Gearing,please help

kerryscoob

Lads\Lassies

My bike has Shimano 105 50/34 and 12/25,I suffer on climbs,lack of fitness is the main problem,but to ease the suffering could I change or do I leave as is.Trying to put miles up for the ROK, but on HILLS the HR is max'd never mind decent CLIMBS. Fitness is definitely improving but after finishing yesterday I thought to myself I wouldn't be half way round the ROK with more difficult climbs.

Next up is my son (14yrs) he has Dura Ace 53/39 and 11/21,he complained yesterday of the run into Tower (Blarney Run) of difficulty on that climb.He never complains on climbs but yesterday was his first run out on his new machine, I was aware of the cassette so please advise before purchasing.

PS I would rather glue him to the road as he hockeyed me.:o:o:o

Lumen

Your cranks are compact (110BCD), which will only go down to 34T, so if you want to keep your existing crankset your options are limited to the rear cassette. 12-27 would give you a bit more, after which you're getting into MTB cassette territory, which would require a derailleur change and is problematic on 10 speed. A triple crankset would give you 30T at the front, but that's an expensive change and you would be better off just training more.

For your sons bike you have a similar issue - you can't go lower than 39T on a standard (130BCD) double crankset. Although a cassette change to 12-25 or even 12-27 would make a huge difference if he's on 11-21 currently. Gearing will get progressively more gappy as you increase the range.

At 14 years of age I think 53/39 and 11-21 is a bit savage. Juniors are not allowed to race with these sort of ratios for good reason.

ROK ON

I am a poor climber but my advice is
1 just suffer on the climbs, that's what you are supposed to do.
2 change your rear cassette for a 12/27. A combo of 34 on the front and 27 on the back will get you through a lot.
3 practice climbing a lot. Particularly seated spinning your easiest gears.
4 try to regulate you HR. For me slow deep breathing thru the nose and exhale thru mouth works.
5 climb some more.

The climbs in th ROK are not tough if you take them at a handy pace.

Lumen

Junior gearing restrictions were discussed here.

kerryscoob

Lads thanks for quick responses.

My climbing is definitely getting better as the fitness goes up and the weight goes down,but I don't want to beat the heart to a pulp if I can alter the gearing slightly. Will seriously look at going to a 27.

As for the young buck if I change to a 12/27 will he be legal,or should I change the crank too for eg 52. At his age I don't want to kill him.YET!!!!!!:D

seamus

One big thing I've found with climbs is warming up. Give yourself a good 15-30 mins spinning before tackling any hills longer than 100m. You'll find it way easier.

Lumen

kerryscoob wrote: »

As for the young buck if I change to a 12/27 will he be legal,or should I change the crank too for eg 52. At his age I don't want to kill him.YET!!!!!!:D

Unless the regs have changed (couldn't find them on the new CI site, no surprise) the smallest rear cog with a 53 chainring is 15. With a 52 you can go down to 14.

me@ucd wrote: »

shimano Ultegra do a 25-14. which is a top level cassette. so based on your chart and needs a 52 ring with a 25-14 should be legal (just!)

According to this you can also get a 15-25 (15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,25) which would be less gappy and mean you didn't need to change the front chainring.

kerryscoob

Just found this on Cycling Ireland

Gear 6.94m for Cadets which is the 15/16 age group.
6.94m = 16 sprocket x 52 chain wheel.

It looks like I have a lot to change.??