First true climb kicked my butt.
08-03-12, 09:14 PM
#51
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Location: Buffalo, NY
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Bikes: 2012 Surly LHT, 1995 GT Outpost Trail
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My secret weapon for really steep grades is a triple with a mountain cassette/derailleur (I normally run 11-28 with it). A 12-36 with the triple will get me up anything I have found in the Midwest (12% - 18% in some of the Wisconsin Driftless rides) while maintaining a threshold power output and comfortable-enough cadence.
I've seen really big guys crawling along some really steep climbs at 2-3 mph and a cadence of 20-30. I just can't pedal that slowly.
I've seen really big guys crawling along some really steep climbs at 2-3 mph and a cadence of 20-30. I just can't pedal that slowly.
It is amusing to pass people walking their bikes up a hill because they thought they were Lance Armstrong and bought a bike with 39/25 gearing when they clearly needed something lower. Peer pressure. It does funny things to people.
08-03-12, 09:32 PM
#52
Geck, wo ist mein Fahrrad
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my 4.5 mile hill not only comes with an 8-13% grade but also features blind corners. so you see a stretch of road in front of you and you think easy, then you go around a bend and there's more hill, okay easy. then another corner and more hill and another bend MORE hill. it never stops, it never flattens and it just goes up. after a dozen blind corners you get a good view of the rest of the climb and you think not so easy. the biggest problem is the time of year you climb because you're going to be drenched in sweat for the 4.5 mile descend and it's so cold going 45-50 mph wet. sure is nice this time of year.
