Is 650B suitable for hill climbs? Cycling Hiroshima's well-known hill climb spots [Mt. Noro edition]
We often hear people say that this video inspired them to get into hill climbing and that they'll try it someday!
The Tobishima Kaido view from the Norosan Observatory is breathtaking. If this video piques your interest, please give it a try.
Mount Noro is a mountain in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, with an elevation of 839m, located approximately 40km from Grumpy. The distance from the base to the summit is about 9km, with an average gradient of 10%, and this time it took about 1 hour and 40 minutes to reach the summit.
This blog will introduce the apparel I wore in the first half, such as helmets, jerseys, and shoes, and recommended bicycle parts in the second half.
The helmet is a GIRO SYNTHE MIPS, and the sunglasses are OAKLEY FLIGHT JACKET photochromic lenses. The GIRO Synthe comes with a sunglass holder, so you won't lose your sunglasses even if you take them off during a hill climb.
GIRO SYNTHE MIPS Price: ¥29,200 (tax included)
The top is a Grumpy jersey, the bottoms are 7mesh, and the socks are Grumpy socks. For hill climbing in warm weather, we recommend a jersey that is quick-drying and breathable.
Height 180cm, Weight 74kg, wearing size L
Grumpy Original Jersey Price: ¥19,800 (tax included)
7mesh MEN'S MK3 BIB SHORT Price: ¥23,100 (tax included)
Grumpy socks are a gift for those who purchase a jersey.
The clipless shoes are Quoc NIGHT LEATHER. The leather's unique enveloping fit and the carbon composite sole reduce foot fatigue during long rides. They also have a reflector on the heel for safety during all-day rides. Since they are made using Asian lasts, we highly recommend trying them if you have wide feet.
Quoc NIGHT LEATHER Price: ¥34,980 (tax included)
The bike used (Sig. Road bike) is a cyclo-based all-road bike with a 60mm BB drop.
RawLow Mountain Works Bike’n Hike Front Bag Papersky limted edition
The food pouch (stem bag) is a convenient bag for storing a sweat towel. Recently, more models with side pockets have appeared, making them even more useful for carrying ferry tickets, for example.
APIDURA Backcountry Food Pouch Plus 1.2L Price: ¥6,600 (tax included)
In preparation for a long hill climb after a while, I updated the GPS meter page and attached a mount to make the display easier to see.
Top left is gradient %, top right is elevation, bottom is elevation gained. The LEZYNE MEGA XL allows switching between vertical and horizontal displays, and the large, easy-to-read text is a key feature.
Since the destination's elevation is approximately 840m, we recommend setting the display to show the elevation to help maintain pace and motivation.
LEZYNE MEGA XL GPS CYCLE COMPUTERS Price: ¥28,600 (tax included)
LEZYNE GPS FORWARD CNC MOUNT Price: ¥4,928 (tax included)
Now for the main topic. Is 650B suitable for hill climbing?
As explained in the video, many famous hill climbing spots have poor road conditions, so we found that wider tires are less fatiguing than narrow tires. If you're aiming for a KOM or trying to beat your personal best, 700x25C or 28C might be better.
For enjoying the magnificent view from the summit and descending safely, tires around 650Bx48C are recommended. This video explains 700C wheels, but the rim, hub, and spoke shapes are the same as 650B. Please use it as a reference.
If you are considering Mavic wheels, please also read this blog.
MAVIC ALLROAD SL 650B Price: ¥104,500 (tax included)
MAVIC ALLROAD 650B Price: ¥44,000 (tax included)
Hill climbing is a great way to get a good workout in a short amount of time and distance, and it's also very refreshing. Why don't you give it a try?
If you're interested in starting hill climbing, we're here to help.