Giro tech: Contador goes Apex

strange how millar and co. are using big rings with lots of teeth on the back. when weight weenies are so bothered about every single gram but wouldn't using a small chainset and small rings at the back use less materiel than two big rings

I've been running my existing 105 50/34 chainset and medium cage mech and an Apex cassette for a while now and it works well. It will cover all gears without any problems - I have it on my commuter which I plan to tour on. A cheaper option than converting fully to SRAM if you happen to already have shimano!

When my bottom gear was 34/25 I did feel a bit embarassed so changed to a 34/21. Then I began to feel a little embarassed by the 34 front ring so invested in a 39. After getting up King Alfreds the other day without too much distress on my new 39/21 when previously 34/21 had been a struggle I began to think I might be arriving in the world of cycling at last. I am dissapointed to see 42/21 is now the benchmark. I am now off to see if my butcher has any mexican beef in stock.

well said, it's the evil motorists we should we shouting at, not each other

who cares as long you are enjoying cycling(thats the point of cycling havin fun)ride what ever gearing you like...:) as cyclists we should be encouraging people to ride,not telling them they shouldnt,get on your bike and smile..

I assume Contador is still running a 54/39 with his new 11-32? I use a standard compact 50/34 with a 12-27 for hill work. In respect of meters development 39 x 32 yields the same meters development of 2.6 than my 34 x 27. A standard triple of 50/39/30 with a standard 12-25 cassette yields 2.5 meters development when turning the 30 x 25 gear. At the low end, all three solutions yeild almost identical results.

Bike Cru rides a BIG gear for 1 in 4 & 1 in 5 hills around the peak district, or is he staying on the rolling hills - more likely!!!

Greetings from the Republic of Boulder, CO. I don't think I am a gearhead, bikesnob or gearNazi but thought I'd offer my 2 bits. I'd echo keefus as I used to have a 55/46 and 12-25 set for my daily commute (all into big ring pushing) on rollers. The first group ride I did was up one of the steepest short climbs we have in our area (10-14% ramps). Needless to say that a) I did it at 3mph standing up in the 46/25, 2)yes, my tongue was dragging on the asphalt, and 3)weighed ~90kg. So yeah, I made it to the top but it was ...hard.

Now, I'm a bit lighter (60-65kg), have a compact double with similar rear gearing but can climb in the big ring for much of that climb. I did use an XTR cassette for awhile and found that was a nice choice as well. I opted for the CD vs a triple because of redundant gearing. I also didn't want to get into a bit of crosschaining as well which I'd experienced when demoing bikes with triple rings.

Last summer I did a ride over much of the higher mountains out in CO and found a compact double worked fine, definitely thought I did better/as good as the conventional 52/39 stuff that a lot of folks were riding.

"The most appropriate gear is the one which gets you to the top"

fixed that for you.

k

You wouldn't only drive your car up a hill in 5th gear because you're hard, so why insist on riding a big gear on your bike?

The most appropriate gear is the one which gets you to the top the quickest.

If the gears work for you, then get out and ride your bike.
If your gears don't work, then you're probably either at the velodrome or being a fred!

Are the Shimano 10 speed MTB and Road shifters and rear derailleurs compatible? (I know SRAM are.)

Whether it's SRAM's marketing dept or not, it seemed to work in the ITT yesterday.

Dirty Bertie was really spinning away up that climb, and for me (and Dave Harmon on EuroSport) I really didn't think he looked like he was going as fast as Nibali and Scarponi.

You know, if that's what smaller gears does for you, I might stick an XTR crank/cassette/mech on my race bike. Everyone watch out!

I wouldn't have got up Hardknott without my trusty Apex rear saucer

I ride a Campy setup and for Alpine Sportives. A Compact Chain set (50/34) with an 11-29 cassette .... the cassette being an amalgamation of the stantard 11-25 and 13-29 as campy don't make that wide a range. Interestingly though the standard short/medium rear mech cage copes with the range very well! It's a lighter option than a triple.

1961BikiE - We all want different things from our cycling - that's why there are so many options out there & not a 'one ratio fits all' setup. Solving the cause of your back pain is far more important than people's opinion of your gear ratios. Good luck with hitting that target.

Some of the giro bikes are also running front mechs from force and rival but are badged up as red - SRAM have the giro and the tour wrapped up for marketing, i don't think i don't think i've seen a campy lever in there.

I think shuttie92 was just responding to 1961BikeIE's apparent invitation…

"I'm sure some one will be along soon to tell me I have not right to be cycling if I can't ride though the peaks on a 42/21 low gear."

I'll bet that '92' refers to the size of the gear that Shuttie pushes

Quote:

with 'special sauce' Dave?

I need all the help I can get

The cynic in me wonders how much of this is out of necessity and how much is from the SRAM marketing department.

Apex. It's the only thing me and Bertie have in common. Apart from our love of a good steak.