Long distance
#1
Long distance
Today I rode 60 miles in the hilly Pacific NW, and it felt great. I think I'm a convert for life: I've only ridden my road bike once since building up the SS, and I see no pressing need to do it again.
There wasn't ever a time today when I REALLY felt like I had to shift. Even the 1 mile, 6% grade at the end was completely doable. Gear ratio 46-18, 69 gear inches or thereabouts.
Obviously this discussion's been done before, but how far have you have you gone on a FG/SS and how do you feel about it?
There wasn't ever a time today when I REALLY felt like I had to shift. Even the 1 mile, 6% grade at the end was completely doable. Gear ratio 46-18, 69 gear inches or thereabouts.
Obviously this discussion's been done before, but how far have you have you gone on a FG/SS and how do you feel about it?
#3
(((Fully Awake)))
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,589
Likes: 0
From: ~Serenading with sensous soliloquies whilst singing supple sentences that are simultaneously suppling my sonnets with serenity serendipitously.~ -Serendipper
Bikes: Guerciotti Pista-Giant Carbon-Bridgestone300- Batavus Type Champion Road Bike, Specialized Hardrock Commuter, On-One The Gimp (SS Rigid MTB/hit by a truck)- Raleigh Sports 3-speed,Gatsby Scorcher, comming soon...The Penny Farthing Highwheel!
Around a half century, same as you.
I'd rather not ever do long-distance riding with a fixed gear and a bag on my back again, thanks. I have a road bike for that, and prefer a rack to a mess bag any day of the year.
A fixed tourer with panniers and dual brakes would be nice.
I'd rather not ever do long-distance riding with a fixed gear and a bag on my back again, thanks. I have a road bike for that, and prefer a rack to a mess bag any day of the year.
A fixed tourer with panniers and dual brakes would be nice.
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無上甚深微妙法 .... 百千萬劫難遭遇..... 我今見聞得受持
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無上甚深微妙法 .... 百千萬劫難遭遇..... 我今見聞得受持
#4
Fattest Thin Man
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,648
Likes: 4
From: Directly above the center of the earth
Bikes: Miyata 610, Vinco V, Rocky Mountain Element
125 miles. It was flat, and with the Brooks saddle there was no discomfort. I was moving along pretty good too until the last 15 miles or so.
Az
Az
#5
meh
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: MSP
Bikes: Rush Hour
115 with 42x15 with a couple killer hills.
105 with 48x15 (century in 5.5 hrs) into a crazy headwind for about 1/4 of the ride.
It's fun riding fixed for distance, but I often feel that my cadence is either too high or too low. When I run 42x15 I feel like I spin too fast downhill or with a tailwind. 48x15 sucks going uphill or into a headwind, but is awesome when you got the wind to your back and can hold 25-30 indefinitely.
I am training for a non-stop, 320 mile gravel race... lots of my base mileage will be fixed gear.
105 with 48x15 (century in 5.5 hrs) into a crazy headwind for about 1/4 of the ride.
It's fun riding fixed for distance, but I often feel that my cadence is either too high or too low. When I run 42x15 I feel like I spin too fast downhill or with a tailwind. 48x15 sucks going uphill or into a headwind, but is awesome when you got the wind to your back and can hold 25-30 indefinitely.
I am training for a non-stop, 320 mile gravel race... lots of my base mileage will be fixed gear.
#7
(((Fully Awake)))
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,589
Likes: 0
From: ~Serenading with sensous soliloquies whilst singing supple sentences that are simultaneously suppling my sonnets with serenity serendipitously.~ -Serendipper
Bikes: Guerciotti Pista-Giant Carbon-Bridgestone300- Batavus Type Champion Road Bike, Specialized Hardrock Commuter, On-One The Gimp (SS Rigid MTB/hit by a truck)- Raleigh Sports 3-speed,Gatsby Scorcher, comming soon...The Penny Farthing Highwheel!
The bags and panniers, plus lights and fenders alone would break that bank.
I have a couple of crappy city bikes with racks already, thanks. I mean a dedicated tourer with a long top tube, really long chainstays (so I won't hit the bags), and all the braze-ons.
More like $800 (good luck)-$4000 in reality.
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
無上甚深微妙法 .... 百千萬劫難遭遇..... 我今見聞得受持
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
無上甚深微妙法 .... 百千萬劫難遭遇..... 我今見聞得受持
#9
I rode 75 and then 75 the next day (MS 150) and the fixed gear was not a problem at all. I didn't even really think about wanting to shift or coast; I guess i'm jst used to it. What did hurt after getting back the second day was just the sitting-area, you know
#11
Utilitarian Boy
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,235
Likes: 5
From: Bronx, NY
Bikes: Check the sig to find out
I've done 130 miles on a 49/17 gear with dual Aerospokes. Not to many hills but a blast none the less.
Did 60miles in a very hilly NJ with a 49/18.
Heck today I rode around 50 miles today for Cranksgiving.
Did 60miles in a very hilly NJ with a 49/18.
Heck today I rode around 50 miles today for Cranksgiving.
#13
A fixed tourer with panniers and dual brakes would be nice.
I ride a 1955 Raleigh Lenton fixed gear that runs a 46 up front and an 18 and 16 on it's flip flop hub and my longest ride this year (on this bike) was 90 miles of rolling hills and steep headwinds... I could have easily ridden farther but had some time constraints.
I ran the 46:18 most of the way so that I wouldn't drop my riding mates on the flats and needed the lower gear on the way back due to the high winds and still was pulling folks most of the way.
This bike fits me like a glove btw.
I ride a 1955 Raleigh Lenton fixed gear that runs a 46 up front and an 18 and 16 on it's flip flop hub and my longest ride this year (on this bike) was 90 miles of rolling hills and steep headwinds... I could have easily ridden farther but had some time constraints.
I ran the 46:18 most of the way so that I wouldn't drop my riding mates on the flats and needed the lower gear on the way back due to the high winds and still was pulling folks most of the way.
This bike fits me like a glove btw.
#14
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 1
From: Auld Blighty
Bikes: Early Cannondale tandem, '99 S&S Frezoni Audax, '65 Moulton Stowaway, '52 Claud Butler, TSR30, Brompton
Fixed wheel: 600km in under 40 hours, 400km in under 27. I skipped doing 1200km in under 90 hours this year but quite a few others did.
#19
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,744
Likes: 1
From: Van BC
I've done a bunch of fixed cents with climbing but haven't cracked 250+ kms yet. My bike fit is still a little weird and ultra distances can start to get painful. One day I'll pay someone to set my **** up for me really well.
#20
I did Vätternrundan one year on a fixed (front brake required) and I thought I was going to die. It is 300 kilometers (184 US miles) and claims to be the longest/largest (15,000 participants) single day bike event in the world with some 34 countries participating (by the way, it's in Sweden).
More info Vätternrundan
It almost killed me but the funny thing is I am considering doing it again...
More info Vätternrundan
It almost killed me but the funny thing is I am considering doing it again...
#21
Are we not men?
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,275
Likes: 1
From: Amsterdam for now
I did Vätternrundan one year on a fixed (front brake required) and I thought I was going to die. It is 300 kilometers (184 US miles) and claims to be the longest/largest (15,000 participants) single day bike event in the world with some 34 countries participating (by the way, it's in Sweden).
More info Vätternrundan
It almost killed me but the funny thing is I am considering doing it again...
More info Vätternrundan
It almost killed me but the funny thing is I am considering doing it again...







