On Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 8:27:06 AM UTC-6 sarahlik...@gmail.com wrote:
so of course I decided to buy A Homer that I would like to build up specifically for rides with lots of hills! (To clarify, I am totally happy to take my time getting up hills on my Platypus which I have set up with racks and bags, fenders... but I like to ride with other people which are usually people with traditional road bikes with all the carbon fiber things). I'd want to hear more about what you mean by "lots of hills" and the kind of riders (not just their gear) you are with. You mention in a follow up riding up Mt. Diablo, for example. So, that to me says "sustained paved climbing at a mostly moderate but sometimes steep grade", unless you went to the top, in which case I'd add "sometimes wicked steep". I'd also want to hear more about your fitness level or, maybe more specifically, the speed at which you and your riding pals like to climb. I'm a lightweight, not especially strong rider but I like to push myself going up hills. I don't often find I need easier than a 1:1 gear; if I do, I'm off road on some VERY steep stuff. I don't worry too much about how big my biggest gear is, although riding with a good group can mean wanting some bigger gears. My general statement is that I'd rather be coasting down a hill than walking up it. I've been very happy with the 42x28 Silver cranks on my two Sams, with 32 or 34 tooth big cogs in back. I've been surprised at how many hills on which I've actually been able to stay on the 42. On the other hand, I have a Rivendell Road with a classic 53x39, 13-26 setup for the rare fast group ride. I did a super hilly group century on that bike ... it was a fast result, but it had a lot of out-of-saddle grinding time. I am a dedicated handlebar bag user and don't generally carry more gear than can fit in one, even for very long rides. Also, I am a big fan of Noodle Bars. I have some back issues (a couple of compression fractures) but I'm still pretty flexible and find that putting the tops of the bars level with the saddle and not too far away gives me the best combination of power (what little I have), several riding positions, and long-distance comfort. Ted Durant Milwaukee, WI USA -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/54f8dab3-9078-4c88-9da0-e70ca2d44450n%40googlegroups.com.
