Don,
Thanks for the hint. The problem isn't the trans . . . it is the driver since the trans has the right Taylor mod to do exactly what you say . . . and does it just fine . . . when the driver pushes to the right like I'm supposed to. I really have no problem when the shift is needed on a "real straight". My problem with shorter gearing is the shift is frequently needed when the course is really busy and I'm concentrating on and executing other things. Even when I was "in my CM prime" 10 - 15 years ago I couldn't execute 2 - 3 shifts reliably unless I "short shifted" to get the shift done in a less busy part of the course.
Dick