Struggling a bit with climbing

TanukiRider

Hi all,

Although I have been riding a mtb for a couple of years, Im pretty new to road biking, no more than 12 weeks, and am struggling a bit with climbing.

Bike is a '10 Defy 3.5 and has a Sora groupset on, with a compact double up front. Long dteady climbs dont present too much of a problem and shortish steep ones are ok to a point, but put me on a long steep climb, then Im running out of steam...... I can usually start off a few gears off the largest (25) on the back and on the 34 up front, but Im soon on the 25, and invariably have to stop, rest for 30 seconds or so, and then Im ok to carry on again. I just cant seem to grind out a steep climb :roll:

So, Im wondering if its worth putting a triple on the front, just to help with climbing, until my strength and endurance have improved more? Or do I persist with the compact? Its a bit of a PITA when Im out on a club run and have to stop on the clmbs, feel really bad making people wait although I know they dont mind. Will the triple help build the fitness, or am I cheating myself?

All thoughts appreciated folks, thanks is advance

Flamez

Just stick with in a few weeks you will improve no end,

If you wnt o chnge the gearing put a 12/28 on the rear less work than changing to a triple, its served me well.

tlw1

Stick with it, it will come

TanukiRider

Lots of hill reps I guess then! Would a 11-27 or 12-28 on the back make much difference?

I have no problem on rough climbs on the mtb on the granny ring, but a smooth, steep road is killing me at the mo........trouble is with hills, you cant get away from them in Wales!!

Slack

When you say that you're starting off with a few down the cassette from bottom gear, is there the possibility you are starting the climb too quickly? When you approach a hill which you know is going to be tough, have you tried going to a lower gear much sooner? I tend to start climbs slower than my peers, but often build my speed gradually and end up overtaking them before the top.

Unless you're going to get into touring or audax, i wouldn't bother with a triple. A compact with a 27 cog on the back should be sufficient.

Stick with it over the summer, and then work on improving your aerobic fitness in the autumn/winter.

Berk Bonebonce

Why do they put such stupid gears on new bikes? I mean, who can easily turn 50-something chainrings?

lemoncurd

Try starting the climb on a lower gear, go real slow, aim to keep your heart rate low and your legs as fresh as you can keep them. If you have enough effort half-way up or near the summit then you could change up a gear or two. It's a big psychological boost if you don't have to stop.

And as other posts have said, keep practising.

chrishd883

A big fan of the triple chainset - although many others are not.
You can build your fitness with a triple and it would increase your current gearing range.
However I would not recommend that you change now.

Firstly - as others have said - long hills require you to get the pacing right.
Go too fast at the start and you'll pay for it further up the road!
And it is very early days - still building your "cycling legs" !!

Secondly - If you still need lower gears - change the rear cassette.

You may find that your gearing needs vary depending upon your routes and whether you are pushing yourself in terms of intensity or stamina (more hills or more miles or both!).

For the pro's and con's of Triple v Compact chainsets search this forum !?!?!
But I would suggest that you leave it for 12 months before making any bigger changes.

optimisticbiker

i rarely use the bottom gear (11-25 cassette) but last weekend I did a 60mile Sportive and there was a short section - maybe 200m - of 22%. I just couldnt do it (ok it was 50miles in), even spinning was painful.... so I have just bought an 11-28 cassette which changes the final three gears from 21-23-25 to 21-24-28 so I reckon that I will have that little extra for those pesky tricky ones... and when I find my legs are improving and I'm using the 24 mostly I'll switch back to the 11-25 cassette.

TanukiRider

Thanks guys, think I'll have a bash at changing the cassette first then - though believe it or not, it will actually be cheaper to change the chainset!! Mech is already a triple as are the shifters. Found a Sora triple crankset for 35 quid, new!!

But, I'll nose around for a cassette, and see how I get on with it first, as you say, I may as well stick with it through the summer now.

Philby

You say you have only been riding for 12 weeks and are struggling on hills on a club run. At a guess most of the others on the club run will have been cycling for alot longer than you, so it is hardly surprising that you are being dropped on the hills at the moment. You will improve your climbing the more times you do the hills - rather than spend money on additional cassettes etc. why not spend some more time doing hills on your own to increase both your fitness and confidence.

niblue

I switched my Boardman form 11:25 to 11:28 and it does make a noticeable difference. I've just switched my Roubaix to an 11:32 (with a MTB mech) in preperation for my first 100 mile ride, as I know I'll be wanting low gears towards the end of the ride.