Disclaimer: These tips are for the blog author, pls seek professional instruction as this sport may be dangerous!
Beyond the obvious: not falling and not stumbling where I used to fall and stumble. Beyond endurance: riding bigger distances between resting. What else is left then?
Here it is:
The true measure of better technique and performance is whether you can go over difficult sections in GRANNY gear in places where you used to employ the MIDDLE chainring!
Why? It takes more skill and technique to ride in GRANNY gear. You can no longer rely on torque availability to get out of trouble. You have to rely instead on correct body position, weight distribution, correct speed approach, momentum, etc.
