compact cranks

[alpinerabbit]

Bounceswoosh: it's easier to switch because you may not have to change the front derailleur.

The compact isn't going to help you up harder hills, it doesn't have the gearing options of the triple. sounds nice for moderate riding; for folks that don't want to go too fast and don't have a lot of hills to climb.

I climbed Stelvio with a campy compact and 12-29 cassette.... and I did 20% hills with it*. That good enuff? What's in a name?

Yeah you can't draft the truck DOWN Stelvio. But I can crank it at 36+ kph in the flat. Wait till I get stronger.

The bigger the lever, the less work to get it to move.
If you get a compact crank, you're not going to have to turn it as far to move the same distance, but you're going to have to work harder.

No - IMHO, exactly the opposite. With the compact, you will have to spin more often to cover the same distance, but at less resistance. But I have never been intuitive at physics (although I wasn't outright bad).
To put it simply: Compared to the regular double, you have an overall set of easier gears. Yes not the amount of options of a triple, or the easiest possible granny gear, but a cheaper remodel, lighter weight and IMHO more precise shifting.

*new bike: Ultegra compact/11-27 - going to switch to an SRAM 12-28 cassette - and have not yet attempted either 20% or a major alpine pass. So the verdict is not in yet.