Southern California - what crank/cassette do you have if you ride the santa monica mtns?

What crank and cassette do you have? thanks.

53/39/30 - 11/28

I survived on a 54/39 with a rear 6sp 14-28. Wasn't too bad. Would ride again if I had any cyclist friends. :(

53/39 with 11-26

While I have not yet ridden the Santa Monica Mountains, last week I rode (without problem) Mt. Baldy Road up to the top of the lifts using my standard:
Crank: 39/53
Rear Cogs: 12-25

50/34, 11-28

50/34 12-25 or 11-23

Depends on how long a ride I'm on and how many hills I'll be doing. For shorter rides (i.e.: 60-miles or less) with one-three climbs, my 12-25 works. Longer rides with more climbs, I switch to my 12-27.

I have a standard crank, 53/39.

Crank Arms 172.5 Rings 53-39 Casette 12-27

When I was young and full of piss: 53-39 / 12-23

Now that I'm old and decrepit: 50-34 / 12-27

53/39 12-25. Grades up to 20.

I've used both a 53/39-12/25 and 50/36-12/25. My actual time was faster for the specific route with a 53/39 but I felt much fresher when I finished the 80 mile route with the 50/36 a couple weeks later.

I ride out there sometimes and I've also done Baldy with this set-up: 53/39 and 11-27. That said, my next bike will be a compact.

Rob

Except for a handful of climbs you can easily get away with 53/39-12/25. Las Flores, Decker, or Tuna are a bit more of a pain in the ass though.

Haven't been in the SM's. But done Baldy Rd, GMR, Big Bear, and Breathless agony on my standard 53/39-12/25.:D

50/34, 12/27 its nice to always have gears in reserve (but stinks on flats).

50/34, 12/27 its nice to always have gears in reserve (but stinks on flats).

stink on flats? You must be super fast as 50x12 at 90RPM is about 30MPH. I guess you just missed the Olympic Games TT oportunity. :lol:

I never had a problem with my 50x12 not being a high enough gear until I started racing, and needed to be able to keep up with the bigger guys on descents. A 50x11 helped quite a bit with that. Now I spin much better anyway, so even though I have a 53x11 I don't usually go to it unless I'm trying to push into the 45+ range.

stink on flats? You must be super fast as 50x12 at 90RPM is about 30MPH. I guess you just missed the Olympic Games TT oportunity. :lol:

I meant it stink cus you can't take advantage of slight declines, yeah I did miss the olympics TT opportunity. Damn.

I meant it stink cus you can't take advantage of slight declines, yeah I did miss the olympics TT opportunity. Damn.

How about getting 11-27/8? Thats what I'm planning on getting for my next compact crank. 50/34 with 11/28

50/34, 11-30. I tend to like the really whack climbs in Malibu, so the 30 comes in handy when needed. 11-28 would work just as well on most of the SM climbs. For me at least.

50/34 11/23

I switched to a 50/34, 12-27 but in the SMs was always fine with 50/36, 11-25 when I was riding that.

I switched to a 50/34, 12-27 but in the SMs was always fine with 50/36, 11-25 when I was riding that.

We all so believe you.

50/34, 11-30. I tend to like the really whack climbs in Malibu, so the 30 comes in handy when needed. 11-28 would work just as well on most of the SM climbs. For me at least.
Is that a 10 speed 11-30? If so where did you get it? I might need one if I start pulling a kiddie trailer in a couple years.

50/34 with a 11-25 cassette.

Only ridden up there twice and both times used a 50/34 with a 12/27.

We all so believe you.I'll grant you, that was when I was actually in shape!

In thinking about it, I actually haven't been back up in the Santa Monicas since I changed out to the 12 - 27. I do know it was nice for the climbing in Angeles Forest, although coming downhill I spun out much earlier than I'm used to. The turns in the Santa Monicas are a lot tighter so that probably wouldn't be a concern very often.

50/34 and 12/27, and always wishing for at least one more gear...

... and I AM in shape! :(

How about getting 11-27/8? Thats what I'm planning on getting for my next compact crank. 50/34 with 11/28

I didn't know you could get a 11-28...my main reservation is I basically ride SART or a climb...for SART I could use a 11-23, for GMR, Oak Glen, etc a 12-27. I'm thinking about getting an extra wheel just so I can switch em out as needed.

I didn't know you could get a 11-28...my main reservation is I basically ride SART or a climb...for SART I could use a 11-23, for GMR, Oak Glen, etc a 12-27. I'm thinking about getting an extra wheel just so I can switch em out as needed.

SRAM makes an 11-28. I put one on my wife's back to go with a 50/34 crank to try to match her triple gearing, and I'm going to use one for Everest Challenge.

SRAM makes an 11-28. I put one on my wife's back to go with a 50/34 crank to try to match her triple gearing, and I'm going to use one for Everest Challenge.

The new Dura-Ace 7900 lineup will include 11-28. (Also 180mm 50/34 compact crank that I will buy too)

I switched to a 50/34, 12-27 but in the SMs was always fine with 50/36, 11-25 when I was riding that.

Curious: Why the switch? Needed more gears for longer climbs (San Gabriels)? Joint pain issues?

SRAM makes an 11-28. I put one on my wife's back to go with a 50/34 crank to try to match her triple gearing, and I'm going to use one for Everest Challenge.

I'm going this route too Steve. I just put the Red group on my ride (awesome shifting but NOISY), and went w the Red cluster which has a 26, because of the weight savings. Previously I had Dura-Ace w a 27. But clmbing Painted Cave the other day I was cursing the fact that I didn't go w the 28. So I'm going to sell the Red 26 cluster and go w the non-Red, 28 cluster, so I can spin vs grind on steep grades or on long rides w multiple climbs.

When I did the Mulholland Challenge back in April the 27 was a must, in fact I was over-geared w the 27 on some of the later . In fact I could have used the 28 back then! BTW my front chainring is a 50/34. On fast, group descents it's necessary for me to find a heavier, higher-geared rider to draft, or I'm likely to get dropped.

OT - Great pics of your trip up to Whitney. I'm still trying to make that trip happen and just can't seem to find the time. :(

Is that a 10 speed 11-30? If so where did you get it? I might need one if I start pulling a kiddie trailer in a couple years.

It's an 8 speed, and custom, made from two Sram cogs. One 11-28, which included mostly odd gears, and the 11-30 (sold as mountain bike cog, but works on any Shimano road freehub), which includes mostly even gears. I combined both to give me 11, 14, 16, 18, 20, 23, 26, 30.

If I miss one gear it would be the 13. A 9 speed would take care of that, but for my fitness purposes, I like riding with a compact and 8 gears. Forces me to use all the gears. Less shifting too. I could also easily make a cog that includes the 13 while losing one of the climb gears. When I move to Kansas I'll make that change :p

Curious: Why the switch? Needed more gears for longer climbs (San Gabriels)? Joint pain issues?No pains, but my time on the bike dropped off significantly and I started doing more rides in the Angeles Forest, including some longer & steeper climbs than I had previously been doing so I figured I'd err on the side of caution to guard my knees for the long term.

No pains, but my time on the bike dropped off significantly and I started doing more rides in the Angeles Forest, including some longer & steeper climbs than I had previously been doing so I figured I'd err on the side of caution to guard my knees for the long term.

Agreed.

I'm going this route too Steve. I just put the Red group on my ride (awesome shifting but NOISY), and went w the Red cluster which has a 26, because of the weight savings. Previously I had Dura-Ace w a 27. But clmbing Painted Cave the other day I was cursing the fact that I didn't go w the 28. So I'm going to sell the Red 26 cluster and go w the non-Red, 28 cluster, so I can spin vs grind on steep grades or on long rides w multiple climbs.

When I did the Mulholland Challenge back in April the 27 was a must, in fact I was over-geared w the 27 on some of the later . In fact I could have used the 28 back then! BTW my front chainring is a 50/34. On fast, group descents it's necessary for me to find a heavier, higher-geared rider to draft, or I'm likely to get dropped.

OT - Great pics of your trip up to Whitney. I'm still trying to make that trip happen and just can't seem to find the time. :(

Thanks, I appreciated the inspiration. I think I'm going to get the red 11-28 but I suppose if I just use my wife's non-red version I won't have to buy another cassette.

stink on flats? You must be super fast as 50x12 at 90RPM is about 30MPH. I guess you just missed the Olympic Games TT oportunity. :lol:

Exactly what I was thinking. So many people talk about bikes being slow on flats and I am thinking the only time I use the biggest gear is when I am going down a HUGE hill and hitting 40+ mph and I ride a 50/34 11-25

Got my triple, which I believe is a 30-42-52 with a 12-26 rear.

btw i have a 50/34 crank with 12/27 cassette

50/34, 11/25