Fixed Gear Tour 2016
Riding from Rochester Ny to Aurora Colorado this June 2016. Plan on filling a 10 liter bag under my seat post with a bivy/thermarest/wrench/patchkit/pump/credit card. 1,600 miles in total. I plan to average no less than 100 miles a day. 48x16. Longest fixed gear ride was summer of 2015 -- 122 miles in the hills of western new york. Tips, advice, support, recommendations, all welcomed. New to the community.
Peace and carbohydrates. |
No photos = No advice. Sorry ha
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Originally Posted by phytovictus
(Post 18433481)
Riding from Rochester Ny to Aurora Colorado this June 2016. Plan on filling a 10 liter bag under my seat post with a bivy/thermarest/wrench/patchkit/pump/credit card. 1,600 miles in total. I plan to average no less than 100 miles a day. 48x16. Longest fixed gear ride was summer of 2015 -- 122 miles in the hills of western new york. Tips, advice, support, recommendations, all welcomed. New to the community.
Peace and carbohydrates. I'm not sure how the hills of NY compare to the hills of CO, but pretty sure the latter are bigger. I'd consider a double sided wheel with maybe a 21t on the flip side for the steep climbs. |
That sounds like a pretty big gear for any kind of sustained climbing. Have you checked your route to see the elevation profile? Even with a light load, that seems like a big gearing for your task. Have you thought about having a high fixed gear on one side of the wheel and a much lower geared freewheel on the other side? This would allow you to ride fixed at a high speed on the flat(ish) sections, then stop and flip the wheel to the freewheel side for climbing and descending.
Edit: Salamandrine slipped in ahead of me! Too slow yet again. |
Bringing clothes, food or water? Rain coat, warmer clothes, off bike shoes, cooking? Sleeping bag? Thought about a 1x9/10 speed? Good luck with a day of headwind and hills. 100 miles min seems high. Touring is challenging enough. The appeal of fixed gear is? Touring experience?
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There aren't any mountains between Rochester, NY and Aurora, CO but I wonder if a 122 mile tour is enough for you to know if 48x16 is appropriate. I toured England on a 40x16 single speed and found it good for most hills and big enough on the flats to maintain a reasonable 15 mph.
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Originally Posted by nun
(Post 18434330)
There aren't any mountains between Rochester, NY and Aurora, CO but I wonder if a 122 mile tour is enough for you to know if 48x16 is appropriate. I toured England on a 40x16 single speed and found it good for most hills and big enough on the flats to maintain a reasonable 15 mph.
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Bringing an extra cog with me sounds reasonable -- 17t -- My only boast is that I'm in stellar condition and this challenge will either prove that or break me. To your point, Leebo, I'm concerned about food and shelter and repair as much as the next "tourist". The idea is to go super light. I reckon I can keep a days supply of food in the form of dried fruit and water on my person and refuel-re-equip at supermarkets along the way. I'll be taking the Transamerica route -- does anyone have experience with this?
Thanks everyone for engaging in my thread. |
Originally Posted by phytovictus
(Post 18434623)
I'll be taking the Transamerica route -- does anyone have experience with this?
The ACA Northern Tier Route goes through Rochester but beyond Muscatine IA you'd have to wing it on your own through IA/MO/NE, KA and on to Aurora CO. |
What might make the 48-16 or even a 48-17 feel huge would be two or three days of hard midwest or prairie headwinds. They can be relentless. And if the wind does pick up, it os almost guaranteed to be out of the West. I wouldn't count on too many tailwinds that make you wish for higher gears.
I rode Boston to Detroit long ago, averaging about 100 miles/day loaded a little heavier than you are planning. The last two days, Niagara Falls to Windsor though Ontario were hard to the bone and that was with a full complement of gears at 20 years old. Riding across Wisconsin two years later, west to east, was a joy. Glorious tailwinds every day. This fellow rode Boston to Portland last summer fixed traveling roughly as you plan. Check it out. (Sorry, this address will take you to day 17, not the start.) https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/..._id=423353&v=V Ben |
Stellar condition or not, 48-16 is a big gear, and it's going to feel bigger as the 100-mile days pass. I'd suggest 48-20 would be more sensible. That'll be plenty tough enough, and you can still cruise at around 18mph.
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If you are in stellar shape, go for it. Last year(2014, still need to figure out it is 2016 now) I rode a 5200 miler through the Appalachian on a 52x17 single speed. I was going to do this years(2015...see above, LOL:)) trip fixed 52x17 until I got the offer for the new bike that had the rack mounting options and I decided to try a whole new way of packing. I would do a fixed gear trip even 52x17 but I'm in stellar shape, rode over 21,900 miles last year and I already have over 200 miles in this year. I ride year round so I don't get out of shape.
A good test run southeast of you would be to go ride US20 starting in Cazenovia, NY and head westbound. Ride it fully loaded down the way you are planning on doing the trip. See if you can climb it, actually when you get up on the west side turn around and go back the other way and do the drop and climb roundtrip and see how it goes. Yes, the climbs out west are MUCH longer but they shallower pitched then the Appalachian climbs. Actually do the Cazenovia climb trip this winter. That will help to make it even harder for you. If you can easily pull it off I wouldn't be a bit worried about anything you will have to deal with out west. The climbs will be long but they won't be as steep. |
I wouldn't do it.
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I used to tell our son when he was racing cyclo cross on a single speed, "racing on a single speed is like playing a round of golf with only a nine iron; sometime during the race you may have the right tool for the conditions.":)
Actually, we found some hills in NY harder than the longer grades in the western mountains. Good luck, and enjoy. |
Originally Posted by bikenh
(Post 18434939)
A good test run southeast of you would be to go ride US20 starting in Cazenovia, NY and head westbound. Ride it fully loaded down the way you are planning on doing the trip. See if you can climb it, actually when you get up on the west side turn around and go back the other way and do the drop and climb roundtrip and see how it goes. Yes, the climbs out west are MUCH longer but they shallower pitched then the Appalachian climbs. Actually do the Cazenovia climb trip this winter. That will help to make it even harder for you. If you can easily pull it off I wouldn't be a bit worried about anything you will have to deal with out west. The climbs will be long but they won't be as steep. |
1 Attachment(s)
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=496684
Here is the route @BobG @79pmooney thanks for the blog share -- @bikenh -- challenge accepted ;) [COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.541176)] ^ 23,973 ft · v19,177 ft |
Originally Posted by Salamandrine
(Post 18433631)
I'm not sure how the hills of NY compare to the hills of CO, but pretty sure the latter are bigger. I'd consider a double sided wheel with maybe a 21t on the flip side for the steep climbs.
those in the west taller, long easy grades. |
Originally Posted by Leebo
(Post 18434576)
Ever been through PA or OH ?
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I would maybe take a little more gear for comfort. After a long day in the saddle fixed you might want more than what you are carrying. Maybe a small frame bag with extra clothes for weather and more food and water storage?
Also I would take different cogs as well (plus tools needed to change said cogs) and I would probably start off with a new Izumi Super Toughness or similar high quality chain (if you are doing 1/8) and a good quality cog. I might also consider taking a Dingle cog Drivetrain | Parts and Accessories | Surly Bikes (they recommend a 9 speed chain if you are doing that) and for sure a good freewheel like a White Industries Dos Eno Freewheel FREEWHEELS ? White Industries that way in total you have four gears two fixed and two freewheel just in case. Fixed is fun but I know for myself I wouldn't want to do a long extended tour fixed at least not without the set up I described above. There are some hills that I have done on a geared bike that I wouldn't care to do fixed. |
Originally Posted by nun
(Post 18436090)
I was assuming the OP would go from Rochester to Buffalo (maybe on the Erie Canal route) and then hug the coast of Lake Erie and head out across Indiana, Illinois and then the plains....not much to climb really
south of 90 its a roller coaster. same goes for the tiny bit of PA he'll cross through (he'll go through Erie), and then Cleveland. The Cleveland area can be rolling if you get south, and near the lake you'll want to route carefully coming into Cleveland. You'll have hills if you go through on a sane route and avoid East Cleveland. Once you get west of Cleveland depending on route it can be rolling, but if you stick with 2 (I think) near the lake out to Sandusky its pretty flat. |
Originally Posted by Leebo
(Post 18434576)
Ever been through PA or OH ?
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I've done fixed touring in Europe and numerous centuries in hilly terrain, with grocery shopping included!
I echo vegan's comments about ensuring quality machined cogs as opposed to stamped ones. I had the latter at one stage and it ruined the threads on a good hub. Apart from that, if you are used to riding in the terrain you intend to tour, and are confident of your stamina and stability of the ligaments and muscles in your legs, go for it. And remember, there is no shame in getting off and walking up a really steep hill. As a by-the-by, I know of several riders who have used fixed gear to participate in the Boston-Montreal-Boston 1200, including a really wonderful young woman whose enthusiasm for fixed riding is infectious. BMB went through many of the hills in the New England area, including the legendary Middlebury Gap. |
Originally Posted by phytovictus
(Post 18435796)
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=496684 Here is the route @BobG @79pmooney thanks for the blog share -- @bikenh -- challenge accepted ;) [COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.541176)] ^ 23,973 ft · v19,177 ft
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[QUOTE=phytovictus;18435796]http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=496684 In northern Ohio as long as you stay up by the lake and go through Cleveland you are fins. That 2012 trip was a riot thanks to not sticking to Cleveland. Found a nice stretch of road OH303. 30 miles with 3000 feet of climbing. Even though I lived many years in Ohio I never knew there was that kind of climbing in northern Ohio. Down in southeast Ohio, sure, I would expect it but not up in northern Ohio. 2013 I went right through the heart of Cleveland without any trouble on a weekday. As long as you are comfortable with traffic it won't be an issue going through Cleveland. I would stick to the highways.
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Originally Posted by phytovictus
(Post 18435796)
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=496684
Here is the route @BobG @79pmooney thanks for the blog share -- @bikenh -- challenge accepted ;) [COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.541176)] ^ 23,973 ft · v19,177 ft |
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