L.A. Wheelman Grand Tour Highland?
04-23-12, 08:23 AM
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L.A. Wheelman Grand Tour Highland?
Anyone do the "highland" route before? Just looking for what type of gearing to take. I'll be doing the 300. Yikes. I had a compact/28 for the Mulholland. Wishing I had a 30 back there.
I'm thinking of taking one of my vintage bikes that has a 39/53 up front so looking for gearing advice on the rear. I really don't want to spend the time switching compact cranks around for it.
How steep does the highland get??
I'm thinking of taking one of my vintage bikes that has a 39/53 up front so looking for gearing advice on the rear. I really don't want to spend the time switching compact cranks around for it.
How steep does the highland get??
04-23-12, 08:38 AM
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The steepest bit is Potrero and I've seen 18 and 19% on my Garmin. The rest of it, no worries, nothing really steep.
But . . . Potrero will get your attention!
Rick / OCRR
But . . . Potrero will get your attention!
Rick / OCRR
04-23-12, 09:08 AM
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Rick!!! I knew I could count on you. So a standard with a 12/28 will be okay? I'm doing the 300. I guess its not the steepness, its duration of it 
Rick, I have NO IDEA how I became an ultra-long distance. I went from crits straight to ultra-distance. Jeez. Boredom maybe.
Rick, I have NO IDEA how I became an ultra-long distance. I went from crits straight to ultra-distance. Jeez. Boredom maybe.
04-23-12, 09:09 PM
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Yes and yes. Do the highland route. It's easy. Standard gearing should be fine If you don't mind climbing out of the saddle for a bit.
04-24-12, 07:29 AM
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The first time I climbed Potrero I did it with a 39 x 27t and while it was rather brutal, it was do-able. The next several years I used a triple, 30 x 27t and the last couple of years my compact double, 34 x 32t.
Plus, you should know that there are three Potrero climbs. First is what I call pre-Potrero, which is a long climb but not super steep and kind of gets your legs warmed up for the Real (middle) Potrero. This is the brutal one, prepare to suffer. Then Post-Potrero (you are still on Potrero road) is another long but not killer steep climb with usually (last few years, anyway) a checkpoint near the top, on the left.
Lots of climbs to come, of course, with Grimes Canyon, the Dennison Grade and Casidas Pass but Potrero is the steepest, for sure.
Rick / OCRR
04-24-12, 07:53 AM
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K K, I think by the time it comes, I should be able to swap a few parts around and have the compact/11-28 on the bike I wanna do it in. You know I'm old school, I have to do it on a '95 or older steel bike. Older the better!
