Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - For people who're going to the NAHBS in march

If you're planning on attending the North American Handmade Bicycle Show that Don Walker is putting on in March you should also plan on riding in a little race on the 4th. It'll be from SF to the show in San Jose so plan on some mileage. Some of the exhibitors have already expressed interest in donating prizes, so there'll be some stuff to win too.

I know it's still pretty far away, but I thought I'd give everyone a heads-up and gauge interest. The route of the race is pretty flat, with only two hills to speak of. It's pretty much my old commute to work, with an extra 5 miles tacked on the end, so about 60 or so, depending how you route it. There will be manned check points along the way, with water and stuff. Should be fun.

Hope to see you there!

Awesome, I am in! :)

i'm in.

bring it!

Me as well, Yamaguchi better be there.

that sounds like a good time. down el camino the whole way or what?

for me it'd be a caltrain up to SF and ride back home..

Then you should call him and ask him to attend. Maybe if he knew he has a "fan base" he would be more apt to appearing... just a thought.

As for prizes, I know about 5 builders have commited thus far, I am sure most all of them will.

DW

I am emailing him right now.

Durn! March 4th is Monster Track 7 in NYC.
www.monstertracknewyork.com
We could use some custom frame prizes :rolleyes:!!

i will be there an already start making flight and hotel set up.

Forgot about Monster Track. I was racing it, well not anymore.

S/F,
CEYA!

that sounds like a good time. down el camino the whole way or what?

for me it'd be a caltrain up to SF and ride back home..

Nope, you can do that, but the checkpoints won't be on El Camino. The route I take has a lot of San Antonio, California/San Mateo, Old County Road, Middlefield, Arques and N First.

Hope you can make it out.

Is the race fixed only? I will totally be there either way.

I am so in for a 60 mile fixed only race to San Jose...I guess that means no more chocolate for the rest of the season, though...

Seriously. I'm definitely making it out for the trip, just need to figure out if I'm too slow for you speedy folks ;)

I am so in for a 60 mile fixed only race to San Jose...I guess that means no more chocolate for the rest of the season, though...

are you nuts? eat as much chocolate as you can, you're gonna need it for that ride.

i'm planning on eating nothing but potatoes, pasta, broccoli, and beer for for the month leading up to the race, then burning it all off during the brutal trek down there.

Nope, you can do that, but the checkpoints won't be on El Camino. The route I take has a lot of San Antonio, California/San Mateo, Old County Road, Middlefield, Arques and N First.

Hope you can make it out.

Ah that's great. So... fcking ... there

Is this like most other races where sketing* is legal?

*at least I think that's what I remember it being called when you grab onto a car a catch a free ride.

100km isn't that long. and with no hills? all-out sprint. gear up, mother****ers.

100km isn't that long. and with no hills? all-out sprint. gear up, mother****ers.

Very true. I would do this ride in about two and a half to three hours before working eight hours, and I'm pretty slow. I expect people to beat that time easily.

"sketching" or whatever the kids call it can get super ****ing dicey on a fixed gear. it's fine for garbage city riding where they aren't going much about 25-30, but once you get spinning like a ****ing fiend at higher speeds, it's total doom. that said, you have to do it.

Is this like most other races where sketing* is legal?

*at least I think that's what I remember it being called when you grab onto a car a catch a free ride.

skitching?

Skitch or whatever, ride a wheelie all the way if you want, but ride the whole way, don't take the train. Just make the checkpoints and get to the end.

I want to see 46x17, Ostro, Harryhood and a few of the other regulars commit to this as well. I'm calling you out guys. Hell, if there's enough interest we should do a ride down there one of these weekends, it's not hard, it's actually a lot of fun. Ask Karmical, he's done the ride with me.

I'll publish the checkpoints beforehand so that out-of-towners can map out their course. There will also be a 'suggested route' handed out the day of the race. So don't fake on it if you're unfamiliar with the territory, it's pretty easy to navigate. I did it the first time at 5am with a sheet of paper that had the streetnames I was taking and no map.

yeah i would definitely like to do a few training/dry runs on a saturday morning :)

I am a total lamer...but if you guys do a "test run" I would love to hop in here in Santa Clara, if nothing else to say hi.

Out of curiosity, is this a fixed only race?

yeah i would definitely like to do a few training/dry runs on a saturday morning :)

seconded!

Don has mentioned that he'd like it to be track/fixed bikes doing this race. So it will probably be fixed only, unless there's a big enough contingent of geared bikes that show up, in which case it'll be dual category. Although, in this race, a geared bike *definitely* has an advantage. There are some hills, just not more than two of what I consider to be hills.

Also, for those who want to do a dry run, let me know what Saturday you want, I'm totally down. I love making this ride, especially with other people.

yeah i would definitely like to do a few training/dry runs on a saturday morning :)

+1


I am a total lamer...but if you guys to a "test run" I would love to hop in here in Santa Clara, if nothing else to say hi.

Dude, don't you race bikes? Come -- Treat this as a warm up race or something. I swear that we're not mean or anything, no matter what Joe or Koffee say.

ummmm..no I don't race bikes(yet). I want to get into track racing, but even when I do that I expect to be more of a sprinter(3 laps of the track max). I am a lazy bum who is currently 30 lbs overweight.

im so in!!! ill do some weekend rides down there to warm up!!!

This exciting!

Any girls wanna ride with me and show these silly guys how cute our asses are as we pull ahead when their testosterone wears off after the first 20 miles?

Hell yeah! This is great. I hope everyone who is saying they're in will really still be in when the race comes around. If anyone is unsure of the route and wants to see how it is, I'm free most Fridays and Saturdays for a dry run down. You can also check it out here (just add another 5 miles on the end to get from my work to the NAHBS):http://tinyurl.com/bv4eh

Also, I'm going to need a few checkpoint workers. If anyone *knows* they won't race, or has a GF or BF who won't be racing that wants to be involved I'd appreciate a little help with checkpoints, start/finish duty, etc.

judah have you ever heard of tinyurl!!!!

Hater!
:p

i'm sure my wifey would like ot be involved but not ride, so i'll tell her to help out ;)

Any girls wanna ride with me and show these silly guys how cute our asses are as we pull ahead when their testosterone wears off after the first 20 miles?

Please! Give me something to chase!

(No offense intended to sillygirl or her beau.)

jonb, free "20" pint glasses for your family!

thats all fecked up heres what it shows

thats all fecked up heres what it shows

The Tinyurl link? Maybe it's your browser, it works for me:

jonb, free "20" pint glasses for your family!

you already owe me a 20 glass!

jonb's wifey will help out, just send me details.

I'm not much of a competitor, so you can tentatively put me down as a checkpoint guy. I'll do a dry run over the course and get back to you after I get my feet on the ground there.

As an out-of-towner you have to race it! Do it for boston man!

If you must work a checkpoint I won't complain, but you should think about racing...

Hey...maybe this is the time to organize a trip north from the LA contingent? Just a thought.

I will coming up, so will Juvi. maybe force a couple more to drag themselves up.

I'm in.

definitely interested. i think a few of us from sacto are carpooling down to the show.

I'll definitely head down from santa rosa for this, will hopefully drag a few folks with me as well.

Some saturday morning dry runs sound great.

This should be a team event, like the Madison. You could have teammates at check points ready to be arm-swung into action, and sprint legs! Otherwise, I'm going to have to wuss out because, er, uh, <lame excuse> I don't do race events longer than 4000m, and ideally not more than a kilo. </lame excuse>

EDIT: Count me in on any carpooling from LA. I have working automobile (late model volvo sedan) that we can use.

I'm guessing I'll be there bike in hand trying my best to tag Cat1 roadie Dolface's wheel!

I'm up for car pooling too. I might have a few others with me as well. I have a vehicle for use as well, but I'm sure we'll discuss this as things get closer. I'm not worried.

The Tinyurl link? Maybe it's your browser, it works for me:

Judah,

How did you get a ticket in Palo Alta? My buddy lives there. Are the cops hard on bikes running lights or something?

Gah! I wish I still lived in San Jose. :(

Judah,

How did you get a ticket in Palo Alta? My buddy lives there. Are the cops hard on bikes running lights or something?

Early morning, school zone, I'm kinda crazy on the bike and so is the dude I ride with. You know, after 30 miles you're all warmed up and you just want to rock. Plus, I was on the blue bike and that damned thing always just wants to rock.
So, really it was a combination of:
School zone
Warmed up and ready to rock
Both of us on our fast bikes (me=Walker friend=Olmo)
First day of school
Cop looking to score points in front of soccer moms
Palo Alto yuppies

That being said, the race will be on a Saturday so no on will have to worry about the school-zone factor.