SaiKaiTai

I'm not sure but is it something like "fait accompli"
I just had to put this whole 30t cog vs 27t cog thing to bed. I mean, do I buy the darned bike or don't I?

Today, the perfect test came to me.
There are two main routes I take out of town and I need the 30t for both of them.

But what if I took the LeMond up one of them and forgot I *had* a 30t cog?
When I started climbing this last year -with no 30- I had to stop 5 times to catch my breath and get my HR down under the doctor approved 165. Actually, when I started, I didn't know that doctor approved limit and blew way past 165; I'm lucky I didn't stroke out. Really.

After I put the 30 on the back, I gradually got this 1.3 mile climb down to 2 -almost, almost 1- stop. So, right now, it's 3 legs: .5 mile at 7.1% average, .25 mile at 7.6% (I think I'm close to nailing that quarter mile, too), and a last 6/10 mile 6.5% leg. After that, it gets easy. er.
Well, here:





And over the past year, my HR has come down (which is why I can make it farther without stopping) and my cadence has gone up. I used to grind it at 50-55RPM and now 60-65RPM is my comfort zone.

So, how far would I make it without the 30 and how much would my cadence to drop to push the higher gear. How much perceived progress would I lose by giving up the aluminum LeMond for this shiny new CF, monocoque Giant?

The answer tonight proved to be... nothing changed. I made it just as far at the same cadence, with the same amount of stops. At both stops, I measured my HR and it was right around 160. 5 under the limit (though it was a rough count, my HRM died a few weeks ago).

Hm. Nothing changed. Oh, I'm a little more sore but that's it.
I wasn't cooked at the top, either, as I was afraid I would be; I had miles left in me.
And they tell me that CF climbs easier, that Giants are good climbers? Well...

The BEST part -or at least the most enlightening- was coming back down at 37mph (at least until the traffic caught up with me. Then I slowed wayyyyyy down). The LeMond, fast downhill, is scary twitchy. It is decidedly nervous. One thing that really stood out about the OCR C2 was how stable it felt downhill, how it carved the turns.

Maybe it's just not that big a deal, after all, eh?
When will I start to believe in myself?

Red Rider

I believe your most relevant line is the last.

When, indeed?

If not now, when?

I struggle with that as well.

BluesDawg

Keep on chooglin'

stapfam

See!!!! Biking does improve your fitness- Even though you may not realise it.

Now all you have to learn---"On my new Carbon Fibre frame with the Higher gearing-"




Don't get me wrong- The big objection to the Giant was a gear that was just a little bit too high. That is no longer a problem so it is time to decide whether you WANT a spare road bike.

SaiKaiTai

Chooglin' Chooglin' Chooooooglin'

Oh, I knew cycling improved my fitness -I've seen that, I've felt it- I just didn't realize how much.
Got some soreness today -in my left hammy, of all places- but otherwise fine.
I don't know that I'll do that climb everyday but it's sure nice to know it can be done when I need to
Now, to try the other way out of Dodge.

Spare bike? No, I'm afraid the Reno would become Craig's List fodder.

SaiKaiTai

Soon. Very soon...

Indyv8a

SKT, I have the C3 version, get the bike. I can hear it whispering buy me, buy me...

Tom Bombadil

SKT takes no prisoners.