Anyone try riding a century like this Sunday's TA ride on a fixed gear?
I did 100 last year on my roadbike and recall it being mostly flat until the bronx. Not really sure how hard that much riding would be on my fixie. I think maybe 45 miles around central park is about the most I've ever done on it.
Thx
TA Century on a Fixie?
Thu, 09/09/2004 - 10:21am
Thu, 09/09/2004 - 10:36am
#1
I rode the TA Century with a fixed gear a few years ago. It is a great ride to do on the fixed gear for the reason you mentioned - there are not many hills until the Bronx. I'll be on my fixed gear this year again.
See you out there!
Thu, 09/09/2004 - 11:24am
#2
"Hi Bill,
I'm marshalling the 100 mile route, starting at 7.00am. I'm currently waffling about whether to do it on my fixie or on my gearie. But right now, fixed is in the lead. If you see a blue 1981 Specialized Sequoia with a big Carradice bag, say ""Hello!""
- Christian
PS: I'm lazy, so I like it when the pedals keep turning on their own..."
Thu, 09/09/2004 - 12:47pm
#3
Thanks guys!
I'm leaning fixie then. Look for a chrome pista :-)
What gearing do you use?
Thu, 09/09/2004 - 12:57pm
#4
40x16.
If I had it to do over again, I'd probably pick 42x16, but the crank I had had a 40t ring...
Actually, if my Merckx comes before Sunday, I might be on 42x16. In which case, look for an ex-Motorola-team Merckx MX Leader, with a big Carradice bag.
- Christian
Thu, 09/09/2004 - 1:14pm
#5
A big Carradice bag...
"How big? As big as the Brooks bag in the center of this picture? ;-)"
Thu, 09/09/2004 - 1:51pm
#6
"It's tough to judge scale in that picture, but I reckon that my Nelson Longflap is at least as big as the trunk in which those puny Brooks bags are resting. :P
I'll be offering ""transverse-hammock-bag"" rides to tired cyclists.
Actually, I think I'm just going to bring my little green Carradice Barley bag...
- Christian
BTW, I think the bag in the center is actually a pannier, but I really like those all-leather saddlebags on the right."
Thu, 09/09/2004 - 1:52pm
#7
For Sale!
Oh no you won't!
If anyone is interested in purchasing the aforementioned Merckx MX Leader, please contact Christian. If anyone is interested in hearing me moan about how I'll never be able to retire due to the endless stream of cycling-related purchases made by my darling husband, please contact me.
Thu, 09/09/2004 - 2:29pm
#8
"Okay, okay.
For Sale:
Ex-Axel Merckx 1996 Team Motorola Eddy Merckx MX Leader.
61.5 ST c-t
58.5 TT c-c
71.8 degree seat tube
Columbus MAX tubing
Team Motorola paint job with ""Caloi by Eddy Merckx"" decals and race plate braze-on.
(Oh, and the older bikes had chrome chainstays, unlike current MXLs)
$1050 for frame/fork with headset, Dura-Ace crankset (53-39), braze-on f.d, and matching red Elite Ciussi cages.
:-(
- Christian"
Fri, 09/10/2004 - 9:46am
#9
Motorola team bikes
"On eBay, there's a Motorola Caloi/Merckx that was Lance Armstrong's personal travel/training bike. The seller says the tubing is SLX. Did Merckx use MAX in larger sizes?
The frame you just bought is too big for me (assuming you're serious about selling it), but Lance's frame is just my size. Wouldn't I like to own that one! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=50133&item=7100834798&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW (item #7100834798)
Here's another auction, already finished, for Alvaro Mejia's team bike: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3677989824&category=7298&sspagename=STRK%3AMESSE%3AIT&rd=1 (item #3677989824)
Christian, I know who the person is that sold you this frame, and if you could show your wife his collection of bikes and parts, she might come to see your excess as self-denying asceticism. Try to make her see what an ""endless stream of cycling-related purchases"" really is, take her to see his house and garage. Despite his enormous stable, he seems always to have five or six custom jobs being worked on simultaneously (Sachs, Pegoretti, Mariposa, Rivendell, etc.)."
Fri, 09/10/2004 - 11:17am
#10
Hi Mordechai,
I think that the MAX bikes were primarily used for the classics (would have been Liege-Bastogne, Paris-Nice, Milan-Turin, Milan-San Remo, and World's in 1996). It may be that the SLX bikes were used in the stage events, or it may be, as you suggest, that the big boys got MAX and the little guys got SLX. I have it on Douglas's authority that this bike was used by Axel in the World's, but I have no documentation of that.
But apparently, the 2005 MX Leaders are coming in Motorola-replica colors, rather than Molteni, so if you can stomach the new price (I can't), you can have one of those. I would have preferred 7-eleven colors myself, actually... And more than that, there are just 100 lugsets left, so after that, no more MX Leaders.
And glory be to Douglas's collection. I have an invite to come up and ogle a couple of his Mariposa and Alex Singer audax bikes, which I'm hoping to do soon. Alas, I think Ivy's well aware of Douglas's collection, and lives in constant dread over the fact that we happen to be exactly the same size, and of similar tastes. (Suffice to say, everyone of my bike dreams could be satisfied by hand-me-downs...)
Oh, btw, I bought some Puma Ventoux, based on your recommendation. Pretty cool.
- Christian
Fri, 09/10/2004 - 11:29am
#11
"Mordechai wrote:
""(assuming you're serious about selling it)""
I am. Any tallish steel fans, give a shout.
- Christian"
Thu, 09/23/2004 - 9:22am
#12
Lance's team frame
"Lance's Motorola travel/training frame sold for $5,000!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=50133&item=7100834798&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW (item #7100834798)"
Thu, 09/23/2004 - 2:07pm
#13
Ok, any rabid Axel Merckx fans want to step up? I'll happily sell mine at about a $4000 discount from that frame. And mine's a proper MXL, not some whippy Corsa...
Egads, Lance Armstrong memorabilia sure has jumped in the last few months.
Sat, 09/11/2004 - 3:20am
#14
There, there, Ivy . . .
Boys will be boys. Better a string of Chorus bikes than a string of chorus girls.
Retaliatory jewelry is not constructive.
Peter
Fri, 09/10/2004 - 6:10pm
#15
I still can't decide which gearing to try.
I have my choice of a 40x16 which using Central Park as an example, sometimes gets me spinning a bit out of control going down big hills. Over 130 rpms I guess. But for flats and hills its good. (I do have a front brake)
I have a 42 on there right now which I never spin out but it can get tough going up hills when I'm tired.
Is it better to spin more or grind more when trying to do such a long ride? I don't do many flat rides so I don't know which gear I'd like more for one.
Thx
-B
Sat, 09/11/2004 - 8:00am
#16
TA Ride Hills?
How hilly is the Bronx section of the ride?
Sat, 09/11/2004 - 4:58pm
#17
Pretty hilly around riverdale and the part that happens just past the Zoo. But its easy on a road bike. I wizzed up it. The only thing that makes it hard is that it comes up about 80 miles into the century!
Sat, 09/11/2004 - 5:54pm
#18
Thanks Bill!
