Fixed Gear Mountain biking

[thunderzy]

I have an 07 rockhopper frame sitting around I'm planning on building into an SS. Very excited about it.

[vintagefisher]

here is a good MTB fixed one.

[url]]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9f5KZDHUGo&feature=related[/url]

and another

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EMWpCrzMbg&feature=fvwrel

[bh357]

But holy *beep* ... I can't even imagine what a PITA it would be to ride a trail without standing up to coast down a hill

There is a fine art to standing while pedaling to absorb bumps going downhill... and you are typically not letting yourself get going as fast.

or hop a log

You can give a slight hop before the log to level out your pedals. Timing is key here.

It's been a while since I've ridden off-road fixed. I'll have to mount up my TomiCog soon.
I've ridden many miles at Stony fixed; a few laps of Addison also. One ride at Bloomer. Bloomer switchbacks are "interesting" when you can't coast.

[Critter7r]

But holy *beep* ... I can't even imagine what a PITA it would be to ride a trail without standing up to coast down a hill

There is a fine art to standing while pedaling to absorb bumps going downhill... and you are typically not letting yourself get going as fast.

Yeah, I figured as much. It sounds like this would be one of those things that would be fun after you got proficient at it, but getting proficient at it would take time and a lot of time and practice.

[jfactor!]

[Bento]

I quit before I got started. I am selling a new 16T TomiCOG, no wait, easy to mail.

[vintagefisher]

rear brake is off and bike is switched to full on fixed gear for a ride after work at fort custer. Im planning on doing the green loop. No video since im riding alone but you get the picture. I will let everyone know how many times i crashed and what tough obsticals i cleared.

[vintagefisher]

got out there and decided if I am going to do it, do it right. So I set off on my front brake fixed gear on the red loop. A group of 3-4 guys (one of them with a gopro on) left about 5-10 minutes before me. I didnt have any problems at all. made it through grannys garden completely clean every downhill and every nasty switchback uphill without pedal bashing or putting a foot down. Only lost it 1 time and that was because I got *beep* and tried to hop over a downed tree and took the downtube to the shin. I eventually caught up to the gopro group. they were resting in the middle of amusement park right in the clearing right before the wall. I ended with a 9.1 average mph with a 56ish minute total time and 8.3 miles, about 15 minutes slower than my full speed on my SS setup but more fun!

I FREAKING LOVED IT! I would highly recomend you guys give it a try. I also found that i didnt even touch the front brake at all, although this is probably because thats how i commute, no brakes so i am used to skidding to control speed. I may go brakeless next time as well.

When are all the races going to start having a fixed gear class, I would get completely wasted trying to race fixed in the SS class but it would be interesting to race fixed.

[utabintarbo]

When are all the races going to start having a fixed gear class, I would get completely wasted trying to race fixed in the SS class but it would be interesting to race fixed.

Some races do have a Fixie class (Barry-Roubaix?), but they usually require a front brake.

[vintagefisher]

When are all the races going to start having a fixed gear class, I would get completely wasted trying to race fixed in the SS class but it would be interesting to race fixed.

Some races do have a Fixie class (Barry-Roubaix?), but they usually require a front brake.

i could just throw some wide tires on my commuter for barry...im talking through the woods technical

[Bcar]

My brother knows a guy in Ft. Collins who rides fixie all over the front range and is prob the best/toughest rider out there :O

[jalopy jockey]

It's been a while since I've ridden off-road fixed. I'll have to mount up my TomiCog soon.
I've ridden many miles at Stony fixed; a few laps of Addison also. One ride at Bloomer. Bloomer switchbacks are "interesting" when you can't coast.

Fun to watch too.

[MediumRB]

Yeah, I'm the guy riding fixed gear at Pontiac Lake and Highland and hereabouts. I just did Highland this morning, in fact.

I've not ridden a geared MTB since the early 90s. I have only ridden SS when I trade bikes w/ my riding buddy Hugh, and I am not very good at it.

I only have a front brake and it is enough because I do a lot with the constant pedaling, in terms of resisting and a little slow pedal drift technique I use on soft turns. I gear 36/18 with 650b wheels and go to a 17t with 26" wheels. On my old 29'r, I geared 33/18 or 19, I think. Brooks Flyer saddle with the springs, dirt drop handlebars set about level with the seat, and usually a Dart 3 fork (sometimes a rigid carbon, but not advantageous in the dirt drops). The dirt drop bars require a road lever, so I have the BB7 road disc brakes w/ 160mm rotor, which is really not enough. I have 170mm cranks and rarely pedal strike.

My set-up is pretty weird, but it works great for fixed gear. When I swapped with my friend's SS today, I was pedal striking, locking up the brakes, and falling off the trail like an idiot. It's just a matter of what you are used to.

[Sortaslow]

Hey mediumrb, I met you the at Pontiac Lake trail day this year. You let me ride it around the p lot. That is a sweet ride. I don't have the skills to trail ride a bike set up like that!

[MediumRB]

^ The learning curve on the fixed gear is a little steep...certainly don't try fixed gear on Pontiac Lake for your first time.

I'll be off the trails for the next week (prepping for the Nat'l 24-hour Challenge), but anybody who sees me out there and has egg-beaters cleats is welcome to try my bike.