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Anyone done Rouge Roubaix in LA?

1421 Views 6 Replies 3 Participants Last post by scooter2468, Dec 30, 2009

Johnny K

Discussion Starter · Dec 20, 2009

I am considering this road/gravel race and have some questions: Can it be done on a fixed gear? The course looks pretty tame from an elevation profile...2700 ft for 100 miles. Also, what tires are good for this?

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scooter2468

· #2 · Dec 21, 2009

Johnny K said:
I am considering this road/gravel race and have some questions: Can it be done on a fixed gear? The course looks pretty tame from an elevation profile...2700 ft for 100 miles. Also, what tires are good for this?

I've done it. If not for the USAC road racing rules, you could do it on a fixie, but the rules don't allow it. I suppose if you're looking at riding the 'grand fondo', which isn't sanctioned, you could ride your fixie. You will hate yourself well before the ride is over, if you do. There isn't that much elevation change, but what hills there are, are very steep. Lot's of riders end up walking the worst of the hills, pushing their bikes 'cause a 39x27 isn't low enough (for them, anyway).

I did it on 25mm tires, but 28's would be better for much of the course (even the paved sections) if you could find a quality folding tire in a 28mm width.

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dpatterson100

· #3 · Dec 21, 2009

I will be doing it again. Scooters correct, you can use any bike in the "C" race, but I would not recommend a fixie. I will be riding a regular road bike with regular wheels, and 25mm Continental 4000 tires. A 39x27 should be fine unless you cramp on the last hill...then it don't matter what you are riding. I used Michelin Pro Race 3's last year with no problems. It's a fast road race with about 18 miles of steep gravel climbs and rutty dirt descents. 3 gravel sections...the first is flat with usually thick gravel, the second is a tough climb, and the 3rd is a *****. Check out the video on the web site...great race, and they should have a Masters 35+ race this year which means I don't have to get pounded by the Cat 1-2"s ;-)

http://www.rougeroubaix.com/

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scooter2468

· #4 · Dec 21, 2009

dpatterson100 said:
I will be doing it again. Scooters correct, you can use any bike in the "C" race, but I would not recommend a fixie. I will be riding a regular road bike with regular wheels, and 25mm Continental 4000 tires. A 39x27 should be fine unless you cramp on the last hill...then it don't matter what you are riding. I used Michelin Pro Race 3's last year with no problems. It's a fast road race with about 18 miles of steep gravel climbs and rutty dirt descents. 3 gravel sections...the first is flat with usually thick gravel, the second is a tough climb, and the 3rd is a *****. Check out the video on the web site...great race, and they should have a Masters 35+ race this year which means I don't have to get pounded by the Cat 1-2"s ;-)

http://www.rougeroubaix.com/

I haven't seen any specific details for this year, except for the date. Are they really going to do a separate race for the 35+ instead of including them in the A group?

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dpatterson100

· #5 · Dec 22, 2009

Re: Master Race

Nothing confirmed yet, but Mitch(RD) told me a few months ago that was the plan.

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dpatterson100

· #6 · Dec 30, 2009

Scooter,
If you go to the website, and go to the "registration" section, they have now updated the info. Looks like they have expanded the categories quite a bit, and there is now a separate race for Masters 40+ and 50+. Should be a great race this year...signing up now.

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scooter2468

· #7 · Dec 30, 2009

dpatterson100 said:
Scooter,
If you go to the website, and go to the "registration" section, they have now updated the info. Looks like they have expanded the categories quite a bit, and there is now a separate race for Masters 40+ and 50+. Should be a great race this year...signing up now.

Thanks. BTW, there's a note on the forum re: 40+/50+ instead of 35+/45+, detailing why they made the change. I think it's a good idea and one I wish more states would enact.

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