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L'Eroica CA Gearing??

Old 03-28-18, 10:19 AM
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In 2016 my low was 42/24 and I couldn't turn smoothly enough not to slip on some gravel/soft climbing sections. I had 170 Cranks. Maybe longer Cranks would help. Other trouble spot was Kiler rutted parts where choosing the wrong line caused a wheels up dismount. Longer Cranks there might have made matters worse.
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Old 03-28-18, 10:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Kabuki12
Is there much benefit to 175 cranks vs 170?
From the standpoint of how it affects gearing, switching to a 175 crank from a 170 is like increasing your largest sprocket from 24T to 24.7T. However it will decrease your pedal to ground clearance by 5mm. If you adjust your saddle height for the bottom of the pedal stroke it will lower your body position by 5mm, which may help with stability. Finally, assuming you re-position your saddle height it will increase the bend in your knees at the top of the pedal stroke. For this reason some of us (not necessarily me) don't recommend it. Your knees may vary.
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Old 03-28-18, 10:56 AM
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My gearing is now at 44-23.

Yes, I am going to "Pay the Piper". I am pretty strong, but it's going to be brutal for sure.

I though about swapping to a 42, but my SR cranks are just too sweet to throw on a NR small ring from my stash. Vanity, and lack of foresight are two of my attributes evidently.
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Old 03-28-18, 11:41 AM
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Crank Length

Originally Posted by jimmuller
From the standpoint of how it affects gearing, switching to a 175 crank from a 170 is like increasing your largest sprocket from 24T to 24.7T. However it will decrease your pedal to ground clearance by 5mm. If you adjust your saddle height for the bottom of the pedal stroke it will lower your body position by 5mm, which may help with stability. Finally, assuming you re-position your saddle height it will increase the bend in your knees at the top of the pedal stroke. For this reason some of us (not necessarily me) don't recommend it. Your knees may vary.
Thank you for your help. I don't think the gain is worth the compromise for me. I am just hoping that I can get my NR rear derailleur to cooperate with a 28t rear gear. Thank you Joe
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Old 03-28-18, 11:52 AM
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What is the main climb like, as far as the grade? Someone says like 2-3 miles at 10%? I don't think I'm going to make it this year - unless it's some last minute thing, but I'd like to know in case I go next year.

While I've not done eroica, I've done a fair amount of epic rides like this on BITD. On pavement is a whole other thing that dirt. Main issue is that it's hard to keep the rear wheel from slipping. Getting out of the saddle will usually result in instant slippage. Count on climbing in the saddle most of the time. I always figure I need at least a gear or two lower to keep traction, especially if it's muddy. With really good technique, it's possible to push a bigger gear and maintain traction, but my technique isn't that good. I can't see crank length making a difference one way or another.
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Old 03-28-18, 12:12 PM
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There are three significant climbs: Killer Canyon, Cypress Mountain, and Santa Rita:
Killer is step, narrow and rutted. This is where tires with a little tread pattern will help keep your momentum and minimize slippage.
Cypress is steep and seemingly endless. This is where you need all the gear you can find. Or walk.
Santa Rita is 2000 feet of elevation over 6 miles. The surface is gravel with some ruts, but not too bad as there are many homes in the area and it's kept up reasonable well. But it's still a slog in the hottest part of the day.


For gearing, in 2016 I had a 48/34 crank and 13/28 freewheel. I walked up the very last part of both Killer Canyon and Cypress, made it all the way up Santa Rita. Last year I had a 50/34/24 triple and a 12/34 cassette. We were re-routed around Killer Canyon due to heavy rain, but made it up both Cypress and Santa Rita without walking. This year I've lost about 25 pounds and will have a 46/36/24 triple with a 12/34 cassette on a lighter bike. My assumption is I won't need the extreme gears I had last year, but nice to have 'em around just in case.
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Old 03-28-18, 12:14 PM
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Nah. 2-3 miles avg 8%. Maybe you can see this.
https://www.strava.com/activities/541843140
Short pieces 10% of course. Scroll down an click on segments like Kiler, Cypress, etc.
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Old 03-28-18, 01:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Spaghetti Legs
I am taking the absolute simplest approach and walking when I run out gears. If I’m feeling particularly “heroic” I might shoulder the bike ‘cross style and jog.
Last weekend I went for a knee-wrecking (literally) ride with gugie and Andrew (our newest intrepid traveler on the Magic Bus). Part way up one particularly nasty hill I gave up and dismounted, only to discover that even at a very slow walking pace I wasn't losing any ground to them. I should have started walking sooner. Later in the ride my knees were balking at even mild grades and I lost a lot of ground walking then.


Originally Posted by jonwvara
Triples rule!
Agreed! That's why my Eroica bike will be sporting one of your triplizers, despite how much the purists will wince to see it. Right now I'm debating between an inner ring so small the NR front derailleur won't lift it onto the middle ring (manual gear changes are period correct, right?) and a slightly bigger ring that will have me walking more often.
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Old 03-28-18, 06:09 PM
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I cosidered a triplizer but on my stronglight and running a 46/36 double on my px-10 which might look pretty normal vintage to many folk. But this year I’m committed to the Medici with what i fantasize are 1981 road gears.
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Old 03-28-18, 07:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Andy_K
Agreed! That's why my Eroica bike will be sporting one of your triplizers, despite how much the purists will wince to see it.
I think "The Wincing Purist" would be a great name for a bar/restaurant, or maybe a retailer of some kind.
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Old 03-29-18, 09:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Classtime
Nah. 2-3 miles avg 8%. Maybe you can see this.
https://www.strava.com/activities/541843140
Short pieces 10% of course. Scroll down an click on segments like Kiler, Cypress, etc.
If you look at that Strava elevation profile and drag the cursor through it slowly you will notice many short sections exceeding 10%. In fact there are several short pitches exceeding 25%, both up and downhill!!! It may only average 8 to 10% but 25% is still STEEP!
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Old 03-29-18, 11:00 AM
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Noobie with a question

So, I’m coming from Colorado to ride L’Eroica for the first time. I’m riding the short 40mile course to kind of break in. I was wondering if anyone has ridden this course and if so could you tell me what the hills and grades are like. Are they over 10%, long, and rutted as I see that the other routes’ are? The website describes this course as having “rolling hills,” which doesn’t sound too bad.
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Old 03-29-18, 12:55 PM
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Originally Posted by jonwvara
I think "The Wincing Purist" would be a great name for a bar/restaurant, or maybe a retailer of some kind.
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Old 03-29-18, 01:59 PM
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Originally Posted by bocobiking
So, I’m coming from Colorado to ride L’Eroica for the first time. I’m riding the short 40mile course to kind of break in. I was wondering if anyone has ridden this course and if so could you tell me what the hills and grades are like. Are they over 10%, long, and rutted as I see that the other routes’ are? The website describes this course as having “rolling hills,” which doesn’t sound too bad.
If I recall, the short course is the first 40 miles of the long course. It runs east of Paso into the vineyards and it's true, there are lots of rollers but no major climbs. In 2016 it was muddy and some of the short but pretty steep little ramps in the vineyards were slick as hell. My buddy's brakes clogged with mud a few times.
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Old 03-29-18, 04:24 PM
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Originally Posted by bocobiking
So, I’m coming from Colorado to ride L’Eroica for the first time. I’m riding the short 40mile course to kind of break in. I was wondering if anyone has ridden this course and if so could you tell me what the hills and grades are like. Are they over 10%, long, and rutted as I see that the other routes’ are? The website describes this course as having “rolling hills,” which doesn’t sound too bad.
There are a couple of steep hills on the short course but none of them are very long.
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Old 03-29-18, 05:06 PM
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For what it is worth..............I live around these parts and it is going to be gorgeous weather with no mud! A perfect sunny day to enjoy our bikes!!!!!!
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Old 03-29-18, 06:47 PM
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Thanks for the info on the 40 miler. Ezulis, I hope you’re right about the weather.
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Old 03-29-18, 07:51 PM
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Yeah. Would be nice to have a dry ride this year...and not so cold at the start, please!
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Old 03-30-18, 12:26 PM
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25% has got to be a Strava glitch. There's no way any of those climbs are that steep. 20% for very short pitches maybe.
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Old 03-30-18, 03:56 PM
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Originally Posted by davester
25% has got to be a Strava glitch. There's no way any of those climbs are that steep. 20% for very short pitches maybe.
Hmm. IIRC there is a stretch on the Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park that DeLorme Topo NAm shows as 25%.. Fortunately it is one-way downhill! We've done it on our tandem and I've ridden it solo many times, and yes it is fast.
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Old 03-30-18, 05:23 PM
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Originally Posted by davester
25% has got to be a Strava glitch. There's no way any of those climbs are that steep. 20% for very short pitches maybe.
How can Strava be wrong, it's on the internet!

L'Eroica Italia has many short but steeper sections of 25% plus!
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Old 03-31-18, 02:31 AM
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Check the Eroica California 2018 route maps here for cue sheets, maps, and elevation charts:

https://www.eroicacalifornia.com/routes

Originally Posted by Oldairhead
How can Strava be wrong, it's on the internet!

L'Eroica Italia has many short but steeper sections of 25% plus!
Are you riding at Eroica this year?
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Old 03-31-18, 02:40 AM
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Originally Posted by bocobiking
So, I’m coming from Colorado to ride L’Eroica for the first time. I’m riding the short 40mile course to kind of break in. I was wondering if anyone has ridden this course and if so could you tell me what the hills and grades are like. Are they over 10%, long, and rutted as I see that the other routes’ are? The website describes this course as having “rolling hills,” which doesn’t sound too bad.
There's 3 reasonably challenging climbs, none really long, plus a fairly short but steep climb to the Olea Olive farm stop. But it makes the Olive oil Fries oh so worth it!

Which of your bikes will you be riding, and how are you flying in/transporting your bike/staying?

Check into our thread about Eroica here, I've added you into the BF participant list on post #84:

Eroica California 2018 - BF C&V page - plus donations question
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Old 03-31-18, 09:23 AM
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Originally Posted by mech986
There's 3 reasonably challenging climbs, none really long, plus a fairly short but steep climb to the Olea Olive farm stop. But it makes the Olive oil Fries oh so worth it!

Which of your bikes will you be riding, and how are you flying in/transporting your bike/staying?

Check into our thread about Eroica here, I've added you into the BF participant list on post #84:

Eroica California 2018 - BF C&V page - plus donations question
Sounds good. I’m bring a 1976 Raleigh Super Course. I bought the repainted frame/fork a few months ago and built it up with some old Super Course parts I had from a previous bike, an NOS Sugino AT triple crankset, a Huret Duopar rear derailleur, and 26 x 28 low gearing. I built some 27” wheels from new Sun rims and NOS 105 hubs; put on some 27x1 1/4 tires.

I’m driving in. My wife and I are meeting daughter and family from Pasadena and son and family from Seattle. We will be celebrating our 50th anniversary. Thanks for adding me to the list.
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Old 03-31-18, 10:29 AM
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Originally Posted by mech986
Are you riding at Eroica this year?
I will be riding at EC this year with an outside chance for Eroica Japan, on my modified Bianchi L'Eroica. I'll be riding the medium coastal route. I will also be bringing back my old BMW for display on the concourse. If I ever went back to ride in Italy it would probably be for the Montalcino route.

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