Fixed Around the World
02-23-05, 07:03 PM
#1
deep fried goodness
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Fixed Around the World
This crazy Brit showed up on FGG today. He just completed going across the US on his fixie pulling a trailer and misc touring gear, riding a 44x17! His goal is to ride it around the world. His website has his journal, pics, and quite a bit of dry Brit humour and inspiration. Among his reasons to ride a fixie:
Taking a fixed wheel bike on a 20,000km trip is, … unusual.
The reasons are:
It's different and a challenge
I've had the bike for a year and it is fantastic
It is one of George Longstaff's last bikes, made just before his untimely death
I didn't want to buy (nor could afford) a new "expedition" bike.
The fixed offers virtually maintenance free running
Riding fixed ensures that you don't go fast enough for the trailer to get out of hand
Riding fixed gives a bit more reassurance on poor surfaces
The average speed is only 1 km/h less than I achieve on a geared road bike.
The ultimate in self-sufficiency and simplicity. Many cheers and beers to this dude. Makes me want to give the office the finger and take off tomorrow!
Taking a fixed wheel bike on a 20,000km trip is, … unusual.
The reasons are:
It's different and a challenge
I've had the bike for a year and it is fantastic
It is one of George Longstaff's last bikes, made just before his untimely death
I didn't want to buy (nor could afford) a new "expedition" bike.
The fixed offers virtually maintenance free running
Riding fixed ensures that you don't go fast enough for the trailer to get out of hand
Riding fixed gives a bit more reassurance on poor surfaces
The average speed is only 1 km/h less than I achieve on a geared road bike.
The ultimate in self-sufficiency and simplicity. Many cheers and beers to this dude. Makes me want to give the office the finger and take off tomorrow!
02-23-05, 08:08 PM
#3
nothing: lasts forever
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touring fixed at this level is the pinnacle of cycling achievement in my mind. this man has my envy...but not for long.
02-23-05, 09:02 PM
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02-23-05, 09:14 PM
#5
Coasting makes you grumpy
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Makes me feel all the more weak. First thought was "what a nut". Second thought was, "so jealous".
Love the trailer design.
Love the trailer design.
02-23-05, 09:31 PM
#7
Coasting makes you grumpy
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That would be the commute from hell.....almost neverending.
02-23-05, 10:05 PM
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old codger
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165 I know that was rhetorical, but at his pace 30 days from Chicago to Seattle. You may have to wait until you are older to match that though.
02-23-05, 10:20 PM
#9
pluralis majestatis
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I'd love to do cross a continent on a bike that at that age. Unless, of course, I strike black gold (really)... then it'd be in a 60s British roadster
