Old 08-21-07, 12:09 PM
  #22  
nikvdw
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Paoli PA
Posts: 22

Bikes: Trek 7.7 fx & 29er Cannondale

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For comparison, my Trek MTB has Deore LX crankset with 3 chain ring arrangement 44/32/22 and a 9 speed cassette with 30t being the easiest gear. I can sit and climb very steep hills like this.

The Fuji Pro has a 2 chain ring 48/38 set up and a 10 speed 12-25t cassette on the back. On steep hills on the road i amin the easiest gears, out of my saddle and working hard. at 205 lbs i struggle on really steep stuff. The gear isnt small enough for me. Cross bikes are set up for the circuits they race on, so they don't really need a super easy gearing set up for steep road or rocky singletrack climbs. Crossers dismount and run these sections.

For kicks i have been dismounting and running up steep sections of singletrack when riding with my wife. I am faster than her riding up, although i am out of breath.

My suggestion would be to look at a bike that has a 3rd chainring on the crankset, this will give you the extra oomph, unless you want to modify a stock machine with your own components.
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