London to Brighton..Fixed? Yes on No

[StHuck]

Doing London to Brighton with a very occasional cyclist next weekend. Fancy riding on my fixed wheel... any thoughts? What are the hills like?

Cheers

 

[gaz]

I take it that will be with the BHF.
Hills won't matter then as you will be walking them. As long as you are confident riding fixed slowly around lots of people, you will be fine.

 

[arallsopp]

What gaz said, really.

If they're *very occasional*, you might find yourself committing to 50 miles of knee breaking cadence and balance wobbles. If the priority is for your companion, I'd recommend gears. If you just want to do it, and they happen to be coming along, fixie is fine.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

If it is the BHF ride then I would not fancy it. Too much pushing = too much pedal/calf interfacing for my pain threshold. But a lot depends on how long you can trackstand for!

 

[StHuck]

Ah now, thanks for the advice..I have been told there was a lot of people pushing so gears on the hybrid it is! Chap who I am going with had an unhappy time on London to Southend last year as he wanted to come along but we kept riding and waiting, riding and waiting...so feeling guilty I agreed to do L to B with him. He has guaranteed it is a 'laugh' but with hindsight it seems rather pointless as an event other than as a fundraiser for BHF (Of course, happy to donate and raise funds!)

Feel a bit condescending in tone, so for that I apologies!

Cheers

 

[Fab Foodie]

No problem, have done it loads of time on 73" fixed, full carradice saddle bag and smoking 20 Old Holborn a day, (until about 6 years agoI reached 42 and had a mild heart-attack). But it's readily doable on fixed and I did it many many times, even Ditchling with zillions of people.

Realitywise though, I reckon more people cycle Ditchling all the way than they have done over the last 25 years when I did my first. There are also many more fixed riders than there used to be too.

 

[Bicycle]

Huck,

I think you should be OK riding fixed to Brighton if you go straight for the arms of the City,

Down the beckoning streets of opportunity.

And if you know a few river songs, it might be a good idea to whistle your favourite as you go...


Apart from that, there's not much I can add.

I hope this was helpful.

 

[StHuck]

Bicycle...thanks for that! Not sure of your meaning but welcome your words and contribution

Chin chin

 

[Fab Foodie]

73" for Ditchling is quite impressive. If the road were empty and you could use its full width to easy the steeper bends that would be one thing. Surrounded by people who would prevent you from choosing your pace, may just stop in front of you without warning etc. makes it very much harder.

I was a skinny, strong wiry stripling and full of beans in those days, not the fat and content fecker I am now. I guess I was around 38-40 when I last did it on the fixed, and I lied about the gearing, I just recalculated 42x15 on a 27" wheel is 75.6" (nominal 73" on a 700x23c).

Nowadays I grunt up it on 30x25 (dammit). But the extra body weight really tells on climbs, I really should shift it.