what gearing for fred whitton?

jmeadows

hoping to enter & get a place on fred whitton in 2013. what gear ratios have people been doing this event on? dont know if i am dreaming about doing it on a 39/27, thinking of getting new crankset & am wondering whether to get a compact, or a 38T & getting different cassestte. i realise it depends how good a climber i am & what shape i am in etc, just trying to gauge opinions & experience, cheers

Brian B

Compact would be best. 34*27 would be a safe bet and even then unless you are a regular for hill climbing events you might be even still overgeared for the Hardknott at 100miles.

I have done the Fred 5 times and use a triple for Honister/Hardknott and I can a lot of sportives on a standard 53/39 gearing. I see more people walking on Hardknott(and many of the previous climbs) than actually riding.

Tom Butcher

Yes a triple would be best - you may not need it but I think 90% of the field would benefit from having one on a few of the climbs.

Alternatively just get the lowest gearing you can justify forking out on for one event - if you do have to walk part of Hardknott as has been said you'll be in the majority.

Philip Whiteman

Triples are better than a 28 compact.

IanTrcp

Philip Whiteman wrote:

Triples are better than a 28 compact.

Better for what? And why?

jmeadows

thanks for replies, somebody told me to get a 38t chainring and a 32 cassette, sounds like compact is best bet minimum, cheers

maddog 2

triples certainly go lower but in every other way they are inferior, IMO.

33/28 will be fine. At least that's what I usually run. If you can't get up HardKnott on that then I suspect you won't get up it with anything...

sheffieldpaul

I ride a 52-42-32 triple as I like to tackle hills over 25% but on flat rides the big chain rings are great, I don't have more than one road bike or the time to change chain sets depending on the route- it's a go anywhere gear set. I find the snobbery in the pub and the start line a bit pointless when I'm riding past people walking in cleats up 25% tarmac. There are hills that I'd ride in a bigger gear on a short ride but after 100 miles my granny gear has saved me from humiliation. I'm planning the Fred and will enjoy my triple.

rolf_f

I did it on 34-29. I had to push up Hardknott and consider myself a decent climber! It's not just about gears here - but sheer power as well!

maddog 2 wrote:

33/28 will be fine. At least that's what I usually run. If you can't get up HardKnott on that then I suspect you won't get up it with anything...

I'd disagree with this - I've got up Hardknott no probs on my mountain bike. My problem on the Fred was I simply couldn't push that gear up that gradient after that many miles. A 32 might have made the difference or it might not have but to say if you can't get up with 22/28 you can't get up anything suggests a lack of understanding of how gears work!

APIII

There isn't really an answer to this. I used a 34/29, my mate has done it several times with 39/25 as he's a lot stronger. I always choose a 29 for these sort of rides

derbygrimpeur

sheffieldpaul wrote:

I ride a 52-42-32 triple as I like to tackle hills over 25% but on flat rides the big chain rings are great, I don't have more than one road bike or the time to change chain sets depending on the route- it's a go anywhere gear set. I find the snobbery in the pub and the start line a bit pointless when I'm riding past people walking in cleats up 25% tarmac. There are hills that I'd ride in a bigger gear on a short ride but after 100 miles my granny gear has saved me from humiliation. I'm planning the Fred and will enjoy my triple.

Completely agree. I ride a 53-42-30 with a 12-23 10sp cassette. It's so much better than a compact. Got the big gears for descents and small gears for climbs plus all the sprockets are nicely spaced so I'm never struggling to find the right gear.

Personally, I couldn't give a toss what people think about triples, I ride quicker than most of them up hills.

cougie

I love the planning for a ride thats two years away !

In the meantime I'd get as many climbs under the belt and see how you get on.

A triple would get you lower, but do you need a triple for the rest of the year ?