Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
On the other side, you're right those aren't sisssy climbs, lets assume you're doing extended climibing in the 8% range. (I imagine in reality your climbs are sometimes steeper than 8%). you say you don't touch the 25, so your low gear would be 42x23. At 80 rpm 42x 23 is almost 12mph. If you can do sustained big mountain climbs at 12mph, quit your day job and concentrate on cycling because that rate of asencion is at least enough to finish in the professional pack.
To be fair, Jobst Brandt tours in the Alps every year with 180mm cranks and a 44/21 low gear. Admittedly, he's an extreme case, and I'm sure he turns those pedals over at much less than 80 rpm. Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks.
