Funny, this is how I feel on my Guru, with the compact and a mountain rd. Also, on the Jamis Coda I had, with a triple and mountain rd. Except, it has the opposite effect; I can't go as fast as I can ride on my triple road bike that has an 11-27. I am more of a spinner, and now I find myself mashing on the Guru, because the harder gears "feel" more natural, but my cadence is lower, and hence my knees don't like that.