California
C-40 said:
Where do you see this kind of grade for very long and that much climbing? I ride the Colorado mountains and can't think of many routes like that. The triple bypass route only has 10,000 feet of climbing in 120 miles.
If you're using a 53/39 you must a great climber. I use a 53/39/28 with a 12-25 and don't spned much time in the 39 when I'm on a mountain.
For days when I want to just focus on climbing, I drive to an area that has several canyon roads of varying length (between 4 and 8 miles or so) and steepness, and spend the day going up and down, up and down, up and down.... There is also the opportunity to spend some time on the flats between climbs if desired.
I didn't mean to imply that there were stretches of 15-20% for miles and miles and miles, but there are climbs of between 4-6 miles with an average of about 9% which, to me, is pretty steep.
I use a 53/39 and, as I said in the post that started this thread, either a 25 or 26. Just for kicks (and leg strength) I'll sometimes do the climbs in a much larger gear and lower cadence. For the really sustained steep stuff, however, I generally always use my lowest gear.