gbiker

I was grinding away on an 8% hill yesterday and got to wondering, "Would I even be able to climb this on a standard double?" I've never ridden a standard double. What's your max grade on a standard vs. a compact?

flaco

It's easy to find out. Use a gear calculator to figure which of your gear combos with a compact would be more-or-less equivalent to your lowest gear with a standard. Then, go out and climb some hills using that gear. e.g., 34 / 21 would be just a bit higher than 39 / 25.

Pista86

if you have the legs and gearing in the rear you can climb anything with ether.

Creakyknees

I've been up sustained 25% walls with a 39x26... it wasn't fun and I was by no means "spinning" but it's definitely possible.

Sylv

Same gearing for me on my double. Max sustained grades I've been on are 20%. It is possible to get up but uncomfortable.

I take my triple for longer rides where I know we will be consistently hitting grades above 13%.

jsutkeepspining

on climbs with huge grades i often dont use my smaller gear, i just shoot straight up it in the big ring and a middle gear.

Seattle Forrest

21 % (steepest road in Seattle) is a ***** in 39x25, eg on a standard double.

johnny99

Depends a lot on the length of the hill. I can get up short steep hills by standing on the pedals in a medium gear. For long hills, I hear that Alberto Contador used a 36x32 gear on Sunday's stage of the Giro d'Italia.

androidtt

I'm on a regular double... I think most people can get up just fine until the grades start breaking 10% or as long as they pace themselves. I went on a hillside without knowing what it looked like, went max effort in the beginning thinking it would be short. Bad idea. Halfway up, I think a two year old crawling could have gone faster than me

Oh, and the max grade I've been up is 22%? Short, but hellish ride up ASU's mountain.

DrPete 

I remember being pretty happy to have a compact crankset for the last few km of Mont Ventoux.

cato_mcfly

For those that can use 39x25 on a 20% grade, are you in or out of the saddle? Above 12% on my compact 34x25 I am out of the saddle slowly grinding away.

Seattle Forrest

^ Out of the saddle somewhere around 15+ %, typically. It can be done seated, but it's easier and more comfortable standing.

Terex

8%, even for several miles, isn't that bad, even on a standard double. You can get stronger.

gbiker

Yep. It wasn't until after about the fourth mile that it started feeling like a grind. But no probs.

sqharaway

AC went with a 34X32. Higher leg speed allows for quick accelerations.

Terex

Just keep at it. The strength and endurance will improve!

DonDenver

Hmm...AC road a 36x32 up the Zonk (as reported) actually swapping bikes with the setup just prior to the climb...no?!

The gearing allows a higher cadence benefit for Conti with respect to his aerobic ability to better aid type 1 fiber to consume LA helping to fuel those steady state climbs. His standing art on pedals (the way he uniquely weights over the pedals) is more in keeping with his acceleration bursts when heis driving more anaerobic.

bikerjp

You'd have to be hella strong to climb a 20% with that gearing sitting or standing. No way I'll be doing that in this life (or body).

giantdefy

My friends and I normally ride in the mountains with grades of 15%. I use a compact 12-28, my friends all ride standard 11-26 or 11-27. My friends make it up, but I always fly by them on the uphill. Hell with being macho with a standard, I prefer to enjoy my ride. Never had to walk up the mountain.

tFUnK

I used to climb using a 39/24 and was able to power up short steep sections (< 1 mile) of 20% or more with fresh legs. I've also used triples (30/25) and compacts (34/25) and struggled up climbs of ~3-4 miles at ~10% average after my legs have already done 3000 ft. I did Palomar (I don't remember but I think it's around 13 miles at 7% average) on a 34/25 and that hurt quite a bit. Now I use 34/50 x 11/28 on the climbing bike.

jsutkeepspining

i've done it with harder gearing. its not quite that hard, and by no means am i unbelievably strong.

topflightpro

I've gone up a 19 percent grade in a 39x26. I want to say it was close to a kilometer in length.

It was hard. I was swerving all over the road and actually ran off the road and had to stop. Fortunately there was a driveway just a few yards away that was fairly flat. I was able to use that to get going again and finish the climb.

bikerjp

Well, you're also probably 20 something and don't have my body either I regularly climb some 12-14% grades that are only a half mile in length (though there are several) and I'm in the 34/28 on the steepest sections just barely moving. Although, I'm getting stronger and may soon be able to not use the bailout gears.

jsutkeepspining

im 16 so im working at a disadvantage

bikerjp

Thanks. Rub it in....






Shouldn't you be in school?