JeremyLC

I'm headed to the Tour d'Italia in Italy, TX this weekend. I'm planning to hit the 100km route. I've done this ride each of the last two years, so I'm not concerned with distance. I can't decide which bike to ride.

I've been alternating my commute between my 2010 Fuji Track Comp and my 2008 Cross Check. I am thoroughly loving riding fixed around town, but I've not yet tried to take it much more than 8-10 miles in a trip. My Fuji has a fixed/fixed rear hub with a 15t cog, and 18t cog, and a 48t chainring. I only used the 18t cog for about a week before I decided I was spinning too much and need to a higher gear. I've been enjoying riding it so much that I'm really tempted to take it out for the long ride this weekend. The downside of the Fuji is that it is a "pure" track machine and has no bottle bosses (or pump bosses) so I'd have to wear a Camelbak to carry water, a pump, and a 15mm wrench. It also has track drops. On the other hand, it is several pounds lighter than the CC and I can pretty comfortably push it's 84GI drivetrain over the rollers and hills here without much trouble.

My CC? It was a 2008 complete kit, but I've upgraded to an almost complete 105 drivetrain (I refuse to get brifters (love my barcons! :-) and I haven't yet bought a 105 triple crankset) and 105/OpenPro wheels (the front wheel of this set goes on the Fuji when I ride it, since I need the machined brake surface) The CC and I have put in thousands of miles together, we know on another quite well. It has two bottle cages and a pump mount, too, and QR wheels so I won't need a wrench to ride it. I have it geared with a 50/36 up front and an 11-25 in the back. (and I know from experience I can push the 50/11 to about 120rpm )

That said, other than the obvious issue of the track drops, what are the pros and cons of riding fixed over that kind of distance? Which ever bike I take, I'll have a seat bag for tube/tools and a top-tube bag for fuel. (geleriffic) Are there any major caveats to riding fixed for long distance? I'm a bit concerned about wind, mostly, since last year's ride saw a 20mph constant south wind with 40mph gusts and the route is about 25 miles due south, with a 5 mile turn around and the rest going back north. I'm thinking that if I take the Fuji and find it is too windy I can flip my wheel and use the 18t cog while riding into the wind, then flip it at the turn around and ride the 15t while I'm being pushed. (*)

In short is there anything I should be aware of before I try to go for a long distance fixed ride? Are there any reasons I should really just take the Surly instead? Thanks!


*) That part made it worth the first 25 miles of misery last year. (think 12mph pace line into the wind) I made really great time on the return leg with the 20-40mph tailwinds. This is the best way to do it, too.

David Broon 

Have you ever ridden 100km fixed? If not, use the Cross Check.

thenomad

16t cog and let her rip?

yummygooey

100km fixed is easy.

25 miles into 20 mph headwind is not.

JeremyLC

Wouldn't that keep me from ever riding 100km fixed? (it's not a race, just to clarify.)

Nagrom_

I'd say change your gearing, 16t & 18t, and through some road drops on it for the ride, and go for it.


They also sell water bottle/pump mounts for bikes without bosses.

misskaz

I've attached bottle cages using hose clamps + old tubing to protect the frame.

broakland

Wouldn't this look more aesthetically better?

JeremyLC

I think I agree, though I'm not sure it will fit around my seat bag. I don't think the clamps would go around the aero tubing of my bike anyway.

I think I'll stay with the Camelbak for now, though.

trrubicon06

I use an SKS bottle cage mount. It allows me to mount my mini pump and bottle cage together and still room for my saddle bag. It's quick to put on and take off with the quick release clamp. It's $9.99 on Performance Bike online.



^And no unfortunately this isn't my bike. Just found it online as an example.

David Broon 

I'm more thinking that you should first do a 100km ride on a regular bike, then a 100k fixed.

JeremyLC

Hah! Now I follow. I've done several 100km geared rides, and the Hotter'n'Hell Hundred last summer, too. I should have no problem with the distance, it's the fixed gear aspect I'm more concerned about.

hamfoh

wish I knew about this ride before right now, sounds like fun!

JesusBananas

Oh boy.

Crosscheck, no question.

TejanoTrackie 

I've ridden my Soma Rush 100K with a 73" gear fixed (47x17, 700x25c rear tire) on roads similar to the Tour of Italy TX (I've ridden it before) and it worked for me. The main thing is to have a comfortable bar setup and carry enough H2O. Also, I run clipless and wear bibs with padded chamois.

oneeyedhobbit

My very first century (non-metric) was done on a fixed gear (48/18, if you're curious). I tossed a water bottle in my chrome bag with my ulock, a wrench, and some apples, and we stopped for lunch. There weren't a lot of hills, but the ones we did encounter--we rode from MPLS to Stillwater, MN, via the gateway trail and then highways and tacked on the extra miles on MPLS trails if you're curious as to terrain--were steep. I had a flip flop hub and figured at some point I'd switch to the freewheel, but I found that unnecessary.

I don't know the terrain you'll be riding, but if you've done a metric before I think you'll be fine riding fixed if you so choose. Everyone acts like its so demanding, but I don't personally find it to be that much more taxing. You might miss gears in a crazy headwind, but that is what you use the paceline for.

JeremyLC

Just as a follow-up. I took the Cross-Check. I turned in a respectable 19.0mph average, too. I wouldn't have been able to come up with road drops and a water bottle solution in time, and I decided I really wasn't eager to ride 100km with a Camelbak. It went fairly smoothly, though I did start to cramp up about 35-40 miles in and the rest stops didn't have any pickles or pickle juice available

I had to take a breather on the side of the road, even



(well, okay, I did have to stop for a minute due to leg pain, but I easily got going again before being picked up la voiture-balais)

JeremyLC

And, a year later…

I rode the fixed gear bike this year. My first 100k fixed! I believe I finished faster this year. I rode with my 48/18 gearing. I was not nearly as beat up this year either. I felt like I kept a better pace and a much more consistent cadence, too. I had a couple chances to practice spinning, too, when I found some roadies to draft for awhile. (thanks guys!)

TejanoTrackie 

Awesome !

thenomad

Sounds great, I miss my cross check.