Originally Posted by
SaiKaiTai
Big ring up a hill? I laughed, anyway... way to go! This is just fantasy land to me.
Yea...you always say stuff like that and in a couple of months you will be posting your own big ring hill climb. I am saving your quote to post as a response.
Originally Posted by
jppe
Hey-I thought this was the off season********** No fair you guys out doing hill repeats already! I will admit to trying to just use my Madone with the 53/39 right now. When I move over to the 50/34 later on it feels wonderful. I could not imagine trying to do a climb in a 53/25.....Just go ahead and give me the drugs.
Hey. We have to do something to catch up.
Originally Posted by
Terex
I did more big chain ring work this summer. I've got a variety of hills very near me, from gradual climbs to +15% hills, but nothing super steep. This year, in my 4th year of active road cycling, I climbed all of the local hills in my big chain ring. For me, it's a 53/39 - 12/27. I did the climbs in a 53/23. You don't go as fast, but it does build strength. I also spent a lot more time intentionally standing in my climbs, regardless of gearing. I haven't really done much in the way of focused hill repeats, so I plan to do more of that in the new year.
On any group ride that is below my "speed limit", I try to do the hills in a lot bigger gear than is optimal. This practice has helped me improve my power. When I ride with the fast guys, I use every gear I can to optimize speed and minimize muscle fatigue.
My winter bike has a compact chain ring, and I'm thinking of switching back to the 53/39.
I was in your area a couple of weeks ago, but didn't have time to ride. I did have a great dinner at Bella Vista on Rt. 35 though. What a view of the lights in the valley....
We have not dined there but it looks like a great place. If you go south of highway 84 on highway 35 a couple of miles, you will come to Old La Honda. It is the benchmark climb in our area and has very little traffic so it is favored by cyclists to climb to Highway 35 or for repeat work.