How many gear inches? -Austin
 

How many gear inches would you run on this ride?

Click for elev. profile.

I'm leaning toward 70" right now, but want some other opinions.
I won't be able to test it 1st.

p.s. This is for the 2nd day of the MS150 Houston/Austin, if anyone is searching in the coming months.

I think I would be asking how many gears would you run.

Looks like those climbs are rather gentle and not too long- assuming you are in good shape I would try 72 to 74

It looks like my commute, but back-to-back-to-back-to...

+misleadinggraphs. I'd be more worried about the overall mileage than the elevation gains and losses.

Cool.

I did the 110mi loop on the .pdf below in October on something in the low 70"s. It was a little hilly. The wind was more of a problem than anything.
I'm not sure how different it is in real life. Since it's so flat in Houston, that's the only reference point I have.

Elev.pdf

I might put a freewheel on the other side just in case, but I'm kind of hardheaded about staying fixed.
I'm more worried about the downs than the ups, but I have a brake.






What ratio you on?

You ask for you, meaning me
I'd start on 85 if with group, but have a fixed flip to 75, but likely wouldn't change it. (If solo I may start with 75.)
The elevation changes and grades seem relatively minor.

How long do you want/expect to take not including any stops? Figure your average mph and from there figure a 85-95 average cadence, knowing peak cadence may get 30% higher.

Al

Good idea. Thanks.

Wow. Going to do the whole 180 (or 160) miles fixed (depending on where you start)? I considered it too last year, but I like to draft behind fast roadies. All that aside, if you are going to ride the state park the second day there will be some nice steep hills there. However, it's only 10 miles out of the entire ride. I'd personally stick in the 70-72 range for comfort and quick spinning.

looks like a bunch of gradual climbs, nothing tooo huge on there. I'm running a 72.2 gear inch right now and seems to be well balanced for climbing and flat land speed. You can prolly get away with a bit higher ratio if your legs are up to it.

I heard about this (Bastrop?). Sounds freaky. I'll take the other route, unless I have a chance to try it with gears before.

I talked to a guy who did the Dallas one fixed last year while I was recovering from an attempt to hang with the big guys. Lots of rollers on the second day, he said he was running 78 with no bail-out, the climbs weren't long enough that he couldn't just power through them.

Yep. Bastrop State Park. There are a few hills in there that will definitely hurt if you ride it fixed and anywhere above 70. If you skip the Park though, I say no problem at all around 70-72.

That's basically rollers and a relatively flat ride. Depending on your fitness level, you should have no problem with 70 inches......or even a bit higher.

Helium, I was planning on making a trip up to the park prior to the MS150. If your interested in coming along send me a PM. Still in planning stage, no date set.

Right on. I'll keep that in mind.

I've done that ride and I remember flying down some of those hills at 40+ miles per hour (this was coasting on a roadie, btw). I would say it will be a tough proposition to find a gear you can push for 100 miles that is manageable up hills and not likely to kill you on the way down.

You might consider a fixed/free hub. Pick a relatively fast gear for the fast flats keepin in mind that you will be on it for 100 miles (for me ~70" would be right) and something smaller on the freewheel side.

Better yet, ride a road bike.

I've chosen 39t/14t fix/16t free.
Both brakes, since there will be 12,999 other riders out there.
Aww yeah.

And the closer to then end of day one you get, the more water bottles on the road.

I did that ride last year, 73 inches fixed. The section thru Bastrop St. park was a challenge, but not nearly as bad as people make it out to be. The hills there are steep but short. You'll have to really spin going down, and grind it out going up. But its certainly doable -- and think of the glory. Bigger problem will be the slower riders bunching up and spreading accross the road when the road goes up hill. That part was kind of sketchy because you need to maintain your pace but people will be all over the road blocking you. Lots of sketchy riders in general on this huge ride. Other than Bastrop, the rises are pretty reasonable - but still challenging around Austin. I say go for it.