassette, and not wanting to crosschain, I move to the 53 and then frantically gear down to the 19t on the cassette to try and maintain cadence. This is something I would like to avoid as I would much rather focus on pedaling than on the shifters. Or is maniacal shifting just part and parcel of road cycling?
You just need to learn how and when to shift. As already noted, don't wait until you're in the 39/13 to figure out that you need to shift to the big ring. Learn the proper transition speed range and shift to the big ring a little earlier.
What you describe as "maniacal" shifting is normal, but when you shift to the big ring it should require only 2-3 cogs larger to reach the next larger gear ratio or 3-4 shifts to get approximately the same ratio that you were in. If you do wait until the 39/13 becomes too easy, then you would shift to the 53/16, not the 53/19, as the next bigger gear. With most modern shift levers, one full sweep of the lever will give you that 3-cog shift. Shifters are made with that ability with a good reason. Once you learn to do this instinctively, you're starting to learn the normal shift pattern. A 50/34 compact actually makes this situation worse, since it requires one more shift after switching between the chainrings.
The more annoying shift occurs in the opposite direction. If you shift back to the little ring, then you have to tap, tap, tap several cogs smaller. With Campy shifters, it takes one push of the thumb button to get as many shifts as you need.