I’ll be using my road bike for Tahoe, due to what I’ve heard of the climbs. It’s also only my second IM and the last one, Texas, didn’t go so well. So I want an easy ride.
I have Shimano Ultegra, 53-39 in the front and 12-23 (10 speed) in the back. I investigated dropping the size in the front to a compact (my tri bike has a compact) but it seems that the cassette change, which I’ve done before when changing wheels, is an easier job, and a less costly one. I believe the other Shimano 6700 (10 speed) options that would assist in climbing are 11-28, 11-25, 12-25.
Should I go with what seems like a radical shift to 11-28? Also, that seems like a pretty big spread, will it be hard to “find” the right gear for different situations (anecdotal responses would be great). Or should I go conservative and take the 12-25, which gives me the same high high gear and improves the low end.
About my climbing ability. I live in Texas. That alone should tell you that most rides are somewhat flat. I do get high grade hills, but not for long distances. The toughest climbing race I’ve done is Branson where I did well but that was on my compact crank P3. Anyone who’s done Branson will attest to those mile long grades. They did significantly hurt my run. On a road bike century ride with my more serious “Texas” hills, any hill in the first 60 miles is easy. Any serious grade hills in the last 20 are run killers.
Looking for hot-sports-opinions by people who have played with cassette changes or done Tahoe (or Tahoe area riding).
I was 61 for Lake Tahoe so you might want to take that into account here. I do/did lots of hills in training, I can climb.
I rode my tri bike, even with all the climbing. If I raced it again I would go tri bike again. I had a compact 50/34 and 11/32…very happy with that setup. Some of my stronger/younger friends went 53/39 and 28 in the back.
Do a search on Lake Tahoe and you’ll have enough reading for a few days.
Good luck.
First: ride your tri bike. The course is all downhill. Except for the uphill.
Second: ride a compact. I usually ride 53/39 with a 12-27. Kept the cassette and swapped to a 50/34. It was the right move. 11-28 would be better. No part of the course is flat. You are rolling, climbing, descending, or flying along the River to Truckee.
You want there to be a “jump” when you change gears on this course.
Ditto exactly what kj says. I passed so many people on road bikes on the flats, which is by far the largest part of the course. Especially the run up past Squaw. You’re not going to make up on the climbs with a road bike what you’d lose on the flats. Not even close.
I hate hills and suck at them and rode a compact with an 12-30 and never found myself wanting more gear but certainly wouldn’t have wanted less! If you’re better at hills and don’t want to change your rear derailleur, run the 12-28 but do swap in the compact crank.
Will be interesting to see how the course rides this year, seems shorter but steeper.
Your blog is the most sensible write up I’ve seen. I’m aright at 4.3w/kg and on the smaller side. I have ridden the course and at a pretty good clip to. If I were running a marathon off that I would definitely run a compact.
I used a standard crank and an 11-28 in CDA and LP and felt good with that. After reading the discussions here last year about Tahoe I started to feel like I needed more gearing. Since I am using a standard Quarq and did not want to give up power I went with a 12-32 on the back. Yes looks and sounds ridiculous and I had to get a long cage RD to accomodate, but it was totally the right thing to do (and comes out to be quite similar to the compact with an 11-28). The second time I went up Brockway there was a line of people walking their bikes. You wont be sorry with an 11-28. If you are “stuck between gears” go with the easier one, your run will thank you.
Nslckevin, I won’t pretend to understand everything in your blog, and I don’t have a power meter (I’m a heart rate kind of guy…), but even if I look at your blog from a suggestive perspective, you’re pointing out that lower gearing in the form of a compact and possibly rear cassette change will give me more back on the climb than higher gearing on the flats.
The good thing is I’m somewhat technologically limited. I want to stay with Ultegra, so the compact scenario is presents itself with limited options, and I’ve already covered the cassette options, I guess I just have to pick by plugin in some guessed at numbers to the calculator.
Darn, I think I’ll have to change the chain as well. Was trying to avoid that. On the other hand, if I opt for the P3 which already has the compact, I can simply swap out my cassette.
Thanks for the feedback. I’m now leaning toward a compact crank and 11-28. Just have to decide on the bike - ‘comfortable’ road bike (Willier GranTurismo) or aggressive classic P3.
Thanks for the feedback. I’m now leaning toward a compact crank and 11-28. Just have to decide on the bike - ‘comfortable’ road bike (Willier GranTurismo) or aggressive classic P3.
I went 50-34 / 11-28 last year on my Specialized Shiv. I’m nowhere near the power to weight ratio of some of the bike-gods posting above but I had a very nice ride. I would use the same set up if I were racing there again this year.
I live at sea level. Ran with a 53/39 up front because I didn’t want to change out my Quarq, but put an 11-32 in the back with long-cage Tiagra RD to accommodate the big cog. It worked out OK, I guess.
I recommend the tri bike though. Most of the course is flat-to-downhill with the exception of the 4 climbs (Truckee, Martis, Brockway, Dollar Hill) that totaled something like 15 of the 112 miles. Learn to climb on the tri bike, it’s really not that bad. Only the descent off Martis was even remotely technical, and that climb has been replaced by the Northstar climb (so I cant comment on its technicality, other than I hear its been made less difficult).
As far as finding a good gear on my 11-32, for the flat and down-grade sections it really wasnt as bad as I thought it might be. Sure there were a couple places I clicked back and forth a few times trying to decide which gear I wanted, but in the end I doubt it mattered.
I want to stay with Ultegra, so the compact scenario is presents itself with limited options
I normally run Ultegras. For this race, and this race only I picked up a Tiagra rear ($35 off Amazon) to accommodate the big cassette. It behaved just fine and I barely noticed the “downgraded” part.
Ride the P3 with the compact and go with a big cassette.
You’re already spending a lot of money on entry, travel and lodging for this event. Don’t ruin it by penny pinching relatively minor stuff like chains and cassettes.
I have a motto for gearing and clothing.
For clothing (particularly in the winter): You can always take off layers if you have too much, but you can’t put on clothes that are sitting in your drawer at home if it’s too cold.
For gearing: You can always choose to not use your smallest gear if you don’t need it. But you can’t shift into a gear that you didn’t install.
FYI, I’m a cat 1 road racer. My FTP right now is 5.1 Watts/kg. I would choose a 36x28 low gear based on my power output, the altitude and that course if I was doing IMLT.
Did it last year with 7 friends. Ride your tri bike! There are so many fast sections that you will be disappointed if you dont. If you are a stud, you can get a way with a 53/39. If you have the option for a compact, I would suggest you do it. And go with as big of a rear cassette that you can, 28,30,32 whatever your RD can accommodate. The first loop doesnt seem all that bad, but if they keep the course the same, which I heard they were maybe changing it, the last time up Brockway is a real kick in the your know what, knowing that you have to run a marathon afterwards.
Did it last year with 7 friends. Ride your tri bike! There are so many fast sections that you will be disappointed if you dont. If you are a stud, you can get a way with a 53/39. If you have the option for a compact, I would suggest you do it. And go with as big of a rear cassette that you can, 28,30,32 whatever your RD can accommodate. The first loop doesnt seem all that bad, but if they keep the course the same, which I heard they were maybe changing it, the last time up Brockway is a real kick in the your know what, knowing that you have to run a marathon afterwards.
I have no idea but I will say that I finally saw someone with a 34-32 on Saturday. It is just mind-blowing how easy he made climbing. We were doing mountain passes and he was spinning easily at 90rpm and he’s a weak rider.
I have no idea but I will say that I finally saw someone with a 34-32 on Saturday. It is just mind-blowing how easy he made climbing. We were doing mountain passes and he was spinning easily at 90rpm and he’s a weak rider.
Boy do I love spinning my 34/32 on a huge hill flying by folks. I have Donner is a few weeks and this is where the gearing is a huge plus.
Question for people on this thread…as it appears more and more like I’ll be able to do IM Tahoe after deferring/transferring from LPlacid after an injury I keep seeing these gearing threads and freak out a bit. I changed my first rear cassette today so that’s now somewhat less daunting. If I have a 53/39 up front and switch from a 11-25 in the back to an 11-28 will i also have to swap out the chain? I may go whole hog and put a compact in up front as well, 50/34, but I also have to be somewhat cost conscious. If I do this I’ll go with the 11/28 as well. Will this mean swapping out the chain as well? How difficult is swapping out cranks? I’m a poor mechanic at best. Any answers appreciated. Glad I found these gearing threads lurking around here.
i rode with standard and 11-28. I was about 139lbs during the race. This year the first climb will not be as bad as the Martis Camp area. Expect faster bike splits this year and less dnf.