astonv0l

I was wondering what gear most of the riders have been in up to now? I have noticed that the cadence seems high, maybe 100-120 yet they seem to be flying does anyone know

Hitchy

G'day,

Cadence of 100 -110 + is quite normal for all 'roadies', not just Pro's. Pushing big gears is for T/T's or triathletes!......nost would have fairly standard chain rings, maybe 53-54/39 (the sprinters might be larger) & cassette of 11-21, maybe 23 for the hills,

cheers,

Hitchy

Bruco

Yeah, they do know how to turn those cranks. Imagine yourself pushing 39/23 all the way up to La Mongie. Time for us mortals to get some serious training done...

Yesterday, the former sprinter Jean Paul van Poppel informed the Dutch viewers that he used 54/11 to get across the finish line. (He also told us, by the way, that he recalls that the speed during the lead-out to the sprint was actually higher than during the sprint itself.

Brillig

It's almost impossible for mortals like us to understand the power these guys put out. Consider that Mayo averaged almost 15 mph going UP MT VENTOUX in the Dauphine.

And he was in the big ring for a lot of it.
https://www.velonews.com/images/int/6240.8018.f.jpg

Laggard

During the Giro, Pettachi was sprinting in a 53x11 at 110 RPM.

Hitchy

G'day,

yep, pro's are a different breed to the rest of us alright!. We have a race here in Oz called the 'Hell of the West' (yeah it's a variation of 'hell of the Nth"), its tough, primarily cos the finish is after a 3km climb that averages 15% & maxs at about 19%. Most guys will get up it in their 39/25's (just). I was talking to our handicapper, an ex Olympian in '56...he reckons they used to ride up it in training pushing 42/17.....dunno whether thats a case of 'the older I am, the better I used to be", or not....but its certainly impressive. The UCI at a womans round of the world cup that went up it last year. Most of the Europeans had never seen it before. Cyclingnews reported that a number got off & ran up in tears!. I've personally walked it & passed a guy who was still riding,

cheers,

Hitchy

ed073

Jean-Paul Van Poppel was awesome...my favourite sprinter ever. Hardly ever sprinted for placings, but could sniff out a win from anywhere and had a lightning quick acceleration.

I had a photo of him winning a Tour stage in his Superconfex jersey on steel Colnago Master Piu stuck in one of my high school folders!

ronyex

I think that Lance once said that he is using a 27t cog in the mountains.
In the last Giro one of the riders actually used a MTB cassette in that big mountains stage (stage 18 was it ?).I cant remember who it was.

astonv0l

I must admit, you have to have HUGE respect for these guys. I would love to be able to pedal like them

Brillig

Heras used a triple for one stage in the Vuelta once.

brent_dube

A stage he won by over a minute

kerank

Is that really true? I would think Heras would be one of the LAST riders to need lower gearing (he and Mayo) If so, that's cool. That's another great justification for my triple!

Laggard

He must have had a mirror on his helmet also.

Brillig

Keep in mind also, that he used it just once and never went back. Rumor is that he didn't like it and prefers the traditional 53-39 double chain ring with a 12-27 for hills.

brent_dube

I'm guessing you can spin 90rpm in a double on a 20+% gradient.

Laggard

What the hell are you talking about, Brent?

MacMan

The Laggard - Brent show of late has been hugely entertaining!

On a massively depressing note, I run a 53/39 - 12-26 cassette. And that's for Northern Illinois

pgreene

when i get my new bike (and get rid of my triple) i'm going to get a spare 11-23, just for grins. it'd be interesting to see what hills i could get up with it.