Fitted new 52/36t crankset yesterday evening (pukka 105), and spoilt the chain by removing and cleaning in white spirit. All freshly scrubbed and lubed, tweaked and tuned. Tested OK up and down the road outside. So, off to test on some real riding, including ramps. No time to hit the Surrey Hills today so off to Richmond Park for the closest thing to hills near here. RP clogged up with cars as usual - my 1st lap I was severely held up by a Prius doggedly sticking to 17mph and slowing down up hills - I couldn't overtake as the timing was always wrong with oncoming cars. And had to cope with really strong wind. Lovely crankset - really stiff and the larger rings I think suit me well (the older crankset I think is a RS500, and not so stiff as well as being 50/34t). There's plenty more power available for when I'm in better physical shape and the 36t ring allows me to smoothly change up and down over RP's lesser inclines like Sawyers Hill, so no more having to jump from the little to the big ring and then jump down 2 or 3 gears at the back (or vice versa). All in all, excellent - I'm very happy with it - and it allows me to appreciate the Merida's frame so much more. Now just need to test the gearing on some really steep steeps.