I’m trying to decide whether or not my wife and I will be heading to Tucson this weekend for Tri Fest. The bbiggest question is whether to ride Mt Lemon with my Look 596 or my road bike. The road bike is a 50-34 compact and the 596 is a 53-41 QRings. Both run a 12-25 in the rear.
Will most people be on road bikes or tri bikes?
Maybe I’ll just bring both?
I’ll be on the only one I have…TT bike. Also 53/39 : 12-25. I’ve been told I’ll survive :).
Brad
I just rode Mt Lemmon on Saturday. I’d recommend the road bike. I’m sure you could do it in the 41x25 on your tri bike (it’s not steep, just really long), but I would think you would be more comfortable on on a road geometry with some extra gearing choices. Plus its a looonng and somewhat technical descent…again probably easier on the road bike.
I did the climb with my road bike with 53/39, 12-26. I spent most of the climb in the 39x23 or 39x26 with some out of the saddle stretches in the 39x21 to stretch out the lower back and hamstrings.
It’s an AMAZING climb, you’ll enjoy it immensely.
Road!
Fleck,
Aren’t you on holiday? Are you STing from your CrackBerry? Or did you skip the swim to get on line?
Personally I rode up Mt. Lemmon last week on my Tri Bike. Essentially its a long strength training workout, and my goal is to build that strength in my TT position. But I do have a decent amount of training in my legs and am ready for a strength ride such as this.
If speed (and greater ease/ comfort) is your goal… Steve is right, go for the Road bike.
Gearing I used 42x21 (for ~ 5min in the 23) and went from mile 0 to the ski area in 2h 03min. Wheels 700c
See you in a few
Nat
42x21? wow, that’s a solid effort. What was your average power?
You will be fine on either. Bring the Look…I want to see it (I think I got a quick glimse of you at the Classic)! I will be on my new (as of yesterday) Felt tri bike. I rode Lemmon last sunday with 40ish mph winds on my old Griffen (RIP) with a 56/44 12-21 on 650’s. Its a long grind and a little more gear makes it a much easier ride.
See everyone Friday!
Sounds as though I’ll be bringing both bikes. I’ll probably do Mt Lemon on the road bike. I’ll save the 596 for the second ride.
OK, all set. We are staying at the Inn and Suites where the ride starts. I’ll be bringing both bikes.
258 watts for the climb. Good enough to beat Bechtel by 20 seconds
@zipp. What are your race goals, how much base do you have?
what are your goals for the climb (if you’re trying to go up as fast as possible and beat Mr. or Mrs. Fleck then ride the road bike. Looking for a strengthening workout to help a race 2 months down the road do 3x 20 minutes in your TT bars).
I like the idea of using your climbing bike on the way up and the TT bike on the way down (if you’re going to bring both)
total ride http://twitpic.com/img/1u3hs-447bd1bbe547da9ddb7cdf5301421783.49ae4bbb-original.png
the climb (mile zero to x-walk at ski resort) on Mt Lemmon. The first dips were talking to friends, later, waiting for Sean to almost catch up on the descents
http://twitpic.com/img/1u3i5-3c9576af3aff3760bab07a7ebfe6c785.49ae4b8f-original.png
http://twitter.com/natbikes
