What has four thumbs and loves climbing in big gears? Those guys!
I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn’t it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft… As for me, give me a fixed gear!
— Henri Desgrange
I like to think that any time a rider running a compact punctures, Henri’s spirit is brought just that little bit closer to finding peace; I can only imagine what he might have said about the advent of these sorts of chainsets, let alone the wide-range cassettes we see in wide use today.
The thing that bothers me most about wide-range cassettes is the gaps between the gears. Growing up riding in Minnesota, I trained on a 12-23 and raced on an 12-21 because they were basically a straight block until you got to the lowest gears. Going to the mountains I would reluctantly use a 12-27 but I had to stop myself looking at the back wheel too much because I hated the sight of that 27t dinner plate. I’ve gotten used to what my bikes look like with the 12-25 I’m training on these days, but there are definitely times when I simply can’t find the right gear ratio for the terrain.
Growing up, I was considered a spinner for riding at 80-90 rpm; the thinking at the time was that mashing big gears at low cadences was more efficient. We are greatly influenced by what the Pros are doing, and the famous Cyclists at the time like Hinault and LeMond rode at 60 rpm, so that’s what we punters did, too. Today, I’m still riding at the same cadence, but now people consider me to be a bit of a gear pusher in our modern 100+ rpm climate. I like to flatter myself that the size of my climbing gear intimidates the spinners I ride with; my favorite question to ask them is why they are riding in the little ring already. I usually already know the answer (they are sissies) but I like to ask anyway because I enjoy their slightly bewildered expression before looking at my chainset and realizing that I’m still in the 53. I always give them that special look that makes them wonder whether or not I have noticed that the climb is steep already.
Before spinning high cadences became popular and, shortly after, the abominable 11-28 block became the mainstream choice in gearing, climbers would seek to intimidate one another by how tight they could keep their gearing and how few teeth they needed to use to get over a climb. Climbers like Manuel Fuentes would make sure to always ride in a slightly bigger gear than the rest of the group as a show of defiance to the ferocity of the gradient. In The Rider, Tim Krabbé recounts his suffering on the climbs of the Tour de Mont Aigoual in the South of France. His lowest gear was a 19, one which he considered his “bail out” gear. He was confident he could win the race, and throughout he imagines the onlookers admiring the fact that his 19 never saw the chain, “And his 19 was clean as a whistle,” he imagined them saying.
I personally can’t imagine climbing anything steeper than an overpass in a 19, but I do like to challenge myself to stay off my 39 and ride an entire training route in the 53. And his 39 was clean as a whistle.
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Hitting age 62 next week, crappy knees and too fat to climb, I've been riding 50/36 here, 12-23 or 12-25 most of the time, 12-27 for hillier stuff and 12-29 for mountains. Ended up with the 50/36 vs34 "regular" compact as that's what Rotor made for Campag compact. I'm seriously thinking going to a 52/36 to get a little more top end without going to an 11. Not racing, so I don't really want to give up the middle gears to get an 11.... but the Q Rotor Campag 52 is almost $200... sheesh....
Agree w/all the comments about cadence; my natural rhythm is best 82-87. I can push 75 quite a while, and can spin above 110 for a bit, but I seem to do better at lower vs higher candences. I do think there's an age element to it -- as well as O2 throughput aspects.
Yeah, back in the day 52/42, then 53/42, then 53/39 and on a 12 or 13-24 at the biggest cog I do remember climbing in the 53 on some pretty steep punchy stuff and it was a point of pride not to use the inner. (Cue Springsteen's "Glory Days")....
@teleguy57
I bet the average age here at the V site is at least mid-40's, if not older (it would be interesting to actually know, though I doubt Frahnk has that data).
But anyways, I love to see and hear about everyone still riding and climbing well in their 50's+. Gives me hope for the future (at least if I permanently stop running like I have for the last 4 months!) since I am now mid-40's and still loving the bike.
Actually, I think that I have come to love it more in my 40's than I truly did in my teens. Could just be sentimental bullshit, too on my part?
@Buck Rogers
Are you for real?? I'm closer to 60 than 50 yet can still dish out healthy helpings of V (although perhaps not as often!) Running will eventually tear you down but riding is eternal!
@Buck Rogers
56 going on 57 (June). I was a "climber" in my relative youth. At least amongst the old guys I ride with a lot, I can still climb. I can even best some of the youngsters (but not young guns) every now and again. Obviously, ability trumps everything when it comes to climbing (riding in general) but a lot about climbing is being savvy and smart and just knowing how to climb. Remember what Fausto Coppi said:
@Buck Rogers
Youngster. Doing a round the Isle of Wight Randonnee this weekend. Got a senior discount on the ferry!
Anyone else going round?
@frank
The rides I remember most vividly are the longer days when I feel fresher than I perhaps am. When the hammer swings down I swear I hear my soul cracking. So they do happen, mostly mid-spring. Call it the enthusiasm of winter's passing plus, perhaps willful, amnesia of what The Hammer can do to you.
@lonefrontranger
Are you using a MTB rear mech on that 32 out back or are you getting that done with a standard road mech? I'd love to get lower than my 27...but it hardly seems like the 28 is going to be that much shorter of a gear.
@frank
You can certainly go 29, 2 teeth is a fair difference on a cassette.
@frank - on the other hand has your account been hacked?
@Buck Rogers
They probably peak out somewhere in the 220's since they are holding the effort. I know Francois Pervis( french sprinter/kilo racer) has hit 275 rpms in one ripped effort on rollers. Fastest I have ever managed to peak out at is 232. Can hold 200..for a bit. My natural range on the road is between 100-110. So yes, @frank always chuckles when we ride together.
@frank
I don't know what components you're running (I know I probably should, but ...), but I know my wife's 10-speed 105 short cage rear derailleur is capable of going up to 30T on the cassette (hers is 12-30). 30 would definitely be a shorter gear than 27.