Road Bike Racing - Gearing for Taylor and Fillmore

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spingineer
09-05-05, 09:56 PM
As I was watching the SF Grand Prix coverage, they were mentioning the gearing that the racers use for this race ... 39-27. Dang!

Even when I only had a double, my gear ratio was 39-26. They mentioned typical gearing for tdf was 39-21.

For those of you not familiar with Taylor or Fillmore, they are about 17-18% grade, right in the heart of San Francisco.

ed073
09-05-05, 11:04 PM
Steep.

Very steep. Some of the photos on cyclingnews.com are incredible.
USAZorro
09-05-05, 11:23 PM
When you stand at the top and look down, you'd swear its more like 30%.

climbo
09-05-05, 11:35 PM
Here's Horner, a good climber, he looks to have a 27 or so on the back, maybe even bigger. Hard to tell exactly.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2005/sep05/sanfrangp05/?id=4724-horner
UmneyDurak
09-05-05, 11:44 PM
I was at fillmore hill. It looked like most riders were using gears bigger then 27.
ed073
09-05-05, 11:51 PM
I love this photo of Filmore St from 2004....

Ouch.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2004/sep04/sanfrangp04/?id=men/20040912_0371
spingineer
09-05-05, 11:54 PM
wonder if they were using compact cranks? I'd still struggle with my 30-26
ed073
09-06-05, 12:05 AM
wonder if they were using compact cranks? I'd still struggle with my 30-26



Basso would've been. He loves his
arellano
09-06-05, 09:29 AM
Can short cage derailleurs handle cogs larger than 27T?
hypersnazz
09-06-05, 09:33 AM
It looked like at least a few were running compact gearing on Sunday. Those hills are crazy steep, yo. Fillmore's got STAIRS on the sidewalk.
divekrb
09-06-05, 10:52 AM
Can short cage derailleurs handle cogs larger than 27T?

Yes.
white lobster
09-07-05, 11:39 AM
The big boys don't need no compact crank:

http://www.kenpapai.com/racing/sf2002/lance0451.jpg

http://www.kenpapai.com/racing/sf2002/george0480.jpg
ed073
09-07-05, 05:12 PM
The big boys don't need no compact crank:

http://www.kenpapai.com/racing/sf2002/lance0451.jpg

http://www.kenpapai.com/racing/sf2002/george0480.jpg


There's Henk....toughest unit around.

Respect.
Dolomiti
09-07-05, 09:06 PM
I wonder what their usual speed is when on the steepest parts.

The slowest I can go with a comfortable cadence on a climb, with a 30-25, is 8mph.
SteveE
09-07-05, 09:22 PM
The big boys don't need no compact crank:

http://www.kenpapai.com/racing/sf2002/lance0451.jpg

http://www.kenpapai.com/racing/sf2002/george0480.jpgYou think maybe that's why Lance's always dropped out?
ed073
09-07-05, 09:25 PM
I wonder what their usual speed is when on the steepest parts.

The slowest I can go with a comfortable cadence on a climb, with a 30-25, is 8mph.


about 8-12kmh.
CPcyclist
09-07-05, 10:39 PM
Looks like Horner has Campy if so that maybe a 29 in back, campy recomends you use a med cage for 53/39 13-29 (I have gotten away with a short just takes a bit of thinking on chain length)
my58vw
09-07-05, 11:40 PM
6 MPH at about 50 RPMs in a 39-23...

I would need a triple for something like that... ouch!
The_Convert
09-08-05, 01:34 AM
They mentioned typical gearing for tdf was 39-21.



On the flat stages ...
Dolomiti
09-08-05, 08:47 AM
about 8-12kmh.

I guess for short bursts like that they can use higher gears and just heave themselves. Maybe it's most efficient in a race that way.

If they wanted to ride up them comfortably they would need a really low triple with like a 26-27