Ray, Yes lots and lots of mountains in California: the Northern Coast, Southern Coast and Transverse Ranges (the Transverse Range consists of the 12 mountain ranges in the Southern California area). Then there is the Sierra Nevada mountain range that stretches 400 miles up the eastern part of the state that includes Mount Whitney at 14,505 ft (surprisingly, the highest point in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney, is just 76 miles west of Death Valley, 282 ft below sea level). There is a race held every year that goes from Death Valley to Mount Whitney!
I pretty much knew what to expect with the TdF climbs and even though I can spin up to 174 rpm on my fixie, I'm more of a masher; I like a 48x16, 80 inch gear on my fixed gear bikes. Never had any knee problems (turning 63 in May), knock on wood. I like to climb out of the saddle part of the time.
I remember quite a few on the Sporting Tours trip in 1995 scouring the local bike shops looking for bigger freewheels and cogs for their cassette hubs after the first day in mountains, Stage 9 La Plagne over the Cormet de Roselend at 6456 ft.
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, CA
On Apr 9, 2007, at 1:29 PM, Ray Green wrote:
> Chuck, Wow they are serious climbs on your doorstep.
> Clearly you knew what to expect in the Alps and could handle it. I
> was concerned that less experienced riders could have their trip
> spoilt by inappropriate gearing. Many riders in the Uk used to
> replace their Campag chainset with a cheapo Stronglight set (was
> it a 99?) in 48x34 which could use the same freewheel, axle and
> gear for French trips. Ten minutes work and much less strain on the
> knees.
> regards Ray ----- Original
> Message ----- From: "Chuck Schmidt" <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
> To: "CR RENDEZVOUS" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Monday, April 09, 2007 7:52 AM
> Subject: [CR]The Alps, the Dolomites and the San Gabriels Was:
> SportingTours
>
>
>> Chuck Schmidt wrote:
>>
>>> Ray Green wrote:
>>>
>>>> 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.
>>>
>>> Ray, I guess when I said I didn't have any "trouble" doing all
>>> the climbs, what I really meant was that I didn't have to walk
>>> any, or stop to rest, or turn around. I sure wasn't doing any
>>> spinning up the climbs ala Lance. More like those pictures of
>>> Ottavio Bottecchia in the 1920s laboring up some gnarly rutted
>>> dirt climb with the entourage walking next to him with their
>>> hands in their coat pockets.
>>> http://www.bloggers.it/
>>> <http://www.lastampa.it/_web/_RUBRICHE/Libri/articolo/_img/
>>> arti040723.jpg>
>>> I useta do all the climbs around SoCal with a 42x21 like
>>> everyone else in my club back in the 1970s. What did I know???
>>> Que es mas macho?
>>> Chuck "use to be young and stupid, now old and stupid" Schmidt
>>> South Pasadena, CA USA
>>
>>
>> Ray, while riding in the local foothills today I was thinking
>> about you and the TdF climbs and how I probably should elaborate
>> on the area where I ride. While South Pasadena is 22 miles from
>> the Pacific Ocean, 9 miles northeast of Los Angeles and sits at
>> 660 ft of elevation, only ten air miles to the north is Mount
>> Wilson (5,710 ft), part of the San Gabriel mountain range. On a
>> fifty mile bike ride from my house (660 ft), up Angeles Crest
>> Highway, the road climbs to 7,903 ft (Dawson Saddle). Higher than
>> Aubisque (5,610 ft), Alpe d'Huez (6,069 ft) or Col du Tourmalet
>> (6935 ft).
>>
>> Twenty miles east is the Mount Baldy climb, one of the most
>> difficult in the LA Area with 4600 feet of climbing in 13 miles
>> (Mt. Baldy is 10,064 ft). The last five miles are extremely
>> steep with an average of over 8% and some 15% sections.
>>
>> "Alpe d'Huez Comparison: If you start at mile 3.83, the climb is
>> 8.8 miles with an average grade of 7.6%. Alpe d'huez is 8.8 miles
>> with a 7.9% average. This is about the closest thing in Southern
>> California that you can compare in length and steepness to Alpe
>> d'Huez. However, if you start at mile 5 near the first tunnel,
>> the climb is 7.6 miles with an 8.2% average. The last few miles
>> of this climb are more dificult than most of Alpe d'Huez."
>> http://www.socalvelo.com/
>>
>> Onyx Summit Climb (8,443 ft) 31 mile climb, highest paved road in
>> Southern California:
>> http://www.socalvelo.com/
>>
>> Crystal Lake Climb (5,000 ft):
>> http://www.socalvelo.com/
>>
>> All of these climbs and more are within a half hour to an hours
>> ride from my house (hardly anyone is aware that LA has mountains,
>> no... more like MOUNTAINS). Beautiful place to ride before
>> heading off to the Sporting Tours TdF trip.
>>
>> Here's some photos of the San Gabriel mountains:
>> http://www.etreking.com/
>> http://www.empirelakes.com/
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/
>>
>> <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e6/
>> SanGabrielMountains.jpg>
>>
>> About twice a year a group of 15 or 20 of us vintage bike guys do
>> the ride up Glendora Mountain Road and over to Mt. Baldy with a
>> meal in Claremont on the way home... beautiful ride!!! I usually
>> use a tout Mavic equipped Vitus with a 42x26 (useta use a 21 or 22).
>>
>> Chuck Schmidt
>> South Pasadena, CA USA
>> http://www.velo-retro.com (reprints, t-shirts & timelines)