its gravel dude..a whole new way to roll. Yes we did it fixed. there are some very steep switch backs and it's very hilly..
I was riding 50miles at a shot training for it and doing reps up north london hills.. i am not the strongest of riders, and I found it very hard. That year i did the dynamo easily. I believe when eggpie and our mate did it they were in pretty stellar condition, and JUST finished in the alloted time to be "heros"