Quote Originally Posted by Jiffer View Post
I got my bike a little over a year ago from the components on my husband's old bike and a new frame. I've had trouble doing hills from the get go and figured I was just dorky and slow. In the past month or so I have really improved my climbing, after my professional bike fit, which was totally great. But, as it turns out, I've been doing even better than I thought and just didn't know it! Check out this email I just got from my husband today.

I just took a gander at your back cassette. I couldn't remember if you had a 27 as your easy ring in the back or if it was a 26 or 28 (common changes I made to the bikes last year.) It was a 25! That's more difficult than I thought you were riding. I'm giving you the tandem 11-28 for your Saturday ride. You should see a huge difference and climb quick IF you commit to a faster spin of course.

Wow... sorry honey!!! I thought you had a 27 all this time. I never gave it a second thought! But you IS the climber for doing that with a big ring up front and a "standard" "guy" gear in the back! That's not all that easy. The change I'll make should give you as much difference as switching to a compact crankset with your "present" rear gearing. You should enjoy this.

This is such a crack up. I don't know whether to ring his neck for making me feel like such a climbing doofus for the past year ... ... or kiss him for figuring out why! Now, all of a sudden, I'm apparently the "climbing queen" for doing the hills I've done on my bigger ring.

Now let's just hope that fixing it will actually make a big difference!!! I'll keep you posted.
whether you go faster or not will depend on what sort of cadence you can maintain...but i'll tell you this, it'll feel easier regardless of whether you're getting up that hill faster or not! lol