W200. Standard or compact

get on your bike

Hi all.

Am training for w200 and at the moment have a standard chainset. I was wondering if I should change to a compact for the event or before.

What do yis think. What you riding for it.

Cheers

chakattack

Depends on how fit you are really and how much you weigh.

Have you been to any of the decent climbs in Wicklow or elsewhere?

If you're on standard with 12-25 now you'll prob be ok with 12-27/28.

Probably best to to go compact if you're not strong or carrying more than a few pounds extra weight.

get on your bike

I'd go for my spins in Wicklow so pretty familiar with the hills. Am 12 stone weight if that's any help but was thinking that the likes of the shay Elliot after 160 or so may just be better conquered on the compact

kenmc

probably cheaper to just change your casette for one with a bigger bottom gear.

chakattack

You'll get up anything if you're stubborn enough but if you think you might need more gears go for it.

doozerie

If you know the roads, then you probably already know the answer to your question. And really no-one can answer the question other than you anyway as everyone is different so what works for someone else may not work for you at all. Personally I'd go with a standard chainset but that's obviously just what suits me. As already mentioned you may be able to stick a larger cassette on the back if you feel you'll need lower gears (you'll probably need a longer/new chain too, of course).

xz

personally, I use a compact, 12/27 on one bike, 12/28 on the other, I am a lot heavier than you, and it suits my needs, I see your point about the Shay Elliott, but don't forget, you will have done Slieve Mann just before it, so whatever you decide to do, just keep your legs pedalling on the descent from Slieve Mann, they'll thank you for it once you hit the Elliott (I dont mean gun the descent, just keep your legs moving)

fat bloke

Compact.

If you're feeling good going up the Wicklow Gap, there's always the big ring

jimm

A compact chainset, ie. 50/34 and rear cassette with 12-27 sprockets will make the day a lot more comfortable for the leisure cyclist. That's what I will be using anyway. Of course you could do it on a standard double if fit enough.

Raam

I was in a similar predicament when I did my first ww200. I kept the standard and went with a 27. Sure you'll be grand!

kumate_champ07

anyone done the 200 with a fixed gear? it sounds like a good challenge, Ive done 100k handy enough.

easygoing39

I was planning on using 38-21 as my lowest gear for the WW 200!!It's what I've been using for the past 6 months when things go uphill.

The tax man

kumate_champ07 wrote: »

anyone done the 200 with a fixed gear? it sounds like a good challenge, Ive done 100k handy enough.

IIRC Blorg rode it fixed.

blorg

@OP- If you are asking the question, I'd say compact (with a 27 or 28 on the back.) You are much less likely to have to get off and walk and more likely to enjoy it.

Greyspoke did the W200 on a fixed gear; he didn't just do that out of nowhere, he is well used to hills fixed.

I've done 125km in the mountains (including Military Road, Sally and Wicklow Gap, Djouce) a number of times on a fixed gear (Bowery 46-17 and my track bike 49-14) and I've done 200km fixed up to Monaghan and back 46-14 but not the W200. I like my descents

Doing 100km fixed is no problem but doing it over hills is very different. The descents are the worst bit.

manwithaplan

Use whatever you have. I have a compact so I'll use that but I wouldn't be changing from a standard double if I had one (bar maybe the cassette). I am hoping I won't be needing 34-27 too often.

get on your bike

Cheers for replies. I feel I'm strong on de bike but maybe changing to compact might just give meza bit of reassurance. After saying that I've never risen a compact

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

I've done 125km in the mountains (including Military Road, Sally and Wicklow Gap, Djouce) a number of times on a fixed gear (Bowery 46-17 and my track bike 49-14)

<shakes head>

I had a drivetrain problem the other day and had to commute with a single gear of 50-14. It was deeply unpleasant, and I didn't go near a proper hill.

I have no idea how you managed Wicklow on a 49-14.

Did you work up to it over time, or are you just superhuman?

TinyExplosions

Lumen wrote: »

<shakes head>

I had a drivetrain problem the other day and had to commute with a single gear of 50-14. It was deeply unpleasant, and I didn't go near a proper hill.

I have no idea how you managed Wicklow on a 49-14.

Did you work up to it over time, or are you just superhuman?

He's a freak

Though having said that, I'm fairly sure I'm 49-14 on my everyday fixie and it doesn't bother me too much

The tax man

blorg wrote: »

Greyspoke did the W200 on a fixed gear; he didn't just do that out of nowhere, he is well used to hills.

Apologies Blorg. I knew someone did it alright.

Beasty

The tax man wrote: »

Apologies Blorg. I knew someone did it alright.

Greyspoke started about the same time with me (it was 2009) - we rode along together for a while, then he left me for standing ....

He was (quite rightly imo) wearing number 1 (I had number 666 on my back;))