Professional Cycling For the Fans - Gears on TDF bikes

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ErnieBilko
06-27-08, 04:46 PM
First time on the forum, lots of interesting stuff.

I'm a keen cyclist, 70+ miles a week in summer and recently did a 290 mile cycle ride from Cheltenham to St Ives in Cornwall, UK. Got my eldest who's 11 into cycling to and from school and he's been asking about the number of gears on TDF bikes and I don't know the answer! Might be very easy or have been asked before but if anyone could give us an explanation we'd be gratfeul. Wondering what number and also if there are any specific differences between a TDF bike and a normal road bike in gear terms.

Thanks

geraldatwork
06-27-08, 04:54 PM
The gears get changed slightly depending on the route on a given day. That said the gears are very similar to what we recreational cyclists use. On a flatter stage they might use a 54 or possibly a 55/39 with an 11X21 in the rear. On a mountain stage they might use a 53/39 in the front and a 12X25 in the rear. I have also heard on a very hilly stage a few riders might use a compact in the front.
mkadam68
06-27-08, 06:51 PM
Also, they have 10-cogs in the back for a total of 20-gears at their disposal. (Well, next year's Campy will have 11-cogs, but I digress...)

kmart
06-28-08, 11:49 PM
Also, they have 10-cogs in the back for a total of 20-gears at their disposal. (Well, next year's Campy will have 11-cogs, but I digress...)

I look forward to adding an even larger granny gear on the back to compensate for the lack of a granny chainring on my compact double crankset. :D