Granny gear or compact cassette for Moab?

[katluvr]

Ok, considering I read the thread about garmin/mapmyrides, etc about grade and steepness of hills...I thought I should post this question.

I am traveling to Moab for a ROAD bike trip. It is w/ Woman Tours. 40 miles per day average. (I normally have not problem w/ distance, endurance, but now speed is another story).

I live in Florida--which equals FLAT. I have been riding in some of our "hillier" areas for training and have some more months. My current bike has a compact double. I have been doing the "hills" in my big chain ring and trying hard NOT to go into my smaller. Rationale: if I can do it in my BCR, then I have my SCR for Moab. I do love this bike. I call it my "Mean Pink Climbing Machine" because I started climbing better when I got it. (or was I just in better shape???). And this bike really "fits" me. I am very comfortable on it.

My older bike (1st bike) has a triple. It is aluminum (pinkie is carbon) and therefore has always been the travel bike. But I am torn..I like pinkie. And although the fit is good and was always good previously...it is not the same as pinkie. But given I live in the flat state of Florida and have not really experinced "them there hills" of the west --should I take my bike w/ the triple.

I did ride in Colorado w/ the triple and did use granny gear.
I also road in Hawaii--big island--up all those darn volcanos--it did kick my butt, but I was NOT prepared/well trained.

So advice? Compact double and just get the training in. Knowing I only have mild mileage and it is a vacation not a race?
Or am I kidding myself--take the triple cuz I'll need it?!

[alpinerabbit]

What's the cassette in the back? can you put in a bigger one for the trip? that'll help....

[mirliluck]

I think if you're reasonably fit you should take the comp, but I do agree also about putting on the bigger cassette. I live in Utah and had the same concern as you do when I went from an aluminum with a triple to a carbon frame with a comp. I got kind of mixed opinions while I was bike shopping about which I should go with to the point of becoming overly paranoid about it. Turns out I have done just fine now sans triple on all sorts of mountainous terrain around here.

Have fun! Moab is great.

[Grasshoppergirl]

I think the compact with the bike that fits the best along with the training. I used to have a triple, but switched to a compact with a carbon bike and worked fine for a Colorado tour. I haven't done a Moab tour, though DH has done a few, but I think the climbs are long 6% +,not double digit % as debated in the Map My Ride/Garmin thread. Enjoy your tour!

[katluvr]

Thanks all...I guess you could tell by my post I really like the "mean pink climbing machine".
As for compact double it is as follows:
Shimano Ultegra SL Compact, 34/50 teeth
Rear Cogs 10-speed, 12 - 25 teeth

And yes, I think I just need to keep training and do the BCR as much as possible. I can always walk (duh) and It is a vacation and lesiure trip. I am going to see teh sights! (And very excited about it!)

K

[OakLeaf]

I think you'll find that as long as you have past climbing experience, you'll get back the muscle memory of the techniques within 100 miles or so, and you'll find you have the strength you need, for all but the steepest climbs, from fighting the Florida winds. That's my experience every spring...

[li10up]

Thanks all...I guess you could tell by my post I really like the "mean pink climbing machine".
As for compact double it is as follows:
Shimano Ultegra SL Compact, 34/50 teeth
Rear Cogs 10-speed, 12 - 25 teeth

And yes, I think I just need to keep training and do the BCR as much as possible. I can always walk (duh) and It is a vacation and lesiure trip. I am going to see teh sights! (And very excited about it!)

K

What is the size of your smallest chainring on the triple and the rear cassette? You can plug it into a gear calculator and see the difference.

When I went from a triple to a compact double I really only "lost" one gear. Didn't even notice it.

[mirliluck]

I think the compact with the bike that fits the best along with the training. I used to have a triple, but switched to a compact with a carbon bike and worked fine for a Colorado tour. I haven't done a Moab tour, though DH has done a few, but I think the climbs are long 6% +,not double digit % as debated in the Map My Ride/Garmin thread. Enjoy your tour!

Yes, I was confused by the Garmin thread and the double digit %'s. The steepest grades I've seen in Moab or similar terrain is 8% ( based on the road signs, I don't have a Garmin).

And @katluver, yes, I think taking 'pinkie' will work out great, especially if you are so comfortable on it. When are you headed to Moab ? If within the next month or so you are in for some great weather !

[katluvr]

Our trip is Oct 11th - 17th.
Speaking of weather...so what do you wear for biking. I read the AM's are in the 40's but up to 70's in afternoon. Remember I am from Florida...we just don't bike in the cold! LOL

[mirliluck]

Yes, the desert gets quite chilly in the mornings and eves, but then it could get up into the 70's by noon even in October. I would probably wear a jacket that I could shred later, probably a sleeveless jersey underneath. Or what if you did short sleeve but got some arm warmers ? I've never used them but that could work. I'd wear knee-length pants in any case, but most important would be not to forget gloves, full-length ones. Hands get cold so fast !

[MartianDestiny]

Unless Moab is vastly different than CO, I agree with the others, you're more likely to see long, sustained grades in the 6-7% range rather than big double digit climbs.

I ride a double in CO, and yes, I sometimes cry up the occasional steep thing. I'm not in that great of shape, and honestly, It doesn't take me that much longer to start crying on the mtb with a granny. (and I could change the cassette on the roadie and help myself out a lot).

The big thing is the altitude and there's not much you can do about that unless you are willing to show up a week early. I can't believe how miserable I feel after spending 2 weeks at home in GA then showing up back in CO and trying to ride.

Anyway, I vote bring "Pinkie" and maybe consider a different rear cassette or smaller front ring if you are still worried (talk to your LBS about your different options).