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@niceonetom
wow, peoples is sensitive around here.
i come in, i ask if you guys have a clue what you're doing, and for some reason, offence is taken? that makes me suspect that you don't. feel free to correct me.
i'm really just trying to assuage my curiosity...
have you guys ever done long distance (150km +) fixed?
have you ever done these hills, fixed or not?
my main concern is that you guys might pose a bit of a risk to other participants.
are you familiar with riding in a group? the etiquette of it? how to not be a dick?
do you understand that the way you will accelerate and decelerate on a fixie is different enough from a geared bike to make riding in a group difficult and dangerous? are you prepared to stay out of people's way? or is this being done with a 'fuck em anyway' frame of mind? Are you VERY thick skinned? people will shout at you.
are you using a brakes for this? do you understand what these descents are like? and that you are going to be being passed by guys doing 80kph+ ?
i have huge respect for anyone who can pull this (fixed) off, but most people who attempt it are hardened roadies who do have done a few WW200s before and who eat hills for breakfast - not people who are overly concerned with barspins.
for reference i did a 160km sportive last weekend on my fixie - it was very enjoyable, but that was largely becuase the first part of the course was flat enough to stay on the back of the group without problems and we let the group go before things got properly lumpy. being in the middle of a group of 150 cyclists who come to a descent, the speed goes form 30 to 60 in a few seconds - everyone else can gear up and stay together but unless you can spin like a bastard and stay in place, you begin to drift back and everyone has to get around you. Poeple don't recognise a fixie is slowing because you're still pedalling, and the danger of getting rear-ended and there being a pile up is real.
i hope you do it, and have fun doing it, but mostly i hope you don't fuck anyone else day up. that's all.