No snaps of me just yet, but that's maybe a good thing considering some of the painfaces I was making!
3 Pistes Cycle Scottish Highands
- Thread starter tug benson
- Start date
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No snaps of me just yet, but that's maybe a good thing considering some of the painfaces I was making!
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
Extremely Jealous :-) I've not done the Lecht yet, the furthest I've been up there is the Cairgorm Sportive, which is undulating/flat until you get to the climb to the Cairngorm Ski centre. The first time I did it was on a full double 53/39, probably could have done with something lower. The next year was a borrowed (the day before) cyclocross 48/34. I hope to do it this year with something in between, a semi compact 52/38
Pedrosanchezo
Veteran
- Location
- Perthshire, scotland
For the love of all that is holy HLab, put a bigger rear cassette than a 25 on there.
Fully in the knowledge that i was in the 25 cog, i still tried to click down at least 5 times going up the Lecht! More in hope than anything else. When i bonked at Bridge of brown i could quite have easily done with a cyclocross 34/32 combination for the remaining 30+ miles. In fact i passed several older people riding this precise combination and it was all i could do not to offer a mint De Rosa Idol in exchange for their slightly tattered cx bikes with HUGE cassettes and small chainrings.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
I made it up the year before last on a 12-25 with the 53/39 but the Cairngorm Sportive doesn't have a hilly as a build up to the ski centre climb. My semi compact though is fitted with an 11-28, should be plenty but there's that nagging doubt in my mind that I'm not doing prolonged climbs these days, other than a trip to the Alp and Wales last year and some Fife hills and the Peak District this year (and the latter are quite short)
Pedrosanchezo
Veteran
- Location
- Perthshire, scotland
I rode the Fred Whitton on compact 34/27 and was in a world of hurt at Honister and Hardknott. My thinking was that the 25 would be fine for this. Mistake. When things don't go to plan, like yesterday, then it is always a good idea to plan for this. The 27 would have been my very best friend. 
The Cairngorm climb is quite easy i think but after that distance and elevation it becomes a pig of a climb. A grind. My club mate has the KOM and i rode up it yesterday about 8-9 minutes slower!! We'll see about that next time i go up there with fresh legs.
The Cairngorm climb is quite easy i think but after that distance and elevation it becomes a pig of a climb. A grind. My club mate has the KOM and i rode up it yesterday about 8-9 minutes slower!! We'll see about that next time i go up there with fresh legs.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
If I ever do the 3 pistes or Fred Whitton I think I'll refit my 13-29 on a 34/50, used that for the Alps last year.
CHAPEAU! 
Pedrosanchezo
Veteran
- Location
- Perthshire, scotland
@Scoosh - exactly right. I'd like to go one more than that too but would require a medium cage and Campagnolo be expensive! Oh and i didn't feel so "badass" crossing the finishing line. Broken man seems more fitting. Oh and sore ass.
@HLaB - they don't make big enough gears for the Fred Whitton. Seriously. Unpleasant.
@HLaB - they don't make big enough gears for the Fred Whitton. Seriously. Unpleasant.
Pedrosanchezo
Veteran
- Location
- Perthshire, scotland
Yeh that would do me fine. Would need a med cage though. With that and the cassette i'd be looking at £200 min spend. Bloody Campag!50/34 and 11-32 not enough ?
OldMature Man
OP
OP
tug benson
Survived the Tour O the borders 2013
- Location
- Alloa
Yesterdays
http://www.strava.com/activities/148542733
All smiles at the start
In a mess at the finish
http://www.strava.com/activities/148542733
All smiles at the start
In a mess at the finish
OP
OP
tug benson
Survived the Tour O the borders 2013
- Location
- Alloa
saw a weird sight when heading back down to Pitlochry...saw a few folk cycling the A9 penny farthing bikes
