French Alpes on a Vitus979.....ooooh me knees!

[markyp]

Planning for a trip to the French Alpes next year...and thinking of taking my Mavic equipped Vitus. Been a few times before but always on a Giant TCR Carbon with 50/34 & 13/28 gearing.
The smallest chainring I can use on the mavic chainset is 42......so....do I;
1. grin and bear it....and prepare to walk a bit
2. take the Giant (No!!)
3. Change the chainset (Planet X retro holdsworth?)

Mark

 

[mdvineng]

Re:

you could always make the front a triple

 

[markyp]

Yes, that would be an option. Not a big fan of triples though.........am drawn to the Holdsworth or VeloOrange chainset (the latter also comes in 165mm length)

 

[Mike Muz]

Re:

Can you get the 28 on that bike?

If that's not low enough, look for a cheap chainset that you can get a smaller little ring on

 

[bigfatron]

Re:

I 'tripled up' in the mountains before, but now I'm the proud owner of some New Rally long cage rear mechs.
Allied to my 7 speed 13-34 freewheel I have a 30inch low gear with a 39 chaining, about the same as a modern compact with 34/29 as the granny gear.
Go for a 54 big ring and you can descend faster than your Deltas can slow you down!
Richie

 

[mdvineng]

the original mavic 810 type front mechs work fine on a triple set up and a converter chainring is available from Spa cycles to make your existing crankset into a triple, all easily convertable without a lot of hassle especially if your BB is around the right length to accomodate both.

 

[markyp]

the original mavic 810 type front mechs work fine on a triple set up and a converter chainring is available from Spa cycles to make your existing crankset into a triple, all easily convertable without a lot of hassle especially if your BB is around the right length to accomodate both.

hmmmmm......mavic style with 'triple' benefits!

 

[markyp]

Re: Re:

Go for a 54 big ring and you can descend faster than your Deltas can slow you down!
Richie

fast descents on a 30 year old glued-together aluminium frame........scary enough without a pedalling as well!!