I started cycling again about 4 years ago at age 72. As I got in to it, I bought a 2012 Specialized Roubaix Elite Rival Compact. It came with a rear sprocket of 11-32. That was OK until I started doing moderate hills. A couple of years into it, I decided I needed more range at the rear. Sram had just come out with their 11-36 for the Mtn. bikers. With a bit of Googling, I determined that would work, but would need the long mtn. bike derailleur and a slightly longer chain. All parts were easily installed, and hills immediately got easier. A year later I decided to ride the Dempsey 70, a quite hilly course, with one hill aptly named Puke Hill. I attempted a test ride and could not get up Puke Hill. By then the mtn bikers had gone to 1x11 with a 42 tooth big ring on the back. I installed a Wolf Tooth 42 tooth big ring on the back, and swapped out the 15 and 17 tooth gears for a Wolf Tooth 16 tooth cog since I only could install 10 gears on the back, and had added the 42 tooth behind the existing previously largest 36 tooth cog. Had to lengthen the chain a bit more. I am using the Sram X9 long derailleur, but it does not quite have enough range. I can't use the 50 on the front and the 42 on the back. Everything else works fine, and during the actual event, I ascended Puke Hill while others walked up. My Roubaix road bike has the same gearing range as my mountain bike which has a front triple.

Speaking of heart meds, I am on Toprol XL-50 mg. With the permission of my cardiologist, this summer I cut back to just half a pill (they are scored) and found hill climbing much easier.

Reed