Gears for Pyrenees --how low , and how high?
JamesB
Posts: 1,184
What`s recommended; I`m thinking of compact with 29 big cog and about a 100" top; but is the top high enough or will I spin out all the time, should I have a higher top , say 110" to keep my legs turning on the big downhills; but this may have to be at cost of using a 26 big cog to keep ratios OK (ie a 12-25/26, rathr than 13-29)?
e
Most difficult day has Marie Blanque (with 12% gradients), Aubisque and half of Tourmalet, all from Atlantic approach; riding without anything more than bottles and bits and pieces
ta
e
Most difficult day has Marie Blanque (with 12% gradients), Aubisque and half of Tourmalet, all from Atlantic approach; riding without anything more than bottles and bits and pieces
ta
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Comments
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I wouldn't worry about top gear. You can coast fast enough to scare the hell out of yourself. A 29 rear cog sounds good if your rear mech. can shift on to it. You can get a 33 tooth compact front ring, if you wish, from TA Specialities. Every little bit helps.
Dennis Noward0 -
JamesBwmb wrote:What`s recommended; I`m thinking of compact with 29 big cog and about a 100" top; but is the top high enough or will I spin out all the time, should I have a higher top , say 110" to keep my legs turning on the big downhills; but this may have to be at cost of using a 26 big cog to keep ratios OK (ie a 12-25/26, rathr than 13-29)?
e
Most difficult day has Marie Blanque (with 12% gradients), Aubisque and half of Tourmalet, all from Atlantic approach; riding without anything more than bottles and bits and pieces
ta
Hi James,
yeah, wouldn't worry about a big gear for the downhills...your so exhausted after the ascent and you'll be glad of the rest...also you'll be going so fast anyway you probably wont be able to pedal
For the big continental climbs I always use my triple....the Pyrenees are a good deal steeper on average than the Alpes (and I personally feel tougher)...on 8-10% average gradients I just put it in my 30x24 and spin up...maybe for the first 5kms I feel a bit under geared...but after that when it goes on for another 12kms I'm always just so happy I was so careful to start off with....I only use my 30x24 for 20% gradients in the UK...but considering we are talking mostly 2km climbs in the UK....and on the continent the average is 11kms or so...
If you currently use a Compact to get up all the mad steep stuff in the UK then that should see you through for the long Pyrenean climbs....it works for me....
I reckon the Pyrenees are similar in steepness to the Ventoux if that helps...0 -
53/39 with 12 - 25
All you'll needRacing is life - everything else is just waiting0 -
Down the Road wrote:53/39 with 12 - 25
All you'll need
Damn right !!! You're either a manly man or you're not. :P :P :P
Dennis Noward0 -
Thanks for all -- 29 it is then, it does for all the steep UK stuff and although I managed Gospel Pass (North side) recently on 26 I was struggling (the climb from Hay being 8 km and 500m ascent)
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If you're a man you head up on a 48-16 fixie
and fire your kneecaps at other road users halfway up!0 -
I must have been a manlier man once!dennisn wrote:Down the Road wrote:53/39 with 12 - 25
All you'll need
Damn right !!! You're either a manly man or you're not. :P :P :P
Dennis Noward
First time I rode Galibier, Izouard, Vars and Bonette, 20 years ago, I had 42/23 as my lowest. I couldn't manage that now.0 -
Down the Road wrote:53/39 with 12 - 25
All you'll need
How do you know?
I would never manage on that gearing so why the hell do you think James would be ok when you don't even know him?
Everyones different!.....yeah some very good and light lads will manage on the gearing on you mention...but most would suffer terribly...the gearing you speak off is what pro's use...and theres very few on this forum who are anywhere near a pro level?
I remember talking with Paul who runs the brilliant Sport-Adventura company which does cycling hols in the Pyrenees...he was just sick to death of guys turning up with 39x23 standards...he said out of all his cleints only a very few managed comfortably...the rest near destroyed there knee caps and got very angry because of there inability to scale such climbs with standard pro gearing...they blamed everything apart from the real deal..they required much smaller gears!...he got to the point that he refused point blank to take guys with 39x23 to Pla D'Adet....(unless he knew they were sh*t hot)
Maybe you are very good and can manage on that gearing, and maybe somehow you think that everyone else in the entire world has exact same ability....but just think about your statement....Panatani could easily say...tackle the Mortilrolo with 39 x 22...I did...and I hold the record...so you should just be fine with a 39 x 22.0 -
I'm terrible at climbing the stairs, but I got up the Peyresourde, Aspin and the Tourmalet on a compact and 12-25 whilst following the tour this Summer.
They aren't steep by any stretch of the imagination, just incredibly long.
When I showed 2 Spanish lads some pics on my camera of Hardknott they thought it was a trick.0 -
I am just back from the Pyrenees and have done all the climbs you mention (and more) I used a 23x29 and to be honest I was in the lowest gear on most of the climbs.
I would tend to spin the pedals rather than grind anyway and there were not many cyclists that went past me.
I also managed a top speed of 50mph on a descent on a 50x13 and would probably have gone quicker if not for the cars in front ( which i overtook at a safe point of course)
Go for the easiest option and enjoy it. Not worth hating every minute because you have the wrong gear.
Enjoy the Aubisque - the day I did it from the Atlantic side I nearly bonked as I ran out of food. Thank goodness for the shop in Eaux Bonnes. Life saving food there0 -
Yorkman wrote:They aren't steep by any stretch of the imagination, just incredibly long.
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It depends what you mean...yes, theres nowt like Hardknott out there...but remember Hardknott averages only 15%...the 3 kms around La Mongie on the Tourmalet averaged 10%...and thats a average...very similar gradient to the forest section up the Ventoux...they don't have 33% steep sections followed by flatter sections......but they are solid 10% Kms...which is very steep on average...theres very little climbs in the UK average 10% even over a couple Kms...
I feel with these climbs that the overall length and steepness take there toll.
I did Mount Teide last year...mostly a 6% avg gradient without any super steep sections...but after 44kms I was near screaming....just the length....and I started with a 42 x 24 gearing...by the top I was in 30 x24 ! and considering my total bale-out....30 x 27...
People usually always forget about the other killer us brits arent used to..the heat!
I personally would never head out to the Continent without my Triple....this year its Bormio...and I know already that my 30 x27 will get heavily used on the Mortirolo and the Gavia...and we could always say that even the Mortirolo aint steep when compairing to Hardknott...only 18% max...but throw 12.5kms over an average of 10.5% which is well graded and youve got an Uber Climb...one which terrifies the Pro's...its all relative Man!0 -
RICHYBOYcp wrote:Yorkman wrote:They aren't steep by any stretch of the imagination, just incredibly long.
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It depends what you mean...yes, theres nowt like Hardknott out there...but remember Hardknott averages only 15%...the 3 kms around La Mongie on the Tourmalet averaged 10%...and thats a average...very similar gradient to the forest section up the Ventoux...they don't have 33% steep sections followed by flatter sections......but they are solid 10% Kms...which is very steep on average...theres very little climbs in the UK average 10% even over a couple Kms...
I feel with these climbs that the overall length and steepness take there toll.
I did Mount Teide last year...mostly a 6% avg gradient without any super steep sections...but after 44kms I was near screaming....just the length....and I started with a 42 x 24 gearing...by the top I was in 30 x24 ! and considering my total bale-out....30 x 27...
People usually always forget about the other killer us brits arent used to..the heat!
I personally would never head out to the Continent without my Triple....this year its Bormio...and I know already that my 30 x27 will get heavily used on the Mortirolo and the Gavia...and we could always say that even the Mortirolo aint steep when compairing to Hardknott...only 18% max...but throw 12.5kms over an average of 10.5% which is well graded and youve got an Uber Climb...one which terrifies the Pro's...its all relative Man!
you're right about the heat richyboy ...
hey ... i did teidi in the 50 ring at christmas ! that is a great climb. where did you do it from?0 -
you're right about the heat richyboy ...
hey ... i did teidi in the 50 ring at christmas ! that is a great climb. where did you do it from?[/quote]
I did it from Los Christianos...upto Arona...then upto Vilaflor..then upto Boca Tauce....it was after Vilaflor that I started to suffer..it got a fair bit steeper....I had just had a bout of food poisoning 3 days previously and this kind of exertion near killed me...what a long climb eh?
Also did the stunning Teno Mountain range in Tenerife.....upto Masca...gorgeous..what a bloody steep climb out of there!
Have a look at the www.cyclingcols.com
Hit the 'my tours' section...in 2008 he has did a cracking report with great photo's of his tour of Tenerife.....in 2005 he did Gran Canaria...cracking website!
This year I just cam back from Gran Canaria...I cracked Pico Nives..twice...once the long way from Play Del Inglis...but did it the infamoust steep way from Ingenio...toughest climb I've ever did!...1940meter climb...in 25kms or so....25% sections...murder!....and I needed my triple bigtime
You can see what I thought of it all here:-
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=125795900 -
knedlicky wrote:
I must have been a manlier man once!dennisn wrote:Down the Road wrote:53/39 with 12 - 25
All you'll need
Damn right !!! You're either a manly man or you're not. :P :P :P
Dennis Noward
First time I rode Galibier, Izouard, Vars and Bonette, 20 years ago, I had 42/23 as my lowest. I couldn't manage that now.
I remember riding in the 70's with a 52-42 and a 13-26 and doing hills. Seems like a long time ago. Oh wait, it was.
Dennis noward0 -
In my experience you can never have too low a gear when or if you run into difficulties. A friend of mine, who is a very experienced rider, suffered from heat stroke on the Marie Blanque and was it all sorts of trouble. He was thankful for low gears.
People who tell you all you need is a 53/39 set up with a maximum 26 sprocket at the back need to get over their macho problems. 0 -
50/34 front 12-27 back. That's my choice and I'm something of a mountain goat (and I pedal out of the corners downhill). I can't see any reason to punish yourself by restricting the low end and don't think you really need anything higher to go down fast.
Simon0 -
Richyboy, Dennis et al are bang on the money as usual. I've just come back from Provence where I tackled Mt Ventoux. Before I went I was thinking along the lines of 'Well it's only a 10% hill - I'd usually do that sort of grade in something like 39-19 or 21, so 39-23 should be about right'. Boy was I wrong about that! The heat and the sheer length of the climb soon had me in 30-23, a gear I go to for only the very toughest of climbs in the UK, and I still wasn't passed by anyone.
So unless you're a macho weirdo type who feels less of a man for using little gears, stick as low a gear on as you can - it's meant to be fun after all!0 -
nasahapley wrote:I tackled Mt Ventoux. Before I went I was thinking along the lines of 'Well it's only a 10% hill - I'd usually do that sort of grade in something like 39-19 or 21, so 39-23 should be about right'.
Generally, if you have to ask what gear you will need, the only answer is 30 x 28. Until you have the experience to look at the gradient and length and know what you need, then you need as low as you can get. As andyp says, it's better to have low gears just in case. If you don't use them, all the better.0 -
dennisn wrote:knedlicky wrote:
I must have been a manlier man once!dennisn wrote:Down the Road wrote:53/39 with 12 - 25
All you'll need
Damn right !!! You're either a manly man or you're not. :P :P :P
Dennis Noward
First time I rode Galibier, Izouard, Vars and Bonette, 20 years ago, I had 42/23 as my lowest. I couldn't manage that now.
I remember riding in the 70's with a 52-42 and a 13-26 and doing hills. Seems like a long time ago. Oh wait, it was.
Dennis noward
I remember riding some insanely long stages way back in the days ... way, way back... we'd do 300miles on 48 x 12 ... with nothing but a lump of cheese and a baguette to keep us going.
yours, H. Degranges0 -
Hi
Done the Raid a couple of years ago from the atlantic to tyhe med. Took my triple and loved it.
Every french rider we met in the mountains was riding a triple.
Cheers and good luck.if it\'s not dripping of your nose, your not trying!0 -
Living out here in the middle of the Pyrenees I am with the guys above who recommend triples. I need to change mine because it has done more Kms than it should and thought about going for a compact, but not for long, and my man who knows in the local bike shop dismissed the idea out of hand. I am pretty strong up hill and use a high gear but I have still ordered a Durace 54/40/32 triple.visit http://www.cycleaude.com for great cycling holidays.0
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Anyone used the IRD Campy Elite 12- 32 (yes really!! ) for continental climbs; or is this (34 x 32) getting TOO low for long long ascents?? I see that this is available from US of A but there does not appear to be a UK outlet
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2007:
39 x 27 and 18.5 Stone!
2008:
34 x 27 and 14 Stone
Had no trouble at all with that gearing! 19 Cols, 454 miles and 42,000 feet of climbing in 5 1/2 days. Just in case you are worried about top end speed, I still went up the Tourmalet in under 1hr 20! I was only passed once on a descent, and that was by a young Agritubel Pro.
Plenty of range and the 34 x 27 is a get out of jail free card!0 -
You need a triple for Ventoux, definately. Also take an early start when it's still cool
and plenty of food and drink. You can always get water at Chalet Reynard.
Without the triple ( 26 ) it would not be much fun0 -
53/42 coupled to a 11-21.
The pain will bring you closer to god.0 -
" I heard Gods fast "
Billy the Kid0 -
Maybe better to use a triple and have access to close ratio climbing gears than install a compact with wider ratios.
Being a Campag user it is easy to change between double and triple set ups without changing controls etc, if a triple is not considered suitable as a permanent fitting (UK cyclists still seem to regard this a stigma for some non-performance related reason).0 -
mostly harmless wrote:53/42 coupled to a 11-21.
The pain will bring you closer to god.
It will bring atheists closer to a knee specialist.0 -
Gumball - next time, shut the back door of the Land Rover and move it out of shot, eh!! 0
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Yes, looks like he pulled his bike out the back and posed for a quick snap by the sign 0
