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Defeated by Blaze Hill, gears for 25% incline

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  • September 11, 2012 at 1:30 pm #16801
    Organon

    Variety is the spice of life they say so I thought a bit of hill climbing would help my all round strength for my sportive ambitions. That is how I found myself tackling Blaze Hill on the edge of the Peak District. I am used to battering my way around the north Cheshire plain between Mobberley and Middlewich in my biggest gears 53/11. In seconds I found myself on my smallest gear 39/25 and struggling.
    10kph, 9,8,7,6,wobble. And I was off. After a quick breather I tried to get on again. I couldn’t get enough pressure on the crank and hop on with my left; I couldn’t get going again. I had to walk my bike up the last 100m like a kid. I had been defeated!
    I found out that Blaze Hill has an incline of up to 25%, just as steep as some of the worse finishes on the Vuelta.
    Umm, so I don’t want say that I couldn’t ever get up there on 39/25, but I ain’t no pro. So what size cogs at the back would get me up that hill or anything else? There can’t be many other steeper roads in the UK.

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Viewing 15 replies - 31 through 45 (of 52 total)
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  • September 16, 2012 at 4:59 am #700095
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    JediNeo

    I too have an 11-28. With it
    I too have an 11-28. With it I can get up most of the hills in the local area. Worst we have is about 20% at the top.

    September 15, 2012 at 8:01 pm #700093
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    Gkam84

    What abouts in Moray are you?
    What abouts in Moray are you? I used to live in Elgin, pretty flat around there though. Give me an idea where you are and i’ll try to suggest some for you. I have a good knowledge of that area 😉

    Hit my name and click on contact. Fill in the stuff and that’ll email me and I can reply 😉

    September 15, 2012 at 7:39 pm #700091
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    a_to_the_j

    if your running shimano do
    if your running shimano do what i did and get xtr long cage rear mech and xtr rear cassette – super light, crisp shifts and great gearing for 25%

    GKAM84 – i;m new to morayshire area, would be keen to do some great “mountain passes” around scotland – if you could list some places to climb ? many thanks!

    September 14, 2012 at 9:53 pm #700089
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    giff77

    As others have said. If you
    As others have said. If you are going up to a 32 then you also need to look at getting a long cage rear mech. As I said in mylast comment, work on your climbing technique then you will find you only need a 28 😉 unless of course you are touring then a triple will help those hills. Also meant to say in my last post that if you are covering huge distances on 53/11 you are going to go through chainsets like nobodies business. Keep it in the middle then you’ve got room to play with. Also meaans that you don’t need to change into a lower gear quickly if you hit the hill while on 11

    September 14, 2012 at 9:25 am #700087
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    zzgavin

    One other thing to consider
    One other thing to consider is lighter wheels, I’ve definitely noticed a difference since getting some RS80s to replace the RS20s which my CAAD10 came with. I use a compact and a 12-27 on the back with 105, I do notice a bit of spinning out, but I can climb well with that. Took the bike to the Pyrenees in the summer and it was great fun. Longer stretches of 10/11% and infrequent jumps to 20+ England definitely is shorter and steeper.
    The training videos from the sufferfest help a lot, Angels, The Hunted and Hell Hath No Fury are all brutally efficient at building climbing strength and working on proper climbing cadence. the latter two have sustained 20 minute climbs. Start with Angels, as it is fun, by the time you are at the top of the Alps D’Huez, you’ll have had your fill.
    http://www.thesufferfest.com/video-sufferfests/details-angels/

    September 14, 2012 at 8:43 am #700085
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    Simon E

    I think the current Tiagra 10
    I think the current Tiagra 10 speed rear mech will cope with a 32t bottom gear but I’m sure I read that 105 5700 and Ultegra are not designed to cope with cogs that big. 5600 has even less clearance, Shimano say officially 27t is max sprocket.

    SRAM designed Apex to facilitate similar ultra-low gearing.

    Of course you could always get a 105 triple chainset… provided you can cope with the nosedive in your street cred 😉

    September 14, 2012 at 7:48 am #700083
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    Timbo13

    As Gkam mentioned before,
    As Gkam mentioned before, that may well need a whole new rear mech with a long cage. Cheaper than a new bike, but still an added expense when an 11-28 cassette might avoid that and still be enough for Blaze Hill.

    September 14, 2012 at 12:24 am #700081
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    Organon

    Dude, I haven’t got 2 grand
    Dude, I haven’t got 2 grand to buy your bike off you.

    No I’ve decide what to get now. I will replace my 11-25 10speed cassette with a 11-32 and keep my 53-39 on the front. A compact 34+32 gives a ratio of 1.1 but the bigger 39+32 is still down at 1.2 and by keeping the front big I still get my 53+11 and 12 and 14 to play with. Yep this might be the OMNI gears I need for the flat and the hills.

    September 12, 2012 at 1:33 pm #700079
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    veseunr

    Buy my Canyon CF SLX (61cm)
    Buy my Canyon CF SLX (61cm) with a compact 50/34 and 11/28 on the back. Just over 6.8kg and climbs like a beast. Brand new Ultegra/Dura Ace everywhere and it is soon to be advertised properly. PM is interested and I’ll send some pics after I finish building it!

    Built to go up the Alps, but trip fallen through and I can’t have a £2k+ bike sitting around when I have 6 others in the garage!

    Clever thing to do would be split it and sell for parts (Frame £1300, New groupset £800, Wheels £500, Handlebars, Stem, Seat, etc £200) but too nice for grabbing a few extra ££ – need someone to use it properly.

    September 12, 2012 at 1:23 pm #700077
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    Gkam84

    The problem with the 105
    The problem with the 105 mechs, short and long cage have a max rear sprocket size of 28 at the moment. So if you were after a 105 cassette to have everything 105…..It wouldn’t work with a 11-32 😉

    September 12, 2012 at 9:04 am #700075
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    kev_wal12

    Does anyone know when shimano
    Does anyone know when shimano will release their 11-32 105 cassette? Seen articles on their 2013 range but cannot find a potential release date

    September 12, 2012 at 12:03 am #700073
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    bashthebox

    Ouch. I’ve done Mow Cop up in
    Ouch. I’ve done Mow Cop up in your part of the world, but I did it on a compact and an 11-27. And it nearly broke me, so very nearly. Highest I’ve ever seen my HR go. It was awesome. From memory, it’s a 25% last lateral 100m after a hard climb. Lovely stuff.

    September 11, 2012 at 9:02 pm #700071
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    giff77

    I would say much the same as
    I would say much the same as gkam. While different ratios may help. Work on your climbing skills and cadence. If you have got used to belting out a 53/11 I suggest working on cadence on a mid range gear then you’ve got plenty of scope for sprints and climbs. And as gkam says. Mark where you fall off the bike and the next time try and beat it. Let us know when you conquer the climb!

    September 11, 2012 at 7:17 pm #700069
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    Gkam84

    This will not be to
    This will not be to everyone’s taste. But here is what I did.

    I regularly climb some of the highest roads in Scotland. 7 of the top 20 are within my cycling range. I used to struggle quite a bit on steep parts.

    Once I got to the stage where I could go no more. I climbed off and remembered the part which got me this time. Next time I would try and get further that I had done the last time. Many times later, I was at the stage where I could get over no problem.

    Gearing will give you a bit more range. But keeping your pace steady and keep trying to get further every time you do the climb. Eventually you’ll get there. Its more about the rider than it is the bike. I gave myself a little more range with gearing. I was still struggling. Now I can manage just fine. Its mind over body and bike sometimes.

    Now I can manage the old Devil’s Elbow up here, its a 33 percenter on my compact 50/34 with a 11/26 on the back. I have tackled it on a 53/39 with 14/24 on the back…..Deadly

    September 11, 2012 at 6:25 pm #700067
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    Organon

    Right, all great stuff guys,
    Right, all great stuff guys, thanks

    First, I don’t think I’ll be trying a compact, I had one I wore out and was spinning out all the time, it came with my Jamis. Only when I came to replace the set did I learn I could go bigger. I don’t think a 53 is ‘macho’ and am quite happy hitting 40+ kph on the brand new Alderley Edge bypass cycleway!
    So I’m not going to mess with the front as it is not an easy swap. I am looking at a nice 11-(28)32 on ebay and hope those two extra cogs on the back will make the difference. Oh and training like a beast might work… eventually
    I just googled Britain’s Steepest Road and will keep Hardknott pass up my sleeve for later.

    cheers, G

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