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ultimobici
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by ultimobici

BenCousins wrote:
CasualRider wrote:
Fri May 19, 2023 6:51 pm
What is your W/kg? if you're above 4.2-4.5W/kg 52/36 - 11/30 is more than enought. if it's below 4w/kg than I would ty to go with easier gear.
Shouldn't that be 'what cadence are you comfortable in at whatever watts/kilo you'll be riding?' Then you do the math and figure out the gears. I'm comfortable in a cadence of 60 at threshold.
Absolutely. Two people with identical numbers may be comfortable at wildly different cadences and consequently favour different gearing.


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FlatlandClimber
Posts: 2491
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 3:37 pm

by FlatlandClimber

Just choose the lighter gearing. Don't listen to "if your FTP is above XY, you'll be fine with ..."
Yes, a high FTP rider will be able to grind it out, but why would your put yourself through that, if you could just have another cog?
"Narrow gearing" will be nearly irrelevant on climbs this steep, and not having sufficient gearing will put you into a power or cadence, that may really hurt your performance for such a long event.
Get over the ego, and get low gearing.
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okx
Posts: 169
Joined: Mon Jun 08, 2020 11:06 am

by okx

+1 for low gearing.
having lower gearing - won't hurt, not having - may hurt.

BenCousins
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Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2015 11:46 am

by BenCousins

Is this about comfort (completing the event) or performance (getting the best time)? Because being under geared can hurt, if it slows you down. If you default to a certain cadence when fatigued, then having a lower gear may drop you into a lower power output and get you a slower time.

I think it's important for people to understand/learn where they default cadence-wise on long climbs when fatigued.

Mindflash
Posts: 37
Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2019 11:59 am

by Mindflash

Depends on your FTP. Above 4W/kg should be more than fine. Below, better switch to 34/30 or 36/34

BenCousins
Posts: 1366
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2015 11:46 am

by BenCousins

Mindflash wrote:
Sun May 28, 2023 12:05 pm
Depends on your FTP. Above 4W/kg should be more than fine. Below, better switch to 34/30 or 36/34
You are assuming what cadence he's comfortable with, and you don't have that info. I'm below 4 and climb on 36/29.

polpy
Posts: 192
Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2021 11:05 am

by polpy

BenCousins wrote:
Mindflash wrote:
Sun May 28, 2023 12:05 pm
Depends on your FTP. Above 4W/kg should be more than fine. Below, better switch to 34/30 or 36/34
You are assuming what cadence he's comfortable with, and you don't have that info. I'm below 4 and climb on 36/29.
And i am above 4 and most of the time in 34/30.

BenCousins
Posts: 1366
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2015 11:46 am

by BenCousins

polpy wrote:
Sun May 28, 2023 5:28 pm
BenCousins wrote:
Mindflash wrote:
Sun May 28, 2023 12:05 pm
Depends on your FTP. Above 4W/kg should be more than fine. Below, better switch to 34/30 or 36/34
You are assuming what cadence he's comfortable with, and you don't have that info. I'm below 4 and climb on 36/29.
And i am above 4 and most of the time in 34/30.
Indeed. Which tells us it's personal.

polpy
Posts: 192
Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2021 11:05 am

by polpy

BenCousins wrote:
polpy wrote:
Sun May 28, 2023 5:28 pm
BenCousins wrote:
Mindflash wrote:
Sun May 28, 2023 12:05 pm
Depends on your FTP. Above 4W/kg should be more than fine. Below, better switch to 34/30 or 36/34
You are assuming what cadence he's comfortable with, and you don't have that info. I'm below 4 and climb on 36/29.
And i am above 4 and most of the time in 34/30.
Indeed. Which tells us it's personal.
Exactly, its super personal and depends on so many things.

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