Al Criner

If you plan to continue your running career, you may want to rethink this. Becoming a serious bicyclist is probably not in the best interests of a an elite runner. Just as running has not prepared you to be a great bicyclist, bicycling will not prepare you to be a great runner.

ThisIsNotMic

Thank you to the people who have suggested the cassettes and posted links. Maybe I shouldn't have taken offense to people and sorry if I misread/understood a post and replied poorly. For the one who suggusted I am not used to getting passed because of my running background, this has nothing to do with it. I like to compete and cycling is a whole new beast for me. I could run 50 miles but the thought of riding a hundred sounds so far-fetched. I've run up Mt Washington and all these places where they're holding hill climb bike races, and can't fathom how cyclists can do it so fast. I'm in awe of the sport, and glad to have discovered it.

PhotoJoe 

I'm not a doctor. Very few on BF are doctors, and those who are smart enough to not give medical advice over the interwebs.

HOWEVER, if it were me, I would:

1) Talk to your doctor about what you're doing and get his/her opinion

2) Do the mountain bike cassette/derailleur/chain swap. I guess this depends on how much you're willing to invest. "Not a rich man" and "investing heavily" could have differing meanings to different people. If you are willing to make that level of investment, I've heard it's far better to spin on injured knees than to mash. I'm overweight. I'm 6'2" 235 and I SUCK on climbs, even with a 34-28 combo. I have a permanent medical issue with my right leg and as such, have far less power in it. I think spinning would help me.

3) Assuming the doc says you're good to keep climbing, KEEP CLIMBING. It's been said that "it never gets easier, you just get faster".

Bacciagalupe

Wait until after your surgery.

The last thing you want to do is put unnecessary strain on your knee right now, and a "quick fix" to your gear is not likely to be a good fix.

For example, it is critical that you have a good bike fit. However, it is almost certain that your range of motion will change, at least temporarily, after the surgery. You're much better off waiting until after the surgery, and recovering properly, before investing in a good fit.

Those mountains aren't going anywhere, you won't die of angst if you don't climb them in the next month or so, and I'm guessing your recovery will go much better if you develop your patience. So, I say "wait."

ThisIsNotMic

To restate: The issue in my knee is Plica Syndrome and currently is only affected by running. I've got the "OK" from my specialist to continue any activity that doesn't aggrevate it. I can't even run down the street, but I can ride my bike.

RPK79

You should be out riding hills instead of in here asking what to do about your gearing.

ThisIsNotMic

Thank you, this was my post on the previous page that you might've missed:
As I acknowledge at the bottom of that referenced post, I know it's not easy and know the number one thing I need to do is climb hills. I completely understand this, and that's what I've been doing: hill repeats, hill sprints, long hill rides.

Jakedatc

And how long has your buddy been riding? you're saying that you want to run a 15min 5k what brand shoes will make me run faster.

2 weeks is not enough time to show any training effect. you should know this. 100mi per week is not very much. especially not for only 2 weeks.

mt washington race is in august. and is about $350to enter.. and registration is already sold out. you said you didn't want to spend money on your bike but are willing to do $350 on one race? https://www.bikereg.com/22208

ascutney is apparently as hard or harder than that but at least it's open all the time.

you can have smaller gears or $ you can choose.. you havent told us what model shifters/derailler you have which might help. 12-30 is probably the smallest you can get with a normal derailler before having to switch.

triple will be the most effective but need the most new parts.

ThisIsNotMic

Jake- I understand all of this and I've pointed all that out. This wasn't a discussion about my fitness level versus my buddy's fitness level versus how much money I would spend on a race. I posed a question and was looking for suggestions if someone was in my shoes. I have a compact 50/34 crank and a 11-26 cassette and want to climb long steep hills easier DUE TO GEARING. (I know that someone who is much more fit can climb easier and faster than me on my bike with the current gears) I want to spin a little more and not grind, so what would someone do if that was their set up. I've gotten some good responses.

ThisIsNotMic

Also, to answer your questions, I have a Shimano Sora (34.9mm clamp) FD, a Shimano Tiagra RD, and Shimano Sora STI, 9 speed shifters.

Jakedatc

whatever you say boss.

ThisIsNotMic

Sorry to the person who sent me a Private Message. I can not reply as I do not have enough posts, you need 50 before you can send a reply.

ThisIsNotMic

I don't get what you're trying to say/prove? Honestly. If it's cause I said I didn't want to change the crank and then the dereailleurs... ETC, that's cause I don't. If I can just change the cassette that'd be awesome. Which is what I was asking.

ThisIsNotMic

By the way, Newton's Revenge also rides up the Mt Washington Auto Road and is still open. In July. If you're interested.

bikemig 

There is some tough climbing in NH. Going bigger on the back is one solution; going smaller on the front is an alternative. You could get a 46/30 crank. That's more of a touring/mtb set up but a 46 running on an 11 gives you a high gear of 110 inches which isn't bad. Pros used to win races (this is a few years back) with lower top ends. A lot depends on what you want to do with the bike but there is some really great climbing in NH and you have knee issues. Me, I'd go low.

therhodeo

That was me. Trying to help you out without all the noise.

Bah Humbug

I really, really, really think that another coupla-three weeks of riding will make a huge difference. You're generally fit and light, and 34-28 is a pretty easy gear. Some patience will do wonders.

zymphad

This is very true. Different muscles and also bones! Cyclists have among the lowest bone density of any sport. Running is a high impact sport. But doesn't seem OP will be dedicating to cycling, cycling will be a fun hobby, maybe serious hobby but he will be a runner 1st. Unless his surgery doesn't rectify his problem, I doubt an ULTRA-marathoner would give up running for cycling.

Haha. When I first picked up cycling, my ass hurt so bad from a decently padded gel road saddle. OMG it hurt and it hurt for weeks. And now my minimal padded Prologo without padded bike shorts for 30 miles is bliss. Lots of things in cycling unrelated to fitness but cycling just being different.

ThisIsNotMic

Thanks bikemig. There's been a few people who posted a link to a Shimano Tiagra 9 Speed Cassette, which would give me boost from the 26 I have to 30. I just don't know enough bikes to know if that's a straight swap or if I need a new RD.

therhodeo

If its not a straight swap you'll have to buy a new medium cage RD for about $50.

ThisIsNotMic

Thanks, and I have no doubt that another 3 weeks, better yet 6 weeks of cycling is going to do wonders. My only gripe is that the people who are riding Mt Washington, from what I've been told, are using an easier gear ration than 34-28. 12% for about an hour, which is what wins it, not what I think I can do it in, is a LOT at 34-28.

Jakedatc

you have the smallest chainring that can fit on your current crankset. to go any smaller you will need to swap that out. When you swap that out you will also need a new front derailler, front shifter. you can then get rings that will get you down to very small to your hearts content. this goes against your OP but it is what you will need to do those hills like that.

you have a few months to get ready for Newtons Revenge on washington since the Aug race is sold out. https://www.bikereg.com/newtons-reve...gton-auto-road those are the only 2 days that the auto road is open for bicycles.

which i have no interest in. being able to pay for one of my classes is more important to me than a 7mi bike race.

ThisIsNotMic

That's all I was looking to know, which means the whole thing can be done for sub $100, which is fantastic.

bikemig 

You should be fine if you go with a new double and bottom bracket; it is unlikely that you will need to change the front derailleur, the rear, or the chain. You will have to adjust the rear derailleur. This will give you better climbing ratios with your existing cassette. It is a viable option for touring, etc., and may fit your needs well.

Here is a thread on the topic:

https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/67...0-touring.html

I've climbed east burke mtn and I was really happy I had a triple when I did!

ThisIsNotMic

That's what I was looking to know, thank you for your input.