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Post by grenoblet5a on Apr 23, 2014 6:34:52 GMT
Hi guys - first post since my initial flurry when I bought the bike . Apologies if it should be in a specific section of the forum... most of the rides around here need at least one single climb of 7-800m or more which I am beginning to get my head around! I have the standard T5 cassette of 12-25 so find my cadence drops as the climb develops and I'm head down with mind in neutral... I feel that I'm getting fitter and quicker with the climbs but would it be better to switch to a different cassette to maintain cadence or just pick it up with this one? Prob no 'correct' answer but I would appreciate your thoughts, thanks, Barry. PS stock bike with M540 pedals and Charge Spoon saddle (thank God!)
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Post by robertsims on Apr 23, 2014 6:51:18 GMT
A cassette with a larger low cog (like say a 28) would make life easier and something like sram pg850 cost about Β£15. However if finding it ok with existing gearing then no need to change. If can get up all hills you need to and not hurting knees by grinding too slow then stick with it. Lot depends on how steep hills are and how heavy you are. I do quite a lot of hills and I always used 12-26 cassette without issues weighing aboit 13 stone. But really is no right answer.
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Post by erictherat on Apr 23, 2014 7:01:25 GMT
7-800 m climbs - you lucky fellow =D. I live in a hilly part of Britain, though I can't enjoy climbs as big as you. I had to replace cassette and chain after the winter, and got this in 11-28 www.chainreactioncycles.com/sram-pg830-8-speed-mtb-cassette/rp-prod6388love it. the second cog is 24 - good for a general climb, but you have the 28 for any nasty bits. Find I'm able to keep a better rhythm, and am not so tired at the top. 2 serious riders on carbon monsters zoomed past me the other day, a little down the road on a steep section they toiled to move their 34-25, but i was happily spinning my 30-28, yes i was a little smug, and no I'm not embarrassed to have a mountain bike cassette and a granny ring. it works for me! hope this is helpful for you.
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Post by grenoblet5a on Apr 23, 2014 7:14:44 GMT
Thanks for the replies guys. The hills are typical alpine zigzags up the side of the mountains and as a novice my strava times are about 80-85% down the list compared to the locals some of whose times are half of mine... I'm a bit worried that if I make it easy to go up then I wont push as hard and will stagnate but I guess that's the mental game of cycling regardless of slope or direction . No pain so far, apart from mental, so I will stick at for now - free service due in June so might change cassette then as it heats up! Cheers PS I'm tall and skinny which helps 6'1 and 74kg.
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Post by robertsims on Apr 23, 2014 7:32:27 GMT
At that weight you're probably fine with existing gearing. How hard you work also depends on cadence remember. Can go just as fast with lower gear by spinning faster.
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Post by captslog on Apr 23, 2014 8:02:05 GMT
If you're climbing 800metres, then there is no advice you need from me.
Well done that man.
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Post by Radchenister on Apr 23, 2014 8:34:55 GMT
Alpine roads are often less vicious than the wibbly wobbly stuff in the hilly parts of the UK, as they're well thought out to be managed in snow, allowing delivery vehicles and snow plough trucks to keep them operating. The peaks are usually at the switchback turns on the inner radius but you can pick a good line around to combat this. Some are fairly steep overall gradients at 9% to 12% but even the likes of Alp d'Huex and Ventoux aren't that peaky. They just go on for ages. It's the really steep bits that ask for lower gears, although it's sometimes nice to spin to conserve energy. If you're coping, no need to change anything, unless you're finding that you're out of energy half way up big ascents, in which case a lower gear might help a bit but practice will count just as much. Just be wary of those routes off the beaten track, as you're bound to be able to find a few 20% + in some spots. ... and why not show us your Strava (you can add privacy to your home location if shy ).
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Post by grenoblet5a on Apr 23, 2014 9:07:04 GMT
Hi Rad, are quite right about the well planned roads and other points. The problem with those is that you get trucks and busses whizzing past your ears all day long so the back roads are better. Most of those are still pretty good and no worse than some of the bits of Wiltshire I used to ride on when I was a bit younger . They are rough as though which is fine going up but kills me going down cos I'm tense on the brakes all the way down... The only other difference is the length and, for me anyway, the mental approach needed. Like I said above, 8-9 out of 10 riders are doing it quicker than I am so no claims to be any good - just looking for tips to improve . I will share strava once I've got a few more climbs on the board - my veloviewer only gives me 40 odd unlike the high scores I see on here so you understand my inhibitions
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2014 9:41:46 GMT
I been cycling for about 3 years. Hills are all in your head donβt over think it. Rule No 5 come to mine triban3owners.freeforums.net/thread/176/rules-guidance-velominati. Just push one peddle down then the next one down it dose get easier as you start to get fitter. I find since I started doing intervals my cycling on hole has got better. One last thing enjoy just been out on the bike.
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Post by Radchenister on Apr 23, 2014 9:56:58 GMT
Show us your Strava!
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Post by Radchenister on Apr 23, 2014 9:59:18 GMT
Seriously, we all start somewhere, my early rides are pretty basic and I still fight some hills (our weekend just gone is an example) but we all improve as well ... will try and find the hill climb threads for you as they were last summer, when we all got a bit into hills, when we were getting fitter.
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Post by robertsims on Apr 23, 2014 10:16:22 GMT
It doesn't get easier...you just go faster so pain doesn't last as long!
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Post by grenoblet5a on Apr 23, 2014 10:40:03 GMT
Thanks guys - all good advice! Honest I will put the strava up when I have been up a few more times .
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Post by Radchenister on Apr 23, 2014 10:50:23 GMT
It doesn't get easier...you just go faster so pain doesn't last as long! It'll last a fair while in the Alps - even LTD takes an hour up Ventoux app.strava.com/segments/664838 !
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Post by Radchenister on Apr 23, 2014 11:01:04 GMT
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