2012-05-06 - Tokyo Fixed & Chipotle Present "The Hunt" - Fixed Gear Criterium Race

Might explain why it's quite pricey then if they had to sort thier own insurance.

I'm riding! Anybody have a suggested gear ratio?

A tiny, tiny gear. Nothing over 60 GIs.

So 90 is out of the question then?

mid 80s is fine round there. low-90s if you are used to it.

I suspect Joseph was taking the piss.

GI depends on your legs in any case.

I was trying to get an edge on the other competitors.

I'm probably going to use 50/14 (93.9) or 48/14 (90.1) or if I feel like spinning then 50/15 (87.6).

It almost worked too if weren't for that pesky Velocio.

whats sort of distance is it?

If thats the case, i might sign up but will explore the route on the weekend seeing if it is suitable for me and my spokes...

whats sort of distance is it?

0.96 mile laps. 20 minutes and then 3 laps for the first races. Then 30 minutes and 5 laps for the final race.

Assuming their is a pace of about 24mph for the duration then that's (24 x 0.333) + (3 x 0.96) = 10.872 miles for the first race and (24 x 0.5) + (5 x 0.96) = 16.8 miles for the final race.

Yikes!

I was trying to get an edge on the other competitors.

I'm probably going to use 50/14 (93.9) or 48/14 (90.1) or if I feel like spinning then 50/15 (87.6).

I'd guess the first two are way too high, even the third probably, that's track gearing. You don't have to slow down on corners on the track, nor sprint out of them to stay in touch, plus Hillingdon is pretty exposed and chance of a stiff headwind on some sections of the course.

Like some said above - it's all about your legs. I ride 50/14 on the road and do weight training (I'm not a God though... yet!). But yes, I think I will gear down for this even if it's just for the psychological impact of pushing a smaller gear.

However, the bigger the gear the less revolutions you'll be doing on the corners so less chance of pedal strike. Just something to think about!

To me this look like a recipe for broken bones

Sounds a bit like:

Hipster Olympics - YouTube

More smooth race without brakes. In DK we have a criterium Fixed only no brakes race - and I am so glad it's a No Brakes event. (No downhills before any 90degree turn though).

No brakes and fixed does indeed equal smooth racing - on a velodrome. Velodromes don't normally have hills or tight bends though...
I'd imagine most fixed crits are done on flat roads with wideish sweeping bends ?

Edit :-

"Brakeless Track Bike ONLY. Helmet and drop bars required"

BSNYC would no doubt be laughing

I'm pretty sure this qualifies as flat? Only 12 ft of rise and fall over 0.96 miles. Also, all the corners seem to be on 'inclines' so I assume that they would be fractionally slower anyway. I've seen some footage of people riding round this circuit and the corners don't seem insanely sharp. But I do still feel nervous about the prospect of riding round them at a high speed.

That said, I've never been on the course but will do this weekend - or very soon. Will report back then.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1032664

Red Hook is on completely flat course in NYC docks and they were recommending 92.5 but their course has more straight than Hillingdon but much tighter corners more like a hot dog crit.

After you've done a few laps at race speed, it stops feeling flat.

But then, I always lost :)

http://app.strava.com/segments/630236

59mph average? Surely that's a GPS fail, but there seem to be a few others right behind him. I guess the 24mph average ones are more likely to be the standard we are aiming for.

Mike Debney is 3 seconds faster than me round Regents Park and 13th on that list. Interesting.
(to me, nobody else)

Here's a Strava link for the Cat 4 (noobs) race on Saturday, pace droppped below 20mph for about 8 seconds in a 40 minute race averaged just under 26mph.

edit the Strava segment lap times posted further up and the average speeds don't link up at all as the segment is only 1.3km for some reason not the 1.6km it actually is.

So times are right but speeds wrong

Ta

The corners aren't sharp, and with 170mm cranks easy to pedal through without breaking if you take the right line. That's with road pedals though, so thicker flat pedals (assuming some people might be using clips and straps) may strike.

. Also, all the corners seem to be on 'inclines'

the legendary "Fish" has entered, good luck everybody else.