Originally Posted by
TMonk
most reasonably fit cyclists (by that I mean W/kg) can climb steep grades in those gears... the question to ask is what kind of RPM (read: power output) can you produce?
riding up a 10% grade in a 50/18 pushing like 50rpm is nothing to write home about.
Really???? Read Dannihilator's post and my responses. What I'm taking exception to is that he can maintain that power output for 20 - 30 mins which is total BS. Here's the math using you inputs:
Gearing - 52 x 18 @ 50 RPM = 10.9MPH
Interval = 30 Mins
Distance Covered = 5.45 miles
Elevation Gain / Mile = 528 Ft
Total elevation gain over interval = 2,878 ft
Assumed Rider weight = 165 lbs
Watts required approximately 393!!!
Watts per kg = 5.25
Given this was sustained for 20 - 30 mins FTP also = 393 watts!!
Cyclist ability = Cat 1 / Domestic Pro
I'll say it again. Total effin BS. Don't start backtracking now you are the guys who said you could do this and it obviously isn't true. Pretty much any decent cyclist can punch out 400 watts for a few minutes (hell I can generate a 1000 watts for a few seconds) but delivering that kind of power over a prolonged period is a very different story.