Racing a fixed Steamroller

[xccx]

Anyone do it? How fat can you run the tires, and are you going brakeless or with cantis?

thx...

[JimmyMack]

There is one guy in the bay area that raced fixed the last two years. As a C he raced fixed no brakes with a riser bar. He won some races on the rig too. Last year he raced fixed with brakes. It seemed that the brakes help to initiate the fixed skid. Once the bike is skidding then it’s easier to do what ever is necessary. He finished with good race day and overall series results. Top 10 on a fixed!!! I was impressed.:)

The steam roller probably won’t allow for cantis. Unless you meant the cross check. The brake idea to initiate the skid seems like a good idea.

[xccx]

There is one guy in the bay area that raced fixed the last two years. As a C he raced fixed no brakes with a riser bar. He won some races on the rig too. Last year he raced fixed with brakes. It seemed that the brakes help to initiate the fixed skid. Once the bike is skidding then it’s easier to do what ever is necessary. He finished with good race day and overall series results. Top 10 on a fixed!!! I was impressed.:)

The steam roller probably won’t allow for cantis. Unless you meant the cross check. The brake idea to initiate the skid seems like a good idea.

i'm pretty sure i've seen that guy. strong as hell and a smoooth operator. gotta love it when a guy on a fixie is schooling gearies. i'm in the east so its pretty muddy and i dont think a caliper would be a good idea. i like the cross check but love the steamroller for its stealthiness. i thought there was a rule against racing brakeless?? anyway, not sure i'd want to. i'm not that confident with my skids yet. i raced a full cx season ss, and it was great, but now i think i wanna try fixie for the fun of it...

[Scott H]

Anyone do it? How fat can you run the tires, and are you going brakeless or with cantis?

thx...

I did 3 'cross races last year on a Steamroller, but with a freewheel, not fixed. I had no problems running regular (700x35) 'cross tires. Oooodles of clearance, front and rear.

Unless you modify the frame, cantis aren't an option. I used long reach brakes with Aztec V-brake pads.

Surprisingly, the bike was NOT that much of a hinderance to my performance.

[xccx]

I did 3 'cross races last year on a Steamroller, but with a freewheel, not fixed. I had no problems running regular (700x35) 'cross tires. Oooodles of clearance, front and rear.

Unless you modify the frame, cantis aren't an option. I used long reach brakes with Aztec V-brake pads.

Surprisingly, the bike was NOT that much of a hinderance to my performance.


did you have any problems with the tire hitting/rubbing the ST?

[TIMES UP!]

what gear ratio do y'all think would be best?

[xccx]

i'm building it now...with a 39:17.

[Fixed Up North]

Last fall, I saw a guy racing a steamroller with a carbon cross fork and cantis. Seems like a good solution if you want a brake.

[spunkyruss]

How does a fixed gear rider deal with the spinning cranks when shouldering the bike for a run up? It seems like the pedals would beat the hell out of you during the course of a race. I'm not trying to discourage anybody -I'm just curious.

[auk]

I did a few races last year on a fixie, and the problem of spinning cranks was a non-issue. The fraction of a second that you are between dismount and lifting the bike in the air, the bike is still on the ground and the lack of progress is enough to stop the cranks from spinning. Almost like falling off a set of indoor rollers, the kenetic energy is lost really fast.

[sfcrossrider]

How does a fixed gear rider deal with the spinning cranks when shouldering the bike for a run up? It seems like the pedals would beat the hell out of you during the course of a race. I'm not trying to discourage anybody -I'm just curious.

I've had my cross bike built as a single/fixed in the past. IMO, SS is the better of the two options.

[rlotz]

I did a few races last year on a fixie, and the problem of spinning cranks was a non-issue. The fraction of a second that you are between dismount and lifting the bike in the air, the bike is still on the ground and the lack of progress is enough to stop the cranks from spinning. Almost like falling off a set of indoor rollers, the kenetic energy is lost really fast.

So I'm guessing dismounts on a fixed gear would be forced to be pretty quick? No unclipping the right foot early and gliding into the barriers or run-up while just standing on the left pedal? Or is the technique to throw it into a controlled skid?

[sfcrossrider]

So I'm guessing dismounts on a fixed gear would be forced to be pretty quick? No unclipping the right foot early and gliding into the barriers or run-up while just standing on the left pedal? Or is the technique to throw it into a controlled skid?

Thats why I choose single speed over fixed for cross (when I'm not using gears). There is only so much you can do without a freewheel in a cross race. And even if you can skid... why put the extra effort in. Most seasoned cross racers have enough BS to deal with in a race. If you're racing in the correct group, you should be on the brink of a mental and physical breakdown. ;)

[auk]

Dismounts are about timing. I tended to unclip the right foot and start to swing the leg over the back of the seat as the left foot came into the upsweep of the pedal stroke. By the time the left foot was at the top of the pedal stroke, I had my right leg over and ready to do something and I unclipped the left at the 9 o'clock position and started my run. Again, it was a timing thing.

[jeremyb]

isnt cross hard enough without doing it fixed?

[auk]

Indeed, but then there are those days . . . :)

[absntr]

Bringing back an old thread.

I'm interested in possibly doing a CX race this year on my grass track Bob Jackson. It's just about perfect for cross (higher BB than a regular track frame, lots of clearance for tires) and I'm curious about brakes.

I can run a front brake and that should be no problem if I run fixed, however, if I chose to run SS, would a front brake be enough in terms of being allowed to race?

Thanks.

[Fixed Up North]

You would be allowed to race with just a front brake. My concern with running just a front brake is the modulation that is sometimes required when approaching barriers. I set up my cross bike with the brakes reversed (left lever-rear brake) to better modulate my speed if I head into the barriers a little too hot. If you feel comfortable scrubbing speed with the front brake while hanging off the side of your bike, go for it. I might practice a bit before hand to see how well it works. I would definitely run a sole brake lever on the left side.

[absntr]

Thanks Fixed Up North.

I know the course well enough -- I photographed the race (Illinois State Championships) last year. It's not too technical per se -- only one set of barriers (3) just before the start of a gradual long incline up the only big hill.

Practice though is definitely a good recommendation -- thanks again.

[dutret]

I can run a front brake and that should be no problem if I run fixed, however, if I chose to run SS, would a front brake be enough in terms of being allowed to race?


There is a reasonable chance you will be required to have two brakes either way. Skidding into corners is a good way to take out other racers and noone wants that(well maybe the people ahead of the pileup if they are *******s or something). You should just email whoever puts on the cross series around you and ask what they will allow. Also try to do a practice or two beforehand to get in the swing of things before going all out at race pace with dozens of other riders around you.

[xccx]

here she is...decided to run 2 brakes for racing then i can always take it off if i want. the long reach calipers are really cool and i actually have a ton of clearance so i dont think that will be much of an issue.

[jfmckenna]

Bringing back an old thread.

I'm interested in possibly doing a CX race this year on my grass track Bob Jackson. It's just about perfect for cross (higher BB than a regular track frame, lots of clearance for tires) and I'm curious about brakes.

I can run a front brake and that should be no problem if I run fixed, however, if I chose to run SS, would a front brake be enough in terms of being allowed to race?

Thanks.
If it were me personally I'd go with a rear break on the SS and only a front on a fixed. The reason being that I use the rear break to skid the rear wheel out on tight corners to get through them faster. Otherwise there will be plenty of stopping power with just the front brake. When I do TT's on my fixed bike I am required to put the front brake on so I would not be surprised if that is a requirement. But no one says you have to use it :)

I would like to do a fixed race at least once for the hell of it. The one thing I'd like to see is how much control the bike has, I imagine they grip the course really well especially with the extra force on the front end of the bike but roots and sharp corners could be an issue, and dismounts :eek:

[Scott H]

did you have any problems with the tire hitting/rubbing the ST?

Nope, 'cause my gear selection and chain length worked out okay. It could've been a problem if I'd been running different gears, perhaps, but it's not that hard to tinker with the rings/cogs until you find a combo that works from both a gear selection & wheelbase perspective.