Chuck wrote<I was a chunky 52 years old and didn't have any trouble doing all the climbs with a 39x22. Doing it again at age 63 I'd guess that I'd take a 39x24 or 26.> Clearly Chuck had a major adreneline rush. I don't know anybody who would want to climb a first cat or HC climb on 39x22 who hasn't got a contract with a Pro Tour team. As a fit sixty year old (I'd cycled from London) I found 28x21 about right on Ventoux. Clubmates who did the Raid Alpine with Sporting Tours who are very fit forty year olds used 39x26 and said that if they did it again they would use a triple. After all if Tom Boonen struggles on 39x25 in the mountains I don't think us mere mortals should even contemplate using a similar gear. I understand that with Sporting Tours a lot can depend on your luck with the coureur. I believe that some can be keener on getting in the miles themselves than looking after the customers. That said I have never met anybody who didn't recommend the trip. PS Today's Tour of Flanders, run off in perfect conditions, took seven hours. Maybe at long last the sport is cleaning up its act. Ray Green, Harrow, Middlesex.