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I haven't done any long rides fixed or geared in a while but have been experimenting with my middle aged "comfort revision" fixed gear lately that i can comment on.
On my steel frame i didn't find much improvement in comfort going from 30c to 35c. I did however notice the weight/drag increase and for fixed road riding over longer distances would probably want to keep the bike as easy to propel forwards as possible.
I tried some mechanical disk options and in the dry, one was bad, one was on a par with a good rim brake. Obviously both would of been more impressive in the wet but personally i wouldn't bother unless going hydro or if i knew i was riding in the rain a lot.
On a steel frame on 35's i'm not sure you'll get much benefit out of a carbon post but a comfy saddle would be a must for me.
The only time i went touring covering some not pathetic distances i put all my focus into my fitness beforehand then had a bike fit a few weeks before i left which paid off.
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I have a brooks C17 and a C15 both with cut outs in different bikes and the 17 squeaks like a bastard after 30mins. The C15 is fine though. I think they are both super comfortable for all day rides, not done many multi days though. I wouldn’t bother with a carbon post on a steel frame especially with a C brooks.
Aero bars? I think they would be aces to hide out behind your bag in the wind.
I also have Paul Touring Canti’s and think they stop about as well as any none hydro disc I’ve ridden. They were crap when I first set them up, but doing the right angle straggle set up and having the pad to rim gap quite a bit bigger than on caliper brakes they have been faultless. -
What size tyres are you running atm? They look pretty girthy and I'd keep them that way, the biggest you can fit without any danger of rubbing on the the mudguards. With the state of the roads at the moment every little helps. It wasn't fixed but I've tinkered a lot over the past 18 months or so trying to find comfort, tubeless at lower pressures helped but I know road tubeless is divisive matter so to each their own!
IMO, a carbon seatpost wouldn't hurt, but the game changer as others have said is the saddle, which is a very particular thing. If you do change saddle, for the sake of your bits please do a couple of long shakedown rides! I'm a touch heavier than you at 82kg and I've found the newish Fizik Tempo Aliante to be super comfy, as long as you get the angle just right because of how much shape the saddle has. It's more a case of setting up to be in the saddle as opposed to on the saddle, if that makes any sense.
Aero bars, yes. you'll be massively thankful for them if for no other reason than to give your hands a bit of a break!
Not sure how much lead time you have but something I've found that materially increases my comfort on the bike on looong days out has nothing to do with the bike, and it's core strength. The stronger I am the longer I can hold myself in a good position on the bike and the longer the inevitable aches and pains take to set in.
Bon chance!
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jono84
Chaley
ElGonzo
@Nef
How do I make my bike more comfortable for longer, multi day rides? I’m tentatively thinking about a fixed LEJOG and wondering about improvements.
Saddle: I’ve always used Flites, but all the ones I have are hard and become pretty unforgiving by the end of a long day. Brooks Cambium with a cutout?
Seatpost: is there much to be gained from using a carbon post? Are suspension posts good? I’d be worried about not being able to push into the saddle when climbing seated.
Aero extensions are on the list for aero and another comfortable position.
Also braking. I currently have Paul Touring cantis with Koolstop pads. The front is noisy (which is remedied with toe-ing the pads and cleaning the rim again), front disc would be nice, but likely too complicated with new wheel, fork, lever etc.
in terms of pure performance, what’s the best bet short pull brake? Would it be silly to buy a Paul Mini Moto for the front?