brunop

i'm new to the whole long-distance thing but really want to get into it seriously! right now i have 2 fixed gear bikes. one a custom steel independent fabrications that i've ridden 66 miles a few times.

i'm in the market for a custom geared bike. what do ya'll ride?

if you would could you discuss what makes a good long distance machine?

thanks!

roadfix

I rode my fixed gear Steamroller last weekend for my 202 mile L.A. Wheelmen Grand Tour. Photo with bike in foreground at one of the checkpoints. I've never ridden more than about 50 miles on a fixed gear before, let alone only two century rides this year before attempting and finishing this 200 miler last Sat..
I plan on doing at least another double century this year on a fixed gear.

spokenword

I was timing to see when the customary "bike centerfolds" thread would come up now it's just a matter of waiting until it turns into a sticky.

I'm doing my first brevet series on a 2004 Trek 520 touring bike. Most of the components are still stock, with the only modifications being a pair of Planet Bike fenders, a Specialized Body Geometry saddle, and a hand built rear wheel (36 spokes laced to a Sun CR18 rim on the stock Deore LX hub) to replace the old wheel (rim started to show cracks after 4500 miles)

After I complete the series, I'm planning on getting a custom steel bike built by Alternative Needs Transportation. It's a local one-man shop, with the one-man in question being Mike Flanigan, one of the co-founders of Independent Fabrications, and the guy who designed the IF Club Racer and their Steel Independence.

supcom

The best bike for brevet riding is your most comfortable bike. With long hours in the saddle, any discomfort will get progressively worse as the miles pile up.

Unless you are training for ultradistance races, you don't need a particularly light bike. I rode most of my brevets this year on a 25-year old Raleigh because it fit me like a glove.

jimmuter

I'm getting a Specialized Tricross Comp cyclocross bike for the purposes of doing long distance rides. I can't wait!

brunop

to refine it a little, i'm wonderin' how ya'll set up your bikes--saddles, what kinda bars, whether rig it to sit a little more upright, etc.

some more details of your bikes. and hell yeah!! post pictures!!

thanks!

and fixer! you're an animal!! way to go!

rileyd99

I just joined the forum today and I am looking for about the same info. I just got into biking and plan on riding a double century the first weekend in August. More often than not I find myself pretty uncomfortable on the saddle...and thats after only about 20mis or so. Any suggestions for good saddles that, by design, help relieve pressure (men), and are comfortable at long distances? Any suggestions appreciated!

Ryan

bigbossman 

I have three main bikes that I ride on centuries. I pick among them according to the difficulty of the route, and my mood just before I go.

They are (in no particular order), a 2005 Giant OCR Limited, a 1988 Miyata 215st tourer, and a 1974ish Swiss Mondia Super. I only have pictures of two here at work, so here they are.....

The Miyata:


The Mondia:

jcm

Exactly.
I switch between a '98 Trek 520 and an '88 Trek 830 (setup for road work) alot. Both are very comfortable for distance. Recently bought a new Sequoia that seems very nice as well. A couple of changes to tweak the fit, and it'll go forever, I'm sure.

Eatadonut

Diggin' the motorcycle-style kickstand.

NomadVW 

Only one in my inventory I would ride long distance is my Roubaix.



I used to ride my Giant hard tail 130+km here in Japan, but she's gone and the full suspension MTB won't do the trick anymore.

LWaB

That isn't a kickstand bolted to the bike. It is a removeable stand.

At the moment I'm doing brevets on either:
an old Cannondale road tandem (before they made different models),
an S&S coupled Frezoni custom 700C,
a 1965 Moulton Stowaway rigged with drop bars and a fixed wheel.

Reynolds 

I ride a racing bicycle from the '90s, the only changes I made are clipless pedals and clinchers instead of tubulars.

EGreen

Not a 'Tourer' but a really great ride for a century or two.

tibikefor2

I ride a custom Spectrum Super Ti www.spectrum-cycles.com

Components:
Ritchey WCS Handlebar and Stem
Bold Ti seatpost www.boldprecision.com
Campy Record: brakes, brifters, front and rear deurailleur
Koobi PRS Saddle
Stronglight Pulsion Triple Crank
FSA Ti Bottom Bracket
Look Keo Pedals
White Industry H1 Hubs laced to Velocity Aerohead Rims, Wheelsmith 14g on drive side, Sapim Laser non drive side and front wheel all 3x. Wheels weigh only 1544 grams but are quite strong. Wheels were built by www.ergottwheels.com

I will be switching back to a Phil Wood Bottom Bracket and Campy Triple Crank.

weed eater

my partner and i are working up to longer rides . . . right now we're at about 60 mi tops, and very comfortable in the 40-mi range.

We both ride 20+ year old sport touring bikes. Mine is a trek 510 converted to fixed gear and hers is a Univega nuovo sport running 12 gears.

I've owned my bike for about a year and spent a lot of time fiddling with the bike fit. The most important adjustments for me are handlebar height/stem extension and pedals. Using a very tall Technomics stem with a 70mm extension I was able to get the right handlebar position. I also like my Nitto Noodle handlebars very much. And I finally found the right pedal/shoe combination in a set of Crank bros Mallet pedals and my Sidi Dominators. Previously the shoes were uncomfortable because the pedals didn't provide enough support, so I rode on touring pedals and power grips, but this was only OK. (I have "princess-and-the-pea" feet.) When I got the Mallets and was able to ride with my Sidis again, I was in heaven.

Here is my bike, but the photo is a bit out of date. In the photo it still wears the flat pedals with power grips, and I am also running a Brooks B-17 saddle now (much better) and a new wheelset/chainset. But never mind that, you get the idea. I love this bike.

Neist

I'm just now trying to get into the idea of long distance cycling, but I'm going to be using a Jamis Sputnik. Its a track bike with roadish geometry. And yes, I'm crazy, I'm going to do it single speed somehow.

weed eater

fwiw, here's a recent ramble of mine on singlespeed vs fixed gear on long-ish rides. in short, I prefer fixed! ymmv!

brunop

another fixie dude!!! go man go!!

Bizurke

Since my roadbike is a piece of crap I tend to leave it in the garage. I've set up my Trek 820 (MTB) for commuting and touring. I will be taking it on RAGBRAI (472 mi) this year and don't think I should have too much of a problem. It's a heavy steel tank of a bike, I have put on 1.25" Specialized slicks to make it roll easier (did throw off the gear ratio a bit but I can deal), Trek interchange rear rack, Trek Basic Paniers (Complete junk that ****ed my rear wheel up) and I plan to get an interchange trunk for it soon. I of course have a frame pump, two bottle cages, bar ends that are leaned a little more fwd than they should be so I can place my hands there in various positions for both comfort and sometimes aerodynamics. Over all the thing is a beast, it takes long rides and eats em. All my team mates on their roadies are gonna fear, I just know it.