Biking in Colorado--Question and dilemma

First, do advanced beginner to intermediate riders ever ride a double crankset in the mountains of CO? I rode a compact double last year in Glacier and had no problems. I worry about the altitude in CO (and some very big climbs!) If recommended, I could rent a bicycle with a triple. I like to climb, I'm just not fast or strong.

Second, the dilemma: I have two bicycles that I could take on my trip

1. Cervelo--Very light, stiff bike with standard double cranks (53/39, 11-26)
2. Cannondale Synapse--Bike that weighs about 3 lbs more than the one previously mentioned, but with compact double (50/34, 11-28)

Thank you for any input and opinions!

Did you ride Going to the Sun Road with the compact double?

Veronica

Yes, Veronica. I did ride the GTS road with my Cannondale with the Compact double. Hardest part of that was having to constantly stop because of road construction. I'm worried on this trip about leaving Aspen and climbing over Independence Pass.

Okay, my two cents :D Which bike is more fun to ride?

I've ridden GTTS and just got back from mountain biking in CO. First off - my knees need a compact double and I have 32 in the back on my Cervelo S3. Based on published road gradients, it would seem the two roads are very similar and I would take my Cervelo to ride in CO based only on the published gradients. It fits me better, it's lighter and I've ridden up 18% grades on it.

However, elevation does affect everyone differently. I was fine to 10,000 feet on our trip but really struggled to go up another 400 feet. IP is 2,000 feet above that. I certainly wouldn't want to tackle it on my first day. :D

Are you doing this trip on your own or as part of a tour?

Veronica

Can you temporarily move the compact double to the Cervelo?

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Originally Posted by Veronica

Okay, my two cents :D Which bike is more fun to ride?

I've ridden GTTS and just got back from mountain biking in CO. First off - my knees need a compact double and I have 34 in the back on my Cervelo S3. Based on published road gradients, it would seem the two roads are very similar and I would take my Cervelo to ride in CO based only on the published gradients. It fits me better, it's lighter and I've ridden up 18% grades on it.

However, elevation does affect everyone differently. I was fine to 10,000 feet on our trip but really struggled to go up another 400 feet. IP is 2,000 feet above that. I certainly wouldn't want to tackle it on my first day. :D

Are you doing this trip on your own or as part of a tour?

Veronica

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The cervelo is much more fun--light, stiff, racy, responsive, but with the effect of harder gearing on the standard double, hill climbing in Atlanta is not quite where it should be. I too have significant knee issues, so it would be wonderful to have a compact with the Cervelo in the mountains. I'll have to check with the LBS to see if switching out could be a possibility. I ride SRAM Red and it's going to be hard to go back to Rival.

This is a WomanTours group, "Ride the Rockies". Independence Pass will be on day 7. I've never ridden 18% anything! :eek: Routinely do 10-12% in Atlanta, but we have hills not mountains.

I have mainly Force on my bike. To get the 32 I did have to switch to Apex in the rear. Honestly I didn't notice a difference in the shifting, but my knees were much happier with a 32 instead of a 25. I think that's what it was. :D

Of course I have never used SRAM Red. :D

Veronica

I just checked out your tour. It looks very civilized and manageable. :)

Unlike Western Spirit's version.

I'm tough, but that much mileage and climbing at elevation...The tour we just did was rated difficult. I think Very Difficult would kill me. :D

Veronica

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Originally Posted by Veronica

I have mainly Force on my bike. To get the 34 I did have to switch to Apex in the rear. Honestly I didn't notice a difference in the shifting, but my knees were much happier with a 34 instead of a 25. I think that's what it was. :D

Of course I have never used SRAM Red. :D

Veronica

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Thanks guys for the opinions. I'm definitely going to query the LBS about switching out. Perhaps I'll check out a different cassette as well. I've put too much into this trip to not be comfortable. And, with my knee issues and fussiness about fit, I can't imagine renting a bicycle for this kind of trip.

I love SRAM and I definitely love Red--the difference from Rival is amazing!

It sounds like both of your bikes have SRAM components and I'm guessing that both cranksets use the same style bottom bracket. If this is true, then it's a pretty easy swap. Put the compact on the Cervelo, drop the front derailleur to match, re-adjust the front derailleur limits and tension, and you're set.

I do this with one of my road bikes, using the triple crankset from my commuter, when I want lower gears. (It helps that I have triple shifters on the road bike and that neither crankset is particularly worn, so there's no issue with wear patterns.)

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Originally Posted by Becky

It sounds like both of your bikes have SRAM components and I'm guessing that both cranksets use the same style bottom bracket. If this is true, then it's a pretty easy swap. Put the compact on the Cervelo, drop the front derailleur to match, re-adjust the front derailleur limits and tension, and you're set.

I do this with one of my road bikes, using the triple crankset from my commuter, when I want lower gears. (It helps that I have triple shifters on the road bike and that neither crankset is particularly worn, so there's no issue with wear patterns.)

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Thank you Becky! I'm definitely going to check this out. :D

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Originally Posted by Veronica

I just checked out your tour. It looks very civilized and manageable. :)

Unlike Western Spirit's version.

I'm tough, but that much mileage and climbing at elevation...The tour we just did was rated difficult. I think Very Difficult would kill me. :D

Veronica

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Yikes, that looks brutal! Except for a day or two and the elevation (altitude--never know which word), this should be a bit easier than the Glacier trip last year.

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Originally Posted by skinimini

First, do advanced beginner to intermediate riders ever ride a double crankset in the mountains of CO? I rode a compact double last year in Glacier and had no problems. I worry about the altitude in CO (and some very big climbs!) If recommended, I could rent a bicycle with a triple. I like to climb, I'm just not fast or strong.

Second, the dilemma: I have two bicycles that I could take on my trip

1. Cervelo--Very light, stiff bike with standard double cranks (53/39, 11-26)
2. Cannondale Synapse--Bike that weighs about 3 lbs more than the one previously mentioned, but with compact double (50/34, 11-28)

Thank you for any input and opinions!

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Personally, I cannot imagine using a standard double cranks going up mountains. You must be athletic!!!
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2012 Specialized Amira Elite, upgraded carbon handle bars, Jett saddle 143mm switched to 145mm 2012 Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow saddle

2011 Specialized Ariel Sport,suspension post,Serfas Rx Women's Microfiber saddle

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Originally Posted by TigerMom

Personally, I cannot imagine using a standard double cranks going up mountains. You must be athletic!!!
_____________________________

2012 Specialized Amira Elite, upgraded carbon handle bars, Jett saddle 143mm switched to 145mm 2012 Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow saddle

2011 Specialized Ariel Sport,suspension post,Serfas Rx Women's Microfiber saddle

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I wish! Middle-aged and crappy knees. Before TE, I never even knew about triple cranks, but then I don't regularly ride Mtns. For this trip, my dilemma--lighter bike, harder gearing or heavier bike, easier gearing. I'm gonna see if I can get the best of both worlds.

Do you know what accounts for the extra weight of your Cannondale? If it's the wheels, can you swap wheels with your Cervelo? The conventional wisdom I often hear is that rolling weight savings make a bigger difference than frame or non-rolling weight.

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Originally Posted by indysteel

Do you know what accounts for the extra weight of your Cannondale? If it's the wheels, can you swap wheels with your Cervelo? The conventional wisdom I often hear is that rolling weight savings make a bigger difference than frame or non-rolling weight.

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Even swapping the wheels, it'll still be heavier. The cervelo has a much lighter frame. I don't have high end wheels--Mavic Ksyrium Elite. Fulcrum 7s on the Cannondale. I do plan to switch out the wheels. I think the thing that could help the most is getting rid of a few on my body (and stepping up the training)!

Personally, I'd go for the lower gearing.
I'm almost 59 years old. While my knees are fine and I do ride lots of steep, shorter hills, the only "mountains" I've done have been in Europe, all done on a 12-25 rd and a triple. I now have 2 bikes. One is a triple with an 11-28 rear cassette and the other a compact with a mountain bike rear cassette, 11-34. I've been riding the bikes about an even amount in the last couple of months. What I notice, is that when I ride up my street and driveway (between an 8-15% grade), my triple is starting to feel "harder." It's not that I can't do the climb, or I am any slower, it just feels harder. If I were on a tour and having to climb mountains, I would want the comfort of the lower geared bike. I see those extra gears as insurance. I don't necessarily always use the lowest gears on my bike with the mountain derailleur, but I sure like knowing they are there. And my lower geared bike does weigh a bit more. Not much, but it just doesn't seem to make any difference.

Why not do both? Lower the gearing and swap over the lighter wheelset :)

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Originally Posted by Becky

Why not do both? Lower the gearing and swap over the lighter wheelset :)

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Gonna try to do this tomorrow.:)