I do not believe that even in pre-derailleur days anybody completely sane would have completed an event like Eroica (full length) on fixed gear. The sensible set up would be flip-flop hub with higher fixed gear for rolling along the flat and a lower freewheel gear for climbing up the hills and freewheeling down the other side. A fixed gear would undoubtedly be a greater test of stamina but would not represent a period set up for an event of this type.
Hugh Thornton Cheshire, England
In a message dated 15/04/2007 22:09:01 GMT Standard Time, hmsachs@verizon.net writes:
As a 62 year old, am I nuts to even think about doing L'Eroica on fixed gear? It turns out the the most appropriate bike for the "scene" in my stable is a 50s? Roma Sport, with FB hubs and Magistroni crank set &c. But the frameset itself, while nice, is seamed tubing, and could be abandoned or sold if I found something much nicer to bring back.
FWIW, I've done 2 centuries fixed in the last 3 years, and one (on the Roma) was more hilly than Good Buddy Paul Raley let on. The other, on '38 Paramount, was pretty reasonable until I got tired and it also got hilly.
For that matter, do folks bring bunches of frames and bikes for sale at the swap meet?
thanks in advance.
harvey sachs