Tall rider and steep climbs

[mcneese.chad]

Such a fun and challenging climb. Traction is just short of limitless on the rocks, so the real work is in power delivery and the technical steps along the way, while maintaining a decent line on a really steep pitch, especially the final kick/step at the top.

[Tom_Dean]

I’m 193cm and use zero setback, it depends on having a frame with enough reach. Lots of brands don’t do a frame long enough ( max
58cm effective top tube or even less)

I do find the front wheel lifts when it’s very steep, only found it a problem once on a rough >25% with oncoming traffic!

[DaveWh]

@mcneese.chad

so the real work is in power delivery and the technical steps along the way

Yep. Need to keep power delivery smooth, and not let the steps bump your front wheel into a wheelie.

[Nate_Pearson]

That’s what I was doing it on! Lee would have told you to stand up straighter and put your head up more (he told me that about 100 times ).

Like almost straight arms you’re so tall.

[chidlow]

@mcneese.chad

OK, got it. I totally misunderstood.

Glad you did, because that info was super helpful to me (for reasons only tangentially related to the thread topic), so thank you!

[dsirrom]

@onemanpeloton

I’m 6"3 and 178lbs. I never had this issue with weight distribution. At the sort of gradients that I imagine would cause issues with front wheel weighting, your road bike gearing is likely to be a limiter first.

In other words, I’m riding out the saddle long before the road is steep enough to cause major weight distribution issues. You’d have to be riding with some serious power or super low gears or cadence to be sat down on a road bike at 20% or more? I was on 34x32 and I’m not a fan of riding out the saddle so I’ll stay seated as long as possible,

Yeh - I was on 34/32 and was stood up for the majority of the climb up Hardknott. I actually found Wrynose to be more sketchy due to the road surface.

[wysbf2]

@dsirrom

I actually found Wrynose to be more sketchy due to the road surface.

Agree with that - and the descent from Wrynose was frankly terrifying as a result…

I really can’t recall whether I climbed Hardknott and Wrynose standing or seated (I’m 6’2”) but I don’t recall any issues with front wheel lift - more of an issue for me on short but steep MTB climbs on loose surfaces, where you need weight over the back for traction.