Originally Posted by Grambo

I just gotta call effin BS on this. Climbing 7 - 10 % grades for any kind of distance / mileage / time in a 42 x 15 setup would be extremely difficult even for a professional rider. Mt. Washington is considered the most difficult hill climb in the US (some say the world) and averages 11.9% with the steepest section at 22% and nobody I know of can climb that hill in a 42 x 15. I realize your not racing but just to turn the pedals over with a 42 x 15 on a 20% grade for more than a few feet is near impossible. The most difficult climbs in the TDF average around 8% (Mont Ventoux, L'Alpe D'Huez etc). Have a look at the links and the average grades on those climbs. You're asking me to believe you can handle this type of climbing (albeit for shorter distances / time) in a 42 x 15 ... total internet bluster.


http://highlife.ba.com/News-And-Blog...de-France.html
http://www.northeastcycling.com/Hillclimb_Races.html