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General: 100+ miles on a fixie? LB to SD

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    any one do this? and know of any info on the route?
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    I have no information on your particular route, but a friend of mine who works at my local shop does centuries on his fixed gear all of the time.
    He has two brakes and moustache bars, though.
    • CommentAuthorAlM
    • CommentTimeJul 15th 2009
     
    I did 70 with no preparation.


    If your fit, and a strong enough rider you can do it.
    • CommentAuthorcloud
    • CommentTimeJul 16th 2009
     
    i lol'd when i read this and then saw you signed up here about 6 hours ago. i thought it was a pretty bad ass first discussion started, props. i don't have a route for you but go for it. make sure you have a comfty saddle/set up, eat a banana 30 minutes before you ride, hell bring an ipod and go to town.
    • CommentAuthorkeithd
    • CommentTimeJul 16th 2009
     
    load your self up with carbs from pasta or something else the night before and drink a lot of fluids. Bring some foods like cliff bars or hammer products. Strech before and after. And dont kill your self in the beginning.
    • CommentAuthorthe rabbi
    • CommentTimeJul 16th 2009
     
    stop for lunch somewhere and take your time.
    • CommentAuthorlixxxalot
    • CommentTimeJul 16th 2009
     
    i did a century on my fixie through Napa - its definitely a doable ride but be prepared to be exhausted. i got a bunch of props as a girl on a fixie but i was so tired i wanted to cry on the inside. i would also suggest putting a front brake on so that you can at least rest your legs a bit when you're bombing downhill. Good luck!
    • CommentAuthorwes m.
    • CommentTimeJul 16th 2009
     
    Dont waste too much energy thinking. You would be surprised how much energy you can waste by getting excited, stay calm. Dont ride too hard off the start. Its better to finish strong than to start strong. You are going to want some bars with multiple hand positions. Soft soled shoes and track pedals is a recipe for sore feet at that distance. Drink often, even when you are not thirsty, same goes for eating.
    • CommentAuthorgreg
    • CommentTimeJul 16th 2009
     
    Yeah, doing a century on risers sucks. Drop bars are popular on touring bikes for a reason - more hand positions
    • CommentAuthorLyKqiD
    • CommentTimeJul 16th 2009
     
    Posted By: wes m.You are going to want some bars with multiple hand positions.

    Best advice you will get...! I have not tackled a century, however the elbows and shoulders are the first to start cramping for me.
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    it is always my legs that cramp
    • CommentAuthorlixxxalot
    • CommentTimeJul 16th 2009
     
    its me again - i did my century with bullhorns (Syntace Stratos 400) and it wasn't all that comfortable. But then again, I don't think any handlebars would be too comfortable after 65+ miles. I would also like to suggest purchasing nice GEL-PADDED gloves - that is unless you don't mind having numb fingers for 3 weeks straight after your ride.
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    Posted By: lixxxaloti got a bunch of props as a girl on a fixie but i was so tired i wanted to cry on the inside.

    Hahah, classic.
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    Posted By: AlMI did 70 with no preparation.
    If your fit, and a strong enough rider you can do it.


    Im gonna do a couple 60's before hand this weekend to see how i can hang, i come from DH/MTB'ing, only been riding a fixie for a couple months... Its like riding a nimble cheetah, if the cheetah had a crank/pedals and two handles coming out of its head. yeah.. i said it.
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    Posted By: wes m.Dont waste too much energy thinking. You would be surprised how much energy you can waste by getting excited, stay calm. Dont ride too hard off the start. Its better to finish strong than to start strong. You are going to want some bars with multiple hand positions. Soft soled shoes and track pedals is a recipe for sore feet at that distance. Drink often, even when you are not thirsty, same goes for eating.


    good advice, thanks
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    Posted By: gregYeah, doing a century on risers sucks. Drop bars are popular on touring bikes for a reason - more hand positions


    damn, i got risers. but also have some drops, sitting around.

    Im running 54-18 ( or 56 ) cant remember, its death on hills
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    I was thinking doing 50 miles, take a 2 hour brake and finishing the rest. but i dont know the terrain to SD, could be hilly, ( laguna is hilly ) .... not hill billy
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    any body up to ride LB ( downtown ) to Wedge/Newprt this weekend? 56-60miles round trip
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    i've ridden a dozen fixed centuries here in michigan, where it's pretty flat, and i have been okay with bullhorns (profile airwing). road drops would certainly give you even more hand positions. DO NOT use track drops. drinking and eating regularly is good advice. as for breaks, maybe i'm just old, but i've found that frequent, short breaks is the best way to keep on pace; the longer the break, the stiffer i get. i can't really imagine stopping for two hours and then getting back on the saddle and riding another 50 miles. but see how you feel after your 50-mile practice rides. like wes m. says, stay calm and finish strong!
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    Good advice in this thread for sure.
    I'm gonna go another route here.


    Why?

    Not saying it isn't rad to do difficult things but I'm curious why you'd wanna do a ride that long on a bike designed for the exact opposite type of thing?
    I ride a track bike myself but other than proving that I can take down a hundo without exploding my knees for some sorta bet I don't think I'd ever do that kinda distance in one ride on that bike. Get me a nice road / touring bike with gears and coasting and brakes and water bottles and road drops with hoods for my hands and a comfy saddle and I'm in heaven. Put me on a fuckin track bike for hours upon hours and I'm gonna wonder why I even started cycling to begin with.
    Same reason I don't show up at the velodrome with a beach cruiser.

    Just friendly curiosity :)
    • CommentAuthorfixedpuch
    • CommentTimeJul 17th 2009
     
    Jay, but beach cruisers on the drome are the tits. Havent you heard?

    I agree, I just built up a touring bike and it rocks, so comfortable. Just as cool as track bikes but just in different ways(cause I know you all are worried about style points). Plus, roadies and touring bikes were built to go on longer rides than fixed gears. If you have big hills in your ride(I ride in the mountains of Colorado) its definately NOT fun to climb Lookout Mountain or Mt Evans(a 14er) on my track bike with 48-17/15.
    • CommentAuthorSkidMark
    • CommentTimeJul 17th 2009
     
    The only hill that will murder you is Torrey Pines Road coming up from Solana Beach I believe. The cool thing is that if you sag you can hop on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, it has bike racks.

    When I left San Diego all I had was my track bike and I wanted to get in a long scenic ride before going back to Portland, so I rode from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo, 113 miles. I got one of those racks that bolts on the seatpost so wouldn't be carrying a messenger bag on my back. They carry the weight too high and I was fighting the bike wanting to tip when I stood up to pedal. There were 3 or 4 murderous hills and lots more rolling hills and the downhills taxed me just as much. I stopped a lot, and I could have used more water. If I did it again it would be with a bike with panniers and two water bottle cages, a longer wheelbase and fatter tires. My KHS is super-short and steep but I think most of what's considered a track bike these day would be fine, with a rack to carry your shit and extra water.

    Track geometry is not that much different than road racing geometry and those TDF guys are busting out a century a day, I'm sure their bikes are comfortable because any amount of discomfort is subtracting from your pedaling effort, and that I can conclude from my own experience, not to say I even remotely compare to a pro rider, I am casual cyclist at best. It really down to whether your bike fits you, and your saddle is at the right height and tilt, and your handlebars don't stretch you out too much or make you lean over too much.

    As far as handlebars go risers suck ass for climbing, period. Bullhorns or drops are the way to go, and I didn't mind my B123's but I did put my stem at max height. Still I swear most of my fatigue was from holding my upper body up because there was still a good 3" of drop to the top of the handlebars.

    For gearing I ran my usual 48 x 19 which is great for climbing, but sucks going downhill. 48 x 18 would have been a better choice.
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    Posted By: iron jaidenGood advice in this thread for sure.
    I'm gonna go another route here.


    Why?

    Not saying it isn't rad to do difficult things but I'm curious why you'd wanna do a ride that long on a bike designed for the exact opposite type of thing?
    I ride a track bike myself but other than proving that I can take down a hundo without exploding my knees for some sorta bet I don't think I'd ever do that kinda distance in one ride on that bike. Get me a nice road / touring bike with gears and coasting and brakes and water bottles and road drops with hoods for my hands and a comfy saddle and I'm in heaven. Put me on a fuckin track bike for hours upon hours and I'm gonna wonder why I even started cycling to begin with.
    Same reason I don't show up at the velodrome with a beach cruiser.

    Just friendly curiosity :)


    i realize you are asking the op, but i have my own answer. i have also ridden a few centuries on my geared bike, and those were great rides, but the bike itself is quite old and needs a lot of attention. my track bike, on the other hand, stays in tip-top operating condition and, most importantly as skid mark notes, i've got the saddle height and stem length pretty much dialed so it is very comfortable. also, again because it is pretty flat around here, the prospect of spending a good six hours locked into that steady cadence and perfecting those circles i am making with my legs and feet still has a lot of appeal.

    that said, i have taken a few longish rides on my older son's giant tcr advanced, and that bike rides like a dream. the only problem is that the way he has it set up doesn't fit me that well (he is at least three inches taller, the last time i checked). i think it's really just a matter of getting a shorter stem, though, and i look forward to doing just that after he goes back to school and leaves the bike. a century on that bike would be heaven.
    • CommentAuthorCh3n207
    • CommentTimeJul 17th 2009
     
    I do it all the time bro. I live in nyc. Start from 14th street east side highway, where the bike route is. Then follow through till your out around 95th street. Then just go straight and you'll hit 165th street, go up that hill and make a left to another hill and go straight till you hit the George Washington bridge. Cross it and then make a right and go straight and follow the 9w sign all the way to Bear Mountain. There is a rest stop at Piermont if you like to rest. But i go to Nyack where Toga the bike store is located to refuel up and then continue along to Bear Mountain. After i hit the bear mountain park i just turn around and come back to Nyc. It's a great route, i love the scenary and the relaxation you get from it. It's just you and the road. I do it because It's a place for me to go to escape Nyc's noises,tourist, traffic,etc. But i'll have to warn you if your not a strong climber. Don't do it and if your planning on going, don't go with riser handlebars. Use drops or bullhorns so you can pull on them while climbing. But i haven't been able to do this route in a while because im waiting for my road bike to be built up. I did it on my fixed all the time but then after awhile you get a little to ambitious. And plus it's not good for your knees. I LOVE CYCLING TOO MUCH TO RIDE A FIXED GEAR BIKE JUST SO I COULD BE ON THE BAND WAGON. Which is why most people get a fixed now a days. But it is a fun route. Good luck.
    • CommentAuthorsfbee
    • CommentTimeJul 17th 2009
     
    not to be redundant, but yea... totally doable.

    I've only done one on my fixed gear so far, and my dumb ass did it with risers... Take heed to every one's advice concerning the use of hooded road drops (or horns if road drops aren't available), because they're right. Also, use your break generously. While you may feel special that you can slow yourself down and stop effectively without them, your knees won't be sharing the sentiment after doing it for a 100+ miles.

    I did mine with a 49/16 setup, which worked for me since Houston and it's surrounding areas are completely flat. I'm not sure what your geographic region is like, but make sure you run a ratio that will be able to accommodate what ever it throws at you, but not leaving you spinning at a a snails pace.

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