Mr. Beanz

Well, Hillbasher set up another ride in an attempt to erase me from cycling. Someday I'm going to find a partner that will chose and easy ride ha ha! 7 am start didn't seem to make much of a difference today. Heat warning and thinking we'd be done early, not so. GMR, down to East Fork, 39 to West Fork where Hillbasher swore it was a flat 8 miles to Cogswell Dam.

To start off Hillbasher's kicking my butt up GMR so by the time we get to West Fork, my legs are fried. Not a steep climb but enough to remind me that my legs are frying. Not to mention the steep climb up to the dam, 15 plus percent, ouch! On the return down Hwy 39, the sun really shined his eye on us. What I thought would be an hour ride turned into a 51 mile 4:40 ride time 4600 ft ride (time according to my computer). Going back across Sierra Madre was hot and dry and like Hillbasher said, "that ride must have taken two weeks out of is life" ha ha! I know I am glad it is over.

Right before the shack I see a couple of guys flying up the mountain. What the heck, I'll try to reach the shack before they catch me. Didn't happen, about 40 yards before the shack I feel a hand on my back. A pat on the back from one of the riders and a "great job!". I get up to the landing shortly after they do so we chat for a bit. Jay and Ciocc (hope I got it right) are a couple of great guys from an organization called "Cast A Shadow". They explain some of the way they help the less fortunate people by way of bicycles. Jay explains a few of their rides and the big one coming up called Mt. Tabor. Sounds like a great ride, 5 days, lots of climbing and a support crew second to none. Hotels rooms, transportation, the works. Seems like a great nearly week long ride. He explains the ride and the organization in the video but just in case you're interested, check out castashadow.org and the Mt. Tabor Bike Ride. $1150 entry and raise $1000 but if you raise $200, the entry fee is only $150. That's a steal for this kind of supported ride according to Jay.

I'm not real big on advertising but any dude that pats me on the back on the way up is cool with me. Plus I know there are a few members/riders out there that like this kind of a ride. These Dudes were cool.


A few more pics in my blog if interested.

Seve

Looks like a great ride Mr. Beanz

If I may ask, out of curiosity.

All this climbing you do, is it on a double or a triple crank set up?

Or do you switch things up from time to time ?

Mr. Beanz

I have both. My beater trainer bike is my Lemond so I use it on just about every ride, flat and hilly. If I avoid the 3 tallest cogs, it keeps the gear inch ratio the same as riding a double 39/25. I actually only bought the Lemond with a triple because they had it in the store.

I have my Cannondale that is a much stiffer frame and better climber that I use when I want to be serious. It is a double crank standard, 53/39-12/25.

But I am not one to fret triple vs double vs compact cranks. I had quite a few riders diss my triple. I guess it would mean more if they weren't an hour or two behind on the ride.

On organized rides with 10,000 -12,000 feet of climbing, I use the standard double on my Cannondale.

Me, after 9,000 feet of climbing on my double.


Bear1 by mrbeanz1, on Flickr

Training ride before the event, 7,000 feet


GMR4 by mrbeanz1, on Flickr

Few months ago, just built the rear new wheel for the Cannondale, test ride in the mountains.



Video of me on the double in the mountains. You can see I have no problem on this same mountain spinning the double 39/25.

It's very strange but "I" don't see a real big difference in the cranks.

Seve

Thanks for the answer.

I was just curious as although I don't have any mountains nearby, I have lots of hills that I get to enjoy.

I have my road bike with a compact double 50/34 (12-27) and my hybrid triple 52/42/30 and 11-32 cassette.

I know that on paper I should see a difference between the two when climbing, but along the same lines as you mentioned, for whatever reason I don't seem to get that feeling in practice.

I'm going to guess that it comes down to whatever one gets used to or maybe a matter of fitness?

Mr. Beanz

Zactly! I know plenty of riders that I try to talk into doing this ride (GMR) but many are scared that they don't have enough gearing with a compact.

When I ride with Gina or need to go slow, I will use the triple t it's max but when I ride alone or carry a decent pace, I avoid the 3 lowest gears keeping it equal to the standard gears. Like you said, once you get used to it, it's no big deal. Even with the triple, you carry a better speed if you avoid the lowest gears anyway.

Heck Gina has ridden her old Bianchi up a couple of times with a double crank 53/38 and an 11/28.

ECB1

Beanz you are truly in climbing heaven out there. In CT we just don't have that kind of vertical, were lucky to put together 5000ft in a days ride. I ride a 3 ring front because it came that way. ECB1