Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
- ComradeSpear
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Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby ComradeSpear » Thu Oct 23, 2014 9:50 am
I need some assistance in setting the right gearing as I’ll be doing a bit of climbing in the Vic Alps over consecutive days and wanted to have the right rig set up.
My current set up is an Equinox crankset (specs: 172.5 - 53/39T - 130BCD – Q Factor 147mm) working fine against an Ultegra cassette 11-28 with a Dura Ace 7900 RD & FD. I am using a KMC 10 speed chain.
I was thinking of:
Option A: Change the cassette to 12-30 and keep the 53/39 cranks
Option B: Change the chainrings to (50/34) and keep the 11-28 cassette
Option C: Change the chainrings to (50/34) AND the cassette 12-30
Option D: Only change the inner ring from 39 to 34 and keep the big ring at 53
Option D: Suck it up
I am not considering triple cranks at this stage.
Which option do you recommend? And what additonal fine tuning is required for your recommended option? i.e. do I need to get a shorter or longer chain (??), change the RD to longer cage or just finetune the gears for the new set up, etc
Thanks in advance.
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby mitzikatzi » Thu Oct 23, 2014 10:05 am
No idea how strong a rider you are. I would fit a compact with a 36t inner ring and a 12/28 cassette. That is me. Best for you no idea.
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby vosadrian » Thu Oct 23, 2014 10:14 am
I run an Ultegra 6800 crankset for my 52/36 which is 11 speed, but it works great with my older Ultegra 6600 10 speed setup. It may be possible to swap the 36 to a 34, but might make FD gear changes a bit messy?
- Derny Driver
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby Derny Driver » Thu Oct 23, 2014 10:20 am
- MattyK
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby MattyK » Thu Oct 23, 2014 12:21 pm
You appear to know a lot about the OP's ability.Derny Driver wrote:You will have no trouble getting up any of the climbs on 39-28
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby vosadrian » Thu Oct 23, 2014 5:10 pm
Edit - Note: I am assuming by Vic Alpine climbs you are including the likes of the back of Falls creek which I believe includes a long 15% section. If you are talking about more gradual climbs like up Hotham from Bright which are mostly not that steep with a few short 15% pinchs, I think the 39-28 will do you fine.
- cyclotaur
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby cyclotaur » Thu Oct 23, 2014 8:33 pm
My old blog - A bit of fun
"Riding, not racing...completing, not competing"
- ComradeSpear
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby ComradeSpear » Thu Oct 23, 2014 8:38 pm
I spoke to one LBS today and he said the best thing to do is to change the crankset to a compact.
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby Derny Driver » Thu Oct 23, 2014 9:54 pm
That's a very expensive option.ComradeSpear wrote:
I spoke to one LBS today and he said the best thing to do is to change the crankset to a compact.
I take my son and nephew every year to Bright in January and they do all those climbs on consecutive days. Nephew uses a 25 and my son a 26. Sure they are young but there's really nothing there except those pinches on Hotham that would require compacts. If you are worried about the 28 then borrow a 29 or 30 off someone. Unless you are really unfit or overweight ... I don't know. They are long climbs but not that steep, you can sit down and spin up in a 39-28 without burning yourself out.
Anyway, enjoy yourself whatever you decide, young DD just asked me last night if we can go there again this January and take 2 of his mates with him. They ride those climbs all day and play monopoly all night. Its a magic part of the world.
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby Homo Suburbiensis » Thu Oct 23, 2014 10:34 pm
Buy a tiagra 4600 compact crankset (50/34) for $80 online and use it for the couple of days you are climbing. Sell it for $50 after you are done.
Total cost = $30
IMO best and cheapest solution unless you are a snob and don't want tiagra to "spoil" your bike
- ComradeSpear
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby ComradeSpear » Fri Oct 24, 2014 7:01 am
@homo suburbiensis I like option E
How about option A? Keep the STD compact but Change the cassette to 30. Will that work? Or other mods are required? I already have the 30 cassette
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby clackers » Fri Oct 24, 2014 9:05 am
Lookin' after my knees!
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby Calvin27 » Fri Oct 24, 2014 9:33 am
I'm a little on the bigger side of life and probably don't rack up as much kms as everyone else (I MTB more than road).
Cushy dirt bike
Very cushy dirt bike
Bike crushed by car (RIP)
No brakes bike
Ebike
- Derny Driver
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby Derny Driver » Fri Oct 24, 2014 9:49 am
You mean keep the standard chainrings and put the 30 cassette on. YES perfect!ComradeSpear wrote:@derny driver. Telling me young kids can climb on 25s pumped me up a bit . Good stuff mate! I'm not overweight and I'm actually fit. Like I said, I just want to preserve the legs and energy over the 4 days. You see, I'm taking the fam on a break unbeknown to them I have a sneaky plan to climb some mountains . I need to maintain a level of energy so Mrs spear & the little spears don't give snipy comments
@homo suburbiensis I like option E
How about option A? Keep the STD compact but Change the cassette to 30. Will that work? Or other mods are required? I already have the 30 cassette
Just swap cassettes and change the gears gently and make sure that the 30 cog has clearance on the derailleur. I know a 29 clears on my son's bike, its very tight but it works ok. Others on here say you can use a 30, no mods required. Try it. I think 39-30 would be more than enough.
My son is 18 so I probably shouldnt refer to him as a kid. Nephew is 21. I kiss them goodbye as they ride off from Bright each morning, then hit the bakery and the shops. After that I relax in Cafe velo for an hour or so. After that I drive to the top of the climb and break out the food and jackets for the boys and we have lunch up there. Then I try to keep up with them on the descent Maybe Mrs Spear can adopt the same plan with you
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby ComradeSpear » Sat Nov 01, 2014 7:18 pm
I reckon compact cranks would definitely make it easier though.
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby Derny Driver » Sat Nov 01, 2014 7:57 pm
Enjoy
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby danny the boy » Sun Nov 02, 2014 5:04 pm
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby dalai47 » Sun Nov 02, 2014 5:30 pm
Hotham is longer with far steeper pinches than Towonga or Buffalo...Derny Driver wrote:You've done the steepest 2 climbs already. the other 2 are a piece of cake!
Enjoy
- Ross
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby Ross » Tue Nov 04, 2014 1:03 pm
I did it a few years ago, wrote a bit of a review on here in a reply to someone else that was asking if it was good value, I can't find the thread so I'll post again.danny the boy wrote:Bright Boot Camp? Is it worth the $$$, would be interested in a bit of a review if you have time.
It was fun, got to ride up some hills that I hadn't done before and met a heap of like minded folk. The Cycling Inform crew were pretty organised with support vehicles, ride leaders and a mechanic that rode with the bunch. They had seminars after the rides on different topics such as power meters to help you get the most out of your riding.
Was it good value? Probably not from a dollars and cents POV. It was quite expensive, worked out over $1000 for me factoring in interstate travel, accommodation and food. Better value IMO would be to do the the Domestique 7 Peaks Series - http://theclimbingcyclist.com/the-20141 ... is-coming/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . Cost is zero $ to enter so you save yourself $574 straight away but you still need to organise accommodation, travel and food.
- ComradeSpear
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby ComradeSpear » Tue Nov 04, 2014 3:15 pm
I didn't do the boot camp as I was a solo rider for all rides. I saw a few teams and Cycling Inform groups almost every day though.
I ended doing all the climbs using my current set up 53/39-28. Based on my experience, Mt Buffalo was the hardest... It keeps going on and on with no let up in the gradient till you literally reach the top. Even descending is really technical and there was Heaps of crap due to the inclement weather which made it dangerous.
Mt Hotham.... What a ride. Long and in a few areas there are some serious gradients especially the last 7km; the scenery is amazing and there are variations so you're not in the hurt locket all the way to the top. Descending is fast but not as technical as mt buff. Careful of The Meg on way down... It's a steep gradient with almost a 90 deg bend. Could've been nasty for me but somehow stayed up and didn't crash the barrier.
Falls Creek should be called False Flats. You're ascending even though the road looks flat until you look behind you and you realise you've been climbing. It was hard yakka for me from Half way to the top. I enjoyed descending FC the most. Hopefully action cam worked!!
4 more peaks to go... Buller, dinner plain, Baw Baw and Lake Mountain and I'll stick to my current set up except for Baw Baw.... Compact I think.
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Re: Chainrings & cassette combo for Vic Alps climbing
Postby ValleyForge » Tue Nov 04, 2014 6:08 pm
Love it!ComradeSpear wrote:you're not in the hurt locket
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