ColnagoC40

Did the Natural Bridge Granfondo in VA, this past Sunday and got a 9th out of 22. Only 14 finished, with 8 DNF's. Scenery to die for, but a really hard ride. First climb was average 11% with 15% steps, about 3 miles long. After that, up and down, rollers and a whole lot of remaining steep climbs.

We had Hunter Allen give us a preview, but must admit the difficulty kind of surprised me.

30 years ago, I could climb that with a 42/18, this time around a 39/30 was not enough in some places, the joys of old age and a few extra pounds.

So, Campy compact crank set 34/50 is on the way, to use with a 12-30 cassette. One bike will be set up as the climbing bike. Not a nice feeling, but have to put the ego in my pocket.

elmore leonard

The body wears out. Maybe should be doing less stressful rides now. Don't wait until the coronary gives out and you are forced to slow down.

ColnagoC40

I thought this is the right medicine, to give the coronary a great sanitation boost?

Racer Ex 

Roberto Heras used a triple in the Vuelta a while back, he weighed 110 pounds and was tanked up on EPO.

So I suggest a triple and EPO

ColnagoC40

Need another 30 years, then I will put the triple on my wheel chair and will probably be using something more than EPO.

andr0id

I got a 34/50 but the 34 was too low for most riding except really steep hills, so I put on a 36 which worked out very nicely.

ColnagoC40

Looking at the numbers, I should be OK. 39/15 = 2.6 and a 34/13 = 2.62.

On a normal circuit with average hills, around 60 miles I can still get by just fine with a 39/11-21. The compact will be for those 15% gradient steps on a 100 mile Granfondo where we have to save the legs a bit.

Should be able to test it the week-end, hope I don't have to go look for another chainring in 36.

The steps on my 12-30 cassette are bad, jumping two teeth or more from one cog to the next has never been my favorite, too much of a change away from preferred cadence.

A triple is really the way to go, but I am told if you put a triple on a Colnago, the bike goes into hiding, only to be found by a mechanic.

sarals 

So. I'm doing the Mariposa Stage Race next weekend with a compact and 12/28 cassette. I don't have a 12/30, can't afford one right now. I'm going to try something else, I'll use the carbon tubulars on the Look 566 for the hill climb. I had originally intended to race my Venge for that series, because it's two or three pounds lighter than the Look, but after racing it on a hilly course last week, I discovered because of it's gearing (53/39 - 11/28 11 speed) that it doesn't climb as well as the Look does, even with the Look in training trim (heavy). Can I have twenty years back, please?