Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Rode my first century today

I've been meaning to do this for years, but I either find an excuse not to, or I get everything planned, and the weather changes and ruins it for me.

I had no excuses today. Set off just before 6am, got home a little after noon. I probably would have been a little faster on a geared bike, but I decided to do it on my singlespeed at 79.1 gear inches. My legs are doing better than I expected they would (just barely), and my knees are fine. I think my lower back is most sore.

It was worth it. :D The last 10 miles were f'ing boring, though.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4650159867_1097ab312b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/one9us/4650159867/)

Great job!

Congratulation on the ride.

Wow that is quite the ride.

I haven't even come close to 100 on a ride yet.

I'm aiming for a metric century and even then that seems pretty epic.

I bow to the superior.

Next time do it fixed.

Enjoy

Next time do it fixed.

Enjoy

Thanks, but no. I enjoy my brief moments of tucking and bombing hills at 40mph without my legs flailing around.

Next time, though, I won't forget my gloves. :rolleyes:

Good job.
I am hoping to do one myself this summer.

Last summer I did 73 miles to my Pop's house and then 73 miles home the following day.
That return trip really hurt. I think now I would just do 100 miles and then rest for a week. :)

Good job.
I am hoping to do one myself this summer.

Last summer I did 73 miles to my Pop's house and then 73 miles home the following day.
That return trip really hurt. I think now I would just do 100 miles and then rest for a week. :)

I think the hardest part for me was holding back. I typically ride 30mi +/- and I spend a good amount of that time standing and sprinting up hills (with that big gear I ride, I pretty much have to). Yesterday, I spent the majority of the ride trying to pace myself, and that made it a lot more boring. I felt great up to 60mi, then my legs felt like they were done. By 75mi, they were alive again, and I started riding harder since I didn't have much further to go. By 90mi, they were in worse shape, but mostly my mood had turned, and I just wanted to get it over with.

Congrats, man! Do you have a picture of your bike too? We'd like to meet the noble steed as well. :D

Feels good, huh? I did my first one last month and loved it. Mine was a charity ride, so I had ppl to talk to which kept it from being too boring. Someone should invent a book holder that attaches to your handlebars haha

I don't like riding alone, I can't imagine 100 miles alone. However, I just got a geared bike and will hopefully start doing some longer rides and maybe something close to a century before the end of the summer. Summer classes are keeping me busy now though.

did my first century couple years ago in 114* heat most of the way (hotter n' hell 100).
riding time was just at 6 hours.
did it at 48/18 on my madison w/ bullhorns, mks sylvans, steel toe clips and chuck taylors.
man, was that stupid.

Feels good, huh? I did my first one last month and loved it. Mine was a charity ride, so I had ppl to talk to which kept it from being too boring. Someone should invent a book holder that attaches to your handlebars haha

http://www.geekologie.com/2010/01/26/you-deserve-to-crash.jpg

Congrats, man! Do you have a picture of your bike too? We'd like to meet the noble steed as well. :D

Yep, here it is. 48x16 singlespeed, about 19.3lbs. What I wouldn't do for a 14lb bike before I do my next one.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1174/4602329110_09c35aec8b_b.jpg

did my first century couple years ago in 114* heat most of the way (hotter n' hell 100).
riding time was just at 6 hours.
did it at 48/18 on my madison w/ bullhorns, mks sylvans, steel toe clips and chuck taylors.
man, was that stupid.

yeah...that's nuts. that's a really tough century.

For my next century, I want to do this one: http://www.tourdashugel.com/

Mainly b/c it's free and i want to be able to wear the shirt, though

Yep, here it is. 48x16 singlespeed, about 19.3lbs. What I wouldn't do for a 14lb bike before I do my next one.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1174/4602329110_09c35aec8b_b.jpg
I like it. :thumb:
I always think it looks better when the brakes on the end of the bullhorns too, but that's just a preference thing.

I've done a few centuries, but I'm not sure I could do them on a singlespeed. Depends on whether there are any mountains, I guess.

So... if I stuck some tri bars on my track bike to do a metric fixie I'd be excused?

So... if I stuck some tri bars on my track bike to do a metric fixie I'd be excused?
Excused from what? Was that a response to me? Because I prefer brakes on the ends of bullhorns partially as a purely shallow aesthetic thing and partially because I am used to riding with drop bars. :)

woot

Another congrats! Extremely done. I've done a couple on an ancient 25+ lb monstrosity, but even it had gears. I'm currently looking for an FG that fits right, so I can give this a try. Thanks for the post and the pic! :)

yeah...that's nuts. that's a really tough century.

think so? i did 75 miles on my madison 48/16 with gr9s, christophes, and tigers yesterday downtown at bike the drive and it wasnt bad. chicago is flat though.

Excused from what? Was that a response to me? Because I prefer brakes on the ends of bullhorns partially as a purely shallow aesthetic thing and partially because I am used to riding with drop bars. :)

Oh hell no. Directed at the general fixie "culture" who lambaste anyone who puts tri/aero bars on. I have a set of tri bars hanging on my wall here and it would seem wise to put them on to do a metric century. I have drops and risers to choose from, no bullhorns.

think so? i did 75 miles on my madison 48/16 with gr9s, christophes, and tigers yesterday downtown at bike the drive and it wasnt bad. chicago is flat though.

yeah...chicago is flat. And not nearly as hot as Texas in the summer. They don't call it the "Hotter 'n hell 100" for no reason...

Wow, what really impresses me is how you ended it at almost exactly 100mi!!!!

Wow, what really impresses me is how you ended it at almost exactly 100mi!!!!

Let's just say I know my neighborhood really well. From just about any point, I know how far it is to my front door. :)