Mortirolo gears

[canoas]

Run a Campagnolo 2011 Super Record 11 group set with 52/36 (TA Neruis Rings), Campagnolo now supply a 12/29 cassette.

Is a 12/29 compatible with a standard Super Record rear mech or do you need a longer mech, I gather you don't need to change your rear mech...though I'd ask.

Visiting Italian Alps again in June, riding Grandfondo Stelvio which includes the Mortirolo, I've ridden the Mortriolo before on a 52/36 11-27 needed 27 a lot! Was thinking a 29 would be a good idea just in case. It's a savage climb and lets face the last 3kms of the Stelvio are hellish. Plan to ride Tonale, Aprica, Bormia 2000 and Passo Gavia other days I'm there.

Also I gather a 52/36 12-29 will be slightly easier rather than change to 50/34 11-27? by my calculations.....think a 50/34 12-29 is not necessary and may spin too much

Thanks.

[Pieter]

34-29 at 80 rpm is 12 km/h. I don't know about you, but that's not spinning too much for me. And if you average that over the Mortirolo I would say: well done!

[canoas]

not 12km/h that's a good time

Well Contador used a 34x32 up his last Mortirolo climb and Ivan Basso in 2006 used a 36x26....very interesting differences!

But times have changed I guess 36x26 almost 10 years ago was considered normal up the Mortirolo

ok....I'm going for a 34x29:)

[eric]

If you "spin too much" you can shift to a harder gear.

Other than a small amount of added weight, and larger gaps between gears, there's no drawback to having gears lower than you think you need.
And if you miscalculated or are having a bad day you may need them.

[ergott]

Is a 12/29 compatible with a standard Super Record rear mech or do you need a longer mech, I gather you don't need to change your rear mech...though I'd ask.

Thanks.

Yes it is.

[canoas]

"And if you miscalculated or are having a bad day you may need them" - sensible, thanks

rear mech - good news, thanks

[bm0p700f]

How steep is this climb.

[Dalai]

How steep is this climb.

Steep enough...

http://www.hotelfunivia.it/varie/funivia_percorsi/bike%20climbs/3OK.pdf

I rented my bike when I visited Bormio which I think was running 34*30. I was glad about this when it came to riding the Mortirolo Gavia loop, as it was raining the morning I rode up the Mortirolo and had to ride most of it seated otherwise I would loose traction!

[sethjs]

Climbed the Mortirolo on a 34x28. Woulda loved to have a 29 instead. That's one intense climb.

[Johnnysmooth]

How steep is this climb.

Steep enough...

http://www.hotelfunivia.it/varie/funivia_percorsi/bike%20climbs/3OK.pdf

That is a monster

[canoas]

I've just ordered a 11-29!

Mortirolo is rated the 3rd hardest professional climb in Europe behind Alto de l'Angliru and Monte Zoncolan

Mortirolo Strava leader rode at a pace of 13.5km/h..........LOL

[Pieter]

Yes, and he's a pro mountainbiker. So I guess 10 km/h would already be a nice tempo for most of us.

[airwise]

Mortirolo is tough but with the right gearing it's short enough. I've never had more than a 27 and would have loved a 29.

The Zoncolan is a different level entirely. Even the stage winner in the Giro rode a 34/29 up that...

[bm0p700f]

Thanks for the link. I'd love to try that. Did a climb similar to that on 41/27T that was really hard but I did it.

[Method01]

There is a difference between doing it on a certain gear and doing it with more comfort on a lower gear.

Especially if you're doing the normal tour Mortirolo - Gavia, then it's better to have a decent cadence because otherwise you will blow your legs and the next climb is even more hell.

I did both Mortirolo and Zoncolan on a 34*28. A 34*30 would have been better and maybe I could have gone faster with the 30.