fprintf

I used to ride when all we had were 10 speeds, and we used whatever came stock on the bike without regard for gear inches, crankarm lengths or anything. Yes, and we used to walk in waist high snow uphill both ways to school too. No hill was too steep back then, you just stood on the pedals for a few miles, no problem.

Today is the first day of my return to road cycling where I regretted not purchasing a bicycle with 3 chainrings up front. I am hopeful that as I get in better shape I will condition myself not to regret it. But after todays 25 mile ride, rather short by my own yardstick, I see I need to spend a whole lot more time riding hills if I am going to keep at this cycling thing. Now these hills are *nothing* to most of you, I am sure, but to me they were tough and it seemed like the guys who could drop to a granny gear could keep pedaling & spinning where I really had to push at a slow cadence. Every time I would stand up my legs would burn like crazy. You know the routine. So I tried to sit and push and pull the pedals, applying pressure smoothly, whatever tricks I could remember to get my overweight 185lb carcass up the hills. The embarrassing part is that these hills are rather small by all standards -- only 966 feet of elevation gain according to the recently fixed https://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...bury/572662530

I even had to get off the bike and walk for a 100 yards just to bring my heart rate down and let my legs recover. Sheesh!

Let's hope these old legs can get in shape. I better stop avoiding hilly rides after today, I am beat!

alanbikehouston

You don't need three chainrings to climb Mt. Everest, IF you have the correct two chainrings, and the correct cogset. Some folks get roadbikes with a racing cogset...great for 1% of cyclists, but wrong for the other 99%. A traditional cogset was something like a 14 to 26, which made for easy hill climbing.

Have your corner bikeshop put a easier cogset on your bike. And, some folks keep two rear wheels. One with a "racing" cogset for riding fast on level roads. A second wheel with a "touring" cogset for riding in the hills, for riding in windy conditions, and for loaded touring. It takes just a minute to switch wheels.

asmallsol

On my century on friday I was glad I had a tripple. Although it was maybe the second time I have used it in the past 12 months, I was glad it was there along with my 12-25 cassette when I ran into a hill that had a maximum grade of 22.5% and averaged well into the mid teens. I'm in pretty good shape with tons of miles and climbs under my belt but that one took the cake.

recursive

I like this non-absolutist approach. I agree with abh.

Jay Gloab

I have an 11-23 cassette, and I'd like some lower gearing. Would I be sacrificing shifting smoothness to switch to, say, a 12-26?

Rocke

Wait till you get in shape to make any drastic changes. Lightening up your gears on the back is a good place to start if you must; and a lot cheaper than a new bottom bracket, derailers etc. I personally won’t go to a triple until I start using Velcro and slip-ons for all of my shoes.

After you ride a few 75 to 100 mile weeks, you will be amazed at how things feel much easier. I hope that is one reason you started riding again. If it were real easy, than what would be the fun of that? A little work and you will be doing great with what you have. Welcome back. (You still have the old machines?)

recursive

As long as your derailleur has a long enough cage to accommodate the larger gear, the shifting should be just about exactly the same.

Brian Ratliff

^^^
I think he is talking about the linearity of the gear ratios.

Dynamic

22.5?!?

recursive

err... oh.

In that case, you are losing an 11 and gaining a 26. Some of the intermediate chainrings will shuffle a bit, but I doubt will notice any bigger gaps between gears.

fprintf

Thanks to all for the advice and encouragement. I am on my fourth week with 200 miles total (ouch, I didn't think it was that low) and I think this was really the first time I had to put a ton of effort into a rather short ride. So I was a bit discouraged not to make it up the hills very easily. I will keep at it.

I used to ride a Benotto frame that had mixed Campagnolo, Suntour & Shimano components on it since most of the parts were scrounged from other racers castoffs back in the day (mid-late 80s). It worked but every bike shop I brought it to recently said that it would cost more to upgrade the components than the frame was worth. So I did the unimaginable last year -- I left it by the curbside and somebody came by and picked it up. I only miss it occasionally because it would have made an excellent fixed gear bike. My new Trek 1500 works ten times better than that old bike ever did and is quite a bit lighter also.

ElJamoquio

*AND* it was in Michigan! (Correct me if I'm wrong, asmallsol).

asmallsol

Correct on both. Although I will only see that maybe once this year. I love the UP.

SDRider

I got back into cycling seriously a couple years ago and bought a road bike with a double crankset and I have absolutely zero regret. In fact, I've since built up another bike and it also has a double.

The first time I climbed this one hill near my home I just about died and had to stop half way up it to catch my breath. Now I just climb right up it with no trouble. Of course, I'm about 20lbs lighter now than I was then too.

I run a 53/39 up front and a 12-25 on one bike (10speed) and a 13-26 on the other (9speed).

indygreg

do not make your final judgement yet. You will change an amazing amount in just a few months when you first start out. Even if it is not enough, you have options. go to 27 in the rear. If you need more, sell your crank and get a compact. A compact + 27 is going to be like a triple.

urbanknight

I had the same problem. I went to a compact crank and a wide cassette (50/34, 12-28)

chevy42083

Seeing as I ride a vintage bike with a 42 small ring, I just can't stand to spin like crazy for a steep grade. I have to get some speed and muscle it out. Granny gears are for mountain bikes

Then again... I live along the Gulf coast

riversiderider

fprintf,

I got back into cycling in February after a 10 year hiatus and have ridden 2,000 miles since then. I bought a new bike in April and opted for the triple. I live in the greater Portland Oregon area and I felt it was a necessity. I still feel that way but now days I am spending most of my time riding the center chain ring.

The more you ride the stronger you will get. If a triple isn’t a option on your bike I would consider a compact double (as suggested above).

Good luck and ride safe.

riversiderider

Miller2

Hey CT is a tough place to ride. I just got back from vacation there and almost all my rides kicked my butt! I grew up there and I sure dont remember it being that hilly!! There were some steep hills but it's the rollers that get ya. The constant up and down takes its toll. Keep at it and you'll get used to it.

fprintf

Thanks to all for the responses to my questions. I can feel myself getting stronger as the weeks go by but the hills are still killing me every time. One of my riding partners suggested I go from a 12 - 25 rear cassette to a 12 - 27.

So I went to Performance Bike and found an Ultegra rear cassette. Any idea if this would work? Would I need another link or two on the chain? https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...slisearch=true

I am not sure I was to spend $60 on a new cassette until I give my legs a chance to get stronger.

GuitarWizard

Whereabouts in CT do you ride?

I have found for me, a 50/36 crankset w/ an 11-26 cassette is great for most everything around here. Last year I used a 50/34, and that was nice.

fprintf

I ride a bone stock Trek 1500, 53/39 w/ a 12-25 cassette. I ride in central CT mostly along the CT River/Quinnipiac River valleys around Cheshire (home) or Bloomfield (work).

jiggy

I jsut returned from Connecticut and was amazed at how FLAT it was. Man, you need to come to Washington State to see what hills are all about. I have to gain about 1000 vertical feet in a mile just to get home from every ride. I think I'll keep my triple a while longer. I can crawl up anything with that granny.

Its the one thing I won't change to become a real cyclist. I changed my wheels (Rolf Apex 1480 grams) to lose some weight and gain some speed, even took some scissors to the plastic spoke guard on the rear cog - but that's where it ends. Still not sure if it was worth it. I love my triple and couldnt imagine riding without one with the hills I have to ride round here, even if the two rings could do the same thing why change? How many grams can the little thing add? If it's just so I can be a real roadie - that'll be a big nevermind.

ridethecliche

I go to school at Wesleyan in Middletown, and I can assure you that the surrounding areas aren't flat. Ride the whirlwind hill loop that pedal power has and I think you'll be surprised by some of the hills in the area.