Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - The longest ride

Today I went 63 miles non-stop on my fixer. I used to ride geared bikes and this just seems easier. I'm curious; what are you guys logging as some of your longest trips on a fixed-gear, single speed bike? Any other thoughts on fixed-gear touring/long-distance cruises?

I'm actually interested in this too. My friend can go about 35 miles easily, and that's in the suburbs too. How about hills and stuff? What sort of (if I dare say) 'strategies' do some of you use when coping with hills?

What sort of (if I dare say) 'strategies' do some of you use when coping with hills?

I live in Minneapolis - it's pretty much all flat, or there are ways around the hills...

Probably not a solution for everyone.

Today I went 63 miles non-stop on my fixer. I used to ride geared bikes and this just seems easier. I'm curious; what are you guys logging as some of your longest trips on a fixed-gear, single speed bike? Any other thoughts on fixed-gear touring/long-distance cruises?

hey slo, you training for mayo's century? i rode 40 on the lake today - 15 both ways plus long way to/from east village. first long ride fixed (been riding only a week) and I bonked a right before I got home. I did solo half centuries every now and then on my other bike (usually stopping at devon for indian) and was fine. maybe the cliff bar was too little of a breakfast, maybe I coast more than I realized. it was fun though and I'd really like to do mayo's 100.

I've got several metrics under my belt. Most recently, I pushed about 40 lbs of gear, or something like, on a 61 GI fixed mountain bike on 2.1" off-road tires. My advice, don't do that. Further, don't do that. Also, it might have been nice to have toe clips.

You can pretty much train for any distance you want, it's just a matter of dedication. I can't seem to convince myself that I really want to go further but all the classics (TdF, Giro d'Italia, PBP, Paris-Roubaix, etc.) started out as fixed gear rides. Name your distance, if it can be done, it can be done on a fixed gear. It's all mental.

Hills? Attack.

I've got several metrics under my belt. Most recently, I pushed about 40 lbs of gear, or something like, on a 61 GI fixed mountain bike on 2.1" off-road tires. My advice, don't do that. Further, don't do that. Also, it might have been nice to have toe clips.

You can pretty much train for any distance you want, it's just a matter of dedication. I can't seem to convince myself that I really want to go further but all the classics (TdF, Giro d'Italia, PBP, Paris-Roubaix, etc.) started out as fixed gear rides. Name your distance, if it can be done, it can be done on a fixed gear. It's all mental.

Hills? Attack.

Wise words. Very much so.

hey slo, you training for mayo's century? i rode 40 on the lake today - 15 both ways plus long way to/from east village. first long ride fixed (been riding only a week) and I bonked a right before I got home. I did solo half centuries every now and then on my other bike (usually stopping at devon for indian) and was fine. maybe the cliff bar was too little of a breakfast, maybe I coast more than I realized. it was fun though and I'd really like to do mayo's 100.

I've never heard of it actually. I think I could probably do a century though. It's all a matter of dedication. Any more info on it???

I do 30 mile rides around here, but I live in Boulder County Colorado (somewhat hilly). I know a guy who's about 60 years old who does metric centuries on his fixie around here. He's a maniac.

RFM

Maybe 25ish? I plan to do a fixed century at the end of the summer, so I need to step up my fixie training.

longest for me was a back to back 160km ride. So just over 300km in 2 days on the fixie with 30-40lbs in a messenger bag. THAT was the dumbest part of my ride. I will never ride that distance with a messenger bag again! DUMB DUMB DUMB!

I've done a very hilly 160km on the fixie too with non appropriate gearing (52/16)...Just be ready to stand up a lot :)

52/16? ouch!

I've never heard of it actually. I think I could probably do a century though. It's all a matter of dedication. Any more info on it???

just look for chicago century on this thread — it's in mid-august.
yesterday evening I tried to make it up trader joe's ramp on a 48x16. keyword is tried — with no momentum to begin with I stopped a yard short, I thought the bars were going to break on me. ever try that?

I've got several metrics under my belt. Most recently, I pushed about 40 lbs of gear, or something like, on a 61 GI fixed mountain bike on 2.1" off-road tires. My advice, don't do that. Further, don't do that. Also, it might have been nice to have toe clips.

You can pretty much train for any distance you want, it's just a matter of dedication. I can't seem to convince myself that I really want to go further but all the classics (TdF, Giro d'Italia, PBP, Paris-Roubaix, etc.) started out as fixed gear rides. Name your distance, if it can be done, it can be done on a fixed gear. It's all mental.

Hills? Attack.

hey what is a metric? is that like riding 160.93 km instead of a century?

No, a metric is 100km, about 63 mi.

the other day i was annoyed at the idea of having to take trains for the rest of the day to get to my parents house..
so i packed up my stuff and did around 55+ miles,
i rode from my apartment in brooklyn to nyack and then to suffern.
i still ended up in a train but i was to tired to care.

my suggestion involves a combination of bike shorts, trying not to pack so much on your back and hydration.

I don't know how many of you out-of-towners check out the" NY Weekend Ride" thread, (I know some do) but the "ride" in question is from the NYC metro area to Nyack which is across the Hudson river and up a ways. I guess the distance varies from person to person because we all live in different places, but for those of us that live in Brooklyn, the ride is about 70 miles round trip (35 each way). I am very impressed by the strength of some of the folks who do this ride. I've gone three times now. Each time I've gotten stronger. A lot of the guys have been going more or less every weekend since the winter time. You can see the results at the track on wednesday nights. I look forward to getting stronger. It's not all mental, but that's a big part of it. I would encourage everyone to give it a try.
And I second Bikeophile's opinion that riding with a mess bag for that long of a ride kind of sucks (especially missing the stabilization cross-strap so that the bag slide around to your chest on fast downhills.). I finally got a camelbak lobo. phewww. much better.

I did a hilly 67 mile club ride on my Van Dessel running 44/16 a few years ago.

I did the Montauk Century a year ago May on my Pista. I was riding with some roadie friends in way better shape than I was. We were cranking for the first 70 miles and then I bonked hard. Finished it but the last 30 miles or so were hellish as it gets hilly out toward Montauk but man seeing and feeling the ocean as you get near the end was awesome. Prior to that my longest ride was the 5 Borough Bike Ride which was a few weeks before. I had too long a stem though and my shoulders were killing me at the end and I ditched the uncomfortable dragonfly seat I had too. I'd like to do the 65 mile version of the ride next time. That seems like a good distance for me.

I'm actually interested in this too. My friend can go about 35 miles easily, and that's in the suburbs too. How about hills and stuff? What sort of (if I dare say) 'strategies' do some of you use when coping with hills?

I did a solo century last month. It probably had an elevation gain of 2000-3000 ft. I had 39x16 and it was prefect. I planned the route carefully and only took the road I knew well. This way, I knew exactly how much climbing I had to do and where I would suffer the most.

How about hills and stuff? What sort of (if I dare say) 'strategies' do some of you use when coping with hills?
I just like to pedal up them. Works for me.

I don't know how many of you out-of-towners check out the" NY Weekend Ride" thread, (I know some do) but the "ride" in question is from the NYC metro area to Nyack which is across the Hudson river and up a ways. I guess the distance varies from person to person because we all live in different places, but for those of us that live in Brooklyn, the ride is about 70 miles round trip (35 each way). I am very impressed by the strength of some of the folks who do this ride. I've gone three times now. Each time I've gotten stronger. A lot of the guys have been going more or less every weekend since the winter time. You can see the results at the track on wednesday nights. I look forward to getting stronger. It's not all mental, but that's a big part of it. I would encourage everyone to give it a try.
And I second Bikeophile's opinion that riding with a mess bag for that long of a ride kind of sucks (especially missing the stabilization cross-strap so that the bag slide around to your chest on fast downhills.). I finally got a camelbak lobo. phewww. much better.


gwb to nyack is about 50 miles one way.

S/F.
CEYA!

gwb to nyack is about 50 miles one way.

S/F.
CEYA!

i just got 21.2 on maps.google.com, one way.

I hardly ever ride for endurance, but I probably do 20 miles a day with 20 lbs in my messenger bag, not to mention I tend to push myself pretty hard to keep cars off my tail.

I'm doing 25 to 45 mile training rides on weekday mornings on my IRO. Saturday was 60 & Sunday was 99 miles. This Saturday will be 120 or so & Sunday about 80. I really like training, especially distance, on my fixed gear rather than my freehub bike. I have a 46 tooth chainring & vary from an 18 to a 13 tooth cog on the rear each day depending on my training schedule. Doing a century on a fixed is really a pleasure.

Last summer I rode to the Indiana Dunes and back, which is about a century. The only things I regret were having an uncomfortable saddle and riding too fast. The scenery is pretty nice once you get past Gary :D

i just got 21.2 on maps.google.com, one way.


I will go out and see for sure.

S/F<
CEYA!

If you were in a car from my house (says mapquest): Total Est. Distance: 39.47 miles
This is one way. 89 miles round trip.