Caliwild

Yes, it's COLD! The roads were still wet (in the shady areas) from the rain a couple days ago. Today's goal is to ride out past the lighthouse to where the elephant seals hang out. BTW, Madeline's in Cambria is a great place for a nice dinner...

Kabuki12

I will keep that in mind , we usually opt for Linn's.The Elephant Seal rookery is actually just before Piedras Blancas Lighthouse(heading north). Leave early and catch the tailwind back!!

Caliwild

Gotcha. Thanks! Leaving soon so I may actually get a headwind on the way back... had to work in the morning

santambrogio

Yesterday I did my first serious l'Eroica training climb with toe clips and straps, Big Rock, paved 10% to 13%. I kept the straps loose fearing crashing if unable to unclip, this resulted in unclipping three times having and having to do a quick loop downhill to clip in again. I'm using Look slotted clip adaptors, 41 -28, 6 speed.
What do l'Eroica riders do on steep climbs?

cinelliguy 

Better gearing? There are some seriously steep sections, pulling out one's shoe is almost unavoidable.

Guy

fvernon

I'm seriously considering no toe clips/straps this year, and just riding a vintage-style touring pedal. I'm not sure the clips/straps are all that necessary or useful for how I'll try to enjoy this sort of ride; obviously ymmv.

rccardr 

Flat touring pedals. And more agressive gearing, like 28/34 low.

santambrogio

I've committed (bought) a used set of Campy pedals and toe clips, shoes are laced Lake. The current Look slotted adaptors are plastic, I've got a set of aluminum adaptors to try, they might better engage with the pedals.

The 6 speed freewheel has been changed from a 13 - 26 to a 14 - 28, currently experimenting with chain length and RD position in the dropouts. Small - big 41 - 28 works, Big - big 52 - 28 looks too tight. The drivetrain is '80's SR, I've learned here that it can go up to a 28 cog.

The posts in BF are great.

gugie 

We walk

edited: I found a better pic!

fvernon

I've done it with toe clips & straps and a 53/42 up front with a 12-28 in the back, and it wasn't not fun. Call it character-building. You'll get a lot of advice about more gears, flat pedals, and wide tires in here, mostly from folks who've had that character-building experience already.

Edit--I clearly wasn't thinking too clearly when I mentioned the SR crankset change--my mind immediately when to the Japanese brand, not the more obvious conclusion that you're running Campy SR.

Reynolds 531 

yeah but you'll never do 52 28 unless you're drunk.

Classtime 

Dig your enthusiasm santambrogio. With 9 months of training ahead of you, 41-28 is plenty low. Super Record with a 28? Maybe. If this is your first time, go stock OE. This will be my 5th one and my plan will be the same one I always use: get strong enough to ride the whole course with a 52/42-13/24. I’d hold off on using cleats on unfamiliar training courses. When you can do the dirt and climbs with clips and straps then try the cleats.

edit: my plan hasn't worked yet but I always have a blast.

obrentharris 

Gearing to match your fitness level, and pull the straps nice and tight on the climbs. (Easy for me to say. I had several decades to learn how to reach down quickly and loosen the straps when needed.) Clips with cleats take practice.
Brent

merziac

I couldn't even get to that hill.

gugie 

Most of those riders bike pushers wished they hadn't.

merziac

At least they got there.

gugie 

Just checked, his wife Tracey is still listed as a Century 21 realtor out of Atascadero. Zabasearch on his name suggests he hasn't moved since I last talked to him.

It would be great to see him again.

santambrogio

The ride up Big Rock was done with a Regina CX 14 -28, it took moving the wheel in the dropouts. The top pulley is close to the 28 cog, with the wheel close to back of the dropout there is no noise or movement at the cage.

I did get 31 and 29 cogs and now see that they will not work with the SR derailleur.

I'm looking for easy gravel routes around here.

merziac

There are ways, ya gotta lean way in, maybe out of your comfort zone.

Here's a great recent thread.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...l#post22793437

nlerner

I’d have to check, but I think my low gearing for last year’s CA Eroica was 30t large cog rear and 28t small front. Yeah, real low and glad I had it. Didn’t need to walk up any hills! Plus I was running flat pedals with no clips or straps.

Classtime 

https://www.strava.com/segments/2874837
You can go up Topanga to Dirt Mulholland and from the Nike Tower come back down Mandeville Fire Road.

cinelliguy 

Just plain smart...

Guy

Spaghetti Legs 

santambrogio This is me in a 42-28 on Kiler in 2018. Probably the only 5 seconds I wasn't out of the saddle. In the couple of times since that year, I've "cheated" and used a compact crank but I hope to do it again one day on standard gearing. The bike I rode that year, a Tommasini, has some kind of magic and climbs better than any other bike I own. But barring a magic bike and especially since it sounds like your unclipping issue was more technical rather than physical, just keep training on the hard stuff. I would suggest losing the cleats for now and just go flat shoe with clips and straps. Also practice track standing (staying in one place with both feet in the pedals) as good ability with this increases confidence in staying in the clips for an extra second or two and reduces the likelihood of falling over. I learned this many years ago from a Ned Overend book on mtb skills.



Cosplay faux pas, jersey matches color but not brand of bicycle

mhespenheide 

If I were still in my 20's and riding up Mount Baldy in a 39x25, I might well be tempted to take on Eroica with "heroic" gearing.

I am not, and I am not tempted. Each of the four times I've ridden it, I had low gears in almost a 1-to-1 ratio. Kiler and Cypress are both steep in sections (Kiler has steeper sections) and the gravel/dirt surface is such that you often can't stand up for more power. If you have the option to go for lower gearing and are considering it, I recommend it. It's still a challenging ride and a beautiful day out on the bike.

gugie 

Gotcha beat, 24t front, 32 rear. Last year, for the first time ever I was able to climb Cypress without walking. I did, however did an involuntary dismount near the top. The last half mile or so I was not much over stall speed, 4 curves from the top my front wheel slid out on a rack and some sand, and I was suddenly looking up at the sky. Getting back up and running with toe clips and straps took 5 or 6 tries.