bitterken

So I got talked into taking an open spot for the Mt. Washington climb this Sunday (the practice ride - the actual race is next month) by some teammates as mental preparation for a mountainous stage race at the end of the summer (Green Mountain.)

I understand that typical road bike gearing is not enough. I ride a regular 53-39 double and the biggest cassette I have is a 12/27 (10sp Shimano.) The guys I'm doing this with said I should swap out my chainrings and cranks with a single 22 or 24 ring and mountain bike cranks (I can borrow these, so no cost.) The guys on 9sp are swapping out their cassettes and RD's for mountain bike ones.

This whole thing sounds nutty, and I'm wondering what I got talked into. So have any of you guys done this ride? If so, have any insights? What kind of gearing did you need?

Az B

Watch your heart rate. If it blows up before you get to the top, you're toast.

Az

Hammertoe

I will be riding the practice ride this weekend and race in August...

I have been practicing on Mt. Ascutney which has the same avg. grade and is exactly 1/2 the distance...

I ride Ascutney with a 26 x 11 - 34...

I am in the 26 x 26 and 26 x 30 most of the ride with the 26 x 34 as a bailout...

I met a guy on Ascutney today that was riding a Campy triple, 30 x 29...

I guess it depends on your fitness...

Look here under section 5...

https://www.northeastcycling.com/hillclimb_handbook.htm

PS...Good luck and pray for good weather!!!

SpongeDad

I did a ride where the last 4 miles were about 9% (Mt Wash is about 12%). I put a mtb RD on and a 13-34 cassette from Harris Cyclery. I was in 30x30 and 30x34 the whole time. Having a 26 or 24 ring up front would have been nice.

You're going to be slogging it out for a while. Get the lowest, most embarrassing gearing you can.

pinky

Tossing on an MTB crank is probably the easiest way to go, though you'll probably have to go single ring (good luck warming up). I did it with a 32/22 bastardized front end (shifted with heel kick) and standard 12-25 in the back. First half of the race is very constant so its easier to slow, the second half gets into the dirt switchbacks and crappy asphalt which you can mentally break up and go quicker through (if you're looking to push). Oh the big grade at the end will most likely be hidden in the clouds and appear out of no where.
Have fun, pray it doesn't snow, bring whiskey for afterwards.

KevinF

The usual gearing recommendation for mortals is along the lines of 1:1 gearing; I did it twice with a 30x32 low gear. A 1:1 low-gear is still mashing on the super-steep sections for most people, but you can survive in relative comfort on the other sections. As others have said -- throw a 24-tooth MTB ring on there, and you'll be fine with a 12x27 cassette. There's about a kilometer of 18% grade just before you cross treeline which will be your first major challenge and then you have to deal with the weather (i.e., wind, fog, and whatever else Mt. Washington is throwing at you that morning). I don't recall the dirt sections being any particularly big deal.

adam

I was just in North Conway, NH last week and that's what it looked like everyone was going for - a single mtb crank (22 or a 24) with a regular (12-25ish) cassette.

Here's a question - anyone know what some of the pros do it in (back when Tyler Hamilton was doing it)?

Hammertoe

2007 Hammertoe -
2006 Tyler Hamilton - 52.21
2005 Tyler Hamilton - 51.11
2003 Tom Danielson - 51.05
2002 Tom Danielson - 49.24 **Hillclimb Record***
1999 Tyler Hamilton - 50.21
1997 Tyler Hamilton - 51.56

KevinF

I believe Tyler Hamilton used a 39x26 for the steepest sections. I know Tim Johnson (another pro rider who won one year) used similair gearing and he remarked afterwards that he was "really glad to see the top".

adam

Should have been clearer in my post - anyone know what gearing some of the pros do it in?

adam

Kevin was too quick for my refresh...

Terex

Good ride report at bottom of this page: https://www.princetonfreewheelers.com/events.htm