Ah, Shimano users. That may be why so many of you can't rest until you've tried a compact double. You can't trim much, and that could certainly be a disadvantage with a triple.

There's nothing magical about cadence, or there is, depending on your viewpoint. There are people who are happy to power themselves through wind and over everything, and then there are more savvy riders who keep their reserves up by playing it smart, that is, by using their gears to maintain as close to the same pressure as possible on the pedals (which usually translates into maintaining a certain cadence, but without actually having an exact number in mind). You can usually go farther and longer that way. That's what I'm after... farther and longer, rather than faster. If I'm approaching a significant hill, I don't see the small ring as a bailout, rather, I see it as choosing an appropriate range of gears that are at the lower end. It doesn't mean I will necessarily be using both the granny gear and the largest cog at the back. That way, I don't burn myself off unecessarily, plus, it's easier on the knees. Life is short and knees are very fragile when you look at the longer term. I'm 55 now, been riding forever, and I hope to keep it that way as long as I can.