Some people are supremely good at it, reducing complex situations into matters of simple black and white. This isn’t my particular area of expertise; I enjoy wading through the pools of ambiguity a bit too much to go about bludgeoning this beautiful world into absolutes. In fact, I would venture that delighting in nuance is part of what distinguishes La Vie Velominatus from the simple act of riding a bicycle.
I’ve spent the summer wrapping myself in the Rules handed down by the Apostle Museeuw during Keepers Tour 2012, with particular emphasis on Rule #90. Climbing Sur la Plaque is a cruel business, rising upwards under the crushing weight of physics as you fight to maintain your rhythm and momentum. At first, it’s a struggle to maintain speed on the smaller climbs as you learn how to change your pedaling action to compensate for changes in gradient. You focus on loading the pedals and forcing them around; the moment you lose the rhythm, gravity sinks her claws into your tires and tries to drag you back down the hill. On the other hand, if you maintain your cadence and power through the ramps, what is usually an intimidating slope will disappear under your wheels, making molehills of mountains.
If the Big Ring is a hammer, then not every climb is a nail. (I realize too late that referring to the road as a nail is sure to bring the Puncture Apocalypse on today’s ride.) The guns get more massive from the practice of Rule #90, but it comes at a hefty price: souplesse withers like a delicate flower as one seeks to conquer the art of mashing a huge gear. Indeed, one of the great pleasures in Cycling is to sense a certain fluidity of your stroke which belies the feeling of strength in your muscles as you continue to heap coals on the fire.
This requires an art altogether different from moving Sur la Plaque; it relies on turning the pedals at a higher cadence and shifting gear whenever the gradient changes. Rhythm holds court over everything else and is maintained at all costs. As the gradient steepens, the chain is slipped into the next smaller gear; as the gradient eases, it is droped back down. Not every climb suits this style of riding; the rear cluster must be matched perfectly to accomodate the changes in pitch such that maximum speed is maintained and the legs allowed to continue their relentless churn. When synchronized perfectly, it is the gateway to La Volupté; when not: disaster.
Such is the nuance of shifting gear, such is the nature of Cycling.
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@mouse
I love the TSX, no question. But, given the choice between the steel, alu, or carbon - I pick the carbon every time. The steel did not make it onto the roads hardly at all this year; it is thus undergoing a new project to make it more compelling.
In the end, a good carbon bike has better road feel, stiffness, and comfort than anything else.
@Marcus
Why is that? Because you were asking him to build you one of these so you could finally look your competitors in the eye?
@Marcus
He meant the big ring, genius. The impact of the cog's clearance is reduced somewhat by the FUCKING WHEEL.
@brett
Wow, no shit. It would be like a cock fight, but between two hens.
@MartinD
I think it was some time in the 80's when the 39 was introduced after the modern spider was developed. Another good thing. Before that, 42 was as low as you could go.
Wow, a 13x17. Was it hard to see with all that hair on your chest?
great one Frank, I have thought about this one for sometime, along with alot of other cyclo-specifics as we do
Your dead on, its an art that we should possess, yet one that is continuously in need of honing. My buddy, rides with the souplesse, has a Peterbuilt diesel engine and just floats up hills in the big ring. It is intimidating, and I have patterned myself similarly, with good results, and having very few riders in the midwest, when we do get together for group rides, it does pay dividends. It is a running joke with buddy and i as we ride, the first hill, the sounds of everyones derailleurs running through the gears is amazing. And the timing is like you guys have mentioned, for most its the very appearance of the hill makes the novice plummet into a sinkhole of granny gears.
For the weathered cyclist however, to sit in the saddle and Roule through the hill with finesse is a thing of beauty
another buddy of mine, showed up to a ride with a fixie, (no hipster style here, just one gear), and I have been hooked and find it is a killer work out for off season. I know some consider this the ananthema of multi-cogestry, but I find it a great thing. And it too, when used correctly is both intimidating and contributes to a souplesse that jumpstarts your next season like nothing else. Its a kickass deal for descending skills. But agreed, no hipsters allowed, one must comply to the remainder of the Rules, and BTW, Eddy rode one too in early season riding for training for all you naysayers out there.
@ universio: where do you run a 54/44 21-11?? Kansas??, because if you run that gear in colorado or appalachia or the great NW, your PRO stud material as those gears don't even find themselves in the peloton
@frank
Ah, that would make sense, thanks for the brief explanation (and to others who replied). I am woefully ignorant on the benefits of different frame geometries, just as I am with many things in life. I just like the look of a straight TT a bit more right now, ignoring any sort of performances changes.
I've always wondered about bikes that people say "aren't stiff". My current ride is mostly Alu AND compact, and it feels very stiff to me when firing the pale guns of the north. And it's the only nice bike I've ridden, so I've not had experience with a frame that feels flexy. OR, maybe it has flex and I just don't know? Who the fuck knows.
@frank
I'd like to float the idea that both Marcus and Minion are the same person, posting on different accounts. I don't think they've ever been seen together, so it's plausible.
@frank
I've noticed that some pros use larger jockey wheels to reduce the bending of the chain you mention and btw, another inspiring article. of course I want to ride up hills in the big ring, I'd just rather do it on the 19.
@snoov
Its funny the discussion is mostly centered on climbing in the big ring. I thought the article was about knowing when to get out of the big ring and the art of shifting to maintain souplesse - which to me implies climbing in the little ring.
That's what I love about this community; the articles are really just a springboard into talking about whatever people feel like talking about.
I've notice the same but never realized that was what they were after. Its inspired!
@mcsqueak
Comparing my Al bike to my old steel one, same BSA bottom bracket shells, but I noticed especially when standing that there seems to be less flex going on at the BB. New bike does have external bearings though.