acaurora

Hey everyone,

I had a quick question for those of you that are going to this year's Death Ride, or those of you that have completed it in the past - is the idea of doing it with a standard double instead of a compact or a triple a mistake? To give you some background, I started road cycling with a compact in a place that was primarily flat, and then when I moved to where I live now, I got a standard double. I have been up Diablo on my current bike without any issues, if that is any measure either.

I know that it is primarily up to me in gauging my ability, but what do you think? Do I necessarily need to change my cassette or switch out to a compact or a triple for the DR?

roy5000x2

If you got a triple, you'd have to get a new FD and RD, along with the crank. If you're worried about the climbing, get a cassette with a higher cog range. If that still isn't enough, then get a compact crank as well.

SkinnyLegs

39-28 is already pretty low. OP if you are in good shape and confident in your ability then I wouldn't make any changes and just ride.

BenRidin

Try doing a three peat up Diablo with your set up and see how you feel. You might find that your set up is fine or you might not.

BR

umd

I'm sure you'll make it, but you will probably wish for lower gearing when you are blown.

Ygduf

3x Diablo is hard. This is pre-DMD.

https://connect.garmin.com/activity/30378639

I am relatively fit, and 34/28 is my bailout. On the third trip up Diablo I was in that gear like 99% of the time.

acaurora

Thanks for all the responses so far. When I went up Diablo the first time, I was in my 34/28 for most of the time, as I was trying to save energy/spin for most of the way up since I had always heard about the last part being a killer. I was never exhausted, just taking it easy. I am going to Diablo for a second time this weekend, and will be doing it twice (I believe the route that my friends and I are doing is that we're going up from one entrance to the top, down to the ranger station, then going back up, followed by going back down to the other entrance??). Hopefully that will be a better gauge.

If I were to change my setup, any idea what would be the cheapest option to go with (I assume the cassette - does Shimano make anything with a bigger range than the 11-28 that I have?) ?

DXchulo

I haven't done the Death Ride, but I did this one last year. Everybody is different, so it wouldn't make sense to tell you what gearing I was using. I will tell you that doing Diablo repeats is a great idea. Death Ride is 15,000 feet of climbing, right? I would want to get in a ride with at least 10,000 feet beforehand. I think that kind of ride would tell you everything you need to know.

Monitor & Carson have pretty steady grades, while Ebbetts has some steep sections thrown in. Keep that in mind.

botto 

when in doubt, bring a granny gear.

leooooo

lol

bring a granny gear even when not in doubt!

ZXiMan

If you have to ask, then probably yes. :-P

songfta

The cheapest solution would be:

1. Get an 11-27 or 11-28 cassette if you don't already have one.
2. Track down a 38-tooth chainring for your crankset (they're rare, but they are available).

Barring that, track down a compact crankset that fits the BB you have. The adjustment of the front derailleur should be fairly minimal to get it to work. Good luck!

rydaddy

I did a 3x Diablo using a standard double and a 12-27. This was in preparation for the '08 Death Ride. I ordered a compact that evening.

icyclist 

Mt. Diablo is a little under 4,000 feet. If you can climb it twice, plus ride about 75 miles, you should be able finish off the Death Ride, if you feel reasonably fresh at the end of the day. If it's a real struggle to finish off that second climb, and/or if you don't feel reasonably good at the end of 75 miles, then you're going to struggle on the DR.

gpelpel

The DR is the equivalent to riding Diablo up and down 4.5 times. As mentioned above if you are able to do a double (or better a triple) Diablo you should be able to finish the DR. Just keep in mind that each climb adds up to the others and the last climb of the DR, Carson, is a very long grinder.
I am much older than you are, I completed my first DR in 2008 with a 34-29 but experienced major cramping as soon as the end of the second climb. Last year I finished much fresher but I had a 34-32 setting. I spent most of the day in the lowest setting.

You have two cheap options:
1) Get a used FSA, Shimano, or Ritchey compact crankset off ebay or CL. You current shifters, derailleurs and cassette will work.
2) Get an IRD 11-32 or 11-34 cassette. Make sure you have a long cage rear derailleur. My medium cage Campagnolo worked with the 11-32 but it was its extreme limit.

intence

What kind of crank do you have now? I run a relatively wide cassette (12-27 or 11-28 depending on wheelset), and train with a standard double. If i'm doing a long ride and aren't sure about the climbs etc, i'll swap it out for a compact. As long as it's external BB, and the brand is the same, the change is relatively quick .... unbolt left crankarm, push out crank, insert new crank, adjust FD. Then back to the standard for training/normal rides again.

If you're running Shimano, Jenson had a nice deal on the R700 Compact.

Bostic

I'll let you know after I try the Terrible Two double century in June with a 53/39. Either 11-27 or 11-28. Figure if I can do that, then the Death Ride the next month should be a cakewalk.

icyclist 

Thinking about this a bit more, I would have had trouble in my prime finishing the Death Ride on my standard double, and I was in dynamite shape back in the day. Report back to us after the ride to let us know what you used, and what you experienced. (I'll have 26/27 gearing for the DR, and I expect to use it from time to time.)

acaurora

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone. As I said before, I will be doing Diablo repeats (just 2x as it is what the group ride is set for) this Sunday I believe, and then in a few weeks I will be doing the Auburn Century, probably the 110 mile option (I am registered for the 140mi , 17000ft, but may switch to the 110 so I don't die hah). It will be a great way to see if I can survive on a standard double. I use the 11-28 cassette that came with my Tarmac. Will report back.

Ygduf

Truth. 3x Diablo is hard as hell. I did DMD the week after my 3x ride and I was never as TIRED on a 208 mile 20k climbing ride as I was on the 3rd trip up Diablo.

Ygduf

You're ridiculous. Which bike has a standard on it?

banerjek

Haven't done the Death Ride, but I've been doing this comparable ride every year for awhile. I've done it using standard double as well as compact. I'm just a recreational rider, but I put on a decent number of miles.

You can probably do it on a standard double, but you'll be wishing for lower gears by the end of the ride. If you intend to do a lot of hill riding, you may as well get a compact and one of your existing cassettes. Just because you *can* make it on your 39T doesn't mean you won't have more fun if you have lower gears.

There is really no need to climb insane amounts before going on a ride like that. The main thing is to just relax and pace yourself -- i.e. when you've been climbing for a couple hours, your legs should still feel fresh.

ericm979

What you need depends on your fitness and your climbing style. Some people can climb at 60 rpms all day, but they are rare. Most people need to spin a little faster to keep their leg muscles from getting tired.

I've done the Death Ride seven times. Judging from the bikes I see vs what I see posted I'd wager that the quit rate among standard double riders is closer to 50%. There's a few fast guys at the front (on Carson) who are fast enough that they dont' need a compact or a triple. And then a large portion of the rest who have a standard double are kidding themselves about their fitness or how long a day it is. A lot of those guys (women are smarter) quit.

If you can do three Diablos in under 1 hour (1:03 for north gate) then you're one of the fast guys (although I know guys who can do that and use a compact). Otherwise, get a compact. I think it's better to bring lower gears than you think you'll need. I needed that 30x28 by the end of the day the first time. You can always shift up if it doesn't hurt enough.

The wide range cassette (and triple rear derailleur) is another option. That's what people did before 50x34 became popular.

umd

I've gotten by with a 39x28 at Everest Challenge the last few years, but I'm bringing a 32 with me this year.

Ygduf

qft.

A standard double won't make you go faster. Unless you're one of the chosen few not-too-fat for this sport, it's going to make you hurt a lot and be slower.