This week I had a member of our cycling group borrow My Bianchi Grizzly as he wanted to take his son out for a mountain bike ride up on the hills. His bike is a Giant Frame built up from his old frame that broke. Over the years that bike had been built up with parts suitable for him. Upgrades to XT. sensible hanbdbuilt wheels and he had kept the gearing on his old 8 speed and the old style ATB crankset. This bike suits him and he is always the one to chase.

He decided to give his bike to his son for the day and he used the Bianchi. Well he bought it back today and as he walked through the gate his remark was "I now know how you can get up those Hills"

Our offroad hills are only about 1 to 1 1/2 miles long and vary from 10 to 15% with the occasional steep bit. There are a few of these hills where he has to walk and I refuse to. Pushing a bike up those hills is harder than cycling- even if I do struggle.

So quick check on the gearing

His bike is 8 speed and 11/28 cassette. Mine is 9 speed and 11/32.

His crank is 52/36/24 Mine is 44/32/22

His lowest gear is 24/28 Mine is 22/32

So it is obvious that he has his bike too highly geared for the use---------Or does he. I don't use granny so do all the hills in 32/32. He is fitter- younger and stronger than me and he uses 24/28. So he actually uses a lower gear than me and yet he struggles. I struggle but never go into that granny unless it is the hill I know no-one else can climb- or I drop back to the slowest rider to keep him company.

Now all I have to get him to do is enjoy the scenery instead of tearing up the hills at twice my speed and giving me a target that I leave alone. Funny thing is that when we leave the hills- or do a Road ride on the MTB's it is me that is in the lead. I can pull 44/11 on the roads at a sensible speed- He can only pull about 52/16 unless it is downhill.