revchuck 

tetonrider - I noticed that a long time ago. The 12-25 Ultegra 11 speed cassette would be the main reason to switch. My "when I win the lottery" bike would be set up with a mid-cage RD and would have two cassettes - 12-25 for most of the time, and 11-32 for when things get really vertical.

furiousferret

For me a 50/34 in front and 11-25 in back is good for the flats, and a 12-27 for the climbs.


@Hida Yanra good stuff about the cadence, its something I need to work on.

Hida Yanra

Re cadence: your 50x11 is meaningfully larger than my 53x12, and I'm planning on gearing *down* on my next crit bike. something to think about

~generalities only- all bicycles including HPVs exist along the same continuum YMMV.

hack

I'll assume Giants v Nationals? Was a good game...good pitching and good hitting in one game.

Also, gotta feel bad for the new guy not controlling his limits on the team outing.

hack

zimny hanging in the wind too much and needs a better camera.

hack

So, out in Sacramento we have the American River Bike Trail. It's about 35 miles or so and connects Sacramento in the center of the valley to Folsom at the toe of the Sierra. I haven't spent much time on it the past year or so, but was out on it today for 20 miles. Amazing how much Cat 6 action that goes on there. I was riding out to a group ride and felt like I was in a road race or something. Not sure if that is typical or bike trails or MUPs, but it was interesting.

globecanvas

Meaning 53x13? Interesting, I'm just about to switch from 50x11 to 53x11 solely for top end in crits. It's not because I spin out in sprints (heh), it's because my cadence tends to be low in hard efforts, especially at the end of races, and I want the extra 2 mph. At 90 rpm, 50x11=32 mph and 53x11=34 mph.

MDcatV

in a race, I don't think I ever know what gear I'm in unless i'm climbing and looking for something easier to spin or going downhill and looking for something tall to keep pressure on the chain - I don't like to descend and not have the option of applying power to the chain so I'd rather be over than under geared. In thinking about it a little more, I use my 11 all the time for interval work (my interval loop is a park loop road that has a downhill portion that is usually also downwind, so when i'm trying to maintain hard efforts, I actually do use the tall gear to keep the power on and within my natural cadence range)

ridethecliche

You're the man!

furiousferret

Its like that everywhere. A lot of racers around here ride on the mup, which isn't too bad since being in a desert there aren't many blind corners, and for the most part its empty. There aren't many packs but there are a ton of shadow drafters and guys that will blow by you and blow up 30 seconds later. For a lot of people in San Bernardino, the urban sprawl is so bad there really is no other place to ride.

topflightpro

Many years ago, I went on a work trip to Yankee stadium for a game. I made the mistake of getting the nachos when I got there. Yes, I blamed the nachos and nothing else.

By the third inning, I was spending more time in the bathroom than in the stands. I ended up leaving early on my own. I was not in good shape.

topflightpro

I got an 11-26 cassette many years ago when I bought a Sram Red groupset, and I've pretty much stuck with that since. I have a couple 11-25s too that I purchased because they were cheap. And I have one 12-27 that came with a used wheelset I purchased that I save for my infrequent trips to the mountains.

globecanvas

In case anybody didn't see it, the last few laps of the pro race at Crybaby Hill last weekend were completely thrilling. The announcers are a bit overwrought ("The! Most! Exciting! Finale! in american bike racing history") but it is very fun to watch.

Jump to 1:05:00 to get the context, then everything blows up at 1:08:30 (video time, not race time). I am very familiar with that corner

Ygduf

and iOS9 icon scheme was conceived

gsteinb

Selling jump start batteries in the rain at a motorcycle show

Ygduf

babies in reno with the vitamin d
got a couple of couches, sleep on the love seat

Hida Yanra

nah- going with a 52/36 combo, then 12-25in back.

caloso

The ARBT is a freaking zoo on summer evenings and Saturday morning year round. I really try to avoid it on those times. I know of a couple of experienced racers who've been taken out and seriously injured in crashes on the bike path. One of them was riding home after the Airport Ride, if I recall correctly. It's not so bad early in the morning since the majority of users are commuters, early morning trainers, or both, and can be expected to be able to handle their bikes and have their own agenda so there's none of the stupid unannounced drafting and Cat 6 racing.

gsteinb

lol wut

grolby

In eastern Mass, an 11-tooth cog is totally redundant. I'm still happy on 12-25, as ever. I've sprinted in 53x12 on a group ride, but I don't think I've ever used it in a crit.

It's a slow game, but those would have to be some heroically fast-acting nachos to get you sick that quickly.

gsteinb

My arm is the size of grolby's thigh.

grolby

This is true. I have the right muscle type to sprint, but I need more of 'em.

topflightpro

Soy un perdedor!

carpediemracing 

Saturday jumped in the 12, finished in the 11. 53 chainring. 14 second sprint but it felt like a year. 29-30 mph start speed, sustained 37 mph for the sprint. 104 rpm jump, 108 as I jumped, dropped to 106 rpm after the chain dropped into the 12. 106-109 rpm in the 11T until I blew, finished at 98 rpm. Cross headwind.

Could I have gone faster jumping in the 13 and going to the 12? Probably not, at least not in the middle. I jumped earlier than normal because my top end is severely lacking. The jump was good, distanced some good riders immediately, guys that I may not be able to get around if I started behind them. I went to the 11 because I couldn't sustain the 12T cadence, which is mainly a function of training. The more I train the longer I can go, but right now my optimal sprint length is in the 10-12 second range, not the 19-20 second range.



The thing about the 11 is that for flatter, windy races there's no reason not to have it on the bike and usually a good spot or two on the course to use it. If you're in a cross-tailwind section and the field is soft pedaling at 35 mph the 11T is great for moving up. When it's faster in the same spot, like 38-40 mph, it's still great for moving up. Instead of spinning fast, something that gets harder and harder as you get more fatigued, you can pedal slower.

caloso

I'm a driver, I'm a winner. Things are gonna change. I can feel it.