questions about SS on TD

[the_mc5]

Watching TD2010 I see that Erik L's geared ride is temporarily trashed due to mud-smashed drivetrain, in a similar location that Joe Meiser's was last year. At the same time Kent is moving up the field on an SS, and he did a 700-mile SS (paved?) prologue to arrive in Banff.

It stimulates some SS questions for me. Basically I'm not understanding how it succeeds. Some thoughts from those in the know would be appreciated.

SS seems a prudent move re: reliability. But how do you pick the right gear in advance if you've not tried the course before? Like say you are from the midwest and haven't ridden the west at all? Just pick the same one you usually ride? And I'm confused how one can pick a gear like 32/18 that is good on temperate singletrack, but will be totally spun out on any (days long?) flats, and not easy enough on multi-mile climbs up to a pass? I think this year already Dave B commented on a call-in about being in granny gear for hours on some climb - how can an SS rider compete, where he might have to walk for hours when geared riders don't? Or are the SS riders just strong enough to keep riding anyway?

I ask these things because I've been SS for 2 years, with conflicting results, leaving me confused. - great SS results in lap races and one-day endurance events, as fast and comfortable as geared, only to get my confidence up for a TransWisconsin ITT on my SS, only to be shut down after 3 days because the hills of the driftless area worked me unsustainably hard, emptying my tank. I had to walk a section of most every hill, and saw my avg speed drop each day from 13 to 12 to under 10mph. I'm in the best shape of my life, an above average Ironman, but with limited multi-day event experience, and I'll only ever be a Sport or JV-squad strength cyclist.

Is multi-day SS just not for Sport-level people? - right now that is my leading theory.
Perhaps I simply lack multi-day fitness or fortitude regardless of how single-day fit I am? - my alternate hypothesis.
Is it possible that the drastic topography of Wisconsin's driftless area is more demanding than TD? Seems unlikely.

Thanks in advance,

Mark

[wookieone]

I have not done the TD, but for lesser rides the SS works well, you sort of adapt, walk, use ever muscle in your body, etc. I have wondered about the TD and a single, I am seriously considering it for next year, yeah mechanicals are far less common with constant chain tension. Also considering the Rohloff, but it is heavy, effects handling and is a bit grindy in some gears....a whole year to decide...Jefe

[Slowerthensnot]

as a 4 time starter, and yet to finish the beast SS does gain you reliability, however there's no way around the fact its harder on your body..... IE, SS, your always in the wrong gear

To build fitness on a single, me thinks lotsa road commutes, and climbing are in order....  get your mash on the hills and get your spin on the road =)

Just my .02

[protoceratops]

You said it, Fixie Dave!

With any kind of SS, you are **always** in the wrong gear.

With a proper fixed gear setup, instead of fearing the climbs, you dread the descents!

protoceratops (FG Bianchi and SS Merlin)

[mijome07]

...however there's no way around the fact its harder on your body..... IE, SS, your always in the wrong gear

Ain't that the truth.

[wdlandparker]

I suppose it all depends on your defenition of "fast" cause, I ride a fixed MTB as well, and on road sections I am definetly slower than geared, but it seems just as fast to me...

[Slowerthensnot]

I suppose it all depends on your defenition of "fast" cause, I ride a fixed MTB as well, and on road sections I am definetly slower than geared, but it seems just as fast to me...

Seems and the what the clock says can be 2 very different things!

[wdlandparker]

Seems and the what the clock says can be 2 very different things!

Ain't that a fact! 

[bruce.b]

   You guys are doing it wrong. I've been SS only since the mid 1990's and I'm always in the right gear. It's all in your mind. This isn't my line, but you can always drop down to the 24 inch gear anytime you need it. Get skinny and fit, makes the hills much easier.
   Gearing for Tour Divide? About 52 inches is what most people have used. Chris set the SS record at about 55. There's your range you probably want to use. My bikepacker is at 55. I'd only drop down if I was doing a mostly offroad singletrack ride..... or perhaps if I moved to CO.

   Not sure how fixed impacts this.

   bruce.b

[wdlandparker]

   
   Not sure how fixed impacts this.

   

well, you have to choose a gear that won't kill you on the downhills since you can't coast, but you have to be able to grunt up the hills in it...living in CO makes this a challenge!

[protoceratops]

Bruce, it was a joke...been here a month and you are the only one that knows how to ride, hmmmm? 

[bruce.b]

Bruce, it was a joke...been here a month and you are the only one that knows how to ride, hmmmm?  

   Well yeah. That's why my answer was an obvious joke in response.
   bruce.b

[the_mc5]

Thanks for feedback fellas. An SS discussion started in the main TD2010 thread about the time I started this one. Someone wrote something to the effect that only 4 people have finished TD SS so far. And people are throwing out numbers like 55 gear-inches, which I wouldn't want to turn for more than a hour or two on a moderate course - so it seems those folks are in a different league. Coupled with my own experience, I'll take this as evidence for my theory that multiday SS is not for Sport-class people like me, regardless of how trained up you are or which wrong gear you've got  ;-)

[protoceratops]

Mark,

Yeah, 52-55" would be too short for doing laps of Lake Mendota...but too much for the TD climbs?
Shouldn't be...you just have to recalibrate your walking threshold.

55" is OK for flats and mild climbs...the gear is irrelevant on descents...and that covers a lot of the course.
Seems like the strategy would be to be choose a gear that would have you pedaling as much as possible
over three weeks.  I think Bruce B. is right.  Get lean and mean and take a lesson from Kent and Deanna.
Pick a gear and make it work.

I will take a stab at the fixed question as well, since I have put in a lot of road miles on fixed.  And a few
dirt miles...Gear just a bit short for flats, so it is comfortable (but not *easy*) to really spin up.  Like 120 to
150rpm.  Then you can pedal all but the hardest climbs.  The descents are the same deal, really.  You can
pedal all but the worst descents.  Dave N. and Deanna ride fixed on dirt.  THAT is in another league...but
SS shouldn't be.  Lean and mean...

I aim to find out next June at the TD first hand!



SPB from Middleton (once upon a time)