Road Bike

[Chris Edwards]

I currenlty use a Claude Butler 21 speed hybrid for road and light off road use. but am finding hill climbing difficult on it. Any reccomendationds to look for when I purchase a road bike in terms of gearing

 

[Kiwiavenger]

It depends on the severity and length of the hill.

As a reference point I use a compact chainset with an 11-28 rear cassette and even at 15 stone I can get up climbs up to 14%

 

[Deleted member 35268]

A triple front chainring is handy for hills.

 

[ianrauk]

I currenlty use a Claude Butler 21 speed hybrid for road and light off road use. but am finding hill climbing difficult on it. Any reccomendationds to look for when I purchase a road bike in terms of gearing

What gearing has it got currently?

 

[JoeyB]

I currenlty use a Claude Butler 21 speed hybrid for road and light off road use. but am finding hill climbing difficult on it. Any reccomendationds to look for when I purchase a road bike in terms of gearing

If you aren't a fan of hills in general then probably worth looking at compacts or even triple groupsets. Would be nice to know what gearing you currently have as Ian says above....?

 

[ianrauk]

If you aren't a fan of hills in general then probably worth looking at compacts or even triple groupsets. Would be nice to know what gearing you currently have as Ian says above....?

He says 21 speed so am guessing it's a triple anyway.

 

[JoeyB]

He says 21 speed so am guessing it's a triple anyway.

In which case, just practice hills more often!

 

[ianrauk]

In which case, just practice hills more often!

In a nutshell

 

[Chris Edwards]

Currently geared witha 7 speed cassette 14-27 and 3 speed front change

 

[jay clock]

He is asking for advice on a new road bike. The answer does sound like go for a triple, although as a crap hill climber I have got to the point with a bit of practice where I have 50/34 with a 12-27 at the back and that has got me round hilly Ironmans

 

[HLaB]

If the OPs is struggling on hills with a heavy hybrid, it doesn't meant they will with a lighter roadbike. From the sounds of it however, I'd go with a compact, 50/34 (most choice on the market) with a wide ranging cassette (FWIW I run a 11-28 on my 38/52 compact but I like hills and so far thats got me up everthing in Britain, but for my bikes I took to the Alps (campag) I was able to put a 13-29 cassette on).

 

[vickster]

I'm told a 50/34 front and 11-32 rear SRAM set up can get you up any hill..I am yet to see this in practice but I am too heavy with a dodgy leg!

 

[Brava210]

I think I need an extra Granny ring
Not as fit as I thought

 

[SteCenturion]

Currently geared witha 7 speed cassette 14-27 and 3 speed front change

Most definitely a 7 speed triple with quite a narrow range.

Go for a modern 10 speed 50/34 compact or the new semi-compact but avoid the 53/39 standard (as used by Pro's).

An 11/28 or even 12/28 cassette will be plenty for most situations unless you plan to do some TdF Pyrenees climbs etc.

If it is affordable then 11 speed is the new go to gearing, having said all of this pretty much any 9 speed or better road bike will feel a whole lot easier on the climbs.

 

[Big Nick]

Hills more than 5% are never easy for me regardless on what gearing I've got!