long hilly rides
 

so what was the last long ride you did? i just rode a bit over 40 miles on my constant gear (i'm sick of saying fixed), which is the longest ride w/no coasting i've done yet. it was also quite hilly, as i think i hit most of the big hills in the area - which is in the driftless region (no glaciers there).

it was pretty funny to pass by the roadies w/super nice gear while on my surly xcheck constant gear w/32c tires and fenders. oh - and there wasn't a cloud in the sky - probably the last day this warm before winter... although i seem to keep saying that.

alright - i'm done bragging... your turn.

you are one wild and crazy guy - constant two-wheeled terrorist.

What map program is that and how did you get the elevation chart?

i believe the map is http://www.bikely.com/

yup, and after you make the map, go to show>elevation on the top left of the screen.

My last really hilly long distance ride on my constant was the LA Wheelmen Grand Tour highland double century back in June. I chose a 46x18 for that ride.

mapmyrun.com also does elevations.

1. Fixed wheel > Fixed gear

2. Keep in mind, some roadies are on longer and hillier rides than you.

i wasn't saying i was passing the roadies... a lot were going the other way, so they "passed by." and i only passed a few going my direction, as i had to hit the brakes on the downhills occasionally so i didn't spin uncomfortably fast.

to reply to the other guy - i was also pushing 46x18. i don't know the gear inches, but the cross-check is pretty slack.

I was hitting my brakes constantly on my descents. I installed a rear brake just for that particular ride as I knew I'd be riding on the brakes on several long descents. The constant spinning on descents can drive you nuts.

Does this count?

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/83018

Last summer I did Christina Lake BC (that's the lake on the lower left of the map there) to Castlegar to Trail to Rossland and back to to Christina Lake on my 69" geared marinoni conversion. This was about 180 kms with 2500 metres of climbing over two big passes, the Blueberry Paulson and Nancy Greene.

http://www.sfu.ca/~ahartlin/untitled.jpg
http://www.sfu.ca/~ahartlin/elevation.jpg

Climbing was almost always fine; the descents were where things got tough. I would love to do more fixed endurance riding but have found various things got in the way of it over the last few months.

Can drive you nuts up in to you neck :D

Tyak 46 x 18 is approx 68" it's what I ride Audaxes on [67.3" on mine with 23c tyres]

I organise a 100km Grimpeur Audax that climbs up and down several climbs of Kents North Downs with 1850 meters of climbing, I've ridden that on 67.3" but had to walk the two steepest hills 'Yorks Hill and One Tree Hill' on the 1 in 4 sections, it was get off or fall off :)

46x18 is around 67 gear inches, which is a fairly easy gear to spin, which explains why you were braking on the downhills. With that gear inch you were most likely spinning over 110rpm at speeds at or about 22mph (or there abouts) which is just silly. it probably made climbing easier though.

If you are riding with roadies alot I'd jump the gear inches up to at least 75", which means 16t cog. That is a good middle ground of spinning on flats and climbing. at 110rpm it should allow you to spin around 26'ish mph.

If you are riding with roadies often get ready to be dropped on downhills. It's just a fact of freewheel vs. fixed. They can coast obviously and top 30mph easily. You on the other hand can't. However you'll out climb them generally and be able to sit on them in the line easily.