Centuries and bike choices
12-11-06, 04:38 AM
#26
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Originally Posted by ronjon10
I use the 11-32 xt cassette on my road bike (which does get some light touring & commuter usage). I rarely venture into the 28&32 rings when the bike isn't loaded, but they've saved me more than once (many many many more times than once).
12-11-06, 04:45 AM
#27
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Originally Posted by The Octopus
My $.02: If you're in the "can I do i?" category, opt for the better (lower) gearing. Make sure you train on the bike that you're planning on doing the ride on. Especially if the going gets slow -- whether from fatigue or from trying to match your SO's pace on the climbs -- you'll want the lower set of gears. If you can get a wider range of gears on your roadie, then you've got the best of both worlds!
Pacing the SO on climbs can be an issue -- I ride really silly gearing and Mrs. Octopus has a triple and is a, uh, "deliberate" climber. If we're together on a long or steep climb, I'm standing doing the stair-master routine in my 39x23. My cadence falls to the 40s, or I ride away from her. Not ideal. (The tandem solved that problem!)
Pacing the SO on climbs can be an issue -- I ride really silly gearing and Mrs. Octopus has a triple and is a, uh, "deliberate" climber. If we're together on a long or steep climb, I'm standing doing the stair-master routine in my 39x23. My cadence falls to the 40s, or I ride away from her. Not ideal. (The tandem solved that problem!)
12-11-06, 11:07 PM
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I have two bikes now, a Trek Pilot 5.2 with full fenders and 25c tires for riding in the rain, and a Trek Madone SL 5.2 with Race X Lite wheels and 23c tires for dry rides. Both have the same drivetrains, Ultegra 10 speeds, with 52/39/30 cranks and 12-27 cassettes. These bikes are the best of both worlds. Carbon light and comfortable, and gears to climb anything. I live in Oregon, with a lot of climbs, and am now 54 years old. These bikes can do any ride on the road with confidence. The only problem I have is the young guys that can't believe I have this wide of gears on such nice light bikes. Oh well, they will eventually figure it out!
