Originally Posted by
mattswabb
I just bought an 11 speed bike with an 11-28. I missed my 16 so I bought an 11-25. I’ve never had anything bigger than a 23 and only really used my 12-21.
I still remember in my younger days using a 52/42 with a 13-18 straight block rear and climbed everything.
If you’re missing the 16t, then I'd get a 50-34 compact in front if you don't already have one. On a 11 speed, with a 11-28, you get a straight chainline in the 14t and mostly straight in 13t and 15t.
55-42 is still on sale and fits on Shimano compact cranksets; got it on a TT bike but ehhhh it's not the sort of thing I'd take up some local 10+% climbs, which I'll gladly take on my road bike. Then again I wouldn't take the TT bike down the same descents, so that's fair that it's not good for climbing up them.