Upgrading old Bianchi for mountains

coddlesangers

Hi all,

I'm a novice with a query, so go easy on me....

I have a 2005 Bianchi via Nirone 7, bought it 2nd had four years ago. I use it as a daily commuter bike - my commute is 10km each way, going from 650 metres to 450 meters, so my route home has a nice climb. Right behind my house is a brilliant climb, which goes from 650 metres to 1500 metres over about 12kms, I usually try and do this a few times every summer. However, its a giant pain in the ass, as the chainset on the bianchi is clearly designed for fitter/faster riders, as the lowest gear isn't low enough for when i run out of puff on the climb (usually 5-6kms in). Is it possible or even worthwhile to upgrade the chainset or cassette so that there an even lower gear i can use? Normal hills or normal climbs i dont need it for, but i'm not sure this climb is normal...(i live in switzerland before you ask where i'm finding these hills in ireland )

barrymanilow

Hi coddlesangers ,

I'm no expert but I'm fairly sure you could put a chainset on with a smaller smallest ring and a cassette with a bigger biggest ring .

Is it worthwhile ? Could cost a lot,if you dont have tools you'll have to pay a bike shop for it on top of the cost of the parts , you also may have to get a new rear deraileur if the one you have cant handle a bigger cog , in the end it could cost so much that for a just little bit more you could get a cheap second hand bike that already has suitable gearing .

I'm not sure if you can remove the chainrings individually on that bike but if you could just remove the small inner one and replace it with a smaller one then that could be the cheapest fix .

coddlesangers

i was thinking i could replace the inner chainring for sure, wouldn't even need to be THAT much smaller, its really just to give me a chance of getting up the mountian without the indignity of stopping for a walk every few kms! Its a campanalgo chainset - i'm loth to buy a new bike just for this one thing, but i may not have much choice i guess if i cant figure something out.

Seaswimmer

Let us know how many teeth are on the front chainrings (52/42, 52/39 ect). then if you can tell us the largest cog on your cassette (25, 28 ect) and the number of gears then we can give you some advice..

I assume you have 2 chainrings on the front and not 3??

coddlesangers

Old thread resurrection with an update - new chainring and cassette were not required in the end....the solution was some tough love for my legs, said climb is now doable on existing setup. Hurts like bejaysus still, but i've done it twice over the last few weeks, most recently on saturday. Next challenge, doing it faster :-)

Cee-Jay-Cee

Your very obviously not in Ireland as there arent any 1500m climbs here. Where are you living, just out of interest...

triggermortis

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Your very obviously not in Ireland as there arent any 1500m climbs here. Where are you living, just out of interest...

did you not read his first post? He's in Switzerland.

@coddlesangers.. Where abouts are you? I'm in Zurich myself

Bloggsie

I hated climbing when I 1st started now I just suck it up & get on with it mind you nothing like the climb you mentioned, I just follow the mantra off start like an old man, finish like a young man. The more I climb the more my legs sream to stop but my head says keep going, Im a stubborn lil fecker like that.

neris

Bloggsie wrote: »

I hated climbing when I 1st started now I just suck it up & get on with it mind you nothing like the climb you mentioned, I just follow the mantra off start like an old man, finish like a young man. The more I climb the more my legs sream to stop but my head says keep going, Im a stubborn lil fecker like that.

i hate climbing too and at 93kg its no easy feat but the challenge is brilliant and very rewarding psychologically when you get to the top even if youve crawled up the climb huffing and puffing

coddlesangers

triggermortis wrote: »

did you not read his first post? He's in Switzerland.

@coddlesangers.. Where abouts are you? I'm in Zurich myself

Living in the foothills of the Jura, around 30km from Geneva. Lovely cycling and I have no choice but to finish with a climb most days as the gaff is at 620 metres....

Had a big blow out on the way down the climb last saturday, stupidly had no spare inners with me - a very nice local fella stopped and hooked me up, clearly the cyclists code is strong!

triggermortis

coddlesangers wrote: »

Had a big blow out on the way down the climb last saturday, stupidly had no spare inners with me - a very nice local fella stopped and hooked me up, clearly the cyclists code is strong!

That must be the more laid back, French side of the country then. Over here I barely get a nod of recognition whenever I wave to any on-coming cyclist. A lot here seem to be "Mega-Freds". All full team kit or bike brand matched kit, top end bikes, 60+ years old and doing about 20Km/h....

On my list of rides is to do Lake Geneva as I have to stop and see the Freddie Mercury statue at Montreux

coddlesangers

Ah no, we're a friendly bunch in vaud, you'd have nod of the head and a 'bonjour' or 'bonsoir' as applicable. Very high general standard as well, lots of clubs and mini groups - a buddy from work has plugged me into a network of lads that do a regular weekend spin. Enjoy the lake tour when you do it, I was planning on doing exactly that with the weekend bunch sometime before end sept..

triggermortis

There was a sportive that did the route in June but I was working when it was on. Its about 170Km for the full loop