Split out from the Irish Mail thread as it's got nothing to do with that...
66" for the way out, 70" for back down the A5. 
Does that mean you can't claim this ride for the FWC given you're gearing ratio is not fixed 
It's not called the FGC - though perhaps it should be esp. when people start turning up with SA S3X hubs...
A S3X isn't really within the spirit of the FWC. It's not the "I can't freewheel challenge". It's the challenge of grimping
up the climbs on the same gear that you have to spin down the descents. Flipping a wheel round once half-way round a ride is hardly the same as being able to use a 50" gear to go up and a 100" gear to come down, with a 75" gear for the flat bits inbetween, and being able to flit between them at will.
I'd allow S3X hubs into the FWC if the users stop for 3 minutes at the road side every time they want to change gear to simulate a flip/flop hub. Slathering their hands in chain oil/dirt and brake-dust-dirt from the rim each time is entirely optional.
I wonder if Mr Phipps has an opinion on it...
Exactly so.
If you want to buy a S3X, then go right ahead, get it fitted to your iron and go and ride it. I hope it increases the pleasure and range of your rides.
However, if you want to use it on the FWC or SFW, you will be disappointed, as I shall not allow it. From this standpoint, the additional challange of these schemes is to select a good compromise height of gear that will allow you to climb the hills without your thighs exploding, and at other times on the ride, swooping down them without your knees melting. For that reason a single freewheel gear is ineligible for these challenges, as anyone can pick a low enough gear to twiddle up all the hills, then enjoy a relaxed descent without pedalling at all. In previous times, Sturmey did a two speed fixed hub which was suspect then, and time will not have improved it. It is also possible to swap sprockets over (within limitations of chain adjustment) which will give a small difference. I am not overjoyed with that, but the facility has been employed for so long now that to proscribe it would probably be less fair than retaining it. Theoretically it is possible to do the same with the chainring to achieve a greater difference (eg 50/14 and 44/20) but Mal Volio has admitted previously to suffering chain breakages under this system, so took the hint not to buck the system. Wise man! Quite recently, Surly has come up with double sprocket, which I have not known to be used over here, and which like the example above, may cause chainline problems. Again, I am unenthusiastic about allowing its use. Finally, there is the S3X, which, with three wide-spaced ratios, makes a mockery of the challenge, so will not knowingly be eligible on rides to be validated for the above two challenges.
Just a clarification now: I have no problem with choosing a different size gear for a different event - say 90" for a flat ride in East Anglia or 50" for a Super Grimpeur, but prefer the ratio to be unchanged during that ride.
Don't stop pedalling!
