Just for Jbotti

[midwif]

Mike

Central Park is a pretty vibrant site for runners, bikers etc.
You can find folks out there at almost all times of the day and evening.

So much so, that the sheer volume helps provide a safety net.

However, on the warm weather weekends, biking is almost impossible to do due to the crowds on the roadway.
There are probably thousands who head across the GW Bridge to bike in NJ on the weekends. Some very nice and challenging rides.

I have not heard of anyone being attacked for their bike. Now, on the other hand, there are a fair number of accidents due to pedestrian inattention and biker errors and cars being oblivious. Helmets are VERY important.

[midwif]

AND.....
A certain Kansas Farm Boy was very impressed by all the assistance offered
by the New York natives when his alternator died on the Upper West side of
Manhattan, the VERY FIRST TIME he came to spend some time there!

Really, we're just sweethearts here!
 
Well, except for the time when he came to meet me at work in the Bronx and
someone thru a bottle out the window. Guess that household was having a fight.

[LivingProof]

Lyn,

We spend the summer in the oceanfront community of Avalon NJ. There is 14 mile loop, zero red lights, 3 stop signs, bike lanes and very few cars. Several times I've ridden with NYC residents and they just smile and smile about how nice it is to ride w/o city traffic. Riding just outside of Philly s$$$s. God I love the smell of car exhaust in the morning!

I remain
the uncultured barbarian

[jim-ratliff]

AND.....
A certain Kansas Farm Boy was very impressed by all the assistance offered
by the New York natives when his alternator died on the Upper West side of
 

True enough. The exchange went something like "can you help me jump start my car, the battery is dead?"? Response was, "yes, IF I can have your parking place."   

[jbotti]

Wow, I was away for 2 days and the whole world (or at least this one ) is talking to me in cyberspace.

Lynn, I am not a natural climber on the bike (I will never have a great power to weight ratio) but I love climbing more than anything else on the bike. Most people carry ego onto every hill and they watch the TDF and see that this where the race is won, so they all think they need to go as fast as they can on the bike. Hence, most people don't enjoy hills because they just die on them trying to go as fast as they can (which is never the fastest way up a hill, the great paradox of racing!!).  I am glad that you are discovering the joy of climbing!!! At the right pace it is always amazing!!

LP. yes the compact crank will really help and as Jim mentioned, a 12-27 cassette will really help as well. Shimano came out wiith 11-28 this year and that is what I am now using and it's awesome. Actually 50-11 is a bigger gear than 53-12, so you actually lose nothing going downhill using a compact with 11-28 (and obviously 28 is easier uphill than 27!!).

I just took 3 days in a row off the bike!! Had my last race Sunday and it was the first time that I missed more than I day in a row on the bike since April. I definitely needed a break. Big ride on Saturday with a group so I will be out again starting today.

Seems like more snowi is falling in a lot of spots. Loveland will most likely open next week or then one after!!!

[Ron]

loveland's open- wednesday was opening day

[jbotti]

How very nice!!

[jim-ratliff]

Shimano came out wiith 11-28 this year and that is what I am now using and it's awesome.

JB:? Will a standard older derailleur (Ultegra in my case) work with the 11-28 or does it take a longer throw derailleur or something.? I thought there was a max tooth difference front + rear or something techie like that which limited the the range of the rear.? In my case it doesn't much matter 'cause even 12 is too big for me, just curious.

Also, tell us some about your bike(s).? Triathlons or pure bike races?

[LivingProof]

Shimano came out wiith 11-28 this year and that is what I am now using and it's awesome.

JB:? Will a standard older derailleur (Ultegra in my case) work with the 11-28 or does it take a longer throw derailleur or something.? I thought there was a max tooth difference front + rear or something techie like that which limited the the range of the rear.? In my case it doesn't much matter 'cause even 12 is too big for me, just curious.

Also, tell us some about your bike(s).? Triathlons or pure bike races?

Jim,
Check out the attached
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=162475

My read is that a 28 will work with a short throw Shimano rear derailleur. Shimano literature indicates there may be a problem, but, consensus is Shimano is just being conservative. You should look up the exact model of your Ultegra rear. Do you have 9 or 10 speed? My bike will be ready today, so I intend to test the new compacts in hills shortly. My rear is a 26, so going to a 28 is a future possibility.
Mike

This thread is a "long strange trip" from Rons new 4x4's.? PS - I predict they will be "minty" when resold. Maybe I should get in line now.

[jim-ratliff]

LP:

Thanks. 

Mine is a 10 speed, only 2 years old but I was concerned that the 28T cassette was dependent on a new derailleur that had a slightly greater chain wrap capacity or something.

I was intrigued by one poster that said that a 30T gear would actually work.

And yes, you should jump into the 4x4 line, it starts right behind me.   

[jbotti]

Yes, the 28 works fine with a short throw derailleur.

I didn't see Jim's question before now. My two most recent races were the Fremont Hill Climb and the Mt Diablo Challenge. Both are road cycling races. Diabo is 11 miles and 3400 feet of climbing. Fremont is 10 miles and 2500 feet of climbing, but some of it is 12 degrees and nasty.

I stopped running around 4 years ago. The main reason was because I was in pretty constant pain from years of running and wimming. The only time I wasn't in pain was when I was running. biking or swimming. I have two partially torn rotator cuffs, so not only did my legs ache all day from running, but my shouders ached all day and night from swimming. When I stopped both, I was in shock at what it was like to walk around all day pain free!! I keep thinking that there may be an inronman in my future after I turn 50 next year. When I think about how my body felt all those years, it is easy to change my mind!!

[LivingProof]

Mine is a 10 speed, only 2 years old but I was concerned that the 28T cassette was dependent on a new derailleur that had a slightly greater chain wrap capacity or something.

I was intrigued by one poster that said that a 30T gear would actually work.

Jim,
I picked up my compact equipped bike today, and, the service manager verified that 28T will work with a 10 speed group.
I have a 9 speed with a 25T rear, he believes 27 is my max.

Did 10 miles on the new compacts, no real climbs but hills are more manageable. I hate riding in an urban area, stopping, fumes, itot drivers! Hmm time to look for a new 27T for next year.

[jim-ratliff]

John:

What cranks do people use for such climbing?  Do you have any knowledge of people using Road Triple cranks?

Jim

[jbotti]

Yes, depending on your weight and level of power output, it is easy to justify a triple for a lot of people. It's truly amazing how many people that weigh more than I do (180) do not even use a compact. Some of this also has to do with body type. People that are heavier but very muscular can get a way with climbing in a bigger gear, as they have the strength and the muscles to do it. Most would be better served by getting a compcat or a triple and spinning more at a higher cadence.

I have a good friend who for years was a Cat 2 racer (just below pro). He weighs 136 lbs and he is an excellent climber. He uses a compact all the time in training. In a race he doesn't need it because he is always in a bigger gear, so having a compact in the race would be of no benefit. In training he swears by it and he says it has helped him immensely in training so that he can spin more on hills.

So yes, the very simple asnwer is for many a triple is a great solution. The only real issue with a triple is that they are cantankerous. They just never operate as smoothly and as reliably as a double. But to be able to spin at a higher cadence, it is well worth it.

My guess is that in Virginia, you probaly don'y have enough hillls that are steep enough or long enough to justify the triple. Out here that is not the case.

[LivingProof]

John:

What cranks do people use for such climbing?? Do you have any knowledge of people using Road Triple cranks?

Jim

Jim,
I ride with 2 buds who have triple cranks, both came as standard on newer light road frames.  One is a really strong rider who wears me out any time we ride. A triple makes a lot of sense for recreational riders anywhere there are hills. In the old days, these were often referred to as touring bikes and the small front chainring is known as the "granny" gear. The smaller front chainrings make pedaling much less stressful on the knees. Often the wheel rims are wider to permit use of fatter tires, and, this is sometimes linked to brakes that can open wider to accept 28 to 35 mm tires. My first good bike was a triple equipped cross-trainer. Still have it, it weighs a ton but it climbs.

The downside to a "roadie" is the added weight of the front triple and the much larger rear derailluer. As John indicated the shifting is less smooth. Roadies want speed and high tech equipment. By that definition, Lynn is, no question, a roadie!