pjb

Hey everyone,
I did my first century ride today. It ended up being 110 miles since I wanted to make it from Chicago's southside to the Wisconsin border and back. Took about 9 hours with stops included.

I was just curious about others experiences with longer fixed gear rides. My knees are pretty sore and if it weren't for some advil about half way through my legs would have caught on fire. Ratio was 48/17 which I don't regret. I am really glad I had aerobars on, definitely helped keep me going (I don't know how much the aero position helped wind-wise but the posture definitely inspired me to keep my speed up.

Who else has done 100+ fixed on here and what were your experiences/advice from the ride? How long did it take you? Hardest aspect for you personally? What ratio? etc etc.

Thanks,
pete.

monsterkidz

I did 140+ miles (NYC to Montauk) on my track bike. Pretty flat ride, geared at 48x17 with a front brake. Knees held up fine, but the last hour or so I was in pretty bad shape. Just tired overall and cranky. Stopped for ice cream and felt a lot better! haha! My normal longish rides are 60-70 miles and more hilly terrain. One thing I've learned is if you need to rest, don't rest for too long it makes it that much harder to get back on and bang out more miles.

pjb

this exactly.

riot2003

Some day... I was trying to hit 50 this season... and failed. You guys kick ass in my eyes.

FastJake

Everyone wants to come to Wisconsin

Congrats on your first century. The most I've done at one time was just over 50 miles in about 3.5 hours. I'm still working up to 100.

prind0

Haven't done a century yet, hell I've yet to do half a century. However, I'm panning a metric century ride with my friends before it starts getting really cold. Hopefully before mid November.

LoRoK

9 hours for 110 flat miles? That seems a little slow. I've done 90 while crossing two mountain ranges in 6 hours. That's my best so far, so you've got me beat, even if it was a little slow.

diff

Which route did you take? Would love to hear.

Thanks.

hopealot

I did 2 centuries fixed last month on my Sputnik -- first one ended up being 110 miles in about 6:30, second was 100 even in 5:40. Before those rides I'd done a bunch of rides in the 40-60 mile range. Didn't really have any of the trouble others report when riding that far on a fixie.. no knee pain or ass pain. I credit the sputnik for being such a great ride and the fact that I must have successfully set it up just right for myself. I think long distances are completely do-able on a fixed gear, even more if you have a good base of miles built up beforehand.

post

Just finished doing 52 this passed weekend when a friend came to visit. Wasn't fast in terms of time because we stopped at several LBS's and other points of interest but when we were on the move speed ranged from 17-22mph. I have to say that my ars began to hurt around mile 40+.

fenny

I did a 200km ride last month on my Sputnik (44x17, I like to spin). Knees weren't sore but my arms and wrists were, I probably won't do another century on a non-touring bike.

I ride 5,000 miles a year so it's probably true about building up a base.

pjb

https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...&z=10&lci=bike

Thats a huge link jeeze. (Google Maps) was basically this, with some minor changes in the spots between the trails.

pjb

Yeah I wasn't trying to push it too hard or anything, just to keep a steady pace throughout. I was actually surprised at how accurate google map's estimated time was.

diff

Cool, have never been on the north shore trail yet. Maybe if it's nice next weekend will do the whole lake shore path north and then try to find the north shore path just to check it out.

There is also another bike path that goes through the center of lake county, I think it's called half day path or something. Want to try and find that one too one day.

dsh

My legs are usually fine for centuries.

Sometimes my ass hurts though.

adriano 

keep looking for that right seat and saddle position. also, raising handlebars helps.

c0urt

I have done several centuries on my fixed.
44x16 with a 700x23

but these day's for longer rides like that, i prefer to ride freewheel

Sixty Fiver

Before I injured my back I would have thought nothing of riding my fg 100 miles and had my Kuwahara Cascade set up for fixed gear touring and also have my 1955 Raleigh Lenton which is an excellent long distance bike.

The Lenton is geared a little higher so works better for higher speed rides while the Cascade was set up for loaded riding and then if one just wants to hammer it I do have a fixed road bike.

No matter how you do the 100 the most important thing is to be on a bike that fits you well and that you know are capable of riding for many hours as people who are fit will be happy to do a century in about 6 hours (or less) and most will take 7-8 hours.

My last century took me 7 hours (riding time) and I took very few breaks as you want to stay moving and even with a geared bike you should never stop pedaling.

Have found that riding a fg over distance is actually very pleasant and have had no problem chasing those centuries with rides of 30-40 miles the next day or even farther.




i

caloso

Longest I've done on the FG is 63 miles, up to Folsom and back on the ARBT. 42x15 or 16, I think. It's one of my favorite base miles rides.

Yalc

did a 100 mile charity ride, and a 2-day 240 mile ride from dallas to austin (48x17)

FastJake

Could I see a picture please? This sounds like a really cool bike. (Sorry to get off topic.)

Roland Owens

115 miles the first day of the STP this year fixed at 48x19 on my Kilo WT running 32c Top Contact touring tires, then 93 miles the next day. Big fun and no problems.

jimmytango

That is pretty much the route i had planned out. if you held to that route through edgewater you were about a block from my house at one point. next time youy do this let me know. i havent done a century yet, but i want to, and i seem to have a good set of legs for distance (2 weeks after getting my first bike in five years i did a metric half and wanted more, but my wife wanted me home.), and i dont think i wanna solo a century.

jackster57

I did 105 about a month ago, used an se draft with risers. I ran 48x16, which was probably a little to steep. Clipless pedals really helped, but I was still pretty beat by the end of it.

Sixty Fiver

I am only the second owner of this bike... has quite the patina of age but was meticulously cared for and was used for racing and time trials back in the 50's.

It is as smooth as silk and the combination of the 26 by 1 1/4 Dunlop tyres (old British racing size) and Wright's saddle makes it really comfortable.