Trouble with steep hills

[OakLeaf]

http://www.konaworld.com/bike.cfm?content=lisa_rd

50/39 in front, 12-25 in back

The 2010 Ultegra SS RD will accommodate up to a 28T rear cog. So you can definitely go lower there. Three teeth WILL make a difference.

Unfortunately you won't be able to put a smaller chainring up front without some other modifications.

That bike is geared awfully tall for the Blue Ridge Mountains. Say it with me: it's not you. Most everyone I know in Ohio (which has hills not quite as steep and not *nearly* as tall as yours) has a 34x27 or lower as their lowest gear. Sure, racers run taller gearing in all but the most extreme terrain, but they also had to get strong before they started racing.

I guess if I were you I'd try a cassette with shorter gearing and see if that gets you where you need to be. If not, you'll probably need to change out some more components, which unfortunately can get expensive. You might sniff around the gear threads here, Craigslist, eBay, etc., for used components.

You can definitely get stronger - we all can - and that will definitely help, but starting out with a bike that's geared too tall is just frustrating, and actually makes it harder for you to get stronger. You wouldn't start out bench pressing 100 lbs if you'd never done it before, and tall gearing is the same kind of thing.

[Crankin]

Thank you, Oakleaf. That's just what I thought might be going on here.
Mandi, you bought a bike that's really nice. I bet your boyfriend helped you. Sometimes people (not just men) who are strong riders and have been riding for awhile don't realize that some of us need easier gearing on the bike. Like, some of us have a triple! You live in an area with really difficult climbs... take Oakleaf's advice and see if you can get a rear derailleur with lower cogs. Believe me, those 2 or 3 lower gears will make a world of difference.

[aicabsolut]

I've never seen a 50/39 combo. Isn't a 50T usually 110BCD? Maybe she could put on a smaller inner ring?

I'd say put on a cassette with a 27 or 28 tooth cog if you can't change the cranks. I ride around the Blue Ridge in VA, and I use a compact (34T or 36T small ring with a 25 or 27T cog as the lowest). There are some times where I am pedaling really slowly due to the grade. There is one climb in WV that I just cannot get up without walking. It's over 6 mi, and there are a couple of switchbacks about mid-way or so over 18% with some steep sustained portions in between. I usually have to stop once I get down to about 3mph and 40rmp. The bike I prefer to use for climbing needs a longer cage rear derailleur to accommodate a bigger cassette. Maybe one day I'll do it. I can ride a little farther on this mountain each year.

Another thing... take the paperboy route if traffic allows. Zig-zagging on a hill will mean you are covering more distance but you are putting your bike on a less steep grade. Stay to the outside on curves if the road is at all banked.

It takes some practice, but it is possible to unclip from a near stop on a steep hill and stay upright.

[OakLeaf]

I've never seen a 50/39 combo. Isn't a 50T usually 110BCD? Maybe she could put on a smaller inner ring?

The specs says it's Shimano 105 (5500). Those are the smallest rings that will go on it. It'll accept a 42 small ring and a 52 or 53 big ring, but nothing smaller than what she has, unless maybe some aftermarket chainrings will fit.

[Eden]

I've never seen a 50/39 combo. Isn't a 50T usually 110BCD?

Somehow I ended up with this weird combo on my rain bike.... I asked for a standard double... I don't honestly get it. So I spin out down steep hills, but don't get any of the advantages of smaller gears???? It hasn't bothered me enough to care to change it, since I'm not exactly mashing out hard core sprints on my commutes or on rainy winter training rides.