London Fixed-gear and Single-speed SJS Cycles

Claus and I have discussed this and we’re about to re-launch the Winter Training Richmond Park, as organised by Rob last year.

Given Richmond Park has its limitations with regards to specific track training, traffic, deer, London Dynamo, nonetheless it still provides a great venue for some decent training, which can provide riders with a solid base fitness come the new season (it certainly worked for me).

However, the focus will still very much be fixed riding and the usual requirements will apply:

- We advise GI in the mid-low 60s, as 63 averages 100 rpm on 20:00 min laps; your training will also dictate GI, but keep in mind this is a group training so try to make the most out of it.
- Taped drops with brakes are also a must.

The training will revolve around a three laps of RP and we may depending on numbers and ability split into two groups (fast & medium).

The intention is to meet at ROEHAMPTON GATE CAR-PARK at 8:50am and get underway for 9:00am. We will start off counter clock wise, so if you are unfortunately late, try to catch up, shortcut or wait.

Hope to see you out there!

We will start this Saturday Nov 14th. After the training you can get coffee and do it all over again when Jonny and his 40s ride arrives probably around 11:30.

Sweet idea, i need that this winter, i'll miss the first as i am working but i will join the training session by the time it hits the pub at 1pm. that works for everyone

thats what you said last year Pip :p

I think the gearing is a good idea, but you can also have geared riders using similar ranges.

I did RP today on gears using mostly 34x19 and clocked 27mph with it on a slight downhill (pedalling not freewheeling ;)

Riserist

I know you have some drops wools.

cool

fencing comp this sunday so would be good to give the legs a work out saturday morning, assuming friday night does not get in the way!

do the drops -really- need to be taped?

cold, wet, shiny polished metal, thick gloves, a responsibility to other riders you are riding close to.

its yoda-smyth

Nice to have some company at last ;D

I'm currently running the lowest gear that I have sprockets for- 50/18.

To drop to the mid 60's I would imagine that I would need a much larger sprocket.

Would I get a lot less out of this if I keep my current gear?

buy a smaller chainring then!

Do you have the vice-like grip of RPM? can you crush a whole pig with your little finger? Can you remove the tyre from a bus using only your hands?

No?

then tape your drops.

a 50/21 does it for me. ask your bike polo friends, i am sure they can help with pie plate sprockets

I am aware that I can drop the ratio down, it's more a case of whether buying a new chainring for £50/whatever they cost these days is worth it in terms of training benefits from running a mid 60's GI.

dammit

RPM is a qualified coach, i'd trust his opinion on matters of cycling training

(ignore him on matters of lifestyle, tattoos etc)

you can get gebhard rings for a little over £20.

you need to do 100rpm, unless you average 20mph on the flat you need a gear in the mid 50s

if you are just riding for fun then it probably doesn't matter. Training is not for fun, it is for pain. pain and glory.

Pain and glory are obvious attractions, I'll have a look at chainrings.

I may well turn up on the current gearing for the first time/s.

Come along on your current gear and see how it goes. I did most of my winter miles last year on 69 but feel now like I could have got much more out of it with a lower gear. You make the effort to ride on cold weekend morning why not make sure to maximise the time spend on the bike if you have certain goals. If you are more interested in general aerobic workout that is fine too and I wouldnt worrie too much about specific gearing. In general it helps to keeps the group tidy if all are on similar gears. A higher gear might get you faster around RP but that is not main concern at this time of the year.

@dancing james - 'fencing comp' - as in sabre & foil type fencing comp??

As in star wars re-enactment comp.

Fwiw I will run 66 GI

If you have read "The Restraint of Beasts" by Magnus Mills, you will understand. Quite a boy with the old high tension barbed wire is our James.

I will be in 48/18 as I am too lazy/mechanically challenged to change gears.

Dammit - JimJams is selling a 44t Gebhardt ring here.

An under-rated book that warrants re-reading. I know have a picture of Richie (not BRM, the character in the book) in my head that looks just like DJ.

My favourite Magnus Mills book is The Scheme for Full Employment but I would heartily recommend all the others as well.

Ideal reading for a wet and cold November Saturday - except that I will be playing in the park with a bunch of men.

What about the Scheme for avoiding work, dossing and general blagging? Do you have a copy I could borrow?

Mike - that is this forum

I'm going for 71.4 GI coz Clive challenged me with a bit of the old HTFU when I mentioned using my winter geared bike.

I really hope i don't live to regret it.

I mean not regret it rather than dieing in Richmond Park

Clive

I am sure we can change your sprocket. Or better still if you have a fixed fixed hub we can put anoher on.

Clive.... stay away from the sprocket

So... is it cool to do this with a geared bike, or not? I couldn't really make conclusions fromt he above.

Either that or I'm on 49/14, which I know I can do the park in 20mins on.

That's 92 GI! Bit high isn't it? Do you have to disassemble and regrease and your knees after every ride?

sorry, just rechecked and it's a 15...

arantrek, it's not about doing the park in 20 mins. it's more like riding consistantly in a group, so GI and speed were some pointers towards that. in that specific case you are probably better off with the road bike as you would pace it quite differently on 92GI than you would on 63GI

I'll go geared if you go geared.

And if anyone is finding hard to ride consistently with the group, fell free to drop back and keep me company.

You lot need to HTFU, I ride around on 48/19 all the time, even my trick bike was around the same gear ratio, thats not spinny.....Sub 60GI is spinny, soft cunts.

@claus - that sounds cool, I just got the 20mins figure from the first post (averaging 100rpm on 63GI).

It probably makes sense to turn up on gears and then assess if I need to be changing some sprockets!

Thanks

P.S.

I would like to join in but I have to work every Saturday :(

CJames. Join Rollapaluza CC and join us on some Sunday rides or mid week hill reps.

And that's a lot less that 71.4 so what's your point exactly?

Sounds good, I might just do that :)

Anything above the mid-late 60's is not sensible around town and in the winter?
There was no point really.....oh wait yeah, my point was....HTFU ;)

James. The idea is that in winter one should be training one's cadence and not power. Spinny gears not powerful ones.

Sure it is, I've been riding 71 for over 6 months and it's perfect for town and the straighter roads as I get towards home. Admittedly my ride is flat s a pancake.

Clive I think you've just convinced me to get a winter training fixed bike too. I think there might just be room in the shed.

clive what is your secret? you convinced people to get a cycling club membership and a fixed gear bike in less than 5 min