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Post by Brandon on May 12, 2009 11:25:15 GMT -5
To those who are doing/have done IM Louisville, what gearing do you recommend or plan on using. 11/23? 12/25? I guess what I'm getting at is how big of a granny gear should I bring?
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Post by timritt on May 12, 2009 12:21:37 GMT -5
im going with 12/27. used it last yr for KY & WI. Lot of rolling hills in KY. I like having the easy gear but I am sure lots of people ride the 12/25. not sure about the 23 unless your a great rider because its gonna be hot.
tr
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Post by robreddy on May 12, 2009 14:00:55 GMT -5
tim nailed my game plan for Lou3.
None of the hills are all that big or hard - but there are a lot of them and it will be very hot - spinning is key
r
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Post by ebanks2 on May 12, 2009 14:22:07 GMT -5
Tim/Rob..I ride a 12/25 thru valley parkway/CVNP...and on some of the big hills down there I wish I had a 27 on. Do you guys usually ride a 12/27...or is it a special occasion gear set for the race?
Just curious as I had planned on 12/25....but now you have me thinking a 12/27
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Post by Aussie Rob on May 12, 2009 16:58:27 GMT -5
Funny, i was thinking about this today too.
Are the hills as steep or as long as WI? I ran a 12-26 there. Was thinking about a 12-25 for IMKY. Might just go with the 12-26 again.
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Post by timritt on May 13, 2009 9:29:02 GMT -5
I have pretty much ridden my 12/27 for training the hills and then switch it to my race wheels for the race. I like having that easy climber. Im not a rockstar so i like it to be as easy as possible. I ran the 12/25 in AZ and all others i have done the 12/27.
Rob there is only one steep climb and its only done once on the out and back. Other than that its more rolling. I thought WI was easier but it was windier than normal in KY last year because of the hurricane coming up from FL. At least that what someone who lived there told me in WI so take it for whats its worth. KY you are usually going up or down not flat much at all. Marathon is flat. only hill is the bridge the first loop.
tr
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Post by Brandon on May 14, 2009 6:39:39 GMT -5
whoa, a 27? wouldn't think of riding that, unless I was heading to Placid or something...but I sure value your guys experience. I'm riding a compact up front, so maybe I don't need the 27? Are you guys running a 39 t up front or am I just overestimating the looooville hills? I've never run anything but a 11-23 around here (w/ compact cranks), which makes the occasional 15% grade tough but at least they are short!! Was thinking about the 25 for Lou, but now I'm even more unsure...
Aussie, my understanding is that the Wisconsin hills require smaller gears, which is why I was thinking 23 or 25 for Lou.
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Post by Aussie Rob on May 14, 2009 9:12:29 GMT -5
I usually run a 12-23 here on a standard double for the close spacing, and the 26T was more than enough for wisconsin (taking it ultra easy for the first 80 miles). I can't imagine a 27 would be required for a course with smaller, easier hills.
Maybe ill run the 12-26 just in case, i really only lose my 18T that way....not a huge loss when riding solo.
Speaking of the bike course, I'll be heading out there sometime this July to ride the course. Who wants to come?
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Post by timritt on May 14, 2009 10:25:14 GMT -5
brandon i do not run a compact up front. cant remember if I used the easiest gear at all in KY but i like to know i have it. u folks are the rockstar bikers i am old and slow.
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Post by robreddy on May 14, 2009 10:41:01 GMT -5
brandon
its IM - you always want to ride easy and always have a bail out gear - other than FL or possibly AZ I would always ride a 27 for an IM - but i like spinning hills
Rob
I have thought the Lou course was a bit easier the Moo - but there are lots of folks that disagree who have done both races - I would not go into it thinking the course is easier. Think it depends on your ridding style more than once course being easier - the biggest saving grace to Lou is that the las 11 miles is flat and that is a huge benefit
r
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Post by Aussie Rob on May 14, 2009 11:20:30 GMT -5
Yeah i think ill bring the 12-26. No reason not to really. That setup still keeps the hammer gears in tact for when i want to do 30mph...
lol ok not even i can type that last sentence without laughing! Must. Not. Melt. Self. On. Bike.
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Post by Brandon on May 14, 2009 12:00:20 GMT -5
brandon i do not run a compact up front. cant remember if I used the easiest gear at all in KY but i like to know i have it. u folks are the rockstar bikers i am old and slow. Well, I am running a compact and you're not much older than me so I guess that makes me....young and slow? I hear you Rob R. about the spinning, but the compact granny (34/23t) gives me a smaller gear than the 39/26t that I have on my road bike for a granny. Also, the 34/25t would be smaller than a 39/27t. I rarely use my 11t, but don't want to spend the dough for the 12/25 unless I'm sure I'd use the 25....which I probably would. The only trade-off between the two is trading the 11t for the 25t (and spending the bucks). Aussie, you'll need that 11t over those final 11 miles Reddy is talking about, I'm sure  |
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Post by timritt on May 14, 2009 12:16:44 GMT -5
brandon,
if your riding the hills along chagrin with that setup and your good to run after, then i wouldnt worry about it. I dont have any experience with compacts so i dont have the ability to tell you one way or the other. No hill is bigger than the sherman rd or old millclimbs, just lots of rollers. Sounds to me like you will be fine with what you have.
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Post by Aussie Rob on May 14, 2009 12:17:07 GMT -5
I doubt you'll be hammering the 50/12 on the race. Even if you get a good decent for it, i think in an IM the benefit to resting in a tuck outweighs the time saving you'll gain by spinning for an extra 5mph through that very short section.
A 39/26 = 39.4 gi
A 39/27 = 38.9 gi
A 34/23 = 38.8 gi
A 34/25 = 35.7 gi
If you're running a compact, i'd just leave it alone. Your 34/23 is the same as Ritt's and Reddy's 39/27, and easier than my 39/26. Plus you have long levers (err...legs) to push the pedals. You're golden.
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Post by Brandon on May 14, 2009 12:27:11 GMT -5
A 39/26 = 39.4 gi A 39/27 = 38.9 gi A 34/23 = 38.8 gi A 34/25 = 35.7 gi If you're running a compact, i'd just leave it alone. Your 34/23 is the same as Ritt's and Reddy's 39/27, and easier than my 39/26. Eh, still thinking about the 25t, since I won't miss my 11t much...but that is the point I'm trying to make about the compact giving me a bigger granny...so that is why I asked about running the 25t. Plus you have long levers (err...legs) to push the pedals. You're golden. Long > strong....at least in my mind.  |
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Post by Aussie Rob on May 14, 2009 12:44:42 GMT -5
Over here the girls (and some of the guys too since it's lakewood) like it long AND strong. |
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Post by Brandon on May 14, 2009 18:57:48 GMT -5
Over here the girls (and some of the guys too since it's lakewood) like it long AND strong. Freak.  |
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Post by Aussie Rob on May 14, 2009 22:41:37 GMT -5
Correct.
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Post by Brandon on May 16, 2009 9:13:12 GMT -5
I think this thread has just lead me to my mantra for the summer.... Long IS Strong.  Maybe not the typical HTFU sort of mantra, but will certainly make me laugh....which I reckon I'll need at mile 18 of the run course in Loooville. |
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Post by Aussie Rob on May 16, 2009 9:36:37 GMT -5
you haven't read the rules?
Rule 37.2a: No smiling will be permitted in an IM after mile 18 until you get to the finish chute, and even then, it's a fake forced smile solely for the finishing photo. Failure to comply means you need to HTFU and channel that energy into your legs, thus magnifying the suffering.
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Post by Brandon on May 17, 2009 11:03:19 GMT -5
I think Chrissy Wellington forgot to read that one also...
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Post by Aussie Rob on May 17, 2009 13:03:02 GMT -5
Shame, that girl needs to go faster. |
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