Clermont bike gearing

How heavy are you?

I run a compact double up front, so I cannot tell you how well a 42x24 will climb, but I've climbed it without getting into any super-low gears. The only time I've used my reallllly low gears were on some 300-400K rides where I carried a good bit of supplies and I was on my third and fourth climbs up Sugarloaf. It was late at night and I was pretty tired, so in that case they came in handy.

On a tri, using a light bike and having to only go up it once, you're probably OK. Won't be a cakewalk but you should be fine.

...unless you're a Clydesdale, then it's another story.

Thanks. I'm 5-8, up to about 170 right now because I haven't been doing as much distance endurance stuff lately but planning on shedding back down under 165 again by the spring. It's a Kestrel Talon Road SL. Down here I pretty much keep it in 53X18 or 53X17 and just go because even the bridges in PBC aren't long enough to bother shifting. Have Miami Man next month which is dead flat but super windy. Actually the last time I can remember needing the small chainring at all in a race was the 2010 Great Clermont. Sounds like I'll be fine with the 42t ring on the big hills though. Always good when I can avoid having to buy more bike parts.