garth libre wrote:
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> I must say that for the years that I lived in California, I was continually jealous of those bikers who could run the classic race combo of 52-42 front and 14-22 or 14-24 rear. This is not only the prettiest set up, it is the macho standard for hilly country.
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I started riding in my early thirties in the mid 1970s here in Southern California. In my club, PAA (Pasadena Athletic Association), the classic race combo would be 52-42 and a 13-21 freewheel. My friend Kevin Lutz (cat 1 and national team member) would go up Angeles Crest with a 13-18. This is a local climb that starts at 750 and climbs to 5200 feet at Mt. Wilson. Continue on to Dawson's Saddle and you climb to 7900 feet in a 50 mile ride. The Los Angeles area has a lot higher mountains than anyone would suspect!
Chuck Schmidt
South Pasadena, Southern California