Argus 2013

[petatodd]

Smitswinkel Pass = 1.7 km @ 5.5 deg

Chapman's South End = 1.7km @ 4.8 deg

Suikerbossie = 1.9 km @ 6.7 deg

percent surely?

['Dale]

 

percent surely?

 

Yeah.

%

 

:-)

Edited December 3, 2012 by Puncheur

[tombeej]

Smitswinkel Pass = 1.7 km @ 5.5 %

Chapman's South End = 1.7km @ 4.5 %

Suikerbossie = 1.9 km @ 6.7 %

 

Not really climbs, those. I'd guess the pros/elites would do them in the big ring?

[funjunkie]

Also my first Argus. Have ridden mainly in Jhb. I ride a compact crank 50/34 with a 11-23 cassette. Have managed the 94.7 without any problems with this ratio.

 

Not sure if I should get a 11-25 for the argus.

 

what raito would the average cyclist need to get over the steeper bits? ( Aiming for a 3:30 - 3:45 argus)

['Dale]

Also my first Argus. Have ridden mainly in Jhb. I ride a compact crank 50/34 with a 11-23 cassette. Have managed the 94.7 without any problems with this ratio.

 

Not sure if I should get a 11-25 for the argus.

 

what raito would the average cyclist need to get over the steeper bits? ( Aiming for a 3:30 - 3:45 argus)

 

11-25 for the average cyclist, yeah.

[carbon29er]

Also my first Argus. Have ridden mainly in Jhb. I ride a compact crank 50/34 with a 11-23 cassette. Have managed the 94.7 without any problems with this ratio.

 

Not sure if I should get a 11-25 for the argus.

 

what raito would the average cyclist need to get over the steeper bits? ( Aiming for a 3:30 - 3:45 argus)

11-25 for the average cyclist, yeah.

Depends what you term average.

 

At 6:00 minutes to climb SuikerBossie you are averaging 18.5kph so a 11-25 will be fine. In fact a 11-23 will be fine as you will be able to keep your cadence above 90 on the 23 for the entire climb.

 

The problem is that only about 400 of the entire race will do SuikerBossie in 6 dead. Which is hardly average.

 

7:00 minutes for SuikerBossie should be roughly on track for a sub 3. The average speed for a 7 minute ascent is 16kph.

 

8 minutes is 14kph, 9 minutes is 12.4kph and 10 minutes is 11.2kph. Longer than that is painful.

 

So the simple way to work out the gears you should be running based on this info is to see what your cadence is when doing the expected speed.

 

For a 3:30 you would probably ride SuikerBossie in about 9 minutes which gives 12.4kph. Which, if you want to avoid grinding it out, is an 11-28.

[andydude]

Bicycling is sharing 12-week training programs for sub-3, sub-4, sub-5 and novice rides. It might be worthwhile. Check just below the top on the right hand side http://www.bicycling.co.za/

 

There is a book you can buy or you can subscribe to their weekly email.

[sluiper]

Depends what you term average.

 

At 6:00 minutes to climb SuikerBossie you are averaging 18.5kph so a 11-25 will be fine. In fact a 11-23 will be fine as you will be able to keep your cadence above 90 on the 23 for the entire climb.

 

The problem is that only about 400 of the entire race will do SuikerBossie in 6 dead. Which is hardly average.

 

7:00 minutes for SuikerBossie should be roughly on track for a sub 3. The average speed for a 7 minute ascent is 16kph.

 

8 minutes is 14kph, 9 minutes is 12.4kph and 10 minutes is 11.2kph. Longer than that is painful.

 

So the simple way to work out the gears you should be running based on this info is to see what your cadence is when doing the expected speed.

 

For a 3:30 you would probably ride SuikerBossie in about 9 minutes which gives 12.4kph. Which, if you want to avoid grinding it out, is an 11-28.

 

I ride Suikerbossie about 4 to 5 times a week, and 7 minutes isn't that hard. The gradient actually decreases after the first half and the last quarter is very easy. Keeping a 16kph average is very doable.

 

I ride a 11-23 and normally have 1 gear to spare if there isn't a headwind.

[andydude]

Bicycling is sharing 12-week training programs for sub-3, sub-4, sub-5 and novice rides. It might be worthwhile. Check just below the top on the right hand side http://www.bicycling.co.za/

 

There is a book you can buy or you can subscribe to their weekly email.

 

You can download the pdfs or register here: http://www.bicycling.co.za/training-programmes/argus-cycle-tourtraining-programmes/