Have been riding nearly a year without my smallest rear cog - doh

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2009-09-09 9:39 PM

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Subject: Have been riding nearly a year without my smallest rear cog - doh

I've been road biking for about a year now, after coming from a solid running background. The bulk of my on-road mileage is in the mountains, with 5-6000 feet of climbing in a single ride being routine for me. I rarely train on flat terrain since I figure that since the mountains are there, why not use them? Wink

Yesterday, I finally got around to doing a more elaborate maintenance check on my bike, which included removing the chain, rear cassette, and cleaning/lubing/adjusting everything. Was finally checking the shifting at the end, and realized that I wasn't reaching the smallest rear gear.

I took an extra tug on the bar-end shifter, and it popped into the smallest rear gear. I had never used that gear before - I didn't know the bar-end shifter even went to that position!

Tested it out on my weekend climb, and sure enough, I've been riding 15%+ inclines (actually, 19-22% stretches in NorCal!) in my 23 instead of my 25. No wonder it seemed so crazy hard just to stay upright on the steep ones - I was wondering how weaker riders could even make it up, when I was struggling so hard! (I'm a FOP cyclist.)

Ironic part, is that I don't feel like I should even be using the 25 anymore - I'm so used to the grind of the 23 that I never even touched the 25 on my last ride of 6000ft of climbing. Go figure.


EDIT - Changed the title of the post - originally said CHAINRING instead of COG. Thanks for the pointer below!

 



Edited by agarose2000 2009-09-09 9:54 PM

2009-09-09 9:45 PM
in reply to: #2398015

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Sneaky Slow
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Subject: RE: Have been riding nearly a year without my smallest chainring- doh
Ah, I read the title of this post and wondered how you rode a whole year without moving off the big ring on the front (chainring).

Reading the post, this makes more sense.  Well, you are probably stronger for it!
2009-09-09 10:54 PM
in reply to: #2398015

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Master
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Subject: RE: Have been riding nearly a year without my smallest rear cog - doh

shouldn't it also be the biggest cog?  either way.. nice

2009-09-10 12:01 PM
in reply to: #2398015

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Master
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Subject: RE: Have been riding nearly a year without my smallest rear cog - doh
agarose2000 - 2009-09-09 8:39 PM
Ironic part, is that I don't feel like I should even be using the 25 anymore - I'm so used to the grind of the 23 that I never even touched the 25 on my last ride of 6000ft of climbing.


Then why carry the 25? I just switched to my 11/23 permanently and my rides are probably similar to yours in terms of climbing.
2009-09-10 12:12 PM
in reply to: #2398969

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Subject: RE: Have been riding nearly a year without my smallest rear cog - doh
Something similar happened to me.  I was training on all my hills with my 12-27 for Escape from Alcatraz.  On race week, I put my 12-27 on my race wheels for the race and my 12-25 on my training wheels.

When I got back, I just swapped out the wheels and forgot to swap out the cassette again.  I just realized that for the last several months, I have been riding the same hills on my 12-25 rather than the 12-27.  Crazy thing, I didn't realize it...
2009-09-10 2:14 PM
in reply to: #2398100

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Subject: RE: Have been riding nearly a year without my smallest rear cog - doh
FeltonR.Nubbinsworth - 2009-09-09 11:54 PM

shouldn't it also be the biggest cog?  either way.. nice



that's what I was going to say.. 11 or 12 tooth is the smallest. 

2009-09-10 2:47 PM
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Subject: RE: Have been riding nearly a year without my smallest rear cog - doh

I've been riding my husband's 20 year old road bike and it won't change into the lowest gear.   A few weeks ago my tri-group was doing hill repeats and my coach was yelling at me to gear down on a very steep hill and I told her I couldn't - she rolled her eyes and told me to get a new bike.  I figure that it is good training to be forced to work a bit harder up the hills and the race I was training for (last weekend) didn't have any short steep hills, only long gradual ones so I wouldn't need to use that gear anyway.  Plus I don't really want to spend the money to have it fixed when I planning (praying) on getting a new bike for next season.

2009-09-10 3:02 PM
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Subject: RE: Have been riding nearly a year without my smallest rear cog - doh

Geez - I totally got all my gears mixed up! You're right (above) - the 25 is obviously the BIG cog in back for smallest gear.

Despite the fact I haven't used my 25 until this week, I'm glad it's there. I was seriously contemplating going triple or at least 27, since I ride almost all mountains, and some of which are hellaciously steep.

My fiance's house starts near the top of an 18-19% ascent for half a mile. I think I'll try shifting down to my 25 in the future on that one!

I rode the Boehler (20% max!) / On Orbit (23% max!) climb a few months ago, and nearly had to unclip, likely due to the 23 as my minimum gear. And it's a 23 on a TT bike - I'm going to save that climb for a roadie triple in the future.


Thankfully, this clarifies why I feel that I'm cranking at such lower cadence than all the other folks around me on 12-25s or 12-27s. 

2009-09-10 9:44 PM
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Subject: RE: Have been riding nearly a year without my smallest rear cog - doh
nerak11 - 2009-09-10 3:47 PM

I've been riding my husband's 20 year old road bike and it won't change into the lowest gear.   A few weeks ago my tri-group was doing hill repeats and my coach was yelling at me to gear down on a very steep hill and I told her I couldn't - she rolled her eyes and told me to get a new bike.  I figure that it is good training to be forced to work a bit harder up the hills and the race I was training for (last weekend) didn't have any short steep hills, only long gradual ones so I wouldn't need to use that gear anyway.  Plus I don't really want to spend the money to have it fixed when I planning (praying) on getting a new bike for next season.


I'd tell her I'm getting a new coach.   Sorry I would not put up with that.  We do this sport for enjoyment I think.  Tell you'll fire her and save the money to buy a new bike.  I like you gear thinking. 
2009-09-10 10:15 PM
in reply to: #2399461

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Subject: RE: Have been riding nearly a year without my smallest rear cog - doh
agarose2000 - 2009-09-10 2:02 PM
I rode the Boehler (20% max!) / On Orbit (23% max!) climb a few months ago, and nearly had to unclip, likely due to the 23 as my minimum gear. And it's a 23 on a TT bike - I'm going to save that climb for a roadie triple in the future


This one?

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/los-gatos/977440586

That looks like an amazing climb. According to maymyride: 1965' of vert over 4.42 miles (8.4% average grade). The steepest climbs around here are around 7% average grade but they're at 9000+ feet of elevation which is a factor.

This is the hill that I finish every ride with to get back up to my home:
http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/training/map.asp?route...
600' climb of 7.3% average grade.

Edited by breckview 2009-09-10 10:29 PM
2009-09-11 12:51 AM
in reply to: #2398015

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Subject: RE: Have been riding nearly a year without my smallest rear cog - doh
That is indeed the ride.For sure, the average grade of this climb doesn't do it justice, as virtually all the inclines come in 2 lethal hills that are 20 and 23% grade. Someone on roadbike forums said it was listed in a book as the 3rd steepest hillclimb when considering steep grades over a half mile long or something like that. It's REALLY hard!

2009-09-11 7:38 AM
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Subject: RE: Have been riding nearly a year without my smallest rear cog - doh

dexter - 2009-09-10 10:44 PM
nerak11 - 2009-09-10 3:47 PM

I've been riding my husband's 20 year old road bike and it won't change into the lowest gear.   A few weeks ago my tri-group was doing hill repeats and my coach was yelling at me to gear down on a very steep hill and I told her I couldn't - she rolled her eyes and told me to get a new bike.  I figure that it is good training to be forced to work a bit harder up the hills and the race I was training for (last weekend) didn't have any short steep hills, only long gradual ones so I wouldn't need to use that gear anyway.  Plus I don't really want to spend the money to have it fixed when I planning (praying) on getting a new bike for next season.


I'd tell her I'm getting a new coach.   Sorry I would not put up with that.  We do this sport for enjoyment I think.  Tell you'll fire her and save the money to buy a new bike.  I like you gear thinking. 


Oh I'm so done with her!  Our group hired her in the spring and most of us weren't really all that happy with the coaching she provided (A fancy bike and completing a 70.3 doesn't automatically make on a good coach). I felt like having frequented this site for the last 8 months gave me much more info and advice than she ever did.  Next season our group is probably going to try and go on our own and save the $$$.

2009-09-11 7:59 AM
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Subject: RE: Have been riding nearly a year without my smallest rear cog - doh
I always ride an 11-23 (except in races where I use an 11-21).  I do not let myself shift into the 23 at all unless it is an absolute beast of a hill (and then only towards the end of it) or if I'm riding with a slower group trying to stay with them and not drop them.

It is nice knowing that if I am really having a sucky day I still have the wimpy 23 to drop it into.
2009-09-11 8:23 AM
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Subject: RE: Have been riding nearly a year without my smallest rear cog - doh
I ride such crappy bikes that I am in the habit of looking down at the gears to see where I am.
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