[Yak] Gearing for the Dolomites

[Giovanni Calcagno]

Rufus,
39x 26 on a 451 wheel should be more than adeguate for unloaded touring.
The majority of the Dolomites mountain passes roads were originally made 
before or during WWI for the artillery and materials to be transported by 
mules, carriages and trucks (1915 trucks!!) to the fighting troops on the 
peaks so they shouldn't be too steep.
The only pass I remember with pitches of 16 % is the infamous Mortirolo 
which is not in the Dolomites but between Valtellina (the Valley of Stelvio) 
and Valcamonica.
The hardest climbs in Italy are on the Western Alps (Maritime Alps) in 
Piedmont: Colle della Fauniera, Colle di Sampeyre, Colle dell'Agnello 
etc.......
If you need  more info about the climbs have a look at these websites or 
contact me by email:
http://ciclismo.sitiasp.it/motore.aspx?sid=44b8af4cace343739eeebf806866ce93&lingua=eng&da=lm
http://www.salite.ch/struttura/default.asp?Ultime=3
Hope it helped.
Giovanni
Italy



> Any Yaksters like to weigh in on gearing for the Dolomites - Mt.
> Stelvio and such? I'm heading to Italy for two weeks of cycling and
> am concerned that my AF gearing is inadequate - running a 19-26
> cassette on a Capreo hub with 39-53 up front. I'm used to doing lots
> of climbing, but with the elevation, pitches that can be 14-16
> percent, I'm wondering if I ought to switch to a compact crank set.
> Alternatively, I could take my NWT that's geared for touring.
>
> Any thoughts or suggestions.
>
> Rufus
>
>