Cassette size for Italian Alps

G'day guys, I'm heading up to northern Italy to train for a month and am just trying to figure out what cassette to fit before I go. Obviously that will depend on fitness, so to give an idea I race B grade and although sometimes people say I'm a good climber I'm buggered if I know where they get that from as I reckon I'm crap at it It's possibly since I am more explosive so can blast short hills... mess with their minds mwwwhhhaaahhaaaaaa!! Anyway, sadly long sustained climbs are another matter.

I'm running stock DA 53/39 and normally use 11-23, though have been on my spare 12-23 for a while as 7800 getting harder to get. I live in a hilly part of the country however most sustained climbs are only about 5% and 4-5km.

I was thinking of either a 12-25 or even 12-27 but have no idea what to expect I've been up there numerous times before but wasn't riding and things just take a different perspective then.

Opinions from those who have trained in Italian or French alps would be gratefully appreciated.

Cheers

FWIW. Even if you never use it, it's not much extra weight to drag around a 27t-or-28t as your bail-out gear vs. a 25t largest cog.

The Shimano rear derailleur can easily handle an 8t cog difference, so if you don't like the cog combination of a standard cassette then you could simply stack a 28t cog from a 9-speed LX cassette on your existing cassette + the spacer from the smaller end of the cassette AFTER you decide which cog you don't need (e.g., the 14t; but, whichever cog YOU think, of course) ... put the removed cog in the toolkit you bring on the trip.

The 9-speed cog is slightly thicker than a 10-speed cog (~0.3mm) which will mean you may want-or-need to tweak the lower stop & indexing if you substitute a 28t from a 9-speed cassette; but, maybe not.

BTW. About all I ride on are mountain roads (in the US Rockies), and so for some variety this season, I've cobbled together a Single Speed with a 32t chainring (XT crank) & a 22t freewheel ... that's equal to a 39t chainring & about a ~27t cog (closer to ~26.8125) because that's the lowest gear I normally use & I have a 32t (!) as my normal bail-out cog -- this may be a one-ride configuration.

Ok cheers for that. I won't have the option of taking any tools or spare cassette etc with me to swap while there, hence why I'm so keen to get it right now. Since posting I heard from a mate of mine who rode a 39-27 up there and even with a 6kg pack (he was touring) he said it was fine, so I think I will just go with the 12-27. Another mate who is coming with me isn't much of a cyclist so I think I will put him on a compact and same cassette and he should be fine. I doubt he's going to be out doing the same climbs anyway and we just meet up in the valley after I smash myself each day

Get a 12-27. Remember a 12-25 and 12-27 are identical except the last 2 cogs(23-25, 24-27)

I'm heading there in May. Normally ride a DA 53-39 front, 12-25 rear. I'm thinking of going with an Ultegra SL compact 50-34 front, and getting the 105 11-25 rear. That way, my low end is the same as the 53-12, and I get a better upper end than the 39-25. Something to consider.

Agree the 12-27 is a "no-brainer" for mountain riding. I switched to 12-27 recently as my LBS didn't have the 12-25 9 sp I've been using for the last 20K miles. Even with triple chainrings, it's nice to have a lower bottom gear with no loss of mid-range cogs. When the climbs kick up past 10%, I'll take all the help I can get

I live in northern Italy, and I reccommend 12-27 if you're not used to our mountains. Remember to bring something to eat during every training and avoid crisis at all costs, there are many places surrounded by mountains, and going back home could be an endless pain.... with the 27 you're a bit safer also for those situations.

If you want a contact (some riders to do some training...) tell me something via pm, I'll put you in touch

Excellent, we will be going to Varese at first then we have no plans. I am very interested in knowing about local rides and groups to ride with in that region.

Just curious why you can't bring some tools and a spare cassette? Must be traveling incredibly light or carrying all your stuff on the bike?

BUt you have it figured out pretty well. Plus, I'd be really surprised if you couldn't buy and have installed a different cassette in Italy if you really decide you need to change. It's a very civilized country .

If it were me, I'd keep my current rig: 52 42 30 triple and would put on a 12-27 or 12-28! (I'm old and weak), or maybe even put a MTB cassette and rear derailleur on there!

Sounds like a lot of fun.

I've been to Italy many times and realise its possible to do it there, however yes we are traveling "incredibly light". We aren't touring as such but will leave the bike cases with a friend in Frankfurt and take just what can fit in a medium size back pack each so we can ride from the railway stations to the accommodation when required.

I (quite literally) spend almost half my life in hotels and know just how inconvenient and expensive it can be to try to do things while "out on the road". I don't know the town and where the LBS are, it could be a Sunday, closed for lunch, too busy, not speak English, not have stock etc etc and so it goes on. Anyone who has any experience in these situations knows what would be less than a 5 minute job to change a cassette at home can easily be a major PIA when away. Plus I have access to relatively inexpensive components now and most certainly won't like to pay Italian LBS prices for no good reason!

I'd be shocked if I couldn't get over any envisaged climbs with a 39x27, and my friend will be on a compact and 27 so even lower gearing. I think that should be fine. This is a training trip for me so if the Poo really hits the fan I will just have to stop, be it for a moment, an hour, or a day to recover. A bit different to touring where you may need to travel from point A to point B, we'll be riding out from a base each time and hopefully will have some idea of what we're in for and a plan before we leave.

This is probably the steepest climb I ca think of that I go over with a 39x23, not sure how steep the steep bits are but the average gradient is deceptive. Not long but gets me swearing http://www.cycle2max.com/bike-hill-c...ad.aspx?id=460 or this one, very short though and I wouldn't want to be doing an hour on this http://www.cycle2max.com/bike-hill-c...t).aspx?id=826 the bottom part is almost flat and I have no idea what the climb part of it is (anyone know?), maybe 20%? I can just push a 23 over it

...to have an idea of italian climbs, go to: www.salite.ch

...then write in "Ricerca Rapida" (Quick research) the name of the climb... for instance: "Mortirolo" ok there are many results since there are many sides from which you can climb... remember that "da XXXYYY" means "taken from XXXYYY", XXXYYY is the village from which the ascent begins

Looking at that climb of Corkscrew Road that you posted, that's only a 9% hill that runs for 1.5 miles. I'm sure there's a few steeper sections in there but there's two things that you have to factor in.

1. Altitude. At 1,200ft on your local hillclimb you're body does notice any difference between that and sea level. You'll probably not do as well at over 6,000ft. You'll probably be riding a gear less (25 rather than 23) at 6,000ft.

2. Climb distance. Don't compare 1.5 mile climbs at sea level to 10 mile climbs that average 10%. I'm not familiar with the area in Italy that you're going too, but the Giro seems to be littered with climbs that are way steeper than the Tour de France. Maybe the road builders there had a few too many bottles of wine before deciding that 12% for 7 miles was 'acceptable' for your average route.

If you're a good road racer who tips the scales at less that 155lbs then you should be good to go on 39x27.

How many of the really big passes are open yet? Snow shoes and snow tires may be required

Yes it's more the length of climb versus steepness that will concern I think. The 2 rides I mentioned aren't actually local to me, just 2 I recall as being steep. "My" local hill is average 5.5% and about 4-5 km, the shock will come when multiply the distance by 10