Restarting on steep gravel?
06-23-13, 09:12 PM
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Restarting on steep gravel?
Today's ride had a 2.5 mile climb averaging >9% which means several sections were quite a bit steeper. A good deal of this, perhaps 2 miles was hard pack with a lot of loose gravel. I'm 200 lbs and my road bike has 25mm tires, not ideal for these conditions. I could climb up to about 14%, but his a stretch where, fearing a severe loss of traction, I walked for 1/4 mile or so. I would have restarted sooner, but didn't have a start-up strategy on 10%+, loose surface, in which I had any confidence. My low gear is 30-30 and I know from experience I could easily start on a paved surface up to 12-13%, but at these sort of grades on the given surface wheel spin seemed very likely.
Any suggestions out there other than wider tires, hybrid, mountain bike, etc.?
Any suggestions out there other than wider tires, hybrid, mountain bike, etc.?
06-23-13, 09:40 PM
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Today's ride had a 2.5 mile climb averaging >9% which means several sections were quite a bit steeper. A good deal of this, perhaps 2 miles was hard pack with a lot of loose gravel. I'm 200 lbs and my road bike has 25mm tires, not ideal for these conditions. I could climb up to about 14%, but his a stretch where, fearing a severe loss of traction, I walked for 1/4 mile or so. I would have restarted sooner, but didn't have a start-up strategy on 10%+, loose surface, in which I had any confidence. My low gear is 30-30 and I know from experience I could easily start on a paved surface up to 12-13%, but at these sort of grades on the given surface wheel spin seemed very likely.
Any suggestions out there other than wider tires, hybrid, mountain bike, etc.?
Any suggestions out there other than wider tires, hybrid, mountain bike, etc.?
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06-23-13, 09:46 PM
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CX style with a running start and a jump....although you may want to practice on some soft grass first.
@3:25
@3:25
Last edited by CALE262; 06-23-13 at 09:51 PM.
06-23-13, 09:56 PM
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You ruled out a wider tire and now you just ruled out lower gearing so you're running out of things to try. The surface you describe is very rideable on a 25c tire in the flats or if the climb was less steep. If you can't spin fast enough to feel that the bike will keep moving than a lower gear is the answer. Lower tire pressure would help (which is why a wider tire would help) but you just ruled that out. Pick your poison or keep walking.
06-24-13, 06:00 AM
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I don't run into this on the road bike but often on the mtb. If the trail is wide enough I start off diagonal rather than straight up, foot down on the high side and clipped in on the low side. I don't use the lowest gear because that can spin the tire and doesn't get my going far and fast enough with one stroke to get the other foot up and going without falling over. I'll pedal a few strokes before clipping in with the downhill foot.
06-24-13, 06:13 AM
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You ruled out a wider tire and now you just ruled out lower gearing so you're running out of things to try. The surface you describe is very rideable on a 25c tire in the flats or if the climb was less steep. If you can't spin fast enough to feel that the bike will keep moving than a lower gear is the answer. Lower tire pressure would help (which is why a wider tire would help) but you just ruled that out. Pick your poison or keep walking.
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06-24-13, 09:41 AM
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A good cross section of commentary.
1. I have 28mm tires which I'll transition back to after I wear out the 25's
2. Based on our tandem experience I should have shifted to a taller gear as suggested above
3. Sometimes you just ride what's in front of you; heading downhill would not have been an attractive option
4. Running start on a 12% grade might be attractive for some young, fit and agile; maybe someone can post a video
1. I have 28mm tires which I'll transition back to after I wear out the 25's
2. Based on our tandem experience I should have shifted to a taller gear as suggested above
3. Sometimes you just ride what's in front of you; heading downhill would not have been an attractive option
4. Running start on a 12% grade might be attractive for some young, fit and agile; maybe someone can post a video
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