thinking of riding my gf rig with 700x42 tires and 34/15 gearrobpennell said:
A rigid should be fine. When picking your ratio keep in mind the cutoff times and pick a ratio that will allow you the average speed you will need. I ran a 34x15 with 42's last year and that would have been fine had I not fell apart. This year I'm leaning toward a single speed cross bike with 35's and staying with 34x15 or 34x16. It will be an easier gear but I'm thinking it will roll faster. Hoping this will let me keep a good average speed with less effort. Dont forget about your hands. I'll be using a Midge bar so I can have different hand positions. I'd put some thought into that and think about how you can carry everything. A camelbak kills me so I'm trying to figure out how to carry everything without one.dmsigurdur said:
I think so but I'm not a good person to ask. I've been riding rigid for years so I really dont know the difference. I spend most of my time on gravel roads and have no problems.Fastskiguy said:Talked a buddy into it and we're gonna give it a go. I'm just really hoping for a neutral wind situation and no rain. And since I'm wishing, above freezing would be really great
So tell me about this "rigid should be fine" thing....honestly really for sure???
36 old crusty and fat! I think you would be ok without a Sus fork. Just pick the right tire and go with a carbon bar or something. I'm going to "soft wrap" my Midge bars with some foam under the tape. Thin weather stripping with bar tape over it. Learned that while road racing Cannondales back in the day when I wasnt so fat and old.Fastskiguy said:
robpennell said:
I think it all comes down to what you like. I'd set all three up and go out for some long gravel road rides over the next couple of months. Try out everything and make your choice from there. I'm pretty sure the Redline will take 42's. I ride gravel roads all the time and the 29er seems more comfy but I like the feel of the road/cross bike after 10 plus hours. I'm really digging my singlespeed cross race bike right now but it will only take a 32c. I'm thinking about building one just like it but with s-bends and a wider fork with tons of offset. Kind of a 29er/cross bike thing with a 1300 to 1400 gram wheelset shooting for the 17lb mark. I'll also play around with 35c to 42c tires tubeless so I can run lower pressure to take some of the edge off. There is a 200 mile race like this one in Kansas this (next) year plus I think we will be seeing more and more races like this one in the future. Might as well build a bike just for them. All I really know now is that I will be using Midge bars.Fastskiguy said:heh, well that's just great. I'm 37 (and 3 months) so let's just call it even on age. I thought of the wrapped bar too and I think I'm gonna go with it, I'd like to avoid the "numb hands and shoulders for 2 weeks" scenario if possible.
so let me as you another question, as a veteran and about the same age, about the bike. I could run a couple of different setups
1. 29" mtb with road bars, pace carbon fork, prolly go with some shaved down 2.1" tires to make them nearly bald
2. Surly pacer with 32c tires-they say they'll fit
3 Redline aluminum cross bike with 38-40's (have to check on clearance to be sure but something like this)
Any comments would be appreciated! Just to be 100% clear, I'm not goin' for the win, I'm just trying to finish in the time limit so my performance will almost certainly not bump you down in the overall standings. Thanks
