This is how I felt for a long time. Then I saw a guy riding a fixed gear near the end of Paris Brest Paris (PBP). Boggled my mind. Fast forward a few years, and a buddy finished PBP, fixed, in Charly Miller time, which is again mind boggling. So I had to give it a try. First I thought maybe I'll ride a 100k fixed. Did that, fairly flat route, hard AF, but then I thought okay maybe I'll ride a 200k. Did that, not so flat a route, hard, but not killer. Then decided to try (and I mean try; success not guaranteed) a super randonneuring series. The 200k was flat, but the 300k, 400k, and 600k were anything but. I walked some hills, but I also climbed some climbs. I'm two weeks out from London Edinburgh London, and I'm taking gears. But honestly in the back of my mind I'm thinking I have unfinished business with 1000k and 1200k on the fixie.

It's addictive, and inexplicably fun.

On shoes, Boa is better, but my latest shoes are laced because the model, size and width was only available laced. Laces work fine, but I'll look harder for Boa next time.