Maybe it
is a pride thing. I once road 53/42 cranks. 50/34 feels like I'm admitting defeat to Father Time.
Still, I'm trying to get strong enough to spin 25,26,27 w/39. If it doesn't happen by winter, I'll ask Santa for a compact.
Actually, I once did have a compact now that I think of it. Can't remember now why I got rid of it, though. It wasn't
that much easier as I recall. Maybe that was why. I must have thought, "this isn't even worth it; just go with standard cranks." Or something...