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FWIW, the usual English hill was doable with 52/36 as the 36 was low enough to work.
The biggest advantage of the 11 speed 11-28 is that it got a great spread that doesn't have a big gap between each gear (exactly the same as a 11-25 in 10 speed), in fact most of the pro team now ride predominantly on 11-28, whether in the past they have to choose a ratios depending on the stages.
edscoble-
I just found an article that said almost exactly that. Something about the new 52/36 with an 11-28 essentially being the same as the old standard compact of 50/34 with an 11-27. You're right that I'll encounter the really steep stuff only very rarely, and could probably get over it with 36x28 anyway.
thross
I think I'll go compact then, just to be safe in case I do end up on a mountainous trip at some point!
I can't see myself needing much of a variation on the 70 gear inches I'm on at the moment on the Norfolk flat, so would probably pick the closest gear and stick with it for the most part.