DYK that Armstrong uses a 39x27 on the toughest climbs?

vegasbabee

Armstrong scouts Mortirolo in Italian Alps

www.cyclingnews.com | Lance, meet the Mortirolo

Cyclingnews.com quotes from an interview between Lance Armstrong and La Gazzetta dello Sport. Apparently, Armstrong is training in the Italian Alps, and rode the Mortirolo, the hardest climb in Saturday's Stage 19 of the Giro.

"It's a terrible climb...it's perfect for a mountain bike. On the hardest parts, I was riding a 39x27 and I was hurting, really hurting. (Mortirolo) is the hardest climb I've ever ridden. My time up the climb? It's not important; I rode the Mortirolo to have some fun and ride with the 'cicloamatori'...there were a few raindrops, but it was a great day."

I thought that Lances bike gearing was a standard 39x25 or even 39x23 since I assume that the pros have superhuman climbing strength. I wonder what ratio grinder Ullrich uses on his climbing bike?

Don't feel so bad now that I am planning to get a 13-29 cassette to help propel my 45 year -old 195 lb (6'2") carcass up this bitch of a 17 mile 8500ft TT known as Mt. Charleston "Hill" Climb next year - need to lose some more weight methinks.

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robkit

i thought this was reasonably well known, especially since he's fond of that high cadence.

it would be even more visible if he rode a 29 because he'd a) have to get one specially made since Dura Ace doesnt offer it and b) the DA rear mech probably wouldnt work so he'd likely be seen with an XTR rear mech!

it is surprising though - i've limped up some of the Pyrennean cols on 39x27 and I can remember thinking how if i had another 200 watts of poer to offer like the pro's then i wulkd never need such a low ratio.

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RapDaddyo

I rode this race this year. After several practice rides, I changed my entire drivetrain to a 34/50 compact crank and a 13-29 cassette. This allowed me to ride at my preferred cadences. FWIW, my FT was ~275w and my weight was ~175 lbs. On another thread I made a number of observations about pacing strategy for this climb.

vegasbabee

175 lbs
How tall are you? What was your time?

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RapDaddyo

6'1" 2:03 (not all that great given my FT)

vegasbabee

The guy that won was a Cat 1 hispanic teacher named Luis. I run into him sometimes at an LBS . He's about 5'3" and weighed all of about 135 lbs.

Great build for climbing, but not a good build for nightclubs ...

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cosmo_the_third

a) he'd just use an XTR cassette. Or a DA triple crankset. Heras used one of these on L'Angrilu in 2002, and won the stage because of it. The race was held in such a heavy downpour that standing up on such an obscene pitch simply caused the rear wheel to skid out. Heras was the one of the only contenders who could pedal sitting down. (He eventually lost the Vuelta in the final TT to Aitor Gonzalez; curiously, both riders are currently looking at dope suspensions.)

b) tooth limits are a great Shimano fraud. Maybe R&D says it puts undue stress on the springs and pivots, but I've never had problems running a 32t cluster with road derailleurs. I'd wager a 34 would work, too.

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robkit

thats good to know. i was looking at getting a marchioso custom cassette to use with DA. may even see if there is a suitable XTR one now.

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Rob81

Have you ever climbed Mortirolo?
I did it in a race this summer (after the Gavia too) for the first time, altough i live 80 km from it.
I think IT'S the hardest climb in Europe, not much for the max gradients (that are however 18-20 %), but because it's got an incredible medium gradient and it's quite long.
I used a 34x26, that is good for a 11-12 km/h pace (65-70 rpm).
Probably LA climbed it @ 75-85 rpm