Notices
Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling Do you enjoy centuries, double centuries, brevets, randonnees, and 24-hour time trials? Share ride reports, and exchange training, equipment, and nutrition information specific to long distance cycling. This isn't for tours, this is for endurance events cycling

Any advice for fixed gear century?

Old 07-04-19, 06:43 PM
  #1  
Dylansbob 
2k miles from the midwest
Thread Starter
 
Dylansbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,990

Bikes: ~'75 Colin Laing, '80s Schwinn SuperSport 650b, ex-Backroads ti project...

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 525 Post(s)
Liked 931 Times in 446 Posts
Any advice for fixed gear century?

I'm visiting some family in the midwest and hoping to ride a quick flat century. I've done a couple hilly PNW metrics on geared bikes, so I'm confidant a fixed 100 isn't going to be too bad. My biggest concern going in is I'm not accustomed to 90F temps that are expected. I'm guessing I'll set a hydration alarm for every 20minutes or so.

Any other advice.
Dylansbob is offline  
Old 07-04-19, 07:15 PM
  #2  
79pmooney
Senior Member
 
79pmooney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,830

Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder

Mentioned: 128 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4745 Post(s)
Liked 3,861 Times in 2,510 Posts
Originally Posted by Dylansbob
I'm visiting some family in the midwest and hoping to ride a quick flat century. I've done a couple hilly PNW metrics on geared bikes, so I'm confidant a fixed 100 isn't going to be too bad. My biggest concern going in is I'm not accustomed to 90F temps that are expected. I'm guessing I'll set a hydration alarm for every 20minutes or so.

Any other advice.
The ultimate test of setup (fit). Maybe carry 3 water bottles. (I often run a third under the downtube. Yes I have to stop to swap it, but it has bailed me out a few times. Or a camelback.

The midwest upwind on a fix gear is where you really see if your bike and position on it work. I set my bikes up to be comfortable for long periods of time with my hands in the drops. Yes, hands over the hoods is more aero and therefor faster and easier. But when you are tired and hit that thing you spaced and didn't see, the drops are a far safer place to be. And upwind on the fix gear is exactly where "tired and spaced" happen.

Probably too late now, but double sided rear wheels can be very nice. Use cogs one or two teeth apart. Going to a larger cog for that long upwind can be a godsend.

Ben (with more than a few fixed gear centuries under his belt)
79pmooney is offline  
Likes For 79pmooney:
Old 07-04-19, 07:26 PM
  #3  
rm -rf
don't try this at home.
 
rm -rf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: N. KY
Posts: 5,918
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 964 Post(s)
Liked 496 Times in 343 Posts
Does that mean you'll stay seated for the whole 100 miles? I have to remember to shift to a harder gear and stand up occasionally on long very flat rides.

My Garmin is set with a 6-minute timer repeat for taking a drink. It's helped on hot days. I can't easily catch back up if I forget to drink enough. 20 minutes? I'd have to drink half a bottle if I waited that long!

On a really hot day, two bottles an hour isn't unusual. I plan the route for water stops. It's even nice to squirt a little water on arms and knees at times, too.

Last edited by rm -rf; 07-04-19 at 07:31 PM.
rm -rf is offline  
Likes For rm -rf:
Old 07-04-19, 08:14 PM
  #4  
wipekitty
vespertine member
 
wipekitty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Land of Angora, Turkey
Posts: 2,476

Bikes: Yes

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 687 Post(s)
Liked 220 Times in 163 Posts
All I can say is...ouch. Not ouch for the legs, but the seat.

I find long, flat stretches somewhat painful on a fixed gear. Easier climbs and especially rolling hills can help to break it up a bit; otherwise, it might be a good idea to stand up and sprint every once in a while! (My fixed gear century had climbing, as did my partly FG partly SS century; I am not brave enough to ride completely flat.)
wipekitty is offline  
Old 07-04-19, 08:18 PM
  #5  
Bandera
~>~
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: TX Hill Country
Posts: 5,932
Mentioned: 87 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1112 Post(s)
Liked 180 Times in 119 Posts
How much continual fixed gear seat-time do you have on the bike? Hopefully hours back to back in terrain similar to what you are going to ride.
I've found riding FG centuries to be relentless.
Hour after hour w/ not a single moment to coast and ease over rough surfaces, adjust one's shorts or swap empty bottles for full are minor annoyances you'd never think of on a FW machine but all add up.
As @79pmooney notes fit on a LD/FG machine, and adaption to it are critical.
With no option but to put out the spin and/or grunt on demand as terrain and wind conditions dictate physical stress can be considerable, a well fitted machine with lots of seat time on it is my recipe for century riding.

I use an old road race bike converted to FG w/ two brakes, a machine designed for riding at pace on open public roads for considerable distances. Two bottle cages and two bottles in jersey pockets give good range in the heat. A pump and full flats kit w/ a wrench to remove the rear wheel, front is QR, are carried w/ cell phone and ID/cash/CC/insurance and light food. I know my routes and the distances to service but start early in the heat and pace myself.

Have fun, LD/FG riding isn't for everyone but I enjoy the challenge and it's being part of a long tradition in cycling.

-Bandera
Bandera is offline  
Old 07-04-19, 08:35 PM
  #6  
Dylansbob 
2k miles from the midwest
Thread Starter
 
Dylansbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,990

Bikes: ~'75 Colin Laing, '80s Schwinn SuperSport 650b, ex-Backroads ti project...

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 525 Post(s)
Liked 931 Times in 446 Posts
I have a bike that I left there which should be mechanically sound, but questionable contact points. I don't know what the gearing is, I think low 60gi which is a bit lower than I use for my utility fix. Haven't been on a fixed gear for more than a couple hours at a time, but am fine for 6+hrs on geared bike. I already do ~85% of my riding on a fixed in hilly terrain, so not sure what to expect for riding through midwestern cornfields again after 25 yrs.

One piece of advice I got from a friend is to just get off the bike every few hours to break up the monotony on the legs.

Along those lines, on my geared rides, I use an rando bag. For this ride, I'm wondering if I should use bikepacking bags for food/extra water to encourage me to get off and stretch.
Dylansbob is offline  
Old 07-04-19, 09:16 PM
  #7  
UniChris
Senior Member
 
UniChris's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Northampton, MA
Posts: 1,909

Bikes: 36" Unicycle, winter knock-around hybrid bike

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 930 Post(s)
Liked 393 Times in 282 Posts
Originally Posted by Dylansbob
One piece of advice I got from a friend is to just get off the bike every few hours to break up the monotony on the legs.

Along those lines, on my geared rides, I use an rando bag. For this ride, I'm wondering if I should use bikepacking bags for food/extra water to encourage me to get off and stretch.
My centuries which were ridden fixed on a fairly flat route have featured a lot of breaks. It definitely inflates completion time, but makes a huge difference. I do a little just barely out of the saddle now and then and after that no longer works at the next intersection it's time to briefly stop for water, food, map / distance check, whatever.
UniChris is offline  
Old 07-04-19, 11:57 PM
  #8  
ThermionicScott 
working on my sandal tan
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,625

Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)

Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3868 Post(s)
Liked 2,560 Times in 1,574 Posts
Originally Posted by Dylansbob
I have a bike that I left there which should be mechanically sound, but questionable contact points. I don't know what the gearing is, I think low 60gi which is a bit lower than I use for my utility fix. Haven't been on a fixed gear for more than a couple hours at a time, but am fine for 6+hrs on geared bike. I already do ~85% of my riding on a fixed in hilly terrain, so not sure what to expect for riding through midwestern cornfields again after 25 yrs.

One piece of advice I got from a friend is to just get off the bike every few hours to break up the monotony on the legs.

Along those lines, on my geared rides, I use an rando bag. For this ride, I'm wondering if I should use bikepacking bags for food/extra water to encourage me to get off and stretch.
I've only done a metric fixed (it came to about 71 miles total IIRC), so take my thoughts with as big of a grain of salt as you'd like.

You'll want to bring the appropriate allen wrenches along in case you need to tweak your fit mid-ride. Spinning a gear in the low 60's would get old for me pretty quick unless I was planning a leisurely century with lots of braking on downhills and with tailwinds. Somewhere in the very low 70's works best for me, some beasts prefer higher gearing for fast centuries, but this makes riding up steep hills less of a sure thing.
__________________
Originally Posted by chandltp
There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
RUSA #7498
ThermionicScott is offline  
Old 07-05-19, 06:32 AM
  #9  
unterhausen
Randomhead
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,364
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,664 Times in 2,497 Posts
most of the Midwest isn't all that flat. Granted, not too many big climbs unless you go out of your way to find them. I suppose in some places you could ride 50 miles on a flood plain. Where are you going in the Midwest?
unterhausen is offline  
Old 07-05-19, 08:05 AM
  #10  
Dylansbob 
2k miles from the midwest
Thread Starter
 
Dylansbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,990

Bikes: ~'75 Colin Laing, '80s Schwinn SuperSport 650b, ex-Backroads ti project...

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 525 Post(s)
Liked 931 Times in 446 Posts
I'll be in Indiana. I've already checked the topo. Looks like ~800ft over 50m and I'm used to doing that over a two mile grocery/donut run. I've decided to prep and ship another bike for ride. Bumping my gearing up to 68gi and double cages. Going to take a couple extra bottles in a saddlebag along with food.
Dylansbob is offline  
Old 07-05-19, 11:57 AM
  #11  
Carbonfiberboy 
just another gosling
 
Carbonfiberboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,501

Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004

Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3873 Post(s)
Liked 1,920 Times in 1,369 Posts
Here's The Octopus' advice: https://www.bikeforums.net/long-dist...r-century.html
He's climbed Ventoux by all 4 routes fixed - in one day.
This should be a sticky.
__________________
Results matter
Carbonfiberboy is offline  
Likes For Carbonfiberboy:
Old 07-05-19, 12:09 PM
  #12  
79pmooney
Senior Member
 
79pmooney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,830

Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder

Mentioned: 128 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4745 Post(s)
Liked 3,861 Times in 2,510 Posts
Originally Posted by Dylansbob
I'll be in Indiana. I've already checked the topo. Looks like ~800ft over 50m and I'm used to doing that over a two mile grocery/donut run. I've decided to prep and ship another bike for ride. Bumping my gearing up to 68gi and double cages. Going to take a couple extra bottles in a saddlebag along with food.
Good move. (And I'll second bring the wrenches to change seat and bar positions. They weigh almost nothing and will be good for peace of mind even if you never need them.)

For me, 68" is a touch low. I like 70, though 68 is a good guess if upwind is to happen. I'll even go 72 if I am feeling strong/been riding fixed a lot. (Currently 44-17 on two bikes, 42-16 on another.)

Ben
79pmooney is offline  
Old 07-05-19, 12:32 PM
  #13  
wipekitty
vespertine member
 
wipekitty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Land of Angora, Turkey
Posts: 2,476

Bikes: Yes

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 687 Post(s)
Liked 220 Times in 163 Posts
Originally Posted by 79pmooney

For me, 68" is a touch low. I like 70, though 68 is a good guess if upwind is to happen. I'll even go 72 if I am feeling strong/been riding fixed a lot. (Currently 44-17 on two bikes, 42-16 on another.)
I've got to agree there. 44-17 is more of a climb/roller gear for me; I'd be tempted by 46-17 or 44-16 on a flat route.
wipekitty is offline  
Old 07-05-19, 01:00 PM
  #14  
Spoonrobot 
Senior Member
 
Spoonrobot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,049
Mentioned: 63 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1210 Post(s)
Liked 167 Times in 107 Posts
Originally Posted by Carbonfiberboy
Here's The Octopus' advice: https://www.bikeforums.net/long-dist...r-century.html
He's climbed Ventoux by all 4 routes fixed - in one day.
This should be a sticky.
I came to post this. It helped immensely when I did my first fixed gear century.

Don't overthink your gearing, just pick one and go.
Spoonrobot is offline  
Old 07-05-19, 02:17 PM
  #15  
MetinUz
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 957
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 34 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times in 7 Posts
I have done many long hilly rides on fixed gear (including PBP), but the thought of riding 100 flat miles scares me. On rolling terrain, you naturally stand up, vary your cadence, use different muscle groups. On fixed gear, flats will be a pain in the ass (literally) after a couple hours. If I had to do it, I would choose 75 to 80 gear inches and plan to stand a lot.
MetinUz is offline  
Old 07-09-19, 04:00 AM
  #16  
rhm
multimodal commuter
 
rhm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,852

Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...

Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times in 339 Posts
Yup.

I've ridden my fixed gear bike on a lot of centuries (110-115 miles usually) on Eastern Long Island, which is pretty flat, and several hilly 200k's in eastern PA and central NJ, and that was all fine. But this did not prepare me for a really flat 200k in southern NJ earlier this year. Riding the same cadence for hours on end, no standing up, no coasting, got really tiresome.
rhm is offline  
Old 08-13-19, 03:45 PM
  #17  
Chetster213
Junior Member
 
Chetster213's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Hollywood
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Just Curious

Why would someone prefer to ride a century with a fixie rather than a geared bike?
Additional derailleur weight? Are there century events/races that only allows fixies? Kindly enlighten me, guys.
Chetster213 is offline  
Old 08-13-19, 04:03 PM
  #18  
Bandera
~>~
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: TX Hill Country
Posts: 5,932
Mentioned: 87 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1112 Post(s)
Liked 180 Times in 119 Posts
Originally Posted by Chetster213
Why would someone prefer to ride a century with a fixie rather than a geared bike?
Do you enjoy riding a fixed gear bike on the open public roads?
Do you enjoy cycling for 100 miles at a stretch?

If the answer to both is "Yes" then a FG century is a perfectly reasonable and interesting thing you might well do.

If "No" to either then I'll fall back on what the Hardcore Harley Guys say:
"If you have to ask the question, you won't understand the answer."

-Bandera
Bandera is offline  
Old 08-13-19, 07:49 PM
  #19  
Chetster213
Junior Member
 
Chetster213's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Hollywood
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Bandera
Do you enjoy riding a fixed gear bike on the open public roads?
Do you enjoy cycling for 100 miles at a stretch?

If the answer to both is "Yes" then a FG century is a perfectly reasonable and interesting thing you might well do.

If "No" to either then I'll fall back on what the Hardcore Harley Guys say:
"If you have to ask the question, you won't understand the answer."

-Bandera
Don't get me wrong; nothing wrong with it. That sounds challenging to me!
Chetster213 is offline  
Old 08-14-19, 06:08 AM
  #20  
Bandera
~>~
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: TX Hill Country
Posts: 5,932
Mentioned: 87 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1112 Post(s)
Liked 180 Times in 119 Posts
Originally Posted by Chetster213
Don't get me wrong; nothing wrong with it. That sounds challenging to me!
If you are at "Yes & Yes" to the questions in Post #18 and up for what is a reasonable challenge the advice from the experienced LD/FG riders in this post will be helpful for your 1st FG Century.
Have at it, and enjoy a very traditional cycling activity.

-Bandera
Bandera is offline  
Old 08-14-19, 12:22 PM
  #21  
ThermionicScott 
working on my sandal tan
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,625

Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)

Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3868 Post(s)
Liked 2,560 Times in 1,574 Posts
Originally Posted by Chetster213
Why would someone prefer to ride a century with a fixie rather than a geared bike?
Additional derailleur weight? Are there century events/races that only allows fixies? Kindly enlighten me, guys.
Sometimes you need a new challenge once you have a bunch of regular centuries under your belt.
__________________
Originally Posted by chandltp
There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
RUSA #7498
ThermionicScott is offline  
Old 08-14-19, 01:54 PM
  #22  
rhm
multimodal commuter
 
rhm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,852

Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...

Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times in 339 Posts
Originally Posted by Chetster213
Why would someone prefer to ride a century with a fixie rather than a geared bike?
Additional derailleur weight? Are there century events/races that only allows fixies? Kindly enlighten me, guys.
You seem to assume that riding with gears is more fun, or easier, or more efficient, or something like that. If you believe that, fixie doesn't make any sense at all.

But in my experience, fixie is more fun. It's not easier, but it's not really harder either. It can be more of a challenge. It's more like a full contact sport somehow. Some routes are more fun on the fixie, others are not. So it makes sense to choose carefully.
rhm is offline  
Old 08-16-19, 01:08 PM
  #23  
63rickert
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,068
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1090 Post(s)
Liked 329 Times in 245 Posts
Fit really comfortable tires. Biggest that will work well on your frame. I like René Herse/Compass. Tubulars work too. Inflate lower than normal. Latex inner tubes are worth it. You are going to get to know your saddle real well. I have fewer saddle problems than anyone I know, long distance fixed will test you and your saddle.

Picking a gear is hard. Plenty of reasons to go up a little and plenty of reasons to go down a little. I would go down a little and not worry about how finish time compares to your geared bike times.
63rickert is offline  
Old 08-16-19, 01:51 PM
  #24  
79pmooney
Senior Member
 
79pmooney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,830

Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder

Mentioned: 128 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4745 Post(s)
Liked 3,861 Times in 2,510 Posts
Originally Posted by Chetster213
Why would someone prefer to ride a century with a fixie rather than a geared bike?
Additional derailleur weight? Are there century events/races that only allows fixies? Kindly enlighten me, guys.
Some of us simply prefer to ride fixed. Also a fix gear century is more of a challenge and some of us like challenges. Yes, there is the "perfect" century where the grade, wind, etc. is so perfect that a fix gear is more efficient and easier. But overall, fix gear riding is between 10 and 33% harder. And in hills, it stays hard even at slower pacing. A very hilly century can be just plain hard. Now, some of us "cheat" and bring extra cogs, but that requires stopping, cooling off, restarting and cost. The gear changes help (especially for us older folk) but they are not a free lunch.

I'll be riding a century Sunday with an advertised 4k' of climbing plus 550' to get to the ride and home. I'll go with a 17 and 22 on the hub and carry a 13 and 16. (The 16 in case the 17 feels too low or we have a tailwind.) Also a custom aluminum chainwhip and a Pedros Trixie wrench. I think I can get to the midway/high point just flipping the wheel and swap the 22 for the 13 for the ride home. It will be a real day.

I won't claim I'll be doing more work, putting out more power or anything else that can be measured than if I rode with gears (and perhaps in pacelines I cannot manage on a fix gear). But it will be "harder" in ways that cannot be measured. If you don't believe me, I guess you just have to try it.

Ben
79pmooney is offline  
Old 08-16-19, 02:03 PM
  #25  
79pmooney
Senior Member
 
79pmooney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,830

Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder

Mentioned: 128 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4745 Post(s)
Liked 3,861 Times in 2,510 Posts
Originally Posted by rhm
You seem to assume that riding with gears is more fun, or easier, or more efficient, or something like that. If you believe that, fixie doesn't make any sense at all.

But in my experience, fixie is more fun. It's not easier, but it's not really harder either. It can be more of a challenge. It's more like a full contact sport somehow. Some routes are more fun on the fixie, others are not. So it makes sense to choose carefully.
+! especially the part about some routes being more fun! I've ridden 4 Cycle Oregons fixed. First two were very mountainous and hard, but, the routes had one or two hard climbs and fast descents each day. Not a lot of stopping and changing gears. (I was 59 years old for the first. Going to Crater Lake and down on just one gear wasn't going to happen.) My third Cycle Oregon fixed did some of two days on the Oregon coast highway. That was a nightmare. Hills, both up and down, way too long to be fun on just one gear but way too many to be stopping all time. Leg and crotch killer. I won't do that again.

I like that full contact sport analogy!

Ben
79pmooney is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.