Climbing in the big(ish) ring

[stongle]

What’s the consensus here?

I always thought you tried to “spin-up” climbs, but of late I find I’m only tending towards the big ring for all climbs due to the torque available.

Is it purely an aerobic capacity issue (we’ve been monitoring my ADF and its around 5% for TT / Power based work outs; which I don’t think is terrible although top end of drift); or just technique?

It was mentioned to me at the weekend by ride captain; but I’m not at all comfortable in the little ring (I’m not trying to sound all bearded goatee / company director about it); but is it really required for the majority of UK riding? I ride a 52:36 Q ring (not a 54), but it just feels like I get nothing out of the little ring and I drift of the back. In the big ring I’m much happier; and tend to tap out my own rhythm (Q ring the issue?).

Obviously there seems to be a lot of sense in “spinning” when climbing; but does it suit all rider types? For the record I’ve 3.5w/per kg / 245ftp (peak sprint c.930w), could power still be too low?

To be honest, I’m getting a bit disillusioned with the club, as they favour hill biased rides and even when I’m not off the bike its just a boring slog (change club?). Healthy dose of rule 5?

[okgo]

Depends on so much. Generally for around FTP I don't mind a lower cadence on a climb but for when really pushing on I prefer a slightly higher cadence. I frequently use the small ring in hilly rides, but my small ring is 42 so is slightly different I guess.

It could be to do with your position on the bike, I realised that my cadence has gone back up a bit since I've moved my position a bit further forward.

[anthonysjb]

As long as your cadence is above 70 and you aren't crossing the chain too much, no reason to be in the granny ring. It also depends on speed and ability, you might keep up with the group and not really strain yourself at all just pushing up a small climb in a big gear, it also depends how hard you want to push. Just listen to your legs

[TwistingMyMelon]

It all depends on what works for you really, I run a 52-39 on my main climbing bike , it also depends on the hill, some of the 15% hills round here, no chance of doing them on the big ring.

It also depends on if you are climbing as part of a long ride, or racing up the hill to get the best time/pace possible.

The larger the gear, the more it places the emphasis on your legs and I find legs tire before lungs. I try and balance the two, depending on the ride distance. If I'm doing under 40 then it doesn't matter about my legs, but over 50 miles then I'll try and conserve leg energy till the last 10 miles.

My style is to attack the hill in quite a tough gear out the saddle , then when it starts to level out near the top , I get in the saddle, stay in the same gear and spin like crazy, that way my legs do the effort on the bottom/middle then my lungs at the end. Works quite well I find.

Horses for courses, i always used to push a big gear, now I prefer spinning a lower one on rides , its good to be able to do both as you can choose the best tool for the job

[Daveyraveygravey]

Surely it all depends on the climb - how long it is, and what the gradient does - and to an extent what condition you are in? I have a 53/39 with a 12-27; and spend most of my time in the big ring, somewhere in the middle of the (9 speed) cassette. I see the small ring as my steep hill climbing gear, or the get you home when you've done a hard ride gear. I don't actually know what gradient of hill would cause me to change down to the small ring though, maybe 5% or more? I might try and note it down on my next ride.

I regularly ride with a guy who is lighter than me, and probably a little better than me, who runs a compact (not sure what his cassette is though). On the flats we are 50/50, downhills he is a bit steady eddy/cautious so I can drop him at will. On the climbs, if they aren't too steep,we ride up together, but he'll stay seated longer than me, and I'll be out of the saddle. When we get to the steep stuff that's when he pulls ahead; he just steadily keeps spinning, quite often with a gear or two in reserve, but I'm in the granny ring with the largest cog at the back, cadence is way down, and I'm gurning as I grind up. My next bike will have a 52/36 set up and I think that will be the perfect compromise for me.

Edited to add, I understand it is more efficient to stay seated and spin up hills, but I like being out of the saddle, it's part of the enjoyment of riding to me. Luckily I've never had any knee problems. I also think the set up I have is a better compromise for most of my riding; if I had a compact setup I think I would spend more of my time with the chain down on the smaller cogs and spin out downhills more often. Might borrow my son's bike (which has a compact) to test this out.

Edited by Daveyraveygravey on Tuesday 21st October 13:03

[paulmon]

TwistingMyMelon said:

My style is to attack the hill in quite a tough gear out the saddle , then when it starts to level out near the top , I get in the saddle, stay in the same gear and spin like crazy, that way my legs do the effort on the bottom/middle then my lungs at the end. Works quite well I find.

On short sharp hills this works. Not so good for alpine climbs.

[scubadude]

stongle said:

as they favour hill biased rides

What do they call a hill- 5% or 25%?

If you can stay in the big ring at a good speed past 15% why don't you have a pro contract? :-)


As long as you are comfortable with the cadence does it matter which gear you are in?

[TwistingMyMelon]

paulmon said:

TwistingMyMelon said:

My style is to attack the hill in quite a tough gear out the saddle , then when it starts to level out near the top , I get in the saddle, stay in the same gear and spin like crazy, that way my legs do the effort on the bottom/middle then my lungs at the end. Works quite well I find.

On short sharp hills this works. Not so good for alpine climbs.

I agree , the OP was asking for "the majority of UK riding"

[stongle]

scubadude said:

What do they call a hill- 5% or 25%?

If you can stay in the big ring at a good speed past 15% why don't you have a pro contract? :-)


As long as you are comfortable with the cadence does it matter which gear you are in?

I don’t think I’ll be near the pro-peleton – my lack of wattage indicates that. There is a definite bias here, and from all I hear is that spinning is better. I just can’t seem to make that comfortable. I do tend to attack climbs, and especially shorter steeper climbs favour out of the seat power; but I think there has to be a correlation between aerobic fitness and climbing style. Might try a 39 inner ring, and see what difference that makes. It’s annoying as in my club group, being the competitive so and so’s we are; I’m falling off the pace a bit on longer climbs. In contrast, I’m by far the faster descender / flat rider in our group; probably because aero / stupid. I just wanna nail climbing (thinking racing next year).

[okgo]

These people you're riding with must be very thin to drop you up hill but struggle to live with 245 watts on the flat. Drafting 245w should be possible for nearly any rider!

[scubadude]

stongle said:

In contrast, I’m by far the faster descender / flat rider in our group; probably because aero / stupid. I just wanna nail climbing (thinking racing next year).

In many ways being fast on the flat is no different to climbing surely? You balance gear selection, cadence and effort against drag (in all its forms- gravity, aerodynamic, mechanical etc) On the flat you are mainly fighting the wind, uphill gravity. The maximum speed on the flat or hill will still be all you can muster cadence/effort wise.

As okgo said- are you riding with a bunch of snakes?