Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - fixed century, ~5000ft of climb, 46x16...

...ouch.

that is all.

That's pretty hardcore.

Badass.

Yeah, I've done that a few times. Same gearing. I've geared down since...

In all my long-distance fixed riding, hills have been the main thing that presents a conflict while riding a brakeless track bike. When I did a fixed century, I deliberately planned out a route with little climbing (there was a few steep sections but no 15 minutes of standing up type stuff). Therefore, you get a B for Badass in my book...

knees hurt much?

18hrs later, post-food/beer/sleep, all is well. knees are fine...i get in a lot of fixed & SS XC miles so they're used to the torque. also, i run a front brake and use my feet for 'braking' primarily to feather speed in a paceline. i was with a couple dozen geared roadies and the downs were worse than the ups...they're coasting at 30+mph, i'm spinning 150+rpm. no rest for the weary.

i foolishly did not look at the course preview before heading out. this is a standing 100mi 'base miles' ride and typically the courses are less severe. don't kid yourselves...had i known what i was getting into, i would have brought gears. the only other regular fixed rider in the group was on his 'cross bike and laughed when i pulled out the sputnik. that was my first clue...

the numbers:
~50*F and light rain (that was pleasant. i will spend today cleaning the bike, which has been drying out sans BB & seatpost overnight.)
101.1mi
5:38
18mph moving average, one major refueling stop, several minor 'wait for folks to catch up' stops
40.7mph max speed (~180rpm)

I'm not even sure what to say. My knees are aching just reading about it. Great Job!

Is the Sputnik a pretty comfy bike (all things considered) for a century? I've done a couple, one a Pista and one on a conversion and found the conversion much more comfortable for long distances.

Last year, I did a couple centuries on my GT track bike (46X14) with front brake. Like you, I have to work to keep up with geared bikes. Even with my high gearing the downs are typically harder than the ups (except for the very rare extra steep climbs). One of the rides was 120 miles in about the same weather conditions you mentioned. I think my average was 19.8. The other one was 105 miles, 60 degrees, no wind or rain, averaged right around 21. I also get the laughs and grin when I show up on the fixie (my only geared bike is my 3 person tandem). Those laughs usually turn into suprise or amazement by the end of the ride when I finish with the lead group and take my turns pulling the paceline, etc.

I've done a couple of group rides on my San Jose and the downhills, even with brakes, are worse than going up. Longest was only 40 miles, though.

5000ft. of climbing is insane on a fixed gear at 46-16.

Last year, I did a couple centuries on my GT track bike (46X14) with front brake. Like you, I have to work to keep up with geared bikes. Even with my high gearing the downs are typically harder than the ups (except for the very rare extra steep climbs). One of the rides was 120 miles in about the same weather conditions you mentioned. I think my average was 19.8. The other one was 105 miles, 60 degrees, no wind or rain, averaged right around 21. I also get the laughs and grin when I show up on the fixie (my only geared bike is my 3 person tandem). Those laughs usually turn into suprise or amazement by the end of the ride when I finish with the lead group and take my turns pulling the paceline, etc.


What pro team are you on?

dookie and djembob02: Very impressive ride stats! :thumb:

What part of the country are you in dookie?

central NC

Last year, I did a couple centuries on my GT track bike (46X14) with front brake. Like you, I have to work to keep up with geared bikes. Even with my high gearing the downs are typically harder than the ups (except for the very rare extra steep climbs). One of the rides was 120 miles in about the same weather conditions you mentioned. I think my average was 19.8. The other one was 105 miles, 60 degrees, no wind or rain, averaged right around 21. I also get the laughs and grin when I show up on the fixie (my only geared bike is my 3 person tandem). Those laughs usually turn into suprise or amazement by the end of the ride when I finish with the lead group and take my turns pulling the paceline, etc.

let me guess, you stayed in a holiday inn express too? lol j/k those are amazing stats

Is the Sputnik a pretty comfy bike (all things considered) for a century? I've done a couple, one a Pista and one on a conversion and found the conversion much more comfortable for long distances.

absolutely. the sputnik has pretty typical road geometry and is not a steep/hairtrigger track bike. add 631 steel and it's a great mix.

I actually don't race, but everybody tells me I should. Unfortunately, my time constraints of graduate school and parenting, don't allow me enought time (and money) to get out on weekends to race. First, I would have to buy a good quality geared road bike (bikes without rear brakes or freewheels are not allowed on most USCF road races). Note that there is not a velodrome around here. Perhaps I will convince someone to watch my daughter so that I can enter a time trial this year. There aren't many rides that only have a time trial component, but I'm sure there are a few.

40.7 mph max speed? impressive! i haven't broken 31 mph i don't think :(