Contemplation!!!

If you can almost do those hills, why not take the intermediate step and change out your cassette for a 12-27 or insert a 28?

So you think changing the rear cassette would be a better option? Am I understanding you? What about cost? My money is tight so I need to focus on the cost of the upgrade.

saturdaynight said:

OK, I've been on the forums for about a week and notice a lot of discussion about double and tripple chainrings.

I've been looking into upgrading to a tripple on my bike mainly because of a few hills that seem to kill me. Allthough I have been very impressed with some of the hills I've tackled lately, most notably this weekend. I thought for sure that I was going to have to walk on both occasions but miraculouslyI stayed up. I even got up off the seat a few times.

I'm finding that looking down to the road when I'm feeling intimidated by the long climb ahead, is helping me focus.

But there are some hills I know I will still have problems with. If anyone has ever been to the Mountain Road, Rout 108, that runs from Jeffersonville VT, to Stowe VT, you know what I'm talking about. Smuggler's Notch. This climb kills me every time. On one side is a very long,I'd say 3-4 miles long gradiant that gets steeper as it goes along. On the return side, is a very, very steep windy hill that goes for at least 3/4 to 1 mile up with no let up.

This is a sample of the hill I'm talking about. It is relentless and I always end up walking.

It is one of my goals to accomplish this hill without walking. That is why I am seriously concidering the tripple chainring.

Your thoughts?

Make sure you do the math to understand exactly what you are buying. A triple does not necessarily get you a lot of low end. The difference between my double and triple and is only 2 low gears.

In addition, IMHO opinion, a double provides superior shifting and maintenance, even among the very best component groups.

Instead of buying your way up the hill with new equipment, why not put your energy (and perhaps money) into training to improve your ability. Think of the self-satisfaction you will have when you can do that hill on your double! To me, that would be much more rewarding than just swapping out components to get to the top.

That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

gruppo said:

That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

You make a really good point! I've struggled for years to accomplish this task. My riding has been lacking the past few years as other comittments get in the way, but I feel that my time has freed up some so maybe I can work harder towards this goal. I know this bike well as I have ridden it for years. Maybe changing this would mess things up. Perhaps you're right. More contemplating to do!

Yes, you can get a new cassette for $30-$40, and most of the benefit of going to a tripple. Going from double to tripple would be much more expensive. 😉

saturdaynight said:

You make a really good point! I've struggled for years to accomplish this task. My riding has been lacking the past few years as other comittments get in the way, but I feel that my time has freed up some so maybe I can work harder towards this goal. I know this bike well as I have ridden it for years. Maybe changing this would mess things up. Perhaps you're right. More contemplating to do!

One thing I've learned about training over the years (the hard way, again and again). It's great to be manly and push yourself hard. But be careful about pushing yourself too hard and getting an injury that will set you back weeks or months. I've done that (both in cycling and running) and injuries have sidelined me a few times. The best way to train for higher performance is to gradually increase the miles/intensity over time.

RC2, Gruppo, your points are well taken and I will think long and hard on this before making my final decision. Thanks for both of your points of view. I welcome other opinions as well. I really feel like my membership here is gettings it's worth. Thanks a bunch!

RC2 said:

If you can almost do those hills, why not take the intermediate step and change out your cassette for a 12-27 or insert a 28?

or maybe even a 30 or 32

saturdaynight said:

I am seriously concidering the tripple chainring.

Your thoughts?

I have been riding a triple for a few years now and am very happy to have it on steep climbs. Upgrading to a triple is more expensive than changing your cassette, and I have found that when my gears get out of alignment a triple is a LOT more complex to readjust than a double. At least 50% of the time I cannot get down into my small chain ring anyway, so I may as well be riding a double. Perhaps that is just a reflection of my poor mechanical abilities.

The more I think about it the more I am contemplating a cassette upgrade. Less expensive then the tripple upgrade. I'd love to conquor this climb on my own but ideally I think some mechanical help is needed.

Train right and you'll be on your way up those hills with no problems! Just be patient... Good luck 🙂

I know a lot of you have way more experience than I do, but to add my personal experience to this thread. I had a couple hills I couldn't tackle without stopping when I first started riding them. I was originally trying to stay on my higher gears instead of dropping down to Granny's. I had to eventually drop down there in order to give myself some success and reward. Now after a couple months of doing this and gradually increasing the gear each time up, I'm now able to get up them and still be on the 2 ring. Sometimes even the low 3 rings. I think you can train hard on the top 2 rings, but if you never give yourself the opprotunity to succeed, I don't think it does you much good.

I say get up that hill anyway you can and get up it consistantly, then worry about what gear you are in while you do it. Eventually you will get better and better at it in the higher gears. Or just wait for a 20 mph tail wind. 🙂

Scoffin said:

I know a lot of you have way more experience than I do, but to add my personal experience to this thread. I had a couple hills I couldn't tackle without stopping when I first started riding them. I was originally trying to stay on my higher gears instead of dropping down to Granny's. I had to eventually drop down there in order to give myself some success and reward. Now after a couple months of doing this and gradually increasing the gear each time up, I'm now able to get up them and still be on the 2 ring. Sometimes even the low 3 rings. I think you can train hard on the top 2 rings, but if you never give yourself the opprotunity to succeed, I don't think it does you much good.

I say get up that hill anyway you can and get up it consistantly, then worry about what gear you are in while you do it. Eventually you will get better and better at it in the higher gears. Or just wait for a 20 mph tail wind. 🙂

But...IMHO you are talking about a different situation entirely -- you already have a triple, and as you found out, if you had just been a little more patient, you would have gotten there anyway.

The poster is talking about buying/modifying existing equipment just to get the granny gears. That is certainly his prerogative, but there is also nothing wrong with just working harder with equipment you already have.

The problem here -- again this is my personal opinion -- is that every time a cyclist sees an obstacle, they run to the store for more equipment instead of instead of trying to learn how to perfect their technique and strength, which will ultimately reward you regardless what bike you happen to ride.

That little rant aside, do whatever makes you happy!

Nice looking hill there. Scenic and your pic makes me wish I had it on my main daily route. 😄

My two cents I suppose is like many of the others have already said: in the end, do what makes you happiest, but a double with a 12-27 will eventually get you up just about any hill. I'd think about trying that cassette first and keep with the training - you'll knock it down without the need for a triple.

Thanks again everyone! I've completely ruled out getting a tripple chainring. I'm staying with the my Shimano Biopace 52-42 double. As I said early on in this post I have impressed myself with the past few runs that I did this weekend. It gives me more motivation to keep going. A 12-27 cassette may still be in my future but for now, I'm going with what I've got. There are quite a few good hills around where I live that I can train on before tackling the hill in the picture.

I haven't been in the bike in a long while, before this weekend, when my wife and I moved into our new place. It's great to be back on the bike and I'm looking forward to accopmlishing my goal. The goal defined is this:

"Going up the long east side and down the steep windy west side and back without getting off."

Smugglers Notch