Finished the Climb to Kaiser yesterday on the fixed gear bike. I don't even have words to describe how difficult it was. Even the stats don't do it justice, 13,500' climbing, from 300' to 9,200' and back, 155 miles, 100 degrees at the end, miles of 15-20% climbs, and, of course, 13,500' of descending; 12,000' of the climbing occurs in a 65 mile stretch.

14 hours, 9 minutes. The average for the event is around 13.5 hours, and the recored is about 8:23. My former times were 12:04, 11:01, and 13:11 (last year), and a DNF.

One hill at 60 miles rises 2,000' in a little over 2.5 miles, with some extremely steep sections. Guys with triples were walking their bikes. I refused to walk, though. Stopped to get my breath and take a drink, but never walked. I felt like I'd die when I got to the top. Did not expect to finish, but funny thing about building years of endurance, you tend to know that such thoughts will pass, and you bounce back.

The descents were flat out painful, even limited to 130 rpms. They just go on for so long, 7-10 miles continuously at several places.

Bounced back to finish well over 21 mph on the last 15 miles, all flat. Couldn't believe it.

Does it annoy anyone else when people call your fixie a "singlespeed"?

BRAVO! Doug, you are an animal! Seriously inspiring.

Are you still using the Bianchi Pista frame?

WOW DOUG YOUR A BRUTE - I mean tougher than a pine knot!!!

How long were your rest stops? Were there any other fixie riders and
did they make it to the end?

Go Doug - VÈÑÍ VÍÐÌ VÌÇÍ ™.

BRAVO! Doug, you are an animal! Seriously inspiring.

Are you still using the Bianchi Pista frame?


Yup, still on the Pista. Just changed to one cog lower, 47x19 (66 inches).

WOW DOUG YOUR A BRUTE - I mean tougher than a pine knot!!!

How long were your rest stops? Were there any other fixie riders and
did they make it to the end?

Go Doug - VÈÑÍ VÍÐÌ VÌÇÍ ™.

The unofficial rest stops were about 30 seconds. Just enough to take a drink and get some air. The longest stop was lunch, about 30 minutes.

No one else has ever attempted it on a fixed.

That's great! Just keep raising the bar why don't you? ;)

No in all seriousness and respect, kudos to you and all of your great "singlespeed" efforts... :p

I really can't imagine anything other than reasons I couldn't do it. Your determination is truly remarkable.

It doesn't bother me when people call my bike a single-speed. I just look forward to the look on their faces the moment when they realize what fixed gear means.

Is a fixed RAAM next?

I really can't imagine anything other than reasons I couldn't do it. Your determination is truly remarkable.

It doesn't bother me when people call my bike a single-speed. I just look forward to the look on their faces the moment when they realize what fixed gear means.

Is a fixed RAAM next?

If I had the time to prepare for and do RAAM, I sure as heck would not do it on the fixed gear, at least the first time. Don't think it could be done, at least by me, within the time limit, which is 12 days, I think. RAAM is hard enough as is. Now, if I had done RAAM already, I'd think about it.

For me, my goal is the FC508 on the fixed; that's that all this nuttiness is leading up to this year, why I'm doing all these mountain events on the fixed. I figure if I do a lot of really hard climbing on the fixed before hand, the hills on the 508 will seem easy.

There were times when I thought I could not do it. When you are already tired after 60 miles of climbing, then facing a 2,000 foot 18% climb, it's very demoralizing. Every single pedal stroke when it gets that steep becomes an individual, 100% effort. At times, I was even focusing on just getting up a hundred yards or so at time ("If I can just make it to that shady spot up there, then I'll rest and go again...") The most motivating thing that happened all day was being able to ride past others walking their bikes, and they had triples. Now, in all honesty, I wasn't going much faster... ;-) but it was motivating.

that MissM and I aren't the craziest folks here.

So when are you going to make it out to DC?

Does it annoy anyone else when people call your fixie a "singlespeed"?

Great job, Doug.

What gearing were you riding? I've switched to 70 inches, after riding 66. The hills are harder, but I don't spin-out on the flats so much. (Go figure.) I have a trip coming up with 4-5 miles of 10%-12% grades. 66 inches would be fine, but 70 inches will be more of a challenge. Your accomplishment encourages me.

I don't get annoyed, but I always correct them. So by the end they all know the distinction between a fixie & a SS.

[Edit] Ooops, just saw your gearing. Great job. Even more encouragement for my relatively "mild" grades ...