Ow
I’d planned to take advantage of the weather (the lack of rain, and promise of some sunshine) to go up to Sauvie Island on a 110k perm this morning. I’d made plans to ride with a friend, but he had to bail at the last minute to do moving-related chores, so that means I’d be doing it by myself.
And the GT was just sitting there in the front hall (because I’ve been using it when Silas and I ride to Llewellyn in the morning) and I didn’t have to worry about keeping up with other people, but could just ride along at the sort of constant slow speed that fixies are good at doing.
So I took my sweet fixie™ out for its first permanent – 4h35 loop time, with only about 6 minutes stopped (at stoplights and to take pictures), which meant that I was pedalling constantly for 4h29.
Ow.
To be sure, the GT really wants to go along at one constant speed (in the band of 15-16mph) and I did end up making it back to town in time to retrieve Silas from school, but, still… Ow.
And not all because I was pedaling; the crappy Cutter saddle is responsible for a lot, as is the terribly high handlebar position. If I keep riding this bike on permnents I’ll probably swap saddles with the project bike, and that will settle the saddle problem. Not so sure about the handlebar position – I’ve cut apart another high-rise quill stem and wll reassemble it as a ~-12° stem, but I don’t know if it will work or even be safe.
At least I’m almost to the point where I braze on the rack, and then I’ll be able to carry a full rando load on it.