+1 for the Shimano R700 compact crank. I replaced a Dura Ace double with the R700. It broke my heart to take off the beautiful Dura Ace crank, but better a broken heart than busted knees. In hundreds and hundreds of miles of riding with the R700 is has shifted perfectly, never dropped a chain or hesitated on a shift. I suspect that in blind testing, no one could distinguish between the Dura Ace crank and the R700 based on speed, reliability or smoothness of shifting.

I also run a 12-27 and love the gear range with the 50/34 chainrings.

Ira

I got campy pushin a 42-52 on the front of the Bianchi. Seems to work fine. I have had thoughs of putting something a little smaller on front to replace the 42, there are some decent hills around portland and vancouver. I can make it easier or make myself stronger..... maxed out on the 52 takes me up to ~ 40 mph which seems about as fast as I have the nerve to go.

I got campy pushin a 42-52 on the front of the Bianchi. Seems to work fine. I have had thoughs of putting something a little smaller on front to replace the 42, there are some decent hills around portland and vancouver. I can make it easier or make myself stronger..... maxed out on the 52 takes me up to ~ 40 mph which seems about as fast as I have the nerve to go.

You can make yourself stronger with a compact too....it's called doing intervals.