LFGSS
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
Hey I'm new here so probably making dumb mistakes. On March 9, when this thread started, I was riding my fix across the California desert to the Arizona border, Day 4 on a 31 day ride from San Diego to Houston, just over 1900 miles. Yes, you can ride fixed across whatever continent you find yourself on, nothing special to it. Though I saw dozens of riders, I was the only single - in fact, all of the bike shops agreed that they had never seen anyone tour on a fix. Admittedly, half of my mileage was on my free side of a flip-flop. But the first 550 miles, including the 5000 foot climb out of San Diego, were all fix - 38 x 16 (the Shimano free is 18). I used panniers and carried about 20 pounds, was the lightest rider out there (other than the sag-wagon folks, of course) but in the future, I would carry less. I use a bivy bag, sleeping bag with ultralight pad which worked great especially as it never rained. I carry no cooking gear - who needs it when you can live on cereal, peanut butter and restaruants? I averaged 62 miles a day but I was traveling with friends on their schedule, not mine; I always felt like putting in 20+ more miles. Since this was the same bike that I toured on 28 years ago (1980 Centurion Super Elite) that I rebuilt, I think I can honestly say I enjoyed it more as a single than as a geared. For all those nay-sayers who say you can't do hills, I never walked and, in fact, was the fastest hillclimber around. On the flats with a tailwind, I was the slowest since I'd limit out at about 22 mph (too much bouncing in the seat when fixed). If I did it again (and will in a couple of years since I want to go coast to coast), I would seriously consider the new Sturmey-Archer 3-speed fix (a remake really): I'd keep my current gear as my low gear and have 2 high gears for running with the wind and down mountains. You can see my bike at the Fixed Gear Gallery: http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2009/mar/5/AlanJulliard.htm
I miss drinking Fuller's London Pride...
Alan
"My granny gear is fixed"