2008 Fixie century...

[Simon Llewellyn]

Hey guys me & Huw were having a talk on friday night about setting a date for the fixie century this year. I'll have to ring Grant & ask if he has any new ideas but it is more than likely that it will be the same route as last year. Travel down on a friday or saturday night to bundanoon and ride back the next day.

We were thinking of the the gong weekend again but it will rule too many people out so maybe the week before or after? But around that date sometime. Once we decide on a date we will need to get an exact number of who is coming so we can book the pub. The sooner the better.

Is there any other ideas out about the route, time or anything else? before I do to much planning? It is the centenary this year so We'll try to get as many people as possible but probably won't advertise as much as last year.

[JM]

simon I am in if its the weekend before that or even 2 before.

mainly due to the second kid due in mid november and oscar was early !

[Adrian E]

Great. I'm all fixed up know.

So, how many tubes are you going to take this time?

[matt]

I am staging an Aussie Joe Bugner style come back in order to survive this historic event and would like to vote for the weekend of the 25/26 of October or the 15/16 November.

[Simon Llewellyn]

There is actually a set date which Grant has decided on but I haven't really got around to finding it out and posting it. I'll try & do it this week as it is coming up soon. I think it was a week or two before the gong ride from memory...

[JM]

I believe 18 october has been locked in as the date

[Adrian E]

18 October is good. On the sunday the 19th is the sydney spring cycle.

[JM]

ALL,

I have just spoken to Lindsay and confirm that the weekend 18/19 is the fixie entury.

Traditionally this is held on the Sunday finishing at Tempe velodrome.

Last year it coincided with the Gong ride and this seemed to work so hopefully it won't be a big clash with the spring cycle - ces't la vie.

Lindsay will be putting up an announcement re the century on the website ASAP and I expect a few flyers will be seen in local bike shops. For one I am in and recommend this event to all - last year we had 13 intrepid souls and that turned out to be lucky for some but not Grant who suffered more punctures than there were spare tubes and is this year hoping to go one better and actually make the velodrome.

There will also shortly be details re accomodation and booking in the southern highlands.

Time to give up those gears (what are they about anyway), the freewheel (time to free the soul) and get your fix ... there are only a few training weekends left.

And for the doubters re ability - I got my fixie 1 weekend before last time and did 40k's to the park and a few laps then back and one run to waterfall then the century the following weekend so it is very doable if anyone has been thinking about it but not sure about how much pre-work is required ... so if you ride regularly you can do it and the pace is kept nice and easy.

James

[weiyun]

How about if I promise to use only one gear on my geared bike?

[T-Bone]

How about if I promise to use only one gear on my geared bike?

Maybe they'll let you be the support crew and carry lunch, drinks, etc...

[Adrian E]

ALL,

I have just spoken to Lindsay and confirm that the weekend 18/19 is the fixie century.

Traditionally this is held on the Sunday finishing at Tempe velodrome.

So does this mean we'll be heading down on Saturday for the Sunday ride back? If so, I'll have to change my Spring Cycle plans but thats no disaster.

[Simon Llewellyn]

How about if I promise to use only one gear on my geared bike?

Last year we decided that it should be fixies only, just because it would detract from the event, from memory? Instead we found fixies for everybody interested & can probably do the same for you this year???

[mikesbytes]

So does this mean we'll be heading down on Saturday for the Sunday ride back? If so, I'll have to change my Spring Cycle plans but thats no disaster.

Last year I worked out that I could catch a train in the morning and just make the start. But it make for a very long day.

I'll have to look it up, but it entailed cycling to Lidcome and catching a train at something like 5.30am then cycling from Borral (spelling?).

[timyone]

How about if I promise to use only one gear on my geared bike?

yeah no probs as long as you let me play with your gears for a bit, just tell me which gear you want fixied up.

[fixedgear]

I'm in for this years event again.

Will increase the gear inches a tad as well to keep up with Simon and the other fast guys.

[weiyun]

yeah no probs as long as you let me play with your gears for a bit, just tell me which gear you want fixied up.

That's a real worry!

[Adrian E]

I'm really sad to say but I don't think I'll be able to do the century as I agreed to be a route Marshal for the Sydney Spring Cycle. My yellow fixie will be available if anyone wants to borrow it. Its a 53-4cm frame suited to someone of a height around 5'9 to 5'11.

[mikesbytes]

I'm really sad to say but I don't think I'll be able to do the century as I agreed to be a route Marshal for the Sydney Spring Cycle. My yellow fixie will be available if anyone wants to borrow it. Its a 53-4cm frame suited to someone of a height around 5'9 to 5'11.

If your really keen, you could catch the 4.59am from Grandville on Sunday morning.

http://www.cityrail.com.au/timetable/tt ... =we&dir=dn

[T-Bone]

I'll be in for this, just have to make sure i can get the days off work.

[timyone]

I'm really sad to say but I don't think I'll be able to do the century as I agreed to be a route Marshal for the Sydney Spring Cycle. My yellow fixie will be available if anyone wants to borrow it. Its a 53-4cm frame suited to someone of a height around 5'9 to 5'11.

im about that height...
though i should really own my own :S i actually did :S but its in peices and its lost its wheels

[Adrian E]

Well, the offer is there if anyone wants it. I can vicariously be happy that at least the bike got to go on the ride.

[timyone]

cool well im a maybe for that. Though there might be some one or other that is moredeserving of it, that hasnt got one around the place in pieces.

[lindsay]

Hi guys,

I've knocked the details on our home page & made a registration page, so you can all register for the ride now. If you'd like the leaflet please let me know & I'll email it to you. For registration go to home page & click on the fixie graphic.

Cheers ++> Lindsay

[Adrian E]

Thanks Lindsay.

Ride promotions are underway
http://fixed.org.au/forums/index.php/topic,4671.0.html

http://www.sydneycyclist.com/group/fixe ... ic%3A29939

It would be good is someone could contact Brain Crawford at Cycling NSW to see if we could get the event put in the regular newsletters.

[mikesbytes]

Good idea Adrian,

I've put up a slightly modified copy of your post on Bicycles.net.au

http://bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic ... 749#116749

[Adrian E]

Great Mike. Some of the comments on fixed.org.au have been interesting. I don't know what to make of them.

[weiyun]

Some of the comments on fixed.org.au have been interesting. I don't know what to make of them.

Seems that some just don't like the idea of stopping...

[JM]

Hi - thought it was time to resurrect this tread.

1. The fixie century is this coming Sunday - 19th.
2. Weather forecast is good - at this stage.
3. If you haven't booked accommodation you need to get onto that - the Bundanoon hotel is full so you will need to book somewhere else close by.
4. Departure time was 8am last year so assume same this year - unless anyone contradicts this ... by anyone I mean Lindsay.
5. We usually have dinner at the hotel the night before.
6. Getting there - a number of us will be going by train - details re when to meet at Central to be posted later this week

Cheers - James

PS if you registered via the homepage your registration may have gone AWOL - mine did and so did a number of others so am very unsure of numbers

[Simon Llewellyn]

Is anyone driving down to carry bags back this year?

[mikesbytes]

So which train from Central ?

Any suggestions on accommodation?

[T-Bone]

Hmm, doesn't seem like too many options for accomodation down there. I might have to take the sunday morning train.....

[mikesbytes]

You would need to catch the 4.52am from Lidcome

http://www.cityrail.nsw.gov.au/timetabl ... =we&dir=dn

To get the 6.04am from Campbelltown

http://www.cityrail.nsw.gov.au/timetabl ... =we&dir=dn

[T-Bone]

On second thoughts, i would have to be at campbelltown at 6am.....

Who else is looking for accomodation, we can try and find something in mittagong, moss vale, berrima or somwhere else within at least 40km from bundanoon.

[mikesbytes]

I'm looking for accomodation

[mikesbytes]

This is the cheapest I've found on whatif $109

http://www.wotif.com/hotel/View?hotel=W ... e=weekends

[mikesbytes]

Mittagong hotel $65

http://www.pubstay.org.au/hotels.aspx?T ... earchName=

[T-Bone]

If you want to book that, i'll be in, i don't mind sleeping on the floor.

Other options are http://www.oxleymotel.com.au/Rooms.html or http://www.mittagong-motel.com.au/accommodation.html

[T-Bone]

let me know if you want me to start ringing around, and i can find accomodation for both of us.

[mikesbytes]

There you go James $79 for a twin, 6k out of Bowal

http://hotels.lastminute.com.au/accommo ... hotels#map

[T-Bone]

but not on the right day...

[mikesbytes]

let me know if you want me to start ringing around, and i can find accomodation for both of us.

Yeh, whatever you want to do James. As long as we can cab it back from light refreshments on Saturday night.

[mikesbytes]

but not on the right day...

Bummer, read the page wrong

[T-Bone]

is a cabin in a caravan park fine?

[mikesbytes]

Fine by me as long as we don't need to take sheets etc as it isn't confirmed that we have a car to dump our stuff in.

[T-Bone]

Me and Mike are booked in at the caravan park in Moss Vale, so if anyone else needs accomodation, we've got room for a few more. Let me know in the next few days!!

[NOOG]

Kevin and I have booked accomodation at a motel down the road from the pub. If anyone's willing to rough it on the floor, I'm sure there'll be room

[Adrian E]

Need quick accomm? When we did the long weekend tour earlier this year we stayed at the Jemmy Moss Inn
Argyle St
Moss Vale NSW 2577
Telephone: (02) 4868 1721
It was $30 p/p/night or $25p/p twinshare. Its only about a 10km ride to Bundanoon from there.

[T-Bone]

Hi Guys,

I've done a cityrail analysis & my best pick for those of us travelling by train is - Central Station 3:46pm, Southern Highlands Line. You must be in the front 2 carriages for Bundanoon or any carriage for Mittagong. Arrive Bundanoon 6:13pm... Cheers & see you Saturday

That's the weekday timetable!!

There's no trains going to Bundanoon at the correct time on the weekend, unless you wanted to get there at 11:42am or 7:42pm. So it'll be a short ride from Moss Vale. I suggest catching the 2:53pm at Central, change at Campbelltown and getting to Moss Vale at 5:24pm. Other option gets to Moss Vale at 6:17pm.

I'll be taking the 2:53pm as i need to check in to the accomodation before 6pm.

[JM]

2.53pm for me too! see you at central

[lindsay]

That's the weekday timetable!!

what a dill... but that cityrail website...

2.53pm for me too! see you at central

I'll be there.

[mikesbytes]

OK, I'll do the 2.53pm from central too

[mikesbytes]

Is anyone driving down to carry bags back this year?

Anyone ?

[Huw]

At track last night, Llewie said he and his dad would be driving down early Sunday morning - possible maybe to send some bags back with him - Llewie?

[mikesbytes]

At track last night, Llewie said he and his dad would be driving down early Sunday morning - possible maybe to send some bags back with him - Llewie?

I was over at Rod's/Llewie's place last night and that's undecided.

[T-Bone]

I guess riding the century with a backpack would just make it a little more interesting. I'll have to be careful about what i pack.

[christian]

I'm still undecided on this one, leaving it till the last minute. It all revolves around getting a bike to ride? Anyone got a spare built up? Around the 54cm mark would be good. Simon, how many pieces is Tim's fixie in, and do you have time to put it together?

[T-Bone]

Christian, if you can get a bike, there's spare beds in the cabin me and mike have booked.

[Simon Llewellyn]

I'm still undecided on this one, leaving it till the last minute. It all revolves around getting a bike to ride? Anyone got a spare built up? Around the 54cm mark would be good. Simon, how many pieces is Tim's fixie in, and do you have time to put it together?

I've got a frame, cranks minus the crank bolts & can do handles bars & probably stem depending on what length you want. I was talking to Lindsay last night & he should probably be able to do brakes & you can steal wheels off big red. If you want to do it, you just need to confirm asap & we'll try & get it all together.

[timyone]

Hey i might be a driver of some kind depending on every thing, im trying to get a car licence and need another 120 hours or so...
I would ride, but have only just jumped on a bike today, and i seriously did 15 km?! out of energy!!

[christian]

I'm in, I'll be riding Adrian's bike. So I'll take that spare bed in the Cabin James. I'll be on the the 2.53 train with everyone else.

[mikesbytes]

What's the situation with food and water on route

[Huw]

Just wondering whether there'd been further developments on baggage pick-up - anyone driving back to Sydney?

[christian]

Llewie's parents are coming down, so there will be a car going back for our bags.

[christian]

All I can say is 160km is sooooo far on a fixie. Having never ridden a road fixie more then 3 km I didn't find the ride too painful.

We made a late start at around 8.45 due to Llewy bringing the wrong shoes and having to cobble some pedals together out of straps and some old platform pedals. We had 12 starters all up. No major dramas on the first leg into Bowral, about 40km. John and James did miss a blind panda (the new term for a right hander) which sent them the wrong direction, not sure how long it took them to realise. I was a bit lazy on the way into Bowral, letting Huw, James and Simon do most of the work.

After a quick snack, and more importantly coffee we set off towards Picton. It was a short 50kms, with one drink stop along the way where Llewy and Kevin decided to make a break for it, they got about a 10 minute head start. There was only one tricky part on the ride into Picton, a corner where it would have been very easy to smack straight into a wall, brakes where required. Lunch saw Simon attempt to eat a family size chicken pasta salad and a steak sandwich, that boy can eat. This was the last major stop of the day.

Next up, the KOM challenge, razorback. Simon took off first after lunch, I decided to follow just so he didn't crawl up the hill and still win. We decided to both take it easy up the hill, he just took it easier then me. The corragated dirt road on a fixed road bike is a bit tricky. The ride down the other side was just as interesting, my legs just don't go fast enough. Kevin missed the turn here and didn't end up riding razorback, he may have actually planned it this way.

It was cruisey ride into Camden, either that or my brain had stopped working and I just can't remember if anything happened. There was confusion at this point about where to go as we had lost our navigator Grant at the top of Razorback, he decided to jump in the car. After heading down the wrong road, then deciding it was wrong we headed towards Campbeltown. This is where the ride turn a lot more urban, no more rolling grassy hills with cows. We had regrouped at this point and we all got to see Llewy's destruction on public property when he lent on a pedestrian crossing button and broke it off the pole.

From here we made our way to the M5, which just isn't fun to ride. We splintered at this point, Mike and myself off the front, and it was an semi painful ride back, cramps coming and going. It was a relief to get to the end of the motor way, a short ride to the promised land. About 200m from the end, my right leg decided it had had enough and wasn't going any further. I had to stop and stretch, so Mike got there first. Everyone that made it did a lap of the velodrome.

We headed off to the Concordia club for a celebratory beverage of two. This was the end of me, and I still had to ride home.

[mikesbytes]

Yeh it was a great ride. This was the furthest I've ever ridden any sort of bicycle.

Saved a turtle for imminent death just out of Camden.

As per Christian's post, the motorway is kinda boring, so shortening the time on it seemed the best strategy. I hadn't realised that Christian had stopped at the top of the hill coming out of Earlwood, otherwise I would of stopped too.

Did an indoor bike class at lunchtime. Hamstrings are good, quads a cactus.

Thanks to Rod for lending me a fixie and thanks to Grant for organising a fantastic ride.

Did anyone take a photo of the brontosaurs that Huw ate at the Concordia club?

[mikesbytes]

This is how you avoid crossing the M7

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/M-M7

[Kosy-Moto]

Finally...
Boundanoon to Tempe pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7479294@N0 ... 258033498/
Enjoy

[mikesbytes]

Huw did some great photos, here's the one that shows how tough DHBC riders are

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