Hill climb bike

ianspeare
ianspeare Posts: 110
edited October 2013 in Workshop
Thinking of a hill climb bike, would the best option not be a very small chainring such as those on a trials bike? Also would there be any benefit to having more cogs on the front than rear?
www.saddlesaw101.com

Comments

  • trekvet
    trekvet Posts: 223
    I would go single-speed and for something common at the front like a 42t. Chainwheel (what is a cog?), and at rear a 17, 19, 21t Sprocket or what ever the hill requires. Make the Chainwheel no bigger than necessary to save weight, and with that in mind cut ever other tooth off the Chainwheel (only needs same no. teeth as rear to wear at same rate). Check the rules for that hill/event then cut off everything that you don't need to go up the hill. Make sure chainline is dead straight to reduce friction. See (use camera with zoom lens :wink: ) what others use for same gradient of hills, and observe their cadence compared to yours.
    The Wife complained for months about the empty pot of bike oil on the hall stand; so I replaced it with a full one.
  • pinno
    pinno Posts: 52,135
    If you want to shed weight, as little on the bike (apart from a front brake caliper to get down the hill) . If you know the climb, see what gear you can sustain up it and then see if you need a 2 front chainrings.
    Personally, unless it is a shallow hill, one front chainring and you have the option of whatever ratio's are on your cassette.
    In days of old when men were bold... Some rode bikes with one gear and no handlebar tape, no bottle cage, one front brake lever/caliper - bike stripped to the bone.
    seanoconn - gruagach craic!
  • mattclinton
    mattclinton Posts: 57
    42t up front, whatever sprocket you need on the back to get up the climb! Fixed only really works on a consistent gradient climb.
    @MattyClinton
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    42 up front?

    You're either very strong or it's not that steep!
  • pinno
    pinno Posts: 52,135
    mattclinton wrote:
    42t up front, whatever sprocket you need on the back to get up the climb! Fixed only really works on a consistent gradient climb.


    No one mentioned 'fixed'. Single gear freewheel.
    seanoconn - gruagach craic!
  • brearley
    brearley Posts: 165
    bernithebiker wrote:
    42 up front?

    You're either very strong or it's not that steep!
    ex national hill climb champion, guess he's strong enough.
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    brearley wrote:
    bernithebiker wrote:
    42 up front?

    You're either very strong or it's not that steep!
    ex national hill climb champion, guess he's strong enough.

    Ok fair enough, but probably not good advice for the rest of us mere mortals.....!
  • simon_e
    simon_e Posts: 1,707
    Chainring would depend on the gradient and how fit/strong you are. I wouldn't go bigger than 39t if it was a single ring but I'm crap. Matt is one of the best.

    http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/pro ... -bike.html
    http://traumfahrrad.com/2012/08/12/hill-climb-bike/
    http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog/93/bikes/hill-climb-bike/
    some numbers:
    http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog/3945/cycl ... s-on-bike/

    Having the lightest bike in the world is pointless if you aren't prepared to half-kill yourself repeatedly riding it up steep hills.
    Aspire not to have more, but to be more.

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