Professional Cycling - How do the Alps compare to the steeper climbs in the Midatlantic?

My girlfriend and I are taking a trip to the French Alps in July to watch the Tour and do some riding. Since its winter and when I can't ride I wrench, I've been debating whether I should stick with my standard 39/53 crankset or swap it out for a compact (I already normally run a 12/27 10spd cassette)

I was reading an article on dailypeloton.com (http://195.5.122.46/displayarticle.asp?pk=10192 ) and it looks like tha average grade of some of the climbs in the Alps are not much worse than Skymass, Mt. Weather or some of the other DC/VA/MD climbs but that some of the peak grades are upwards of 15%. Does anybody know what the steepiest parts of some of the better local climbs are? Better yet, does anybody have similar profile charts for local rides?

Since I don't feel like I need a compact for any of the local riding I do, I'd rather not replace my crankset if I don't need to. Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks

Mike

GiantXC,

Good questions. Since they were posted last week, I have been interested if a knowledgable member might post. I'm still waiting with you.

Tyson

TysonB,

I received a couple of good replies over on roadbike review. http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=87917

Mike

My girlfriend and I are taking a trip to the French Alps in July to watch the Tour and do some riding. Since its winter and when I can't ride I wrench, I've been debating whether I should stick with my standard 39/53 crankset or swap it out for a compact (I already normally run a 12/27 10spd cassette)

Since I don't feel like I need a compact for any of the local riding I do, I'd rather not replace my crankset if I don't need to. Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.


I've spend a few summers riding French Alps whilst watching Le Tour without any probs, this was based on a diet of British road and track racing, with no climbs linger that a couple of miles (if I could help it :) )

It's not the gradient that's a problem, it's the length of the climbs and the number you'll ride over, so give your self somewhere to go if you start feeling bad. I've had a 29 on the back, it was my insurance policy and I used it on a really bad day. No one will judge you on your cassette and if they do ...... them ;)

I had a 50/40/30 triple and a 11/23 cassette, and I made it over even the most daunting passes (Lautaret, La Berarde, etc). As Elvis says, it's not so much the grade (in particular the ancient "classic" passes were built for animals and weak cars, so the gradient rarely exceeds 12%), but the length. In particular if you want to string two or three passes together to get home, rather than doing a simple up and down.

The big difference is the altitude and the length of the climbs, not so much the grades. I've never been to Europe, but I've been in the mountains out west, and that's the difference between Appalachia and big mountains.

I spent a week in the alps a few years back after using rides like Mt Weather & Skyline drive as training. Skyline has some reasonably long climbs (~ 6 miles) and you won't find anything much steeper then Mt Weather. The big difference is the altitude.

altitude and length are the differences. you would be fine with a double. you just have the endurance to get to the top.

have fun when your over there, should be a blast!

The length of the climbs and also the length of some of the approaches, riding 30km up a valley before hitting the climb can leave you flat.