I qualified for Kona for the first time at IMC last weekend. (a happy day for me) I have a question about what gears I should use on my bike for Kona. Last year at IMC I went with 53/38 up front and 12-25 in back. I needed more low end for the climbs and so this year went with 50/34 up front and 12-27 in back and used my lowest gear a fair bit on the climbs at IMC and I felt that for IMC this was the right set up for me.
My question for those who have done both IMC and Kona is in general does the Kona course require as much low end gearing as IMC? If it doesn’t, I plan to switch my rear cassette for my 11-23 or 12-25 (both of which give me less shifting trouble than my current set up has been giving me).
Your question is actually really loaded as it totally depends upon the winds. The climb to Hawi isn’t necessarily steep. However, if you get a KonaExpress day out there, you’ll be praying for your smallest gear (I had a mellow race day, but the Wednesday before Kona 2003, I experienced the ferocity of the winds).
Personally, I’m a “leave with the woman you took to the dance” kinda guy so I’d recommend sticking with what worked for you at IMC on the crankset (compact), but use a 12-25 (or an 11-25…) to provide peace of mind and options should the conditions get crazy.
FYI…I’ve heard of top pros riding their 39x17 on the flats in Kona when the winds pick up.
I live in Kona and am doing IM Wisconsin next week. I can ride the IM Kona course on a standard 53/39 with a 25 or 27 on the rear with no problems and I have put a compact crank setup on my bike for Wisconsin if that gives you a point of reference. For the most part the hills here are more gradual grinds rather then short, steep rollers that throw off your rhythm and require you to drop into easier gears where you might get stuck pushing too large a gear up a hill. There are a couple of those on the way to Hawi, but you only have to negotiate them once. I think it is the sort of course absent crazy wind where if you have a “favorite gear” that you can stay aero in for a long time you will do well. The only real grind here is the seven mile stretch up to Hawi which almost always has a decent headwind. If you are a strong cyclist then I don’t see a reason why you wouldn’t be able to ride a 23 on the back.
There are some decent rollers on the course, but at the end of the day what makes or breaks this are the conditions(wind and heat). The course isn’t the least bit technical and the road surface is very good.
I should add a bit of information. MOst of my cycling friends and cycling shop guys thought that 38-25 would be lots to do the climbs at IMC but for a weaker rider like me, this combination turned out to be not nearly enough. They also thought that I was over doing it going with the 34-27 as my low end combination but it turned out to be just right for me at IMC. I was able to spin up the hills at nearly my regular cadence.
I just want to reinforce the fact that I am weaker than average and so am nervous about dropping the low gear(s) even though that is what I want to do.
When you say 11-23 should be lots are you taking into account the info on me or is that for the average (stonger than me) rider?
The majority of folks out in Kona would be good w/ 39 x 12 x 23/25 … my consideration was based on what you rode @ IMC. There are no steep climbs on the Kona course but, as previously mentioned, the wind is what will change what might be necessary. Kona is all gradual “climbs” and i think important to keep the cadence smooth. What was your bike split @ IMC?
Considerations:
12x25 if you don’t care about the possibility of being spun out w/ downhill and/or tailwind, gives you a bail out gear (easier) and an extra cog in the middle of the cassette you’ll likely use alot.
11x25 if you want all the possible gearing in the downhill and/or tailwind scenario and a bail out gear
11x23 if you want all the gearing in the middle of the cassette that you’ll likely use the majority of the day. A 34x23 gives you slightly easier gearing than a 39x25 would.
Because you may or may not experience the mumuku winds, or also called “kona express” winds, you should find gearing that is both economical, efficient and fast. A compact crakset…50/34 combined with an 11x23 would be more than enough. You may “spin” out the top gear coming down from Hawi but it is a small portion of the course. I am assuming you will ride over 5 hours and if it is windy then the 50 would be a godsend. I have seen way too many people crushing their legs in the 53,54,55,56,58 tooth chainrings in that wind and they are the same people I usually see sitting on the side of the road. The compact crankset provides ample gears and in my most humble opinion may help to keep the legs a bit fresher for the run…as the smaller ring involves less area for the chain to cover and therefore a bit less effort to turn over. Maybe. But either way you have my 10cents
I’ll be a first timer in Kona this year although I did the Honu 1/2 back in June. I just got on a new bike with a 50/34 and 11x23. I’ve only logged about 6 hours on it but that combo seems ideal (for me, at least) for the course. Enough to pedal strong for the duration but not turning such a big gear that I’ll be fried for the run.
Forsler, you sound like you are closer in riding ability to me than to many of the fast boys here. I think trifaster’s recommendations are spot on. I had a 12x27 last year in Kona and it was good for the few hills, but more for the headwind up to Hawi. Race day winds weren’t too bad, but I’d ridden up there the week before when the winds were pretty bad (according to those who know).
From Trifaster’s post…I’d go with the 12x25 or keep your 27.
clm
Considerations:
12x25 if you don’t care about the possibility of being spun out w/ downhill and/or tailwind, gives you a bail out gear (easier) and an extra cog in the middle of the cassette you’ll likely use alot.
11x25 if you want all the possible gearing in the downhill and/or tailwind scenario and a bail out gear
11x23 if you want all the gearing in the middle of the cassette that you’ll likely use the majority of the day. A 34x23 gives you slightly easier gearing than a 39x25 would.
My bike split was 5:53 (I caught lots of guys on the run, that’s how I qualified, and I am slower than all of the other qualifiers from my age group 50-54 on the bike) and I stongly prefer spinning at 90 to 95 rather than mashing big gears.
I appreciate the advice and the fact that you are taking into account my unique (limited) cycling skills.
I’ve been to IMH 5x & IMC 6x. This yr at IMC I did a 6:08 using a 12-25 (2nd fastest 50-54 Women’s bike split but then stopped “racing” due to a prerace hamstring injury where I shouldn’t have started the run to just finish a dissappointment). Agree with trifaster. Much better to spin than mash. Plus with 2 IM within 2 months your legs are going to be more fatigued than you may realize. The winds can have a dramatic affect on your race. If this is your 1st time in IMH it takes a while to get it right like one wants with the wind & heat so I’d er on the side of to easy. Case in point.
In 95 at IMC where I qualified for IMH the 1st time I was using a bike with a triple with a grip shift and the cable broke on the flat section after the rolling hills before the special needs and I was in my 30 chainring. I was sitting up spinning up a storm going nowhere fast in a 30 x 12 or 13 for a total of 28 miles. I felt like some old grandma out there with the people mashing passing me and almost quit in frustration after telling several the aid stations I needed help from tech support. They finally got to me before the yellow lake climb. Then I took off & passed lots of people for a ~ 6:15 split. But the real surprise was the run. I ended up having my best marathon split ever, 4:39 even with walking the aid stations as I planned. So all that spinning made for fresh legs & a great run.
Thanks Barb. Congratulations on all your success at IMC and Kona. I want to be like you.
In your experience do you need as low a gear to spin at a high cadence on the tough parts of Kona as you do at IMC? I preach and practice a high cadence approach to cycling. I’m sticking with my compact crank, (small ring 34) but am considering switching from the 12-27 cassette I used at imc for a 12-25 or even a 11-23 (I don’t have an 11-25 or I would consider using that). I know that everyone has different abilities so what I need will be different from others, but I’m hoping to get some advice on whether or not in general Kona requires as much low gearing as IMC does. For instance if a stronger rider used a 23 gear to climb at IMC but never used anything lower than a 21 at Kona then to me that indicates that I may not need as much low gearing at Kona as at IMC.
What has your experience been? given the number of times you have done both races, I think you are in an excellent position to offer the guidance I am looking for.
Thanks again.
Grant
Dev Paul, any chance of you offering some advice here?
I’d not consider the 12-17 especially with a compact crank. Too much of jump at the upper end. With a compact crank an 11-23 might be fine as your already set toward a smaller set up anyway. I’d be looking at the gear calculators for cross over & gear ranges. Smaller increments between the gears would be better to fine tune while biking in the wind.
I have a 650 wheeled bike that I have a 11-25 I’ve made for it by combining cassettes & have used both that & the 12-25 which I went with last yr & my fast bike split (6:13 in great conditions). I like to keep the cranks turning on the downhills & prefer the 11 but with IMH with the winds one may not be turning the cranks even on the downhill from Hawi if one has a strong wind. Most of the wind is strong cross winds out near hawi. IN IMH95 at my 1st, I remember Mark Allen at the awards diner commenting on going down from Hawi at 13.5 mph. Certainly made me feel better as I had higher naive expectations for myself.
When I go to IMH I always drive out to the store at the bottom of the hill & then bike to Hawi & back usually ~ 11 am - 2 pm. I do this quite soon after I’ve arrived so it not too much distance or effort before race day. The winds can be howling one day & not so bad the next & are worse on the last 7 miles on the climb as the road turns inward. Then coming down one needs to get used to the blasting sidewinds that come at one as they emerge from the protected humps of land.
If you have the chance take both of the cassettes (25 or 23) & play around on the last part of the climb with both. Remember that what (if anything) you give up in speed will come back in a stronger run.
Dave Scott so rightfully said many years ago that the race doesn’t even begin until mile 80 on the bike. Until that point one want to keep it feeling like its “easy” or one gear below what one really want to be pushing.
I think its more important to have a positive & satifying race experience then max any minute gains especially the 1st time. Have fun & a great time.
I’ve always used the 53 x 39 for the 650. I feel its given me the best range of low end needs and with the 11 less spin outs. I live & train on hills like the IMC.