That Was Quite Tough
Mark Elvin
Posts: 997
Feeling a bit tired this morning, did the Help For Heros New Forest Challenge yesterday, which worked out at 70miles.
Why take a bike with gears I thought to myself, so I took the fixie, which in hindsight may have been a mistake. Still, I completed it in a touch under 5hrs so I'm really pleased.
Met a really friendly bunch of people, I recommed doing a H4H bike ride if you get the chance, they feed & water you really well, even had a hog roast waiting for us at the end.
Why take a bike with gears I thought to myself, so I took the fixie, which in hindsight may have been a mistake. Still, I completed it in a touch under 5hrs so I'm really pleased.
Met a really friendly bunch of people, I recommed doing a H4H bike ride if you get the chance, they feed & water you really well, even had a hog roast waiting for us at the end.
2012 Cannondale Synapse
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Comments
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70 miles on a fixie :shock:
Mind you - didn't you get bored of the same GI?Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter0 -
Kieran_Burns wrote:70 miles on a fixie :shock:
Mind you - didn't you get bored of the same GI?2012 Cannondale Synapse0 -
Mud - Genesis Vapour CCX
Race - Fuji Norcom Straight
Sun - Cervelo R3
Winter / Commute - Dolan ADX0 -
Didn't really think of it TBH, (80.4GI), just enjoyed the ride & scenery.
Als felt very humbled by the two guys who had each lost a leg who completed it & the guy who had no legs, who also completed it, maximum respect.2012 Cannondale Synapse0 -
GI = Gear Inches. It works out as what size wheel the drive wheel on a Penny Farthing would have. The gearing on my fixie is 50:18 and would work out to the same gearing as a Penny Farthing with a drive wheel diameter of 73 inches.
Sheldon says:
"Gear Inches
It is the equivalent diameter of the drive wheel on a high-wheel bicycle. When chain-drive "safety" bikes came in, the same system was used, multiplying the drive wheel diameter by the sprocket ratio. It is very easy to calculate: the diameter of the drive wheel, times the size of the front sprocket divided by the size of the rear sprocket. This gives a convenient two- or three-digit number. The lowest gear on most mountain bikes is around 22-26 inches. The highest gear on road racing bikes is usually around 108-110 inches. "
This is a good page to work out your GI when you are contemplating what gear to build your fixie to.
So Mark, whats your GI?
Kieran, I did about 70-80 miles on Friday on a fixie (mainly along canal tow-paths so it hardly counts) and am planning my first fixed century. Its more of a challenge on a fixie and thats the fun part.FCN 3: Raleigh Record Ace fixie-to be resurrected sometime in the future
FCN 4: Planet X Schmaffenschmack 2- workhorse
FCN 9: B Twin Vitamin - winter commuter/loan bike for trainees
I'm hungry. I'm always hungry!0 -
EKE_38BPM wrote:This is a good page to work out your GI when you are contemplating what gear to build your fixie to.
So Mark, whats your GI?
80.4
Some nasty hills & the last 10miles were on a bloody awfull road surface, with a damed headwind.
Yet to get the GPS data, but I think I averaged around 15mph.2012 Cannondale Synapse0 -
I tried a gear in the 80s for a few days. It was a bit too much for me when I was starting out on a fixie and probably still is now.
Much respect both for doing the HfH ride and for doing it in that gear.FCN 3: Raleigh Record Ace fixie-to be resurrected sometime in the future
FCN 4: Planet X Schmaffenschmack 2- workhorse
FCN 9: B Twin Vitamin - winter commuter/loan bike for trainees
I'm hungry. I'm always hungry!0 -
EKE_38BPM wrote:I tried a gear in the 80s for a few days. It was a bit too much for me when I was starting out on a fixie and probably still is now.
Much respect both for doing the HfH ride and for doing it in that gear.
I hindsight a 17t on the rear was little bit too much, some of the climbs may have been easier if I had an 18t on the rear instead of a 17t, but I managed all of climbs without having to dismount, using the "attack it & worry about the pain afterwards" technique.
I the day before the ride I had an 18t on & was going to pop a 19t on, but a little voice in my head told me to fit the 17t instead. Damn those voices.2012 Cannondale Synapse0 -
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Dropping from 80.2 to 75.2 was the best thing that I have done recently and my knees thank me for it.0
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I roll with 77.6 with the rest option sprocket.I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.0