You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Well, not really gravel, more towpaths. Been using my fixie for short blasts recently and one of which is 4 miles on the canals up to Parkrun. So I had a thought, is my fixie the perfect towpath tool?
Well, after 40 miles around the canals of Staffordshire and The Black Country I can confirm it is. The 25mm tyres are a bit lively so they’ll get replaced with something a little bigger but bar that it was spot on. And the canals were stunning too, beautiful and autumnal. An lovely ride and a great use for the fixie in the winter riding.
It's already here, and called tracklocross 😉
That Surly doesn't seem to have any brakes, other than the fixed rear cog (i.e. not a brake).
Monster fixie cross is pretty niche even for stw.
That Surly doesn’t seem to have any brakes, other than the fixed rear cog (i.e. not a brake).
Looks like a 650x47 conversion, so you won't find a brake that'll work with that configuration even if the rims had braking surfaces. Which is obviously illegal on UK roads (NB a fixed rear wheel is legal in place of a hand-operated rear brake) but permissible off-road. Plus I'm guessing that picture is from the USA; I'm not sure what their laws are.
Monster fixie cross is pretty niche even for stw.
I've had a fixie monstercrosser since 2006 🙂
+1. Stringing together some training loops for a big ride earlier this summer I did one that involved a fair amount of gravel riding on the fixie. It works surprisingly well - the fixed gear makes it controllable where a freewheel might be pushing it a bit. The only challenge I had was that my frame won't fit anything larger than 25mm tyres, mainly because of the wheel diameter.
Just another reason why I really want (but have no need for) something like an original Cotic Escapade with track ends and flexy stays...
Surly steamroller will take 40mm tyres.
Finding a caliper brake to fit is tricky but does exist.
Whilst waiting for the freewheel for my single speed I flipped the wheel and ran it fixed - it wasn't until I started riding my regular single track that I realised those micro-pauses in my pedalling for the twisty stuff - I was grounding pedals, clipping roots and completely mis-weighted for drop-offs and jumps
I have been doing it on and off for a few years. I use a pre WW2 Dawes frame which should have some form of 16" wheels but takes 700c with a short reach calliper brake at the front. Nowt needed on the back of course. Great for the FC tracks around here.
Thinking of creating my own niche. My Higgins trike came to me with a fixed wheel. Perhaps I should reinstate that and use it on the gravel.
I’ve had a fixie monstercrosser since 2006
About the time I first used one too. Monster cross didn't do it for me so only lasted a few months and went back to 25c tyres and used ever since.
Fixed is great for gravel, why wouldn't it be as it similar to road anyway. Need a new set of skills on singletrack and off road as getting pedals in position to hop with a quick skid stop back pedal takes some practice.
I prefer riding fixed on gravel and off road to on the road.