Are You A Spinner Or A Grinder Up Hills?
#126
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,954
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3956 Post(s)
Liked 7,309 Times
in
2,949 Posts
A statement was made that there is an additional penalty for heavier riders (as compared to lighter riders) if they climb while standing because "you spend too much energy keeping that body weight going up and down", and you have echoed that. That statement is either incorrect or misleading, depending on how you look at it, and that is what my comment addressed.
Yes, bike weight does present a bigger burden for lighter riders while climbing, but that's true regardless of whether they're standing or sitting. It's incorrect, however, to conclude that this would make lighter riders uncompetitive on climbs -- it all depends on a rider's power-to-weight ratio, where weight includes the bike and the rider.
#127
Newbie
Funny. I grew up in Texas and everything was a 'coke', so if you were getting the drinks and everybody in the crew wanted a 'coke', it meant you needed to know who wanted an actual coke or a dr pepper or a pepsi or a 7up or whatever
On topic and on the really steep sections of my daily, I used to be a standing grinder running 53/39 with a pine cone 13/21 seven speed. That was thirty-five years ago. Now I'm a sitting grinder on the steeps running 50/34 with an 11/28 eleven speed
And I'm ok with that
On topic and on the really steep sections of my daily, I used to be a standing grinder running 53/39 with a pine cone 13/21 seven speed. That was thirty-five years ago. Now I'm a sitting grinder on the steeps running 50/34 with an 11/28 eleven speed
And I'm ok with that
#128
Banned.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 6,434
Bikes: '09 Felt F55, '84 Masi Cran Criterium, (2)'86 Schwinn Pelotons, '86 Look Equippe Hinault, '09 Globe Live 3 (dogtaxi), '94 Greg Lemond, '99 GT Pulse Kinesis
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 389 Post(s)
Liked 270 Times
in
153 Posts
On topic and on the really steep sections of my daily, I used to be a standing grinder running 53/39 with a pine cone 13/21 seven speed. That was thirty-five years ago. Now I'm a sitting grinder on the steeps running 50/34 with an 11/28 eleven speed
And I'm ok with that
And I'm ok with that
I've had the privilege of leaving Texas twice in my life (Fort F*****ing Hood, blech) and fear I will not live long enough to experience that singular thrill once more. I got hit-n-runned and another time I was in a Honda car that rolled after hitting a dead cow left in the middle of a corner in the road. Such a terrible place, and every Texan describes -the hill country" as a real purty place. Utter tish-hole.
#129
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,954
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3956 Post(s)
Liked 7,309 Times
in
2,949 Posts
#130
Banned.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 6,434
Bikes: '09 Felt F55, '84 Masi Cran Criterium, (2)'86 Schwinn Pelotons, '86 Look Equippe Hinault, '09 Globe Live 3 (dogtaxi), '94 Greg Lemond, '99 GT Pulse Kinesis
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 389 Post(s)
Liked 270 Times
in
153 Posts
Also I got a PI (public intoxication) ticket in Austin when I was 19. We had just seen the Circle Jerks (punk band) at Joe's Generic Bar, and the only reason my squadmates paid for me is because I was too young to drink and I was therefore their designated driver. But I was with them and designated by the Texas officers as a fellow drunk.
Yeah, not a whole lot of positive memories of F*******g texas. Except that the same weekend I got that ticket, Willie Nelson (Austin's Own Son) was arrested by the same police dept for sleeping one off in his van by the side of the road. Way to be Texas!
Last edited by calamarichris; 03-11-24 at 10:34 PM.
#131
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,954
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3956 Post(s)
Liked 7,309 Times
in
2,949 Posts
#132
Banned.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 6,434
Bikes: '09 Felt F55, '84 Masi Cran Criterium, (2)'86 Schwinn Pelotons, '86 Look Equippe Hinault, '09 Globe Live 3 (dogtaxi), '94 Greg Lemond, '99 GT Pulse Kinesis
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 389 Post(s)
Liked 270 Times
in
153 Posts
Separate incident. I got hit-n-runned by a guy in a Ford Ranger turning right into me while looking directly at me through his aviator sunglasses. He was also wearing a flightsuit. Just lost a little skin off my knee and elbow, but the dude just drove off. Classic Texas.
Just remembered: got hit another time while riding in Texas. FUBARed my front wheel, but at least the guy didn't drive off in this instance. He stuck around, but never answered the phone. So I had to pay for a new front wheel myself. When I think of texas, well... civil society are not exactly synonyms that come to mind.
Just remembered: got hit another time while riding in Texas. FUBARed my front wheel, but at least the guy didn't drive off in this instance. He stuck around, but never answered the phone. So I had to pay for a new front wheel myself. When I think of texas, well... civil society are not exactly synonyms that come to mind.
Last edited by calamarichris; 03-11-24 at 10:50 PM.
#133
Newbie
You had a 39 chainring living in Texas? Why? Because the 6% bridges over the freeways were too steep?
I've had the privilege of leaving Texas twice in my life (Fort F*****ing Hood, blech) and fear I will not live long enough to experience that singular thrill once more. I got hit-n-runned and another time I was in a Honda car that rolled after hitting a dead cow left in the middle of a corner in the road. Such a terrible place, and every Texan describes -the hill country" as a real purty place. Utter tish-hole.
I've had the privilege of leaving Texas twice in my life (Fort F*****ing Hood, blech) and fear I will not live long enough to experience that singular thrill once more. I got hit-n-runned and another time I was in a Honda car that rolled after hitting a dead cow left in the middle of a corner in the road. Such a terrible place, and every Texan describes -the hill country" as a real purty place. Utter tish-hole.
But now that you mention it I spent time in the hill country when I had relatives in Gatesville, and when my dad bought a '66 Mustang at a tiny little dealer near there in 1968 he handed me the keys when we walked out to the car and let me drive out to Ft Hood. I was 8
I'm not romantic about the place. When I think of Gatesville, I remember being dropped off with grandparents over the summer and the call of mourning doves. It's a lonely sound
You know, when I was growing up, only Texans lived in Texas. Imagine that
Likes For marko_1111:
#134
Banned.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 6,434
Bikes: '09 Felt F55, '84 Masi Cran Criterium, (2)'86 Schwinn Pelotons, '86 Look Equippe Hinault, '09 Globe Live 3 (dogtaxi), '94 Greg Lemond, '99 GT Pulse Kinesis
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 389 Post(s)
Liked 270 Times
in
153 Posts
My father was stationed at Fort Hood during my childhood. Then I suffered that grave misfortune myself as an Army private. I've lived in many places since then, magnificent places like Colorado, and the Netherlands where bicycle is king. I do no fear hell, for I have lived in Fort Hood. Twice. Bring it, Satan.
Last edited by calamarichris; 03-11-24 at 11:27 PM.
#135
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 1,824
Bikes: 1996 Trek 970 ZX Single Track 2x11
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 614 Post(s)
Liked 566 Times
in
430 Posts
Are You A Spinner Or A Grinder Up Hills?
https://www.gear-calculator.com/?GR=...N=MPH&DV=teeth
#137
Full Member
Spin all day. Always have been but now especially due to having torn a meniscus last fall. Additionally. as a serious and consistent runner, trail running specifically, I'm acclimated to holding a relatively high heart rate on climbs and find I perform best when I get my heartrate up to where I would normally have it while running.
#138
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,449
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3149 Post(s)
Liked 1,714 Times
in
1,034 Posts
A "grinder," due to old injuries from way back. Have never felt comfortable being up out of the saddle, and I've rarely done "performance" cycling sufficient to find out-of-saddle climbing necessary. These days, a low gearing setup (of ~15 gear inches) allows me to grind reasonably well.
https://www.gear-calculator.com/?GR=...N=MPH&DV=teeth
https://www.gear-calculator.com/?GR=...N=MPH&DV=teeth
Likes For chaadster:
#139
Senior Member
As a recumbent rider, definitely a spinner. I was before when doing fully loaded touring with a tendem.
Likes For Tony Marley:
#140
Full Member
Likes For Pantah:
#141
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 1,824
Bikes: 1996 Trek 970 ZX Single Track 2x11
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 614 Post(s)
Liked 566 Times
in
430 Posts
A bit above 3mph would be my estimate ... at least, calculated, given ~70rpm (@gear-calculator.com). Roughly the lower limit of my ability to remain upright.
It's certainly not my normal 85-90rpm. But (with the injuries) it's about all the power I can put down on steeper inclines. Nice to have such a lower gear. If I end up needing more, it'll then be time for different drivetrain or even electric bike.
It's certainly not my normal 85-90rpm. But (with the injuries) it's about all the power I can put down on steeper inclines. Nice to have such a lower gear. If I end up needing more, it'll then be time for different drivetrain or even electric bike.
#142
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,456
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4419 Post(s)
Liked 4,873 Times
in
3,017 Posts
A bit above 3mph would be my estimate ... at least, calculated, given ~70rpm (@gear-calculator.com). Roughly the lower limit of my ability to remain upright.
It's certainly not my normal 85-90rpm. But (with the injuries) it's about all the power I can put down on steeper inclines. Nice to have such a lower gear. If I end up needing more, it'll then be time for different drivetrain or even electric bike.
It's certainly not my normal 85-90rpm. But (with the injuries) it's about all the power I can put down on steeper inclines. Nice to have such a lower gear. If I end up needing more, it'll then be time for different drivetrain or even electric bike.
#143
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 1,824
Bikes: 1996 Trek 970 ZX Single Track 2x11
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 614 Post(s)
Liked 566 Times
in
430 Posts
Back in the mid-80s it didn't impact me nearly so much. Test-rode a Ritchey Ultra, at the time, and for the test-ride I went straight up a steep hard-packed slope while sitting down on the saddle ... and I just selected the lowest gear, kept the cadence up, and powered right up that slope. Was about ~30 degrees or more, as I recall. Easy enough, with that bike. Can't remember what the gear-inches were (at the bottom end). These days, though, even a moderate rise up an overpass road aches, on a "regularly-geared" bike, while that same incline as simple on my own low-geared bike.