Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Orange County, CA Fixed Gear Century 02/07

Hi Fixed Gear riders,

This is a quick invite for all of your fixed gear and single speed riders who would like to join us on a 100 mile ride in Orange County (CA not FL!), on Feb. 7th, '09. Here is the text from our club website:

Saturday, February 7th: This is going to be a day which will have something very special for those in our group that ride a "fixed gear" as well as those that like to put in those long miles. We are going to have a "fixed gear century": a set of routes that will be perfectly suited for those that ride a fixed gear bike and would like to do a long ride. We will have a 7 AM century as well as the metric at 8 with the shorter rides at 9. This will be as flat as we can make it, in other words a "flat land century" aimed at the "fixed gear riders".

Yes, there will be other riders with multi-gears, but lots of fixed gear riders too.

Directions to the start/finish can be found on the club website here:

www.ocrebels.com (http://www.ocrebels.com)

There is no charge for this ride. Any questions, post here or send me a PM!

Rick / OCRR (Yes, I'll be on this century riding my fixed gear '77 Masi with 42 x15 gearing)

Sounds cool.
Post photos after the ride.

i want to go to this but how long exactly are the 'shorter rides'?

are there any stops? 100 is way too long for me, longest ive ridden is around an hour long none stop.

and i cant seem to find much info about this ride on ur site exept the short mention on the bulletin and on the calender

Would I be out of place in jeans and a tee?

Hi p120ud213azn,

There are lots of stop lights (traffic signals) on the routes but not many stop signs. The routes have not been published, but I will add links to them here as soon as they are.

The "Metric" is 62 miles. Going from past experience, the shorter rides will be approx. 45 mi. and 35 mi. but those are my best guesses and not fact at this time.

Also, on all the routes there will be stops (usually at coffee shops) where you can refill bottles and get something to eat. I will add more info here (to the OP) as it becomes available.

Rick / OCRR

Would I be out of place in jeans and a tee?

Not at all. No dress codes on Rebel Rides! Just wear a helmet and whatever else you need to stay legal in the state of CA :).

Rick / OCRR

Would I be out of place in jeans and a tee?

no way bro, ill be there with the same attire hahaha.

and i cant seem to find much info about this ride on ur site exept the short mention on the bulletin and on the calender

I can't find the specifics on the website either. I didn't ride the short bus to school so maybe it's well hidden. HELP.....

I can't find the specifics on the website either. I didn't ride the short bus to school so maybe it's well hidden. HELP.....

Hi tmh657,

The only information on the web site regarding the fixed gear century is what I put in the OP. I will add more as soon as I find out more (details wise). The website ref. is so you can find your way to the start/finish in Irvine.

I know from other Rebel rides that there will be photos, so no worries there. Watch this space for more ride details as they become available.

Rick / OCRR

is this posted anywhere else (eg midnightridazz, lafixed)?

Man, makes me jealous...besides the 1"+ of snow & 18 degree high today, I'd love to have someone plan a route specifically with Fixed gears in mind (flat & few traffic stops)! Anyone in Kansas City want to take a shot at it? :)

Man, makes me jealous...besides the 1"+ of snow & 18 degree high today, I'd love to have someone plan a route specifically with Fixed gears in mind (flat & few traffic stops)! Anyone in Kansas City want to take a shot at it? :)

Don't know much about creating a route, but I'd be interested in trying to ride it as well. I'm just not sure what long stretch is that flat.

is this posted anywhere else (eg midnightridazz, lafixed)?

Hi tFUnK,

This is posted in SoCal bikeforums.net as part of the SoCal Fixed Riders thread. I don't belong to the other fixed gear sites, but feel free to copy the OP and start a thread at midnightridazz and lafixed.

I've ridden with 5fix2, so I should post it on their site too! Wait . . . do they have a site?

Rick / OCRR

Man, makes me jealous...besides the 1"+ of snow & 18 degree high today, I'd love to have someone plan a route specifically with Fixed gears in mind (flat & few traffic stops)! Anyone in Kansas City want to take a shot at it? :)

Yo Tbone . . . isn't it time for your once-a-year SoCal fixed riding holiday?

Rick / OCRR

ok so like a 40mile ride its 20 miles, break at coffee shop then 20 back?

i think my fat body can handle that...

ok so like a 40mile ride its 20 miles, break at coffee shop then 20 back?
I think my fat body can handle that...

Usually it's a 2/3 kind of thing, so the 40 would be maybe 27 out . . . coffee shop . . . 13 back. YMMV, but lots closer to 2/3 than 1/2.

Rick / OCRR

what time is the 40 mile?

what time is the 40 mile?

Most likely a 9:00 AM start time for the 40 miler. I will post start times as soon as I get them, but my best guess now is:

7:00 AM Century (100 miles)
8:00 AM Metric Century (100 kilometers, 62 mi.)
9:00 AM 40 miles, possible 30 miler too.

I'll be starting at 7:00 AM on the Century.

Rick / OCRR

Don't know much about creating a route, but I'd be interested in trying to ride it as well. I'm just not sure what long stretch is that flat.

Well, from what I remember, the JCBC ride, Lone Star Century is pretty flat, but the winds are usually hell. -> No date set, but it's usually weekend after Memorial Day. And there are shorter routes (down to 40 I believe). There's also the Cider Mill @ the end of the Summer starting out in Louisburg in early August - never ridden it. Anything on the MO side (especially East & North of KCMO) is going to be hilly!

Maybe I'll talk to CommuterDude (Keith) http://www.commuterdude.com/ - he rides fixed & is also big in radonneuring, so knows some good distance routes & would know of long(ish) stretches of Flat.


Yo Tbone . . . isn't it time for your once-a-year SoCal fixed riding holiday?

Rick / OCRR

Rick - man I wish I could get to SoCal right now! With this kind of gig going on, the great weather & Tour of California in like 2 weeks, I'd love to be there!

Don't know much about creating a route, but I'd be interested in trying to ride it as well. I'm just not sure what long stretch is that flat.

Couldn't you catch the start of the Katy trail and cruise out to Columbia? I would guess that would be close to 100 miles, and I'm assuming it's relatively flat.

That's, of course, assuming that you could catch a ride home or would be willing to take it back the next day.

I don't know. I haven't been out there in a long time.

Don't know much about creating a route, but I'd be interested in trying to ride it as well. I'm just not sure what long stretch is that flat.


Yo Tbone . . . isn't it time for your once-a-year SoCal fixed riding holiday?

Rick / OCRR


Couldn't you catch the start of the Katy trail and cruise out to Columbia? I would guess that would be close to 100 miles, and I'm assuming it's relatively flat.

That's, of course, assuming that you could catch a ride home or would be willing to take it back the next day.

I don't know. I haven't been out there in a long time.

Yes, the Katy Trail is about as flat as it gets. I just don't like the "crushed gravel" surface. And to be honest I've never ridden it any distance...I'll have to talk to some friends who do a trip on it each year & hook up with them. Thanks for the reminder.

I would love to ride KATY fixed! Back when I lived in MO I rode KATY from St. Charles to Columbia several times. My 3-Speed worked well with 26 x 1-3/8" tires. I'd just put some 700 x 28's on my fixed gear bike and go for it!

Unfortunately, I didn't have a fixed gear bike when I lived in MO. Oh, wait, I had a Panasonic track bike (remember those?), but only rode it on the velodrome in St. Louis.

Rick / OCRR

When was this? Back when I was around it, that velodrome was kind of dumpy.

My sister still lives in St Louis. I should really go visit some time.

any updates rick?

anyone else want to come?

Okay Fixed Gear Riders . . .

The route has been published and is now down-loadable from the Rebel site, or by following this link:

http://www.ocrebels.com/spreadsheets/SaturdayGold.pdf

The bad news is that it's not quite a century, but Jess (who wrote the route) didn't want to put us on any big climbs, so 84 mi. is what it is. I may put on another 16 miles when I get back to Irvine, just so I can say I did it (down the San Diego Creek Trail to BackBay and back should do it!:thumb:).

Please print a route sheet from the Rebel site and bring it along with you! We will try to stay togehter, but due to different abilities, etc. some separation may occur.

Rick / OCRR

When was this? Back when I was around it, that velodrome was kind of dumpy. My sister still lives in St Louis. I should really go visit some time.

It was right after the St. Louis Velodrome was re-paved, and they didn't do a super good job of it. I'm thinking it was mid to late 80's. I rode for St. Louis Cycling Club, though other clubs (at that time) were the Cyclones and the Spirits.

Rick / OCRR

its raining on saturday

are u guys still riding?

Yes, we are still riding!

The high is supposed to be 64 so it should be do-able. I have a rain jacket and will be wearing wool (keeps you warm even if it gets wet). So no worries! Robert's MASI has fenders, but mine doesn't!

Rick / OCRR

I'm checking out the Green route on Google Maps and unsure where the "Backbay bike path" starts. Is this it?

http://maps.google.com/maps/mm?ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=33.657938,-117.839763&spn=0.002009,0.003455&t=h&z=18

I follow that until it ends where University and Jamboree meet. Do I continue on Jamboree? Also, where is this "R behind park"? Those two sections don't seem clear. FYI, I'm not familiar with Irvine and Backbay area.

Hi tehelmo,

Yes, you will be riding on University, cross Jamboree and up the short hill about 3/4 of the way and you will see the entrace to Back Bay on your right (It's marked "Slow" because of a steep descent before it levels out on Back Bay). Also, University changes names to East Bluff when it crosses Jamboree, so technically you will be on East Bluff for a very short time.

I can't get a link to work, but go to Google Maps and enter:

Back Bay Dr & Eastbluff Dr, Newport Beach, Orange, CA 92660 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Back+Bay+Dr+%26+Eastbluff+Dr,+Newport+Beach,+Orange,+California+92660&jsv=143c&sll=33.657536,-117.838894&sspn=0.001773,0.003256&ie=UTF8&oi=geospell&ct=clnk&cd=1&geocode=FYphAQIdBW_5-A&split=0)

And that will show you the intersection where you turn right onto Back Bay from University (which becomes) East Bluff.

At what appears to be the "end" of the Back Bay trail (don't climb the rise to PCH) there is a trail entrance marked by two bollards (short poles to keep cars off) on the right. It goes behind the park where you'll see tents, campers, small RV's, etc.). It ends ("T" intersection) at Bay Side (turn left).

Any other route questions, I'll be happy to answer!

Rick / OCRR

ok, so i called jess at like 7:40 this morning and asked about the weather

he said it was cancelled and asked "who is this!?!?" lol i was like... "uhhh you dont now me."

ahha quite awkward.

so is this rescheduled?

Hi p120ud213azn,

Jess phoned me as I was driving to the start. I was ready to ride at 7:00 AM and no one else showed up. No, it was not raining at that time. I still wanted to ride a fixed gear century, but my wife thought it would be safer (in the rain) if we rode it on the SART. So I drove over to the SART, met Jackie (my wife) at Yorba Linda Regional and started riding towards the ocean.

Lots of rain and cool weather on my ride yesterday. I still wanted to ride a fixed gear century yesterday (never done that before), Jackie and I started out and got about 11 mi. before the rain hit us. Luckily we were near the tunnel that goes under the 405 freeway, so we stopped in there and put on our rain jackets.

My wife, obviously smarter, decided to turn back. I'm not so smart (plus, still wanted my century) so I kept going, We had started in Yorba Linda Regional Park and headed toward the ocean (about 25 mi. from there). Okay, no worries, but then 2 miles on I had a flat on my front tire. Found the sharp bit of rock fragment, put in new tube . . . but it was my last spare. I don't usually ride my fixed gear bike far enough to need 2 spares.

No choice though, so I kept on toward the ocean, then turned north towards Huntington Beach, now on the beach bike path that parallels the ocean beach areas. I stopped at a bike rental shop, but they only had tubes for beach cruiser bikes (huge and schreader valve), so they directed me to JAX bike shop in downtown Huntington Beach.

Bought two tubes there, took off my rain jacket (the rain had thoughtfully stopped while I was in the shop), and headed back to Yorba Linda. More rain on the way back, but jacket on, no worries. When I got back to where my car was parked I just kept going, since I knew of a coffee shop (Rio Java) just off the MUP. Had a coffee, Luna Bar, Hammer Gel, . . . then back on the more inland part of the MUP. Some slight climbs here, but nothing too steep or long.

At the far Eastern End of the SART I had just a tad over 50 mi. What to do? Further east there were several big climbs. Could I do them on my 42 x 15? Dunno. One way to find out! So I climbed the two big hills to the 91 freeway overpass (albeit rather slowly and standing a lot!), leading me to wonder if I could climb the (much longer and about as steep) Green River Drive. Green River took a lot of effort and concentration and self motivational talks to myself . . . almost all standing, but I made it.

Okay, what's next? Well, there's Ontario Hill, so after riding the rollies on the connector road (don't remember the name, Paseo de Something?) I hit Ontario Hill and actuallhy made it to the top, using the same technique, or lack thereof, as I'd used on Green River. At the top of Ontario, and the slight descent into Corona, my legs were feeling pretty dead. So I did a U-Turn in Corona (at Lincoln) and headed back. The temp was up to about 65, with bright sunshine, by this time.

No problem until I got back to the steep little rollers on Paseo de Something, where near the top of one rollie my chain snapped. Not good. Many miles from my car, no chain tool, no bike shops in the area. Game over. So I got out my cell phone and called my wife, who was about 40 min. away in the town of Brea (yeah, Circuit City sale). We agreed to meet at the Green River / 91 Freeway intersection. I headed off, walking the ups, coasting the downs and kind of "scooting" along, one foot pushing on the ground, over the flat bits. Felt pretty stupid, but whatever.

Fortunately, all those climbs I had done meant there were many miles of downhills. Our timing was good though, since we both got to the intersection at the same time.

Overall, 68.6 miles in 4 Hours, 57 minutes, with a miserable average of 13.8. So the fixed gear century will have to wait. Today, Jackie is off for another ride with her friends, while I sit here drinking hot coffee, posting to bikeforums, and will eventually put a new chain on my fixed gear bike.

So yes, will reschedule and will advise here when we do. You should have just told Jess you were from bikeforums.net, but whatever. Good to surprise him sometimes!

Rick / OCRR

lol wow i am too noob to do what u did... i have no rain jackets nor spares... ahhah

and being a noob that i am... what is MUP and SART?

SART is the Santa Ana River Trail

MUP is Multiple Use Path, i.e. cyclists, runners, dog walkers, little kids running about or in strollers, in other words, darn near anything except motor vehicles.

Therefore, SART is a MUP!

Rick / OCRR

i c, what about san gabriel river?

ive been meaning to ride it up and down, since i live in lb, i can just on it near wild oats and just go 10 and 10 back. but im not sure how far up it goes

The San Gabe trail goes a long way, all the way to Azuza I think. Not sure how many miles, but a lot. Of course, you can turn around anywhere you like.

I live near start of the Coyote Creek MUP, and I often ride that on my fixed gear, down to Seal Beach. About 4 miles from the beach, Coyote Creek intersects with the San Gabe trail.

Rick / OCRR

dang, rick. kudos. set this up for another weekend and i'll try my best to make it.

Well thats too bad that it was canceled, me and a buddy drove out there from Burbank and got there around 9. We couldn't find anyone so we used the map and went on the ride ourselves. We rode about 5 miles on PCH and just got tired of the rain, we were soaked. We ate at a little place called "Beachcombers." The french toast wasn't really french toast but my friends buttermilk pancakes were great. The rain cleared up and it was mostly sunny skies on the way back. Back Bay trail was really fun, we were able to cruise with no hands for most of it just enjoying the sunshine. We got a smoothie from Juice it Up at the end. It was our first long ride on our fixed gears, I think we went about 30 miles. We loved it, can't wait to do it again.

^^^

nice dude!! maybe i shouldve went anyway!

i called jess and he said it canceled thats why i didnt go.

so is this rescheduled for this weekend rick?

Yes, the ride is rescheduled for this weekend, but I have to go England on business, so I won't be there. Instead, I'll be in a place called "Birmingham" but not in Alabama. I think it's central England (the Midlands as they say) and I'm flying into there, instead of having to go through London, like I usually do. Not that I don't like London, but the commute-through I'm happy to give up!

Since my century attempt failed, I will be trying it again myself. Good to hear you got some miles in and were able to follow the route (and had fun on Back Bay). I also discovered, it really doesn't need to be all that flat. Yes, I was totally used up when it was over (after only 68 miles), but I wasn't eating smart either.

So, as in all good failed attempts, I learned something. Or a few things, really:

A. It is possible to climb pretty steep and long hills on a 42 x 15 fixed (about a 75" gear).

B. It is possible to ride a fixed gear in the rain; no big deal.

C. I should be eating regularly as I ride, since this is supposed to be a century and the fact that I'm riding fixed really doesn't change my calorie requirements . . . well, it may mean that I need to eat more since I'm never coasting.

D. Most SoCal riders, fixed or not, don't like riding in the rain. Okay, I'm from St. Louis (note: not Seattle), and I've done my share, but really, it's not that bad.

I have a double century (not fixed!) on Feb. 21, so maybe I'll try on Feb. 28th. May do the Jess route from last Sat. or may come up with my own. Will advise on this forum (and SoCal) when I decide.

Rick / OCRR

PS: Put on a brand stinkin' new Ultegra 9-Speed chain. That chain that broke was as old as dirt, maybe older, I don't remember. But I have 1/2 x 3/32" chainring and cog, so that's why I didn't go 1/2 x 1/8".

Hi Rick, I just assumed it got canceled since we had a 90% rain chances but if it gets rescheduled, I'm there.

Hi Rick, I just assumed it got canceled since we had a 90% rain chances but if it gets rescheduled, I'm there.

Okay spinerguy,

Officially, it's rescheduled for this coming Sat. Feb. 14th. Check the Rebel site at: www.ocrebels.com but it should be a go, unless it rains again. I will do my fixed century later, and I'll post it here when I do. Still, you are welcome to join the Rebel ride at whatever distance you like.

As noted above, however, I won't be there. I hate it when my job gets in the way of my cycling, but whatever. Gotta have money to live and buy bike stuff, right?

Rick / OCRR