The Cycling Thread

Stunning Ventoux pics LP and huge respect on getting to the summit

Cool bike too!

[mattSV]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

I've been looking at these, but the frame is quite deep in cross section so I'm not sure if the Knog or even this

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/exposure-flare-mk-2-rear-light/

Will have enough of a loop to fit around it.

One of the write ups on the Knog stated it was being used on a TT bike with an aero stem. Halfwits do some of the Knog range (not sure about the bullfrog) so you could take your seatpost in and try one?

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Tim in Belgium

LP, what ratio chainset are you running? Currently I'm running a normal double (not a compact) and find it interesting going up passes such as Wrynose/Hardknott or when doing the Nurburgring 24hr race up the final push to Hohe Acht.

I can manage it (just) but it's not a sensible set of gearing for big/steep climbs. What gearing to go for is probably going to be one of my harder choices, along with groupset manufacturer. Playing on the Ribble site is too much fun!!

My chainset is a compact 50-34 at the front. I teamed this with a 25-11 on the rear and have ridden (almost) everything locally up to 27% gradient. I now think I could have ridden up the hard side of Bwlch-y-Groes (which has a nasty 25% at the start and maintains an 18% before kicking up to 20+% for last half mile) on it. On the advice of our guide in the Pyrenees I changed to a 27-11 cassette with the compact, mainly as it allows you to spin so much easier when climbing for 2 hours...

I hear lots of 'proper' cyclists claiming they run out of gears on a compact, which is BS IMO. With a 50x11 I'm spinning out at around 60kph (downhill! ), that's plenty of gears for for anyone who is not a pro.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by MR UKI (1)

Stunning Ventoux pics LP and huge respect on getting to the summit

Cool bike too!

Thanks, its an amazing place. Go there!

My parting shot of Ventoux, bikes loaded for the trip home...

Mike, thanks for further gearing thoughts.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Tim in Belgium

Mike, thanks for further gearing thoughts.

Ohh one thing that make things a bit clearer.... my 25-11 and 27-11 cassettes are of the newer (2011) 10 speed Shimano groupset, the older nine speeds were 12t little cogs, so the extra cog was to give more top end without big jumps between gears. Just twigged that after reading Fizz's post again.

[Luckypants]

and a heads up, Aldi winter cycling kit sale starts on Thursday..

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers...Thursday11.htm

Big thanks to JamesMio for the keks - they fit great

Brickbats to Royal Mail for the super-slow delivery

Originally Posted by Tim in Belgium

Mike, thanks for further gearing thoughts.

FWIW, I run a compact front (Shimano FC-R700 with 172.5mm cranks) with Ultegra 6700 rear-deraileur.

The RD will take the Ultegra 28-11 cassette with a standard cage. That's plenty of range. There's a bit of a gap in the cassette (e.g. 28 teeth to 24 teeth at the low end, but the higher gears are the same as the 25-11 cassette that I used to run (and still have )

The ratios for the two cassettes are:
11,12,13,14,15,17,19,21,24,28

and

11,12,13,14,15,17,19,21,23,25

So, highest 8 gears are the same. For me (old and in occasional crappy health) the investment was worthwhile. Maybe one to think about come cassette/chain replacement time

With regards to groupset....... Ultegra Compact every time

Cheers, current old hack only has an 8 speed rear cassette, and not being a compact can be interesting up 25-30% roads like Hardknott!