bobinski
Legendary Member
- Location
- Tulse Hill
short cage Geoff so 11-30, possibly 32, looks best bet for now.
Team BKool CycleChat
- Thread starter Peteaud
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
short cage Geoff so 11-30, possibly 32, looks best bet for now.
gbrown
Geoff on Bkool
- Location
- South Somerset
It occurs to me that another way to increase cadence, apart from getting lower gears, is to go faster! 
Sounds facetious (had to spell check that), but actually it's more an issue of body mass. I'm truly very impressed that some of our more massive compatriots have the strength and perseverance to get up the longer mountain goats climbs.
Cycling a 100kg body up a steep gradient is around 30% more work than a 75kg body, and you are likely to take considerably longer. Any reduction in body mass will not only reduce the time taken to climb, but also the speed and therefore cadence you will be able to achieve.
Dropping a gear from 34/28 to 34/32 should give the same cadence as going 14% faster. A similar effect to loosing one stone in body mass, but the climb also ends 14% quicker!
I know that most here would like to lose some weight, so this is just encouragement to emphasize the benefits. I dropped from 85 Kg to 74 Kg or so, and the climbs seemed a lot more than 12% easier.
(Unfortunately, not riding this year has seen me revert to nearer 85 Kg...)
Geoff
Sounds facetious (had to spell check that), but actually it's more an issue of body mass. I'm truly very impressed that some of our more massive compatriots have the strength and perseverance to get up the longer mountain goats climbs.
Cycling a 100kg body up a steep gradient is around 30% more work than a 75kg body, and you are likely to take considerably longer. Any reduction in body mass will not only reduce the time taken to climb, but also the speed and therefore cadence you will be able to achieve.
Dropping a gear from 34/28 to 34/32 should give the same cadence as going 14% faster. A similar effect to loosing one stone in body mass, but the climb also ends 14% quicker!
I know that most here would like to lose some weight, so this is just encouragement to emphasize the benefits. I dropped from 85 Kg to 74 Kg or so, and the climbs seemed a lot more than 12% easier.
(Unfortunately, not riding this year has seen me revert to nearer 85 Kg...)
Geoff
gbrown
Geoff on Bkool
- Location
- South Somerset
As you're already using a 12 top, 12-30 might be better, one less tooth spread.
<Tommy>
Illegitimi non carborundum
- Location
- Camden, London
It occurs to me that another way to increase cadence, apart from getting lower gears, is to go faster!
Sounds facetious (had to spell check that), but actually it's more an issue of body mass. I'm truly very impressed that some of our more massive compatriots have the strength and perseverance to get up the longer mountain goats climbs.
Cycling a 100kg body up a steep gradient is around 30% more work than a 75kg body, and you are likely to take considerably longer. Any reduction in body mass will not only reduce the time taken to climb, but also the speed and therefore cadence you will be able to achieve.
Dropping a gear from 34/28 to 34/32 should give the same cadence as going 14% faster. A similar effect to loosing one stone in body mass, but the climb also ends 14% quicker!
I know that most here would like to lose some weight, so this is just encouragement to emphasize the benefits. I dropped from 85 Kg to 74 Kg or so, and the climbs seemed a lot more than 12% easier.
(Unfortunately, not riding this year has seen me revert to nearer 85 Kg...)
Geoff
I'm trying to tell myself that the unit has a max resistance after which point my 95kg carcass makes no difference. Hopefully I can keep the pedals moving at that point...
Why are you not on the bike this year Geoff? Tell me to pi$$ off if it's a sensitive subject or you're bored of talking about it!
uncle_adolph
Über Member
- Location
- Chelmsford,Essex
Clearly your wife has excellent taste in more ways than one.
I hope she didn't take it out on you....or the bike....when she returned....
You're right J, the main focus here is the chain gang and handicap and I'm not surprised by that. Although I'm Mountain Goats admin I'd be the first to say that the others are much more fun and are actually my main focus too. I will go easy on a goat ride if I know I've got chaingang or handicap the next night. Although there's competition in the goats it's not so full-on but it is great for burning calories, and I also use it to put in vertical miles for the bkool vertical ascent rankings (which looking at the overall world rankings makes me realise just how puny my efforts are) which I guess I still have a look in for the 2016 vet 2 UK standings, but probably need an additional 2 x Dhuez a week for the rest of the year to have a chance.
Anyway, to spice up the goats a bit, tonight we're having a bit of a group ride up the latest league ride which is Nasu Hill
So far I think we have Adam, Breedon, Turbo Tommy, Bob, Rick and myself.
7:50 warm-up with start at 8pm. Join from the Live tab and search for it just the same as the chaingang except search for bill or nasu in the filter. Your result will count towards the MGL. All welcome to join, even if you just want to burn off a 1000 calories or so, or you want a decent recovery ride after last night.
Should take 50 min's plus (possibly much more if you have a kickr)
Last edited:
Insomina
Paul in Real Life
- Location
- Northampton
Some big gears being talked about, I'm feeling 
with my 12-27 on the road bike (upgraded from a 12-25, i know i'm a wimp, but I needed the extra gear to conquer a local hill which maxes out at 20%), and 11-26 on the turbo / winter bike.
Ok, so the crank is a triple on the turbo bike with the smallest cog a 30 (cheating I know!). However it is pretty much about the same as 34 x 30 in gear inches.
for comaprison
30x26 = 30.4"
34x28 = 32"
34x30 = 29.9"
34x32 = 28"
34x40 = 22.5"
Think about those on old school 42x23 @ 48.4"
all worked out on 700x25 tyres, and is the number of inches you'll travel with one rotation of the cranks.
with my 12-27 on the road bike (upgraded from a 12-25, i know i'm a wimp, but I needed the extra gear to conquer a local hill which maxes out at 20%), and 11-26 on the turbo / winter bike.Ok, so the crank is a triple on the turbo bike with the smallest cog a 30 (cheating I know!). However it is pretty much about the same as 34 x 30 in gear inches.
for comaprison
30x26 = 30.4"
34x28 = 32"
34x30 = 29.9"
34x32 = 28"
34x40 = 22.5"
Think about those on old school 42x23 @ 48.4"
all worked out on 700x25 tyres, and is the number of inches you'll travel with one rotation of the cranks.
Goldwolfie
Veteran
- Location
- Chesterfield
She's got one blue and one white eye, and I had the usual we should have had a penalty in the last few minutes.
She's not missed a home game for many a year, and likewise myself with the Wolves. There are normally 2 days a year when we don't really talk to each - when we play each other, but generally it's all good banter.
Back on subject - I'll be sorting her 'new' bike out for the turbo soon, so that could be interesting, as she's not ridden a bike for over 40 years and the intricacies of the Bkool software will take some explaining. I think a few flat video rides in the sun to start with, and probably go for the 30 day free trial on Premium to see how she gets on.
I find 11-32 to be incredibly low gearing but highly necessary for certain extremely steep welsh roads. On the turbo I'd never get close to needing that but would surely suffer from the additionally spaced gears. I'm guessing 11-25 would be your optimum when fully fit and 11-28 (which I think you have now) as a way to increase the cadence. If your weight is similar to my 77kgs that is.
bobinski
Legendary Member
- Location
- Tulse Hill
Bill, after a few months of MGL rides and then my Alps trip last year i came back and found i hardly ever used the 28 but would have liked closer spacing between gears. I thought about a 12-25.So a bit disappointing to end up actually thinking i should look at a 30 or 32. I am reluctant to but wary of screwing up my knee further. Torn between my sense that hard rides on the turbo, after a good warm up, actually help the knee, and the physios advice.
I am going to have a go at tonight's ride-bkool willing -and see how i get on.
Likely be up for this too
Roleur1
1st cat roadie back in the day
- Location
- Newport Pagnell
Shimano and SRAM do climbers kits in various forms to give wider ratios for steep ascents. Some of the pro teams resorted to ultegra last season to give a broader spread than DA would allow.
Might have to dump my 39 x 25 bottom bottom and put my winter bike back on the turbo if I can make tomorrows ride.... 36 x 25. My 53 x11 has only been used with bkool. On the road a 13 up block would be more usefull.
Might have to dump my 39 x 25 bottom bottom and put my winter bike back on the turbo if I can make tomorrows ride.... 36 x 25. My 53 x11 has only been used with bkool. On the road a 13 up block would be more usefull.
Breedon
Legendary Member
- Location
- Long Eaton, Nottingham
I'll be there, Pootled to work and shall be pootling back home so should be fresh (ish) did that stage Sunday night and it hurt but hope I can knock off a minute at least.
I promise I'll only go after 1 strava segment.
Honest
Add
Guru
- Location
- Powys, Wales
What time are we tackling this little 'hump' tonight Bill?
Hoping to make it tonight, although Mary is starting to question if I am having an affair with the turbo trainer.
I'll be there if the Wife Appeasement Plan works out.
And did I read somewhere your going to take it easy Bill? What a crock?!?
Hoping to make it tonight, although Mary is starting to question if I am having an affair with the turbo trainer.
I'll be there if the Wife Appeasement Plan works out.
And did I read somewhere your going to take it easy Bill? What a crock?!?
