Gearing choice for hilly holiday

Lumen

I've booked a two week holiday to Lesvos in June.

Although it's almost four months away, I'm thinking about gearing for the bike I'll be bringing as I need to order the crankset well in advance.

(Normal people might just turn up with a bike and see how it goes. That's not really me though.)

I have a clean sheet in terms of gearing options, either compact or standard double.

I would prefer a standard double for various reasons, but could go with a compact if really necessary. If double, I would probably have a 27t on the rear.

There are not many roads on the part of the island I'm staying at. The most obvious loop from my hotel is 102km with 1630m of climbing (according to BikeRouteToaster).



I've imported the toaster file into Garmin Training Centre to get the grades. See screenshot .

I don't really have any experience of interpreting these graphs, but the toughest climbs seem to be around 7% over 5-10km, with the odd short spike up to 15-20% (not sure whether BRT is accurately representing those spikes).

By comparison the Wicklow Gap is about 330m over 7km, or 5% average, with the odd section between 10-12%. I've never owned a standard double, although I usually have a couple of gears to spare on a 34x25.

In theory, 39x27 ought to get me up 7% at about 70rpm at my sustainable tempo pace, but people often say that average grades mean nothing.

Would I be mad to attempt this with a standard double?

lukester

What's your motivation for a standard over a compact? Are you going to use the same bike for racing?

Lumen

lukester wrote: »

What's your motivation for a standard over a compact? Are you going to use the same bike for racing?

No, the same crankset.

Raam

Just whack a 27 on to the standard. You'll be fine.

lukester

I meant to say 'bike/crankset'. In that case get the standard double.

27 on the back gives you 39 gear inches, a shade over the 38.8 you get with a standard 34/23. You'll be grand.

Chips Lovell

Given that I've regularly done the likes of this and this with a smallest gear of 39/27, you should have no problems. The first time I did the latter was with a 39/25 and I was a heavy smoker at the time.

DirkVoodoo

Jesus, I thought you were talking about hard climbs.

You should be suffering on 39x23 no problems!

Billy Whizz

Is a 39 not a compact?

AstraMonti

You are going to Greece? Be really, really and I seriously mean really careful out there, the locals (and especially the army that is based on the island) are driving like crazy. Also the state of the roads is awful (don't have experience the last 3 years, but knowing the greek way it will still be awful, and probably worst). Probably the best time to cycle is between 7am and 10am when the sun is not so high and not so warm. Have strong big lights all day long however bright it will be. Enjoy!

Raam

Billy Whizz wrote: »

Is a 39 not a compact?

No, it's a big manly gear. Now be quiet!

ROK ON

There is no advantage to being your weight if you use a compact.
Btw if that graph is accurate there is a stretch of road at 35%. That will be fun fun fun.

Lumen

AstraMonti wrote: »

You are going to Greece? Be really, really and I seriously mean really careful out there, the locals (and especially the army that is based on the island) are driving like crazy. Also the state of the roads is awful (don't have experience the last 3 years, but knowing the greek way it will still be awful, and probably worst). Probably the best time to cycle is between 7am and 10am when the sun is not so high and not so warm. Have strong big lights all day long however bright it will be. Enjoy!

Yes, planning to cycle early.

Didn't find many independent reports of cycling in Lesvos. But this one (from someone who runs Greek cycling holidays, so perhaps not objective) made it seem nice enough.

I'm staying around Skala Eressos in the "barren western" part, which is mentioned in the report:

Visitor review wrote:

Skala Eressos is the epicenter of lesbian visitors from all over the world, many of whom come year after year. Although unmistakably Greek, the town has its own distinct flavor. You find, for example, women casually caressing each other at the hip Sappho Hotel

blorg

Those climbs don't look any longer or steeper than we have in Wicklow so your best bet is to head out around Wicklow with your standard and see for yourself. I imagine standard would be fine but compact more optimal. I wouldn't go buying a compact specifically I don't think but if I had one I would use it.

AstraMonti

You can try and ask here if someone has real info from cycling there: http://www.cyclist-friends.gr/forumdisplay.php?f=136
It's the most active cycling forum in Greece (obviously not the english speaking part of it )

velo.2010

@Lumen if your looking for a compact I'm selling this

www.sram.com/en/truvativ/road/elita/elita.php

Should fit your BB no problem. E100.

Lumen

velo.2010 wrote: »

@Lumen if your looking for a compact I'm selling this

www.sram.com/en/truvativ/road/elita/elita.php

Should fit your BB no problem. E100.

Thanks. I already have a SRAM Red compact crankset (which should probably be illegal) but no standard double. And I want an integrated powermeter.

blorg

I'll also be selling a Bontrager (SRAM-compatible) triple if you are really desperate, haha.

lukester

Don't listen to blorg, I'll swap you my Ultegra triple, at no additional cost to yourself, for your SRAM red compact.

Raam

My niece has a pink dress that she has grown out of. I'll see if she will sell it.

lukester

Raam wrote: »

My niece has a pink dress that she has grown out of. I'll see if she will sell it.

First dibs.