Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Touring Conversion

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voshchev
05-25-06, 06:48 AM
Does anyone have experience converting a touring bike to ss or fixed? I've got a Rush that I use for everyday riding, but I'm thinking it would be good to have a bike for pulling a trailer and carrying around a lot of crap. Frame ideas? SS or fixed? It's Chicago, so I definitely don't need gears, but wonder if fixed might make it difficult to pull a trailer.

dirtyphotons
05-25-06, 08:09 AM
if you're pulling heavy stuff, i'd go fixed and brakes. nothing wrong with ss, just make sure your brakes are solid.

also, if it's a touring frame set, you might find magic gears (http://eehouse.org/fixin/formfmu.php) useful.
fixedude
05-25-06, 08:12 AM
http://www.gordontaylor.co.uk/ (the bike is fixed)

http://www.btinternet.com/~kmtaylor/EastUSA/bike_and_trailer.jpg

dirtyphotons
05-25-06, 09:58 AM
nice fixedude.
$0.00/Gal
05-25-06, 10:00 AM
Leave the gears on.
voshchev
05-25-06, 10:38 AM
Why leave the gears on?
Neist
05-25-06, 10:46 AM
Why leave the gears on?

The weight may get to you with no gears, but I guess that would depend on how much weight were talking here.
voshchev
05-25-06, 11:21 AM
Any other ideas then for an ss pulling/hauling machine?
Neist
05-25-06, 03:31 PM
Any other ideas then for an ss pulling/hauling machine?

If I was doing it, I'd just get a really really really low gear on a bike and spin like a madman. At that point you wouldnt be going very fast but it'd be a great workout. :P Its definitely possible, but it would be difficult on the starts if you were pulling much weight. It would also heavily rely on how many stops your going to be encountering. If your only going to hit a stop once every 5 miles, I say go with it. Starts may be tough, but once every 5 miles ain't bad.