Originally Posted by
hhnngg1
8% is challenging on 39-25 but eminently doable by most. Just go slower.
I find that even on prolonged climbs, that gearing is sufficient for nearly everything. You do suffer on late-stage crazy steep stuff (Bohlman/On Orbit in Norcal at the end, 21+% in the final stretch!) but it's still doable as long as you keep the cadence real, real slow.
It took me a while to figure that out. I was on a ride a few weeks ago with a friend that had to get off the bike and walk for a bit. It was a tough climb for him at 6%, and he was cramping bad. I figured I'd stay on the bike and pace him from behind (and stop and take photos here and there, then catch up again). For a good period of time, I was in the 48x12 combo and moving at a slow walking speed. Cadence was probably around 20 rpm? I was actually surprised how easy it was.