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I would try a 12-25 or a 27 cassette.
I use a 11-25 cassette and a 53/39 chainring set.
It was tough as hell on killer hills-I was still trying to shift to find the 32 and granny ring. ;O)
Some guys I ride with use a compact and a 12-27 but that involves spending a bit.
12-27 is your cheapest option if the rest of the running gear is fine.
Then ride for 3 weeks 3 times a week and look after your knees.
50/34 Compact gearing is your freind & what ever your fancy for a rear cassette... something with a bail-out gear. No shame in that.
fubar, that's my commute!
Nice commute!
I remember watching the Milk Race (okay it was many years ago) go up that climb...the pro's didn't look too happy about it so I'd feel no shame in getting some lower gearing.
I rode the annual British Heart Foundation ride from Hollingworth Lake which takes in that climb...plenty of roadies getting off and pushing (and looking enviously at my mountain bike gearing)
fubar, if I get up in time and it's dry (can't turn up at work covered in crap)I sometimes climb up through Colden instead.
If I climb up on the road, sometimes take the lower road and bypass Heptonstall entirely if I'm not feeling up to the really steep bit.
But, as I say, I'm usually on the MTB so I can just sit down and spin my way up.
BTW, have you tried the new cafe in Heptonstall?
Bit pricey, but all really good quality food and 'ample' portions, even for a cyclist! I really recommend the pie and salad combo, and the full brekkie is fantastic, but £6.95, rather than £3.95 at Ken's Cabin Caff in Hebden or £3.20 at the (much less greasy than Ken's) Viaduct caff in Tod.
The hunger has kicked in now, can you tell? 🙂
39/23 is what the TdF guys use on Alpe d'uez. This only goes to around 10%. Are you Alberto Contador? If not then yes, you might get up 15% hills on a 39/23, but you will probably get up them faster on a slightly more sensible gear.