Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Fixed Gear Mountain Bike?

Well... I want one. I know NOTHING of them. I guess Surly makes frame suitable for build-up and some older frames with horizontal dropouts would work, but what hubs are out there? Are there pre-built options? I haven't ridden a freewheeled bike in years and don't want to start now... but I kinda want to hit the trails out here.

I have an old road frame conversion sitting in the garage... is my best bet just throwing some cyclocross tires and some riser bars on it? I'd really like a bike that could take a serious beating like my old BMX.

Thanks!

i like fixed gears just as much as the next guy but on for a mtb?
that makes no sense at all to me
goodluck though

check out http://www.63xc.com

It makes perfect sense. Control. On a part of my commute I hop my 93' C'dale track off the paved road and cut through a grass/dirt/mud area. I would love a bike made for that kind of riding... as mine is definitely not. 700x23 Rubinos = not made for mud.

The only fixed 135mm hubs that I know of are made by Surly. You might ask your LBS to check the QBP catalog- they have prebuilt single speed wheels using Surly hubs but I am not sure if they use the flip-flop fixed/free hubs or not.

As far as fixed gear mountain bikes go, I don't know of any stock fixed gear bikes, but there are now lots of single speed mountain bikes that could be converted pretty easily. I'm a 29er fan, so I recommend the Fisher Rig if you want a complete bike or any of the numerous steel single speed 29er frames out there like the Surly Karate Monkey, Voodoo Dambala, On-One Inbred, Niner S.I.R, etc. I think the 29er wheel is the best option for single-speed hardtail bikes, even more so if you are running a rigid fork. But if you want 26" wheels, I would look into the Redline Monocog (newest version now has 135mm rear hub instead of BMX size) or the Bianchi (insert silly acronym here: they change it constantly, B.A.S.S., B.U.S.S., S.A.S.S. etc.).

You can even use a frame with vertical dropouts if you can find the "magic gear":

http://community.webshots.com/photo/506701477/506706550jGoqAL

It's a SS, but you get the idea.

i like fixed gears just as much as the next guy but on for a mtb?
that makes no sense at all to me

Why the hell not?

http://entirely-adequate.com/bomb/cherrybomb.jpg

It's not as uncommon as you think. White Industries ENO eccentric flip flop hub will let you ss or fixed. I have done both and as long as the trails aren't crazy steep down it's alot of fun. You will whack your feet and pedals once in a while so wear shoes not sandals. Here is a pic of my recent build that has a freewheel on one side and a Miche track cog on the other. Works well either way.

kogswell also make 135mm fixed hubs
its fine if you ride fireroads or mud/grass/dirt...but then again most people wont consider that mountain biking

Taxi Driver... your bike is what I want. Thanks for all the info guys... I might ask for some of these parts for Xmas!

Oh... that photo didn't show up a minute ago... Jim-Bob... your ride is the jam. What kind of hub is that in the back?

Oh... that photo didn't show up a minute ago... Jim-Bob... your ride is the jam. What kind of hub is that in the back?

It's an old Sansin Pro-Training hub, respaced to 135mm.

From www.63xc.com

http://www.63xc.com/hubchoice/zmchart.gif

I love riding my fixed Surly 1x1. It's great showing up to a group ride where everyone is on the bikes with a minimum of 4" travel and you're on your rigid scorcher. Just remember who you are riding around. Fixed off road riders ride the trails just a bit differently then geared coasters. Your back pedaling and hoping might (and it has) freak out a few people behind you.

Be sure to check out the SS forum on www.mtbr.com as well. There's some more scorchers over there too.

Jim-bob: Your bike is looking good lately.

The only fixed 135mm hubs that I know of are made by Surly. You might ask your LBS to check the QBP catalog- they have prebuilt single speed wheels using Surly hubs but I am not sure if they use the flip-flop fixed/free hubs or not.


Phil Woods sells thier Kiss-Off 135 hub in a fixed configuration, I've got one on my Cross-Check. I've got a pair of 135mm / 26" wheels from Tony @ IRO on the fixed 1x1

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2005/feb/dobber10.jpg

Looking forward to a nice snowfall for the holidays

Not a fixie but a nice single speed
http://www.fisherbikes.com/bikes/bike_detail.asp?series=trail-29er&bike=Rig

Jim-bob: Your bike is looking good lately.

Thankee, ma'am. It's been keeping me pretty happy. (Don't tell it about the karate monkey, I try to keep them in different parts of the house so they don't fight.)

kogswell also make 135mm fixed hubs
its fine if you ride fireroads or mud/grass/dirt...but then again most people wont consider that mountain biking

I have yet to try fixed gear mountain biking, but I have heard of people who fly down technical single track like nobody's business on fixed gear bikes. It would take some serious skill, but it can be done. Heck, there are plenty of fools who think you need gears and suspension but I can tell you from experience that a single-speed hardtail can do the job just fine. And often faster.

This (http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2005/may/GeoffAlbert.htm) is all I ride off-road, although it is fully rigid now. The ENO hub is a godsend for turning any mountain bike into a fixed off road machine. Technical singletrack is not a lot more difficult fixed than free but it is different and I like it!

My mountain bike is a Santa Cruz Chameleon, which has horizontal drops and a removable derailleur hanger. I should really look in to converting it!