Climbed a mountain yesterday...by accident!

[aicabsolut]

I have considered the option of mountain bike gearing on my bike as well (I don't do well on hills) but have not done it. My first try at "helping" myself with the gearing (I, too, have a triple - 52/42/30) was with a 12/27 cassette on the rear. I swapped out the rear cassette last spring and it did help, though not as much as I would have liked.

This fall I rode a friend's compact double (50/34) with an 11 or 12/25. Climbing the same hills on that bike seemed easier - would someone please explain to me why?? I am confused but now considering switching to a compact double with a 12/27 cassette.

Kathi - you and I both have a lot to learn!

It's all about gear ratios. I doubt you're in the 30/27 much at all. Then, just keeping enough speed can be a challenge, right? But compared to a 34,36, or even 39, the 42 middle ring seems just HUGE on climbs, right? Plus, with compacts you're shedding weight. It's not THAT hard to crawl up a hill with a compact (even with a 25 cog), and it will feel easier, because it's going to take you fewer pedal strokes to get to the top.

I've got a 50/36 with 12-27, and it's pretty good. There are some places where a 34 would be nicer, but for most of my riding, I can stay in the 36 a long time more comfortably than the 50 (I've been trying to spin around 90-110rpms a lot of the time on flatter ground), but I'd run out of gears too early in a 34. I think if I were to do *serious* climbing, I'd go with a triple, but I don't like to do any serious climbing. Even so, I'd like to try a 34T ring first.

[Fredwina]

I'll agree with everyone, run what you need and don't worry about being a "wimp"
On front rings - I had a Standard triple (52/42/30), until I actually wore out the middle ring and switched it to a 39 - much better, but I still like have th 30 just in case Much more of a difference than going from the 11/25 that came stock to a 12/27

[Kristi]

I just want to say thanks.

I know very little about my bike and what I'm doing because my BF is a bike mechanic. He just takes care of everything. I have to remind him to fill me in on the details.

I find the gear information very helpful. I will have to keep all of that in mind as I'm training.

I did ride a hill on Christmas day. I had ridden this one ride only on my mountain bike before (before I got my road bike). I wasn't able to get up it at all before. I wasn't able to get all the way up, but I got a lot farther than I thought I would. I think the posts I read here not only helped me but made me believe that I could do it.

Thanks. I'll keep you posted on how I do.