Hills and bike types

[Moby Jones]

Thanks for the reply, its is a lot clearer now. I think i would prefer a triple. There is no way i could avoid hills where i live but i do like climbing hills

 

[Rouge Penguin]

A triple has 3 up front, a double 2. I'm a weirdo, I like finding hills I can't climb and killing myself getting up them. Then next time it's not an issue.

 

[hondated]

Another one advocating a triple. I nearly converted to a compact as they seem very popular but with the three on the front and a 29 on the rear I worked it out that contrary to what I was told I still had a get out of jail cog which I would not have on a compact.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I use a Vivente tourer, which has 52/39/30 on the front and 11..32 on the back. I rarely use the lowest ratio of 30/32. Even climbing up to Falls Creek* (about 4950ft elevation) a month ago, I was several gears above the lowest.

My bike weighs about 15kg, a bit more than most road bikes, but (as probably mentioned in these and other cycling forums) if you want to lose weight, you're better of losing it from yourself rather than from the bike (it's cheaper).

* In Australia's Victorian Alps.

 

[GrasB]

Compact v's triple has more to do with how you like your gears laid out, with a compact you'll lose about 1 gear compared to a road triple. Now if that one gear is important to you I'd suggest that a you don't want to be using a road triple (30/39/50 or similar) but rather a trekking (26/36/48) or MTB triple (22/32/44).

 

[Ghost Donkey]

Weight certainly makes a difference. If you're taking a lot with you on the bike you'll feel it on the hills and benefit from the lower gears. I'd second the suggestion above regarding not having the gearing too low. My cheap MTB is geared so low I run out of gears at the top end on the flat You might want to consider pannier bags if you have a lot to carry. Same wight but it's taken by the bike rather than your back.

 

[BrumJim]

the more you ride, the easier it gets. The first week may well be purgatory but by the end of the second you`ll be able to do the route on a Raleigh Chopper.....

He'll be talking about proper hills, not molehills, which is probably as tough as you get down in Suffolk...

 

[Fozz]

He'll be talking about proper hills, not molehills, which is probably as tough as you get down in Suffolk...

HBF........

i`ll race you up mucklow hill next time i`m in Brum..............i`ll be on the motorbike though....

 

[BrumJim]

HBF........

i`ll race you up mucklow hill next time i`m in Brum..............i`ll be on the motorbike though....

And will get strangely distracted when you get to the top, allowing me to fly past....

 

[ilovemucklowhill]

I cycle Mucklow hill everyday to get home. I love it. Who's for a race??

 

[cyberknight]

Get a compact double with sram apex , you have a 32 tooth on the back , with a 34 on the front you will get up a cliff face