Fixed mountain climbing gear. Help please

Turns out I was on the local news last night (as noticed by folk at work).

Valiantly fighting my way up a mountain in a fixed gear?
Spinning like a nutter on the slight down hill?

Nope, lying on the floor at the finish line, recovering from my black-out. What a bunch of cnuts!

(at 2min,15sec)
http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/more_og_romsdal/1.6650793

Doing this again on Saturday. But because of the stubburn winter and my relapse into Rugby addiction. I had done little in terms of real preparation (and put on some ribb protecting bulk). I do now have a 26 tooth cog thanks to George Sportif (and AndyP for the heads-up). So I will be running 41:26, as opposed to last years 41:23. This should make things alot more comfortable.

This year I know that the route is ridable on a fixed 40 - 50 inch gear. Last year I just turned up with the bike, struggled a bit during my warm up on the first part of the climb, and started already feeling pretty defeated. Also last year it had rained non-stop for the week running up to the event. Leaving the clay/gravel road at the top, pretty swampy. This time things have been drier so far.

I'm starting to look forward to it, and am hoping to post a far better time then last year. Now that I have a better idea of pace. Thanks again for all the advice and help. I'll post a quick review here next week (if anyones interested ;) ).

Will you collapse in a big heap as you cross the line for the benefit of the TV cameras again?

Good luck :)

Have fun.

Nutter.

Will you collapse in a big heap as you cross the line for the benefit of the TV cameras again?

Nope.

Having been in the local paper (centre page spread), beig lifted by my shorts in a rugby line-out. With a considerable amount of 'spider legging' going on. I shall endeavour to minimze the amount of shame I bring to my family in the future ;)

I may do 'the bird' though. I hear its a great idea for budding cyclists

good luck man, post some photos, like all these nutty events,
dig deep
have you ever done Vasoloppet round the corner from you?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasaloppet

Good luck seems like an excellent event!

Missed this thread last year. Well done, and good luck again!

Never tempted by those weirdos who ride up mountains in Italy for a week, but this sounds like a bit of fun. If only there was still a ferry to Norway... Stupid budget airliners.

If only there was still a ferry to Norway... Stupid budget airliners.

+1 I love ferries and i love Norway.

Reading about the fjord on wiki:

The Geirangerfjord is under constant threat from the mountain Åkerneset which is about to erode into the fjord. A collapse would produce a tsunami, hitting several nearby towns including Geiranger and Hellesylt in about ten minutes.[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geirangerfjord#cite_note-1"][/URL]

good luck man, post some photos, like all these nutty events,
dig deep
have you ever done Vasoloppet round the corner from you?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasaloppet

I'm from the English westcountry, so am shite on skis. Having sad that I do plan on doing the Birkenbeiner cross-country skiing event at some point (maybe after upgrading my wooden skis). As well as the mounain biking version (I'll do it singlespeed of course;) )

Reading about the fjord on wiki:

Yeah, thats nuts. If you travel to Hellesylt there is a small church which marks the height you wll need to get to. To have a chance of survival. Seeing it makes it all very real. I saw an interview with an old local standing next to a 1.5 meter crack n the supect mountain. He described how they used to step across it as kids (so 0.5 meter?). Thats pretty damned quick movement for a mountian side.

It makes me think of Preikestolen, which also has a giant crack going through it, and, presumably, will fall into the fjord one day. Hopefully without anyone on it (thankfully it didn't happen the day I was up there). Although, Preikestolen is not a mountain...

I was thinking of using a spline crank and chainring for a tour of europe. The idea(if long winded)to change chain ring for accents and replace with larger ring for deccent. Would anyone know whether these components would be strong enough for this purpose? Or is this a totally rediculous idea?

It makes me think of Preikestolen, which also has a giant crack going through it, and, presumably, will fall into the fjord one day. Hopefully without anyone on it (thankfully it didn't happen the day I was up there). Although, Preikestolen is not a mountain...

The whole cracking thing is very common because of the climate up here. My driveway is partially dug (well blasted) into mountain rock, and I pull loose looking bits (a metre high chunk last year)of rock off the side quite often. The issue is the shear size of the chunk of mountan side which is moving.

I was thinking of using a spline crank and chainring for a tour of europe. The idea(if long winded)to change chain ring for accents and replace with larger ring for deccent. Would anyone know whether these components would be strong enough for this purpose? Or is this a totally rediculous idea?

Not sure what you mean TBH.

But if can get the chainline right. You can just use a compact road crankset (with say 44 and 34 tooth chainrings), and a flip/flop hub (with say 15 and 22 tooth sprockets). Giving you say:
44:15
34:22

or if you can afford it you can get a white industries double crankset and a surly double fixed sprocket. This might be easer to set up.

Should be doable somehow.

Well the ride was a mixed bag.

The first 1000m assent went really well. I did some pretty decent split times and after a spin on the flat after reaching 1000m I felt really strong.

But then I hit the weather. From 12 degrees and raining all the way, over the plateau things turned nasty. It was 0 degrees and raining sideways through freezing fog. The last 5 km were near impossible as the clay road had turned to a swamp. Eventualy both my legs cramped up and I had to walk. Occasionally climbing back on the bike, but not for long. The top was like a scene from a zombie film with people wandering around wet and cold, carrying kit bags (sent up in advance) they could'nt open because of frozen fingers.

My final time was disapointing. Going to have to do it again next year now ;)

Epic.
Good work, smallfurry.
No shame in walking, and I should know.
What was the descent like in those shitty conditions?

Epic.
Good work, smallfurry.
No shame in walking, and I should know.
What was the descent like in those shitty conditions?

Well said GL and a big +1.

Small Furry, can you post a link to any pictures or video clips that come your way?

well done, mate!

sounds pretty full on in that country fo sure, damn I want to go back to Sweden again, get lost, anywhere actually, I need a holiday.........
well done small furry, stay strong,

Jesus, that sounds more like a fight for survival than a nice bike ride! Well done Lee, just finishing has to be an achievement in conditions like that.

Cheers guys. Still a bit disapointed with the time I made. But I dont blame myself for it. Looking at the three splits, several people had similar times for the first two, followed by a terrble final split. I assume cramp was common.

The scariest thing for me was the way my brain did'nt register the danger from the cold at the top. I managed to speed dial the missus, but then had to hang up because I could'nt hold the phone up (frozen arms). I then just started wandering down to the main road 5 km below (having loaded my bike on the event transport). after a kilometer, two ladies, whom had been handing out drinks at the top, picked me up in there car. I started making a fuss about being too wet and dirty to sit in their car (but that I would love to, of course). They did'nt seem to think I was going to make it to the road on foot, which I thought was strange as it was less than 4 kilometers. I had to lie across the rear seats as my legs would no longer bend. After 5 minutes in the heat of the car my brain started to get some perspective, and I had what the Norwegians call an 'a ha' moment (nothing to do with the band, just means 'oh').

I now understand how mountain hikes go wrong. Sometimes the panick button in your brain just doesnt go off, I suppose.

Anyway, like I say, there's always next year* ;)

(* this time I will pack my insulated boiler suit I think)

Some pic's here.
http://www.frafjordtilfjell.com/hoved.php?valg=0

yes, quality. Looks pretty moody on that course. Is that race well known where you are? some good photos.

you have probably heard of the O.M.M. used to be the K.I.M.M, its always on the weekend clocks go back, and generally shite conditions, 2 years ago in the lakes there was some freak rainfall, and they dragged most of the competitors off the hill, which has made that event even more popular.

doing this http://www.endurancelife.com/event.asp?series=20&location=51
in july solo, its carried over from last year when it got postponed, looking forward to it as last time I did a single day event on Dartmoor came 3/48. so yeah there always is next year youre right.

Funnily enough their doing the O.M.M. there too this year, it isnt as wild as Norway, but ive had some tough times on there before.

I'm actually from Plymouth, specifically a part bordering Dartmoor. The conditions there can get pretty nasty. In fact, I remember the penetrating cold mist that seemed to come from nowhere and go right through your jacket/tent etc. In much the same way it did to me in Geiranger on Saturday.