Gear Ratio for Holiday

plivez

Hi Guys,

I am currently running
A Miche 10spd 11-25t cassette and Campag Xenon compact 50-34t chainset.

This has proved ideal for my local rides around East Anglia.

Last year I took my bike to Annecy in France where I managed 2100 foot climb. I was forced to get off the bike and walk on several occasions during the climb. A friend who made the climb on a different day managed to complete it without dismounting. We were fairly evenly match on lesser climbs, so I am putting down to gearing.

What are your thoughts. I am returning to Annecy this year and would like to complete the climb without dismounting.
Do I change my ratio, what to etc. Thanks

Anonymous

Hi, not sure about campag but I would get something like a 12-28 if they do it.
You do not really need the 11 and going bigger than 28 may be a stretch for your derailleur I think.
Ratios will stay close too.

Are you any fitter than last year? What cassette has your friend got?
Maybe your technic could be improved?

Have a great ride/holiday

ugo.santalucia

Yeah, I've done those climbs... the Cret de Chatillon is not very steep, but it is a long climb, while the Forclaz just off the opposite side of the lake is a fairly steep climb, although not that long and you do need low gears in both cases... you are looking at a cassette with a 28 T sprocket, that should get you up

Beautiful area... 8)

plivez

Thanks for the fast replies!

It was the Forclaz.

Will changing ratios have much detrimental effect for my day to day local stuff?

ugo.santalucia

plivez wrote:

Thanks for the fast replies!

It was the Forclaz.

Will changing ratios have much detrimental effect for my day to day local stuff?

No, essentially you swap one smaller sprocket for a 28, the rest are the same...
a 12-25 will be 12,13,14,15,16,17,19,21,23,25
a 12-28 will be 12,13,14,15,17,19,21,23,25,28

So on your day to day you will always be one sprocket down to where you normally were...

The Forclaz is part of the loop around the lake, which is a lovely ride. Try the Cret de Chatillon too, much more Alpine climb... 8)

lc1981

ugo.santalucia wrote:

a 12-25 will be 12,13,14,15,16,17,19,21,23,25

Except that he has a 11-25... But it still won't make much difference. How often do you need to use the 11 sprocket? Probably not very often.

Mikey23

@santalucia... Ta for that, just had an ah hah moment!

rc856

If you're getting Campag to go with your chainset, they do a 13-29 which is even better for you
IIRC, it's 13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-26-29 so your last 2 will be easier than your current set up.

FatTed

Wider range Campy is available, no idea if your RD will fit
http://store.interlocracing.com/11cael.html

lc1981

FatTed wrote:

Wider range Campy is available, no idea if your RD will fit
http://store.interlocracing.com/11cael.html

That's 11 speed. The OP's current cassette is 10 speed, so I presume their shifters are too.

kamil1891

I know people running shimano cassettes on campag veloce/centaur 10 speed. Works no problems and it's a lot cheaper than campag. Get yourself a tiagra ;-)

ugo.santalucia

I think the OP got his answer and we are just confusing him giving pointless information