I ride a lot of mountain and road and am moving to the Vernon area in the next month mostly for MTB, but I'm not sure what to expect from mountainous roads as I haven't taken my DeKerf road bike anywhere near anything that would be considered a mountain. I would consider myself a strong rider and currently am riding a standard 53/39 crankset and an 11-25 cassette. I would imagine I would probably benefit from having a compact crankset, or a 12-29, but probably not both. I'm curious what you guys use on your roadies and any advice would be helpful. I'd prefer to be able to move, and transition into riding again ASAP without having to experiment with too many different combinations to find what works for me. Thanks!
Roadies, what gear ratios do you use in BC?
I ride 50-34 with an 11-25 cassette in the Kootenays, but I don't consider myself a "strong rider" and I haven't ridden my road bike any where near something that would be considered "flat" in a few years.
50-11 will take me up to about 60km/h, and by that point it's getting too scary to pedal anyway, ha, ha.
Vernon isn't all that hilly compared to where I live. Nothing stopping you from riding what you have for a couple of months / years till you figure out if you need something else.
I agree, I'd ride for a bit on the current set up and make a call from there.
There's also the new-ish, semi-compact cranks that are 52/36. Could be an option…
Ride, don't slide.
53/39 x 12/25
I was always a good climber but at 55 I now like having slightly lower gears. Compact (50 X 36 0r 34?) and an 11-25 works fine for any hill in the lower mainland Whistler arena.
Debate? Bikes are made for riding not pushing.
53/39 x 12/25
you the man
Shredding hypothetical gnarr
I don't like the huge split between 50/34 but that's what my current bike has and I do like the low gear for bailout climbing. On my last bike, a cross race bike, I switched the rings to 46/36 which was pretty much perfect for my needs both on and off road. Only found it too short when descending the local mountains among racers.
I don't like the huge split between 50/34 but that's what my current bike has and I do like the low gear for bailout climbing. On my last bike, a cross race bike, I switched the rings to 46/36 which was pretty much perfect for my needs both on and off road. Only found it too short when descending the local mountains among racers.
That 50/34 drop is lame. I am running a 50/34 with 11-23 right now and still can't get it to work for me. Terrible. Drop to the 34 and spin out, or cross chain the snot out of the drive train. I am not happy with compact at all and am looking to move back to a 53/39 with the 11-23 or 11-25. Since I ride out towards the valley, the 28T is not too necessary and it is currently on the DH bike…
50/34 compact with 12-25T cassette. I climb a lot.
"The song of a bird…We used to ask Ennesson to do bird calls. He could do them. How he could do them, and when he perished, along with him went all those birds…"-Return from the Stars, Stanislaw Lem
"We just walk around, and sometimes we go out and dance, and then we listen to the environment."-Ralf Hutter, Kraftwerk
Back in my roadie days I was on 53/39 and 11-21/12-23 for most of the racing around here. For Redlands and Wilammette and suchA, where the climbs were really really long and steep, I had a 12-26…and i suffered big time (i was never a good climber). Times have changed and I fully appreciate my CX bike with a 48/38? 12-25. Good enough for cruising the tarmac now. Fast enough on the flats too.
52-39 and 12-27.
Not ideal for me but 18 year old Campag doesn't really go any lower.
"I do like how you generally bring an open-minded and positive vibe to the threads you participate in"
- Morgman
54-42 and 11-28, perfect catch all ratio.
Rode Horseshoe Bay this morning. The 50/34 is really quite irritating.
Yes, I agree.
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