Singlespeed at Heffron 02/02

[fixedgear]

In the footsteps (should that be wheeltracks?) of Al and Lindsay, I gave my 1982 Farleigh singlespeed with a 52x16 (87.8") gear a run at Heffron on Saturday. Raced in D Grade (the 'old' C Grade) and managed to finish with the bunch sprinting for third as first and second was taken by a couple of riders who broke away after about 8 of the scheduled 14 laps and stayed away.
We actually ended up racing 13 laps (26.52 km) as the bell was rung a lap early due to a fall in a higher grade at about the 10 lap mark.
My average speed to the 10 lap mark was 36.0 kph, however the accident which happened just before the second 'pimple' blocking most of the track effectively neutralised the race for 2 laps, and the average dropped as a result to be 35.73 kph at the end of the 13 laps.
Mind you, I was not unhappy with the slowing of the pace as at I was just maintaining contact with the bunch prior. The 87.8" gear was ok except when the pace slowed over the second pimple and when coming over the top of the 180 deg corner near the netball courts. At those points I was overgeared and my legs were reminding me of this for a couple of days afterward. I think I'll try around 84" next time if the wind conditions are similar (usual headwind up home straight), although if a tailwind occurs along the home straight I'll be 'OTA' if the pace gets screwed up too far.
A picture courtesy of Rocky Fortuna attached has me in the background looking a bit 'blury'. [/img]

[mikesbytes]

Great riding Peter.

Wind is usually a factor at Heffron. Perhaps you need to take some gearing to the track and decide on the day.

[Huw]

And a nice looking bike, too!

[weiyun]

Rocky's photography is improving leap and bound!

Nice report. Given that it's always windy at Heffron, either up the straight or down the straight, and in reverse on the other side of the course. So Mike's suggestion is a wise one.

[fixedgear]

Huw wrote:

'And a nice looking bike, too!'

Well the blur hides a few of the scratches, but basically it's a 1982 Farleigh (Bob Farley) track frame in Columbus SP (track sprinting) tubing. The frame was modified later by another Melbourne builder Daryl Perkins for road training use with the addition of allen bolt brake holes, bidon cage mounts and pump peg. The original steel front fork (which I have in my shed) has about 1mm clearance with track tubulars, so the former owner of the frame fitted a Kinesis aluminium road fork. The combination frame/fork handles well in a criterium situation, but the over size and thicker wall SP rear stays, combined with the coke can fork give a very harsh ride compared to road spec steel. A steel fork will be fitted once I find a suitable one.

Components are what I had lying around, rear wheel is Sanshin NJS double sided track hub/Wolber 32 hole rim, front wheel is a ~55 year old red anodised Airlite Continental hub(smoooooth...) on a 32 hole Wolber rim. Tyres are Maxxis Fuse (700x23/25C). Crankset is a 165mm white Shimano 'special', pedals are KKT quill (Campag copies) with clips and straps. Bars were recycled from a hard rubbish Centurion, stem is a Trans-X 105mm, seatpost is a Cinelli, on top of which is a leather Brooks B17. Brake levers and calipers are Shimano Exage SLR. Bike owes me about $300~350.

[weiyun]

Bike owes me about $300~350.

It'll need to work hard to pay you back through race prizes...

[fixedgear]

weiyun wrote:

'It'll need to work hard to pay you back through race prizes...'

I doubt I'll ever be a money winner on the Farleigh, but it's fun mixing it will all those $2000-5000 20 speeds on a singlespeed.

Actually, I'm not really a money winner on any bike (can't sprint!), but as long as I don't end 'OTA' I'm a 'winner'.

[weiyun]

Good on you Fixedgear and I was only half joking of course. Look forward to meeting you on a future Heffron meet. Keep those gears lub'ed!

[Toff]

Would love to have a look at your 55y.o. front hub. When I saw the photo I thought you might have been running Maxi-CAR hubs. One day I'll find a pair for my track bike...

[fixedgear]

Toff, I'll probably have the Airlite wheel on the Farleigh at the Heffron races on the 16 and 23 of February. (Can't make it tomorrow unfortunately).

The Airlite wheel is only a temporary 'fix' for the Farleigh, it actually 'belongs' to my 1968 Bates track bike, but the Suzue/Wolber wheel that I'd usually have on the Farleigh is being rebuilt.

I also have a set of early 1950's Chater Lea blue anodised hubs that after I've rebuilt will end up on my 1951 Hobbs of Barbican. At some time in the future, the Hobbs with the C/L hubs will appear at Saturday Slowies and most likely the 2008 fixie century.