Cyclocross - Kona JTS - Gearing for hills?

I rode a good hill the other night on my JTS, and found that the gearing was pretty low for steep hills. I'm on good cardio shape and my legs are strong, but if that hill was another 200meters longer I would have been walking LOL. Anyone else found this when hill climbing? Maybe I'm just still used to my 24spd mountain bike.

I rode a good hill the other night on my JTS, and found that the gearing was pretty low for steep hills. I'm on good cardio shape and my legs are strong, but if that hill was another 200meters longer I would have been walking LOL. Anyone else found this when hill climbing? Maybe I'm just still used to my 24spd mountain bike.

Dig in and take the pain.

I use the 12-25 and 53/39 on my road bike and rarely use the 39t/25T cogs. I mostly use the 53t/21t when climbing and dig in. . .

Dig in and take the pain.

I use the 12-25 and 53/39 on my road bike and rarely use the 39t/25T cogs. I mostly use the 53t/21t when climbing and dig in. . .

I am guessing that you are fairly young with good knees. Muscle pain is usually good in training, bone-on-bone type pain is rarely good and should not be ridden through if one wants to ride for years to come.

I am guessing that you are fairly young with good knees. Muscle pain is usually good in training, bone-on-bone type pain is rarely good and should not be ridden through if one wants to ride for years to come.

Anyway let's assume that we are healthy; then if you can't climb a hill with the Kona JTS gearing it maybe the wrong bicyle for you as you may need a triple crankset?

The Kona JTS seems to be designed as a Cyclocross Racing Bicycle; meant to be ridden fast and aggressive.

If you find the gearing is too high, then change the rear cog stack. No shame in that. Your bike should accomodate your needs, not the other way around. What I would do is swap in a 12-27, or even an 11-32. You could also opt for a compact double crankset, and drop the small ring down to 34, or 36.

If you find the gearing is too high, then change the rear cog stack. No shame in that. Your bike should accomodate your needs, not the other way around. What I would do is swap in a 12-27, or even an 11-32. You could also opt for a compact double crankset, and drop the small ring down to 34, or 36.

The JTS has a 105 roadie rear derailleur...I think you'd need a mtb rear derailleur to accomadate a 28+ ring.

But, if you adapt to the bike, doesn't that make you a stronger rider, and probably more beneficial in the long run?

I'm with Dark mother, ok, it's a T.O. Thing...
but see if you can't bring up your gearing, a 39 / 27 or 28 is a pretty decent hill climbing gear, if you need more, run a triple, Who cares, it is your bike.
Also, I think that the JTS has a Long cage 105 rear derailer, if so it will work with a 34t. it has a 32t capacity, all should be fine. (48-39+34-11+31 See, you even have one to spare!)

I'm with Dark mother, ok, it's a T.O. Thing...
but see if you can't bring up your gearing, a 39 / 27 or 28 is a pretty decent hill climbing gear, if you need more, run a triple, Who cares, it is your bike.
Also, I think that the JTS has a Long cage 105 rear derailer, if so it will work with a 34t. it has a 32t capacity, all should be fine. (48-39+34-11+31 See, you even have one to spare!)

The 2005 Kona JTS that I own has a Shimano 105 long cage derailleur, so it's possible to use a 34t rear cog set.

I really like the Kona JTS as designed, it's perfect for me. . .

Thanks for the replies guys.

I can handle the gearing the way it is now, but for serious hill climbing your going to need some bigtime speed. Going up hills that mountain bikes usually go up is an indication that there is a need for additional gears, otherwise the mountain bikes wouldn't be geared like they are.

Granted you are pushing less resistance up the hill with the narrower tire and lighter bike, but it's still not enough to make up for the gears.