I was watching the TdF coverage the other day where a former participant was talking about the day's stage which was mostly flat with a tough category 1 climb at the end. This climb was about 5K (3.1 miles) at a 9-10% gradient, ending in a short final segment at 20% -- otherwise known as a "wall!" So he was saying how tough it was on the riders to go for an hour or more in their 53-11 gear (a gear I don't think I've ever used, unless once down a really big hill!) and then they have to go into their 39-23 "climbing gear" for the finish.

39-23 as a climbing gear?? I've just been on a discussion here about my bike with a 46/30 crank that gives me a 30-32 low gear and I'm still concerned about making some of the hills (not mountains!) that I sometimes encounter! Talk about putting me in my place even more than where I thought I was...

Still one of my favorite times of year to watch the racing and travelogue of the French countryside!

Yeah, I struggle with our local 3%-7% hills of less than a mile long in my road bike's 42/24 lowest gear. I'd rather have my hybrid's 30/28, even tho' the hybrid is heavier.

Reportedly Contador prefers mountain gearing closer to what we ordinary humans would ride, including 30/34 on some rides.

And I can't keep up with a 40 year old friend who's been riding only a year. Even though she's recovering from a broken collarbone and wasn't able to train for a few weeks, she's still averaging almost 17 mph over 20-60 mile rides. I've never managed more than 16 mph over 20 miles the past year.

On the plus side I've noticed I'm usually among the few not just bombing downhills but pedaling instead of coasting. I like speed. I just don't like working for it.

Go and watch a race stage sometime-- your viewpoint will change. The bulk of the peleton is 20 years old and weighs 130lbs. So you have no reason to feel inadequate, unless you're secretly 20 and 130lbs. This is why Strava allows you to sort by age and weight. There's a steep hill that's part of a race stage near my house-- in the general sorting I'm a mediocre 487/715. Sort by age or weight and I jump to 50th.

Take heart in knowing that though we may never have been as fast as they are now, someday they'll be as slow as we are.

Are these riders you are talking about age 50 and over?

Obviously I was writing this in a humorous frame of mind. I wouldn't expect at 70 to keep up with an average rider in his 20s let alone a pro! In fact, in all sports, it's almost impossible for even a locally-competitive person to grasp the chasm between himself and a world-class athlete. I used to ride motorcycles and thought myself a decent sport rider until I took a ride on the back seat with a professional road racer -- simply unbelievable the way he got us around that track in total smoothness at lean angles that scared the @#% out of me!

Probably not . . .that's just the way it is.

Speaking of big gears. I was amazed with Uran's finish today given his rear derailleur issue. I think he only had 2 gears, 53/11 and 39/11.......and after all that climbing. Just incredible.

That'll preach.

Watching the mech hanging out of the car window, reaching into the mess trying to bend the damaged der cage was inspiring. We are talking about spinning BLADED spokes and putting pressure on parts while out of position. Wow.

Exactly. I need much lower gears now than when I was 25 and indeed (briefly) climbed some stuff like that with similar gearing (Mt Diablo). I could not do it now (and I still have that bike -- which is why it now has an Athena triple on it).

Take heart. On the Tour of California some time ago, they were sent up Balcom ... a ~20% grade for about a mile. Many of the pros found themselves tacking up the slope. A few years ago, they sent them up to the tram in Palm Springs on a hot day (19% at the top), and a lot of them struggled.

They're amazing, but they have their limits.

I used to ride a 53/42 with a 13/26 6 sp freewheel. When I bought my latest road bike a couple of years ago I gave in to age and went with 50/34 up front and an 11/28 11 sp cassette.

It happens to everyone eventually.

My real test would be to repeat the Tuna Canyon (Malibu) climbs I did in the late 1970s. Unfortunately, they have since made it one-way the wrong way (downhill only). I climbed it 8 times while I lived in west Los Angeles, but I never dared a descent, preferring to loop back on Topanga Canyon. I doubt I could do it right now without a fair amount of conditioning and preparation and perhaps something lower than my current 42/26.

I've done that ascent a few times. What finally stopped me from climbing it anymore was the spectre of the following scene, enacted in front of St. Peter:

Pete: So, Mr. Biker395 ... how exactly did you lose your life? We didn't expect you here just yet.

Me: Well, uh ...

Pete: There are some pretty amazing people here with you in line. That man over there died saving someone from a burning car. That woman over there unexpectedly died on the operating table trying to donate a kidney. They're here a little early too. So what's your story?

Me: Well, I had a little crash climbing the wrong way uphill on a narrow mountain road with blind curves ...

It IS a steep climb, though. Not something I'd want to attempt on a 42/26. I have a 30/28 (triple) and it's tough enough with that kind of gearing.

BTW: Have you heard about this? These guys have cajones.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bull_Road_Rage

I recall that after a particularly brutal uphill finish on the Vuelta some years ago (well above 20% for an extended distance), one of the riders - Rodriguez, I think - commented that for the first time in his racing career, he had used a compact. He didn't say what sized cog he had in the back, though.

Yeah, one segment I'm 39 out of 1029 riders but on my group age (45-54) I'm 3rd but since I'm changing group age next year, I would be in 1st position

Last Saturday's stage: the stage winner (all numbers approximate to make the math easy) took 30 minutes to cover the final 7 mile climb (that averaged 7%, btw), i.e. 14mph average. I'd be happy to do the same climb in double that time, i.e. 60 minutes or a 7mph average.

There are plenty my age (your age) in better shape than me (you), but just looking around tells me there are PLENTY MORE in worse shape. So when someone blows by me, I give myself credit for still being out there, still giving it all I can.

Yeah, back in '86 or '89, my time one Sunday was exactly the same as LeMond's, to the minute. My distance was almost exactly half of his.... I'm still using the same 14-26 freewheel I rode then; I changed the chain wheels, from 49/46 to 45/42. I'm really happy I can still ride.

Even at my best, I couldn't ride 7 miles that averaged a 7% grade.

You mean they're riding such relaxed gearing? Beach cruisers?

I thought everyone rode a 54/42 - 12/19.

Years ago I read that there were no TdF climbers that weighed more than 2.2 lbs per inch of height. So, at 5'10"...154 lbs. And, as stated, they are in their 20's. Ride your bike...enjoy your ride....be happy with progress.

Not really. Back in my road running days I entertained the thought that I was only an age group away from taking home trophies. Didn't happen that way. After I hit 45 the same guys who were winning trophies when they were 25 were still gobbling up all of the prizes at 45. The total number of participants in the class may have gotten a lot smaller but the top of the class hadn't diminished at all. The also-rans had just quit coming. I felt like I was getting worse because there was hardly anybody left in the age group that I could still beat.