I just got back from Bike Virginia -- an annual 5 day supported bike tour that explores a different region of Virginia every year. In 2004 the tour went through the Shenandoah valley near New Market and Harrisonburg.

I decided to do the event on my fixie -- a CAAD3 Cannondale that has been ENO-ed. I'm running a 53x18 set up, front and back brakes.

Discovery #1: the Shenandoah valley isn't flat. It rolls with a vengence. It's constant up and down with very little flat, except when the road decides to follow a stream. The constant up and down meant very little recovery -- honk it up hill, and then immediately spin like mad down into a swale, and then back up again, over and over. It was like riding in an ocean with heavy swells. It was work.

Discovery #2: the Shenandoah valley is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Good lord, it was pretty. One of the highlights was a roll through the George Washington National Forest near Elizabeth Furnace. I'm not going to try to describe it. You gotta go.

Discovery #3: the Shenandoah valley has good Mexican food. True fact. Go to Jalisco's in New Market. The Burritos are to die for.

Discovery #4: the Shenandoah valley is a good place to find out if you can do three 60+ mile days, back it up with a century (7500 feet of climbing), and finish it with a 50-miler, all on a fixie. I'm proud to say that, except for about 20 yards on an absolutely heinous hill in Turleytown (15% grade), I rode everything that was on the menu, including a wickedly awesome descent down a little hollow along a gravel road. This isn't Doug Sloan territory here, but I'm pleased that I finished.

Tip: when descending a steep grade, ride it out with your hands down in the drops. You are less likely scare yourself silly when your sweaty hands slip off of the front of the brake hoods while doing the sewing maching thing down a monster grade while trying to stay upright. Trust me on this.

Sounds like a blast. Very few things are better than touring on a bike, none of which come to mind right now. Twice in Europe, geared and fully loaded, never in the US though. Fixed and supported, now I need to get out an try that!! Gotta be something similar out here in the SF Bay Area.



I just got back from Bike Virginia -- an annual 5 day bike tour that explores a different region of Virginia every year. This year, the tour went through the Shenandoah valley near New Market and Harrisonburg.

I decided to do the event on my fixie -- a CAAD3 Cannondale that has been ENO-ed. I'm running a 53x18 set up, front and back brakes.

Discovery #1: the Shenandoah valley isn't flat. It rolls with a vengence. Constant up and down with very little flat, except when the road decides to follow a stream. The constant up and down meant very little recovery -- honk it up hill, and then immediately spin like mad down into a swale, and then back up again, over and over. It was like riding in an ocean with heavy swells. It was work.

Discovery #2: the Shenandoah valley is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Good lord, it was pretty. One of the highlights was a roll through the George Washington National Forest near Elizabeth Furnace. I'm not going to try to describe it. You gotta go.

Discovery #3: the Shenandoah valley has good Mexican food. True fact. Go to Jalisco's in New Market. The Burritos are to die for.

Discovery #4: the Shenandoah valley is a good place to find out that you can do three 60+ mile days, back it up with a century (7500 feet of climbing), and finish it with a 50-miler, all on a fixie. I'm proud to say that, except for about 20 yards on an absolutely heinous hill in Turleytown (15% grade), I rode everything that was on the menu, including a wickedly awesome descent down a little hollow along a gravel road. This isn't Doug Sloan territory here, but I'm pleased that I finished.

Tip: when descending a steep grade, ride it out with your hands down in the drops. You are less likely scare yourself silly when your sweaty hands slip off of the front of the brake hoods while doing the sewing maching thing down a monster grade while trying to stay upright. Trust me on this.

I just got back from Bike Virginia -- an annual 5 day bike tour that explores a different region of Virginia every year. This year, the tour went through the Shenandoah valley near New Market and Harrisonburg.

I decided to do the event on my fixie -- a CAAD3 Cannondale that has been ENO-ed. I'm running a 53x18 set up, front and back brakes.

Discovery #1: the Shenandoah valley isn't flat. It rolls with a vengence. Constant up and down with very little flat, except when the road decides to follow a stream. The constant up and down meant very little recovery -- honk it up hill, and then immediately spin like mad down into a swale, and then back up again, over and over. It was like riding in an ocean with heavy swells. It was work.

Discovery #2: the Shenandoah valley is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Good lord, it was pretty. One of the highlights was a roll through the George Washington National Forest near Elizabeth Furnace. I'm not going to try to describe it. You gotta go.

Discovery #3: the Shenandoah valley has good Mexican food. True fact. Go to Jalisco's in New Market. The Burritos are to die for.

Discovery #4: the Shenandoah valley is a good place to find out that you can do three 60+ mile days, back it up with a century (7500 feet of climbing), and finish it with a 50-miler, all on a fixie. I'm proud to say that, except for about 20 yards on an absolutely heinous hill in Turleytown (15% grade), I rode everything that was on the menu, including a wickedly awesome descent down a little hollow along a gravel road. This isn't Doug Sloan territory here, but I'm pleased that I finished.

Tip: when descending a steep grade, ride it out with your hands down in the drops. You are less likely scare yourself silly when your sweaty hands slip off of the front of the brake hoods while doing the sewing maching thing down a monster grade while trying to stay upright. Trust me on this.

You think the Valley's pretty? Try getting down into the "real" mtns! The area down a little further has some of the most gorgeous scenery.

M

53 x 18 --- you da man! I did my first fixed century last week, barely 4000' of climbing (did the easy route), 48 x 20 was enough for me. What's your definition of 'spinning like mad'? For me it's any cadence above 170 - 180. It seems that by definition a fixed rider should feel comfortable, without bounce, in the 120 - 150 range. Am I wrong here?

Now, go to your nearest velodrome and get on a track bike -- you have the makings of a great pursuit man, my friend! Put on the 56 x 16 and haul ass!

Thanks again for the write up.

hrv

Yeah, I thought the same thing! 53x18 is studly. I've always been more of a high rpm spinner, so when I got my first SS two weeks ago with a 48x16 on it -- man, that thing is crushing me! Still, I'm already feeling myself getting stronger, even if hills scare me now.

I haven't done the math, so I don't know what kind of RPM's I was turning on the downhills. Thirty mph wasn't too bad, and I saw 35 mph a bunch of times.

I certainly didn't/couldn't spin that gear up the hills. I stayed with the heftier combo because I figured that I could muscle it up the climbs -- I really was more worried about staying in control on the downhills.

Tip: when descending a steep grade, ride it out with your hands down in the drops. You are less likely scare yourself silly when your sweaty hands slip off of the front of the brake hoods while doing the sewing maching thing down a monster grade while trying to stay upright. Trust me on this.[/QUOTE]
This is very good advice .. :)

Sounds like a great ride too.

Steve