Check the route on Mapmyride.com for elevation changes. Make sure you use a gear ratio that will allow you to handle the steepest hill. Build up your endurance by riding longer rides; 60 miles, 75 miles etc prior to the event. I've done 2 centuries on a geared bike, and would like to try one fixed, but it would have to be less hilly than what I usually ride geared here in KY.

I've ridden a few centuries on my fixed gear, as well as multiple double centuries and a 1200k on my road bike. First and foremost, you need to do address nutrition and hydration for any ride longer then 60 miles. Velocio's advice to eat before you are hungry and drink before you are thirsty hold true. Adding a fixed gear to the mix introduces a new dimension to the ride. Because you cannot coast, especially on downhills, metabolically a fixed century is more like 130 miles. The second challenge is hills. Going up is hard, going down is harder. Mke sure that your brakes a working well. Setting a drag break on downhills will save your legs. Third challenge is chaffing. Bag balm and chamois creme is your friend, and be sure to bring some extra in your seat pack. And above all, keep a positive attitude and you will do great.

I just did my first century last saturday with a pal. I had a wrench on me to flip to my freewheel if I got beat, but ended up staying fixed the whole time. We rode like 4 miles then stopped to stretch. Otherwise we had plenty of water and an apple on the bike before stopping at about the 50 mile mark for lunch/to rest by a river. We were exhausted after, but it was super fun.

So not to underestimate the importance of food and such, but I don't think you need to stress about gels and all this other dietary advice. I don't think I'm in great shape, but I do ride at least 15 miles everyday (work and back), most often more for funzies/fitness.

Oh, definitely don't do a martini after =). I rested a bit after the ride then went to a gallery opening. We went for drinks after and one martini hit me like whoa. I was ready to take on world =).

This. ^^^

Just did a metric century yesterday and ended up doing switchbacks on a 10% grade for about .25 mi. Not too bad as it was rural and only a couple of cars went by. Make sure you take dog protection as one can't freewheel, unclip and kick at the little(or big :eek:) harrasser on a fg. If you've got one wear a 'road jersey' and keep water bottles and Clif bars in the extra pockets.

+1 on all the other suggestions re food and hydration. It topped out @ 99F on my ride yesterday. Very little shade, so I stopped a couple of times that I wouldn't have normally. Killed 2 glasses of self-mixed Gatorade w/ice when I got home.

Oh yeah, have fun!

While we're on the topic, any Chicago area folks doing the North Shore Century on the 18th?

Plenty of coffee before the ride and a good dump.

Did another fg metric century yesterday, but this time it was rainiing the whole time. :notamused: Temp was in the 60s. What a difference. Didn't stop the whole way and drank out of my wb while pedaling. Took five hours as rolling resistance is much higher in the rain. That being said I, also agree with the above statement as well. :p

This one is just down the road: http://www.clarksvillecentury.com/Home.html

I've done it twice fixed. Not flat, but only one short hill to take you under 10 mph. I manage 18-19 mph ave.

u gotta put these up in the 12k thread!

Nope, the 18th is the first cyclocross race of the season, in Jackson Park! (I'm just going to watch but the plan is to race at least one this season.)

i would love to try and do a century...hell, even a 50 mile ride would be nice to try, need a better bike that fits thats for sure...all good advice that i will take note of when i am ready to try this

i will be doing one this weekend on a well-supported local charity ride. 46/16 on an absurdly flat course (under 200ft vertical), comfy steel frame w/drops, bottle bosses & brake. i will be with a large group of capable riders and expect to average 20+mph.

That's flat and fast. Unless you can comfortably spin 90-100 RPM for 4-5 hours, I'd be tempted to go for 48/16 or 46/15.

just like everyone else

I have a nasty saddle sore right now, and just the thought of doing a fixed century makes me want to cut my a** off. Lube up and make sure you clean your business real thoroughly when you're done.

Well, if for some reason I can't make it to the century, I may just go watch some CX with ya.

except that most everyone else can also choose 0 RPM, should it suit them! i contemplated joining the fastest bunch (at 23-24mph) with a 15t cog, but it can be windy and i decided the 'B' pace with a slightly lower gear was where it's at this time...76" is perfect for a fast cruise.

What does that have to do with it? You chose to ride fixed.

i believe sam's point was 'non-stop 5hr spin @ 100rpm', to which you replied 'like everyone else'. my point: not like everyone else. they can coast.

Fixed gear centuries!!! yea!!! You need 3 things

1. Lots of energy-Eat a lot of; carbs-whole wheat- the day before the ride. essential vitamins-especially vitamin B(all of them) although you should stock up on all of them. it works better if you get them from a natural source instead of a synthetically made one in a capsule. Protein-from legumes, and/or grains. Fat from the same place. during the ride make sure you have fruit which has electrolytes ,simple sugars oh yea and H2O!! a Peanut butter and Jelly Sandwhich is one of the best fuels to have and its easy to carry and can have up to 1/2 of what your body needs in a day(Lipids, Proteins, Carbs)also carry a mixture of nuts, dried fruits, and CHOCOLATE(dark not sugary chocolate)-I cant stress this enough- chocolate is verrrrry essential when touring, racing or riding long distances. it helps maintain your blood acidity in a balanced stage. since, when we ride our bikes, we inhale a larger than normal amount of carcinogens like oxygen which will and can make your blood dangerously acidic and will cause you to fatigue faster. unless you balance it out with an alkaloid like chocolate.

2. Find out the elevation changes during the route to accommodate flats and hills, by changing your gear ratio, if needed. http://Mapmyride.com/routes/create


3. stretch!!! before during and after-you will be happy you did the day or week after.


I did not read the thread I just got exited when I read Fixed gear century-My 3 favorite words!!
Let us know how it went.

as opposed to spinning 60, 70, 80? I wouldn't want to pedaling that slow in a group going 20+

one last time...my point (and i believe sam's) was not about the pedaling, it was about the not pedaling.

in any case, my ride went very well. great weather, no incidents to speak of. 98.8mi by my computer (many others were a touch higher @~101, so i suspect i need to check my rollout), 5:01 moving, 19.7mph average (20.1, if the 101mi distance is correct).

the (geared) hot shoes went out fast and were cruising at 25-30mph for extended periods (finishing w/24+ avg)...not for me on this bike! with the 46/16 i found my sweet spot to be ~22-23mph (hairnet...right at 100rpm) on this course...but the B group wanted to be just a touch slower and i didn't want to be alone, so 20 it was.

some interesting numbers:
100 miles = 6.34 million inches = 83.8 thousand crank revolutions with my 75.6" gear.

Wow. I never knew chocolate was something to eat during a ride. I'll try that sometime.