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Any fear of having standard 53/39 with 11-25?

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Any fear of having standard 53/39 with 11-25?

Old 03-27-17, 10:31 AM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
The Released Boa Constrictors , Alligators and Sharks may be more of an issue.

then there is Bubba in the Pickup truck..



....
Hey, my father in laws name is Bubba who drives a pickup lol
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Old 03-27-17, 10:44 AM
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I used to ride with a guy with a 52-42-30 triple. In summer he just stopped using the 30 because he was in good enough shape not to need it, even for pass climbs. That said, it is unusual for a recreational rider to be able to spin a 39 - 25 combo on steep pass climbs. Not an issue in Florida. Different cassette and RD for the big ones if you're not unusual.
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Old 03-27-17, 10:47 AM
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Originally Posted by Drew Eckhardt
39x25 is a low enough gear to get a fit rider over everything in the Colorado Rockies, and you're in Florida.
Most of the riders in the Pro Challenge (Colorado Rockies) would have used a bigger cassette than that (and sometimes a compact crank) for the climbing stages. But, they may not be "fit riders."
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Old 03-27-17, 11:23 AM
  #29  
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My new bike is running a 53/39 with an 11/32 in the rear. I've never ridden a standard before and this is a totally new world for me. I've only been able to take it on a road once, due to the cold weather.. but, I'll be taking it out again soon as it dries/warms up.. lol I had the same worries.. on my first ride.. I couldn't tell if I was out of shape or what, but my speed, cadence, time was all over the place lol.
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Old 03-27-17, 11:41 AM
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Contrary to popular belief, Florida is not entirely flat. In the central part of the state around Clermont, Sugarloaf Mountain (ok Sugar Loaf Hill) is a peek 13-15% grade.

The Horrible Hundred manages 4500-5000 vertical feet hitting many of the small short climbs in Central Florida including Sugar Loaf.

A whole day of sharp 100 foot climbs can actually be harder than a lot of people used to riding longer, but fewer climbs may think. Particularly depending on the pace you do it at.
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Old 03-27-17, 11:45 AM
  #31  
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Start with the 11-25 and if it's not low enough, you'll know soon enough.
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Old 03-27-17, 03:29 PM
  #32  
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Your selection should be fine depending on fitness and method of attack on all FL. riding.

I have a 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL with 53/39 12/25 Live on Cape Haze Penninsula, FL since 1986 For local riding I use 12/23 because 101 miles this past Saturday had only 136' gain. My 165 miler a week earlier only had another 60'. My 307.8 miler for Bike Sebring 12/24 Hour early February only had 2150' gain in the 22 hours I rode.

2015 Six Gap age 65 5' 8.5" @ 140lbs Knew nothing about the ride and registered 10 days before. Had a 12/25 on back. Did not go hard down the mtns. so the 12 was fine, took things easy going up the climbs and wish I had lower for Hogpen.

2016 Horrible Hundred same gearing, no issues but wound up more tired than Six Gap because attacked harder and burnt up legs

2016 Six Gap I prepared for it had 53/39 and 12/28. Rode the first 3 gaps using 53 occasionally dropped on the 28. Last 3 Gaps used the 39/28 and wished for lower because I pushed it too much using only the 53 earlier but that was a goal I set.

2016 HH I had to ride my 1982 Custom Touring Paramount with upright bars 54/46/36 and 14, 16, 18, 20, 28 Had a total right shoulder replacement 6 weeks before the ride. Rode 3 training rides on the HH climbs before HH knowing that my shoulder would be new and I rode the Giant. Rode back side up Sugarloaf then down and up using 53/23 turned around back down and up again 53/23 then met the guys at Days Inn and Suites then back to Sugarloaf 53/25 for 3rd trip

This Sunday Cross Florida 168 miler riding 1983 Paramount Road with 52/42 12/28 with 6" rise upright bars, wide saddle, thumb shifters, Shimano Mtn. SPD pedals with sandals.

Have fun riding Florida and kill any mountain when out of state.
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Old 03-27-17, 03:39 PM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by OldTryGuy
Your selection should be fine depending on fitness and method of attack on all FL. riding.

I have a 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL with 53/39 12/25 Live on Cape Haze Penninsula, FL since 1986 For local riding I use 12/23 because 101 miles this past Saturday had only 136' gain. My 165 miler a week earlier only had another 60'. My 307.8 miler for Bike Sebring 12/24 Hour early February only had 2150' gain in the 22 hours I rode.

2015 Six Gap age 65 5' 8.5" @ 140lbs Knew nothing about the ride and registered 10 days before. Had a 12/25 on back. Did not go hard down the mtns. so the 12 was fine, took things easy going up the climbs and wish I had lower for Hogpen.

2016 Horrible Hundred same gearing, no issues but wound up more tired than Six Gap because attacked harder and burnt up legs

2016 Six Gap I prepared for it had 53/39 and 12/28. Rode the first 3 gaps using 53 occasionally dropped on the 28. Last 3 Gaps used the 39/28 and wished for lower because I pushed it too much using only the 53 earlier but that was a goal I set.

2016 HH I had to ride my 1982 Custom Touring Paramount with upright bars 54/46/36 and 14, 16, 18, 20, 28 Had a total right shoulder replacement 6 weeks before the ride. Rode 3 training rides on the HH climbs before HH knowing that my shoulder would be new and I rode the Giant. Rode back side up Sugarloaf then down and up using 53/23 turned around back down and up again 53/23 then met the guys at Days Inn and Suites then back to Sugarloaf 53/25 for 3rd trip

This Sunday Cross Florida 168 miler riding 1983 Paramount Road with 52/42 12/28 with 6" rise upright bars, wide saddle, thumb shifters, Shimano Mtn. SPD pedals with sandals.

Have fun riding Florida and kill any mountain when out of state.
Damn you are a beast. That's impressive. I love the saying you are only as old as you feel. I used to ride with an 80 year old on a Madone and he would smoke me even when I was peak fitness. I hope to be like that when I'm older (I'm 34).
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Old 03-27-17, 07:32 PM
  #34  
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After checking the ratios, would I be correct to say that my old bike with 50/34 and 11-28, I'd essentially be losing 6 easier gears with my new bikes 53/39 and 11-25? If so, ouch.

My easiest now is 1.56 and my old was 1.21, also had 1.26,1.31,1.36,1.42,1.48 and 1.55.
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Old 03-27-17, 07:39 PM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by motosonic
My new bike is running a 53/39 with an 11/32 in the rear. I've never ridden a standard before and this is a totally new world for me. I've only been able to take it on a road once, due to the cold weather.. but, I'll be taking it out again soon as it dries/warms up.. lol I had the same worries.. on my first ride.. I couldn't tell if I was out of shape or what, but my speed, cadence, time was all over the place lol.
That still has a 1.22 easy gear ratio which is basically the same as a compact with a 28 though (1.21). My best is a 1.56.
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Old 03-27-17, 07:50 PM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by JBerman
After checking the ratios, would I be correct to say that my old bike with 50/34 and 11-28, I'd essentially be losing 6 easier gears with my new bikes 53/39 and 11-25? If so, ouch.
Define "a gear."

Assuming you're running standard Shimano cassettes, your old bike had 3 ratios that were lower than your current granny gear (34/28, 34/25, and 34/23).

My easiest now is 1.56 and my old was 1.21, also had 1.26,1.31,1.36,1.42,1.48 and 1.55.
I doubt that it actually had those ratios. It looks like you divided 34 by 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28... but the cogs that your cassette actually had were likely 11-12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-25-28.
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Old 03-27-17, 08:01 PM
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Originally Posted by JBerman
After checking the ratios, would I be correct to say that my old bike with 50/34 and 11-28, I'd essentially be losing 6 easier gears with my new bikes 53/39 and 11-25? If so, ouch.

My easiest now is 1.56 and my old was 1.21, also had 1.26,1.31,1.36,1.42,1.48 and 1.55.
Where do you get all those ratios from? I don't see them. After 34/28 your next gear was 34/25 right? That's 1.36. There is no 1.26, 1.31, etc.
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Old 03-27-17, 08:01 PM
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Originally Posted by HTupolev
Define "a gear."

Assuming you're running standard Shimano cassettes, your old bike had 3 ratios that were lower than your current granny gear (34/28, 34/25, and 34/23).


I doubt that it actually had those ratios. It looks like you divided 34 by 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28... but the cogs that your cassette actually had were likely 11-12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-25-28.
Hahaha Der yea that makes way more sense. Problem with using those charts and calculators since it just uses all of them vs the select ones in the cog. I was comparing 39 with (all) 11-25 vs 34 with (all) 11-28. Phew. Although 1.56 vs 1.21 is a huge swing, right?

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Old 03-27-17, 08:12 PM
  #39  
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Worst case where you are, would be to get a 12-28 cassette. Not as low as you has, but plenty low enough. Problem solved. I ride on the 39 with an 11-26 all the time in Houston. Never go lower than 39/21, and I pedal at 90-100 rpm...with a low 40s ejection fraction after s heart attack. If I can do it, you can do it.
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Old 03-27-17, 08:17 PM
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Originally Posted by rpenmanparker
Worst case where you are, would be to get a 12-28 cassette. Not as low as you has, but plenty low enough. Problem solved. I ride on the 39 with an 11-26 all the time in Houston. Never go lower than 39/21, and I pedal at 90-100 rpm...with a low 40s ejection fraction after s heart attack. If I can do it, you can do it.
True! Awesome thank you! That would be a good backup plan if needed.
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Old 03-27-17, 11:12 PM
  #41  
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One of the steeds used to be a 53/39 with 11/25... hated doing any sort of hills above 2%. An 11/28 changed that, and it's all I need for most applications in the Phoenix, AZ metro area. Would probably go 12/30 when hitting some more longer climbs. For the 53/39 w 11/28, I've got a pretty even front ring distribution.

The 50/34 with 11/32 on the other bike is much too small... using the big ring a lot more often than the small, and hardly ever get the chance to use the granny gear.

I suppose a 52/36 semi and a 11/28 would be the sweet spot.
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Old 03-28-17, 08:49 AM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by Drew Eckhardt
39x25 is a low enough gear to get a fit rider over everything in the Colorado Rockies, and you're in Florida.
What a ridiculous statement. I'm a fit rider (12,000 miles/year) and an above average climber (138 lbs). No way in hell would I settle for a 39x25 as my lowest gear. I've never been riding in the CO mountains, but they say the climbs are long but not steep. One of the local climbs here is ~16.5 miles at 5%. It tops out at 8,900 feet, which wouldn't be much in CO.

Sure, if I was fresh and going full gas on a calm day I could probably get by with a 39x25. But there are plenty of days when my legs are ****, the wind is blowing, or I just want to ride a more reasonable pace because there are additional climbs on the menu that day. You better believe I'm using a lot of my 34x28 on a day like that and keeping the cadence high. And I always have the 34x32 ready just in case **** really hits the fan.

39x25 is probably fine in FL, but these days with 11 speeds why not just get a 28? I'm sure it gets windy down there.
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Old 03-28-17, 09:52 AM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by DXchulo
39x25 is probably fine in FL, but these days with 11 speeds why not just get a 28? I'm sure it gets windy down there.
It does get windy, which is why having nice tight spacing on the cassette is a worthwhile goal. A rider not strong enough to push a 39/25 into the wind probably isn't strong enough to push a 53/11 with the wind (headwinds hurt a lot more than tailwinds help). Usually better to bring the whole range down with a compact or mid-compact than widen the gear spacing.
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Old 04-01-17, 07:08 PM
  #44  
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I live in Colorado, front range, and rode until last season 53-39 with 11-23. Doable on all the front range climbs, evans, loveland, vail. Can't imagine it being an issue in Florida..
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Old 04-01-17, 07:17 PM
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Originally Posted by denvertrout
I live in Colorado, front range, and rode until last season 53-39 with 11-23. Doable on all the front range climbs, evans, loveland, vail. Can't imagine it being an issue in Florida..
39:23. Beast Mode. Doing that on real elevation/hills sets apart those who can climb and the rest of us.
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Old 04-01-17, 07:40 PM
  #46  
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Here is an easy plan, no need to be skeered. Ride the 25. If that is too hard, get a 28. If that is too hard, get a 32. If that is too hard, get a 50-34. If that is too hard, try golf
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Old 04-01-17, 08:09 PM
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Originally Posted by shelbyfv
Here is an easy plan, no need to be skeered. Ride the 25. If that is too hard, get a 28. If that is too hard, get a 32. If that is too hard, get a 50-34. If that is too hard, try golf
Hmmm I have always wanted to golf. At least I could have something to look forward to

I have a feeling an 11-28 is in my near future.
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Old 04-01-17, 11:16 PM
  #48  
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Originally Posted by zymphad
In Florida, you should be cranking 56-11 at all times.
Isn't Florida the place that has 165 mile an hour winds?

I suppose it depends on whether it is a headwind or tailwind
Originally Posted by JBerman
Any fear of having standard 53/39 with 11-25?
The riders that ride 48/34 compacts with 12/32 cassettes seem to fear those riders with the big rings.

Keep in mind that the typical vintage bike had something like a 52/42 crankset and a 13/23 freewheel, and the riders weren't walking up hills.
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