Originally Posted by
DaveSSS
You detest a smaller change? That makes no sense to me. Nearly everyone gripes about changes too large. If so, get a cassette that skips the 16. You can't do much about what the numbers dictate. At some point, 1-tooth jumps become so small that they are worthless and the only choice is to go to twice that amount.
If you start nitpicking that a 17-19 is awful, but a 16-18 would be better, then you're arguing as if all climbs and all wind conditions are the same. In reality, either one might be optimal on the same stretch of road on different days. If you ride in the mountains, you get every thing from a 2% grade to an 18%. I just make sure I have enough gear so I'm not regularly forced to pedal standing for 2 miles if I don't want to. A younger and stronger rider would be more brave. Even the young racers I see always have at least a 25T low gear if they run a 53/39.
When climbing, larger changes are often more tolerable due to the generally lower cadence being used. Some people mash at only 60-70 rpm, but that is not the way of the best climbers. Watching any of the most recent tours, the guys at the front of a climb are spinning fast enough that it scarcely looks like climbing. I don't think they are in the big ring on those climbs. Even though I'm an old guy, I'll average 87rpm on a seated climbing interval. I've always been a spinner, but I mix it up with some 60-65 rpm out of the saddle intervals, using either 2-3 cogs smaller or the big ring. I started to use the big ring more, but I will not use my 50/25 with 11 speed.
I think you mis-read my post or are confusing me with someone else. I have no problem with the entire 10 cog range on the 53. I don't like the feel of the changes across the 39 because they are too small. I realize that makes me an odd man out, but my original post was not to imply that one was better than the other, just that there was a difference. Some like it, a few don't, and most likely the majority don't even realize it exists. Plus, because the hills around here are pretty weak, and I am pretty strong, there is nothing (yet) that I can't do with a 53/23 (or 53/25 on occassion) while setting while holding 80+ RPM. (there are a couple of short exceptions, but...) Because of that, being on the 39 is really having only 6 or 7 gears before going to the 53 anyway.
To each, his own.