What type of gear does a professional ride in?

[jamesandersen]

When a person in a professional road bike race is on flat ground with little to no wind resistance, what gear are they typically in (being a spinner or a masher).

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Well Cancellara used 54x11 on his TT bike in 2009 according to Bikeradar

•Cranks: Specialized S-Works FACT Carbon direct drive, 177.5mm, 54x42
•Rear sprockets: Shimano Dura-Ace 11-23

I think they also use 55x11 on panflat ITT's

 

[Martin318is]

Well Cancellara used 54x11 on his TT bike in 2009 according to Bikeradar


I think they also use 55x11 on panflat ITT's

I recall both Zabel and Mario using 54's at times in the Tour. I think most non sprinters stick with a 53 though as there is little need for that top end gear most of the time (other than coming down mountains)

 

[brianf7]

When a person in a professional road bike race is on flat ground with little to no wind resistance, what gear are they typically in (being a spinner or a masher).

being draged along by the bunch on flat roads they use about 80-90 inch gear
the goal is to spin at 45 kmh so they can save some for when they are strung out then its whatever you can push to hang on. its same with pros as it is with club racing just a lot faster and a lot longer. on the front pulling the bunch along they would use 53X16 on flat roads.

I know because i have been there on a motorbike filming and that is something I like to get a shot of.

 

[Michele]

Remember when Saiz got Once using 55 ring on a Vuelta's stage?

 

[ergmonkey]

Remember when Saiz got Once using 55 ring on a Vuelta's stage?

Yes. I also remember him mocking other teams' riders for planning to use a 26 in the back or even a triple on the Angliru. Saiz insisted that those sorts of gears were for tourists and women rather than racers. Many of the Saiz crew then looked massively over-geared as they got beaten up by a bunch of classy riders with appropriate gear ratios. I guess Manolo didn't know everything about preparation.