Southern California - Orange County Fixed Gear Century 02/07

Hi SoCal forumites,

The OC Rebels are putting on Century Feb. 7 with a "fixed gear" emphasis, i.e. fairly flat and minimum of stop signs / traffic signals (but hey, this is OC!).

Here's the info from the Rebel Site:

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 8:00 AM with the shorter rides at 9:00 AM. This will be as flat as we can make it, in other words a "flat land century" aimed at the "fixed gear" riders".

Start/finish is at Windrow Park in Irvine (see Rebel site for how to get there) www.ocrebels.com

More info on actual route, plus route sheets, will be added as they become available. I also posted this on the Singlespeed / Fixed Gear forum.

In the meantime . . . any questions?

Rick / OCRR

Hi SoCal forumites,

The OC Rebels are putting on Century Feb. 7 with a "fixed gear" emphasis, i.e. fairly flat and minimum of stop signs / traffic signals (but hey, this is OC!).

Here's the info from the Rebel Site:

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 8:00 AM with the shorter rides at 9:00 AM. This will be as flat as we can make it, in other words a "flat land century" aimed at the "fixed gear" riders".

Start/finish is at Windrow Park in Irvine (see Rebel site for how to get there) www.ocrebels.com

More info on actual route, plus route sheets, will be added as they become available. I also posted this on the Singlespeed / Fixed Gear forum.

In the meantime . . . any questions?

Rick / OCRR

:eek: You mean you are inviting <gasp> those people? :eek::eek:

:eek: You mean you are inviting <gasp> those people? :eek::eek:

Yes Indolent58!

Those people :D,

I mean :eek: I am actually one of "those people" too. I ride a '77 Masi fixed gear 42 x 15. Great fun, really! Try it, you'll like it (well . . . maybe).

Rick / OCRR

I have a fixie too, but I'm still not one of them.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r143/Indolent58/P1010034.jpg

Sorry Rick but I have to agree with Dan. Though we may ride fixed road bikes, we are not of "those people". I mean, really. Have you even seen what they do to their bikes? :eek:

Sorry Rick but I have to agree with Dan. Though we may ride fixed road bikes, we are not of "those people". I mean, really. Have you even seen what they do to their bikes? :eek:

Yes! It's - unnatural!

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk278/roastb33f/festa_3_big-1.jpg

Sorry Rick but I have to agree with Dan. Though we may ride fixed road bikes, we are not of "those people". I mean, really. Have you even seen what they do to their bikes? :eek:

Yes Robert,

I have. In fact I rode with 5fix2 on one of their Monday night rides from uptown Whittier. Their bikes were quite the mix, from a new Masi (kinda like yours) to old Univegas and Peugeots retro-fitted as fixed gear bikes. I was one of only two riders wearing a helmet, the only one wearing lycra shorts, and the only one with no visible piercings or tats.

And you know what? They are great kids! I call them "kids" since I am so old, but they were late teens to early 20's. All very friendly, with positive attitudes and all excellent bike handlers. I was impressed, actually. So yeah, I am good with "those people!"

Rick / OCRR

I just wanna know, what is all the stuff they carry in those mess bags? Is it possible to ride a FG without one?

I just wanna know, what is all the stuff they carry in those mess bags? Is it possible to ride a FG without one?

Yes DScott,

Messenger bags can carry quite a variety of different "stuff" which is why they're so popular. Mine is by Timbuk2, and it's versatile, easy to carry so it doesn't swing around to the front and get in my way.

However (and this is the important part!), it is quite possible to ride a fixed gear bike without having a messenger bag. I've tried it (lots of times!), and it works.

Rick / OCRR

I have a fixie too, but I'm still not one of them.

True Indolent58,

If you were one of :eek:THEM:eek: you would not use the term "fixie" but would instead use "fixed gear."

Rick / OCRR

I just wanna know, what is all the stuff they carry in those mess bags? Is it possible to ride a FG without one?
Yes.
I don't own a mess bag and I ride a FG. I basically don't like anything on my back. If I need to carry stuff I hang a large saddle bag instead. And if I need to carry even more stuff, then I bring out my tour bike and use a pannier(s).

I just wanna know, what is all the stuff they carry in those mess bags? Is it possible to ride a FG without one?

They stuff them with band-aids and pillows, because, you know, even though they ride very slow, it's not easy to stop quickly when you don't have brakes. Or so I've seen. :rolleyes:

Thanks for all the replies. For a while there I thought the bags must have come with every pair of girls jeans you bought, or something.

Carry on...

It's not easy to stop quickly when you don't have brakes. Or so I've seen. :rolleyes:

Actually, I was amazed at how quickly some riders could stop by throwing the bike into a controlled skid. Well, at least it looked controlled! In the group I rode with some had no brakes, most had front brake only.

I have two brakes, but like I said, I'm an old guy. Plus I would hate to wear out tires doing skid-stops.

Rick / OCRR

I have two brakes, but like I said, I'm an old guy. Plus I would hate to wear out tires doing skid-stops.

Rick / OCRR

That's my argument. I don't want to be replacing a tire every month. Plus, the faster you can stop, the faster you can go.

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

so how was it? pics?

so how was it? pics?

Well, I see you read my account of how it was over on the Singlespeed and Fixed Gear forum, so no need to repeat it here :(.

I will be making another attempt at a fixed gear century and will advise here when I do. I should bring a camera next time too. Otherwise, pretty much the same (except for the new chain, of course!):D.

Rick / OCRR