[Closed] Trying to Climb everything on the middle ring!

36t middle ring is quite large - what size outer do you use?

I run 36 single ring front and 11:32 back on one of my hardtails - it doesn't seem to stop me gettign up stuff.

There's a few climbs on the Malverns that I'm trying to nail on my FS. I could do them on my 456C in middle ring but struggle with on my FS. I am getting better and climbing further before giving up...
Once I can do them I'll be happy. It will mean I'm fitter/stronger and probably have a slightly different technique sorted 🙂

What's your smaller ring?

I do this too. Seems like a good way of forcing myself to build up leg strength. Maybe others disagree, but it seems to be working for me. It seems to help psychologically if nothing else sort of like I've failed if I have to drop to a granny gear. And I hate failing!

edit : Although it only works if your knees are in tip top condition...

go 1x10 and you have no option. suprised me how little I missed my granny ring

Nothing wrong with that at all, as above good for strength. I think them what know what they're on about call it over gearing.

Same here, on local evening rides (Mendips) I'll only drop into the granny ring as an absolute last resort.

On longer rides I'll sit and spin though...no point wrecking your legs in the first couple of hours of a big day out.

It's just like only using 3rd gear on the motorway.... you can do it... but what's the point.

I recently re-fitted a granny and front mech... you know what... i enjoy it more and i go no slower because when i get to the top of an epic hill... i still have the ability to pedal on, not gasp for breath 🙂

22 36 with bash ring, the thing is when I started I had a 32, so climbed everything with that, then moved to 36 with reasonable leg strength. probably being a wuss but thinking perhaps 36 is to big to begin with, I have been on about three rides and feel really wasted after.
I seem to have a real psychological problem with using the granny, do or die trying.

I found the 22/36 gap in chainring size 'too big', and was constantly clicking both shifters to 'make the transition' smoother (I.e 36:32 too hard, 22:32 too spinny, so would quickly go to 22:28 as an example).
As an alternative, I'd simply stay in the 36t ring longer, so save faffy gear changes.

Basically, I've switched to 22t for a 26t, which seems a much better difference...

DrP

(Not sure that's even mildly related to your post, but hey ho...)

My hardtail is 1x9 with a 36 on the front. There is nothing I can't climb that I could with a granny ring on my old Heckler, flat pedals too. Surely Technique is a bigger factor in a lot of cases.
Thumbs up, elbows down, chin up and imagining I have a massive beard will get me up some very intimidating looking inclines

go 1x10 and you have no option. suprised me how little I missed my granny ring

Liking it Jef, I guess I just need to keep at it for a few more rides, man up and before I know it I will feel light and firey, come to think of it, it always felt hard.

I guess it depends what you're riding up (stating the obvious)

I'm still having to get off and push all too frequently when I'm failing to pedal 22f/34r up stuff. 😥

The local stuff starts with a 300m climb, off road or steep tarmac I can choose my poison, at the moment my legs are pumping out, but I could do it with reasonable form when I was bike fit.

I'm still having to get off and push all too frequently when I'm failing to pedal 22f/34r up stuff

i hope this doesn't sound too harsh, do not get off the bike, it will hurt, accept that, basically don't stop until you physically fall off the bike. Most people are better climbers than they think, they just give up to early and think they can't.

I think the biggest difference between good and bad climbers is self belief. Particularly off road where fitness isn't the be all and end all.

I can't remember the last time I used the granny ring, but then iv'e always been a grinder rather than a spinner when it comes to peddling uphill. Think I'd be better off with a 2x10 setup.

I've only got one chainring, 32 though but with big wheels and a dinnerplate on the cassette (36) not stopped me yet 🙂

edit : Although it only works if your knees are in tip top condition...

Which they wont be for long if you keep mashing a big gear 🙁

You can do it, but you can also climb just as fast (if not faster) by spinning a smaller gear, which puts a lot less stress on your knees.

You can do it, but you can also climb just as fast (if not faster) by spinning a smaller gear, which puts a lot less stress on your knees.

to a point, but spin a small gear or spin a bigger gear because you have more strength from pushing big gears once in a while. which is faster then?

How long is a piece of string 🙂

In theory it makes no difference. The rate you climb depends on how much power you produce which is only weakly linked to the rate at which your legs go round (which is all the gear changes). In practice though we all tend to have a cadence range where we are most efficient. Drop below that and you will go slower for the same effort.

More importantly (in my book) you also put more stress on your knees, which is fine until they go and then you'll wish you hadn't 😳 But then I'm pushing 50 and these things worry me more than they used to.

Which they wont be for long if you keep mashing a big gear

You can do it, but you can also climb just as fast (if not faster) by spinning a smaller gear, which puts a lot less stress on your knees.

Correct advice.

How long is a piece of string

In theory it makes no difference. The rate you climb depends on how much power you produce which is only weakly linked to the rate at which your legs go round (which is all the gear changes). In practice though we all tend to have a cadence range where we are most efficient. Drop below that and you will go slower for the same effort.

More importantly (in my book) you also put more stress on your knees, which is fine until they go and then you'll wish you hadn't But then I'm pushing 50 and these things worry me more than they used to.

To Yoda you should listen, hmmmmm.