Cycling is good for the brain.

[slo town]

You ever come up on a slower rider and want to pull a Rossi by passing them in the gravel?

Most of the folks riding at Laguna were pretty casual and "recreational". Those who I did pass - I wasn't certain which way they were going to zig or zag as I approached them. It wasn't a big deal. Track was wide and there were no cars to worry about.

Scott

 

[slo town]

After my wake up call at Laguna where I was blowing smoke and leaking oil on the climbs, I ordered a long cage Ultegra rear derailleur and 11-34 cassette for the Seven, which is Dura-Ace equipped. The Saso already has a medium cage RD and 11-30 cassette, it being Dura-Ace as well, so I know this setup will work on the Seven.

I just can’t push the big gears on the climbs like I used to. Also, seeing all the young guys at Marin (in 2021) and Laguna riding long cage RDs and huge cassettes means I don’t feel like a wuss.

Scott

 

[bioilcurious]

After my wake up call at Laguna where I was blowing smoke and leaking oil on the climbs, I ordered a long cage Ultegra rear derailleur and 11-34 cassette for the Seven, which is Dura-Ace equipped. The Saso already has a medium cage RD and 11-30 cassette, it being Dura-Ace as well, so I know this setup will work on the Seven.

I just can’t push the big gears on the climbs like I used to. Also, seeing all the young guys at Marin (in 2021) and Laguna riding long cage RDs and huge cassettes means I don’t feel like a wuss.

Scott

Maybe just take some EPO and put on a live strong bracelet?

 

[MRC01]

After my wake up call at Laguna where I was blowing smoke and leaking oil on the climbs, I ordered a long cage Ultegra rear derailleur and 11-34 cassette for the Seven, which is Dura-Ace equipped. The Saso already has a medium cage RD and 11-30 cassette, it being Dura-Ace as well, so I know this setup will work on the Seven.

Yeah that's only 13% lower gear... enough that you'll feel it, but not a huge difference. I know cuz I did the same with my '99 Trek, swapped the OEM 11-25 rear for an 11-28, a similar difference (12%). Is your front a 36-52? Mine was and I swapped it for a 34-52, the same might also fit on yours if you want to go even lower. That's only a 6% drop but when you combine them it's 20% lower which is very nice.

I just can’t push the big gears on the climbs like I used to. Also, seeing all the young guys at Marin (in 2021) and Laguna riding long cage RDs and huge cassettes means I don’t feel like a wuss.

I resemble that!

 

[slo town]

Yeah that's only 13% lower gear... enough that you'll feel it, but not a huge difference. I know cuz I did the same with my '99 Trek, swapped the OEM 11-25 rear for an 11-28, a similar difference (12%). Is your front a 36-52? Mine was and I swapped it for a 34-52, the same might also fit on yours if you want to go even lower. That's only a 6% drop but when you combine them it's 20% lower which is very nice.

I'm running a 52/36 in the front. Your suggestion to run a 34 is great advice, especially since you've tried it and it worked. Appreciate it.

Scott

 

[MRC01]

I'm running a 52/36 in the front. Your suggestion to run a 34 is great advice, especially since you've tried it and it worked. Appreciate it.

I think I mentioned earlier 34-52 is just beyond what Shimano says the front derailleur can handle. It works perfectly as long as it's set up precisely (derailleur position, chainring clearance, angle, etc.) - but it's less forgiving of improper setup.

 

[CapitalTruck]

Y'all:

An interesting article.

FYI,

Scott

https://www.eatingwell.com/cycling-lower-dementia-risk-study-11757686

I heard some medical authority advise that “exercise is the most highly effective medical intervention in the history of mankind”

 

[AZjeff]

All this roadie talk is making me a little . When I was younger I went both ways, road and off road. Enjoyed the physicality of road riding and the challenge of mountain biking. Gave up road riding 15 years ago. The road riding here just isn't very interesting, not many roads and too dangerous. Since I retired in 2000 I've been riding off road 3-4 times a week and got some good fitness back. Where we live now has an amazing amount of good trails from easy to black (like black diamond) and even red. I can still ride the hard dangerous stuff but choose not to as my mindset is I want to ride tomorrow and it takes forever to heal up from even minor injuries now.

What I really like about challenging trail riding is it's the opposite of road riding, you're not solving complex problems or designing rockets when you're 100% concentrating on staying on the rock ledge and looking for the exact spot to place your tires as you're climbing on the tipping point in your 30x52 low gear. Living in the moment. Any other mountain bikers in the house?

This is a fairly new black trail that I can ride to from the house. This local guy has some skills and looks for harder lines and rides fast but you can get the idea of the trail if you kinda scroll through. I ride in the opposite direction, would rather do technical slow climbing than fast downhill.

 

[AZjeff]

Forgot to say I really liked the technical part of road riding. I geeked out on bike fit, and riding well as Scott mentioned talking about his lines around the track. When I was racing I was all into the HRM and zones and training and intervals etc. Now it's about staying fit and having good rides. No suffering.

 

[slo town]

When I was racing I was all into the HRM and zones and training and intervals etc. Now it's about staying fit and having good rides. No suffering.

I hear you on that. Other than looking at my post ride summary data, I try not to take it as seriously as I used to. That said, I still time myself on my favorite rides and/or sections. In the old days this used to turn each ride into a "race", where if my time got slower even by just 10 seconds, the ride was a "failure". I still keep track of my times but now it's more of an informational thing, not a pass/fail deal.

Scott

 

[AZjeff]

It's hard to get away from the numbers! Try to have some fun getting you fitness back. At your advanced age you shouldn't suffer too much!

 

[#18FAN]

Back in the heat with nearly 70% humidity awesome ride endurance pace. One quick stop at 53 miles about to get water and a fast mini mart egg salad sandwich. I came home with more in the tank that's a good feeling.

Tuesdays are generally my balls out training ride keeping it to about 40miles

This ride was on 2 days leg rest beside walking and had a chest workout yesterday ya gotta lift when aging and keep it heavy.

Rode side pick and my end miles

 

[slo town]

It's hard to get away from the numbers! Try to have some fun getting you fitness back. At your advanced age you shouldn't suffer too much!

My "advanced age".... Haha.... Sometimes it feels that way.

But seriously, my goal has always been to ride at the sharp end of the pack for my age category. It's just the way I am. Even though age has slowed me, it's never dulled my competitive nature on the bike. My goal has always been to ride "well" for my age - and younger! Whenever I ride, even at 72, there's always a little nitro running in my blood. For me that's never going to change.

Scott

 

[slo town]

Back in the heat with nearly 70% humidity awesome ride endurance pace. One quick stop at 53 miles about to get water and a fast mini mart egg salad sandwich. I came home with more in the tank that's a good feeling.

Tuesdays are generally my balls out training ride keeping it to about 40miles

This ride was on 2 days leg rest beside walking and had a chest workout yesterday ya gotta lift when aging and keep it heavy.

Rode side pick and my end miles
View attachment 287146View attachment 287147

You’ve got good speed @#18FAN.

Scott

 

[slo town]

I put an Ultegra long cage rear derailleur and 11-34 cassette on my 11-speed Dura-Ace equipped Seven Axiom. Original RD was a short cage Dura-Ace with an 11-28 cassette. Bike has 180 cranks with a 52/36; Campy Shamal Ultra wheels.

The 11-34 cassette is a total game changer versus the 11-28. I am going to switch my Saso over ASAP.

Interestingly, I found myself riding in the big ring more often when climbing the easier, steady grade sections. Even more importantly, with the 11-34, it felt like I was just one click away from the perfect gear selection, two clicks away max.

The only downside is that the longer cage Ultegra rear derailleur doesn't shift as instantaneously as the short cage Dura-Ace version. By no means is the shifting sluggish - we're talking maybe 100-200 milliseconds difference - literally a fraction of a second difference.

I am super pleased!

Scott

 

[supton]

I've thought about going to an 11 speed, so that I could say that my bike goes to 11... alas, my legs will never go to 11 though.

Last ride I did, I was thinking about redoing my 3x9, I regeared to make the granny lower--only to never use it. That's pretty wrong, and right now I could use a hair more in the hills. Maybe I should go 34-42-52.

 

[#18FAN]

Good run today good pace 2 days rest off the legs. My feed was the big issue wasn't fuelling early enough ran out a quick stop for things but got really behind.

Well we'll get training the week and set Saturday for a longer ride and tweak a few things Best thing i feel great could have fueled up and go out again but decided to end on great ride.

 

[slo town]

Well, I decided to blow off Marin. I'm riding well everything considered, but I'm not century fit. Also too, with Marin being a 5 hour drive (each way) and requiring two nights at a $$$ Marin hotel, it just doesn't make sense to spend all that time and money only to suffer on the bike.

Instead, I've decided to ride something close to home and with a date more suitable to my (re)training schedule - The Lighthouse on September 27th. I'll ride either the 65 or 75 miler. http://www.slobc.org/lighthouse/

Ride summary data from my favorite out and back a few days ago. Lots of 6% climbing, a fair amount of 11% climbing, and a few sections of out of the saddle 16% climbing just to keep you humble. Anyway, not bad compared to my historical data. Calorie burn shows I was producing good power. The low heart rate is typical of me (my resting heart rate is in the 50s). FWIW.

Scott

 

[slo town]

After putting the 11-34 gearing on the Seven, I did the same for my fillet brazed, Tange tubed Saso. Dura-Ace gruppos with 52/36 180mm cranks on both. Saso frame is 31 years old, 35,000 miles, with lots of amazing accomplishments and outrageous endeavors on it. That's original paint you're looking at. Bike looks big because it is. I'm 6'5".

Scott

 

[Sam_Julier]

Lo

After putting the 11-34 gearing on the Seven, I did the same for my fillet brazed, Tange tubed Saso. Dura-Ace gruppos with 52/36 180mm cranks on both. Saso frame is 31 years old, 35,000 miles, with lots of amazing accomplishments and outrageous endeavors on it. That's original paint you're looking at. Bike looks big because it is. I'm 6'5".

Scott

View attachment 290176View attachment 290177View attachment 290178

I love my Seven. I’ve owned it since November 1998. Their second year in business.