Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - fitties fat fine

I'm in the process of converting the surly steamroller into an offroad ss. This small bit of rant is really intended for posterity's sake and not a trueblue whine:

1) fff should in reality be: fffusu700x35cfuycfsbcbw (fatties fail to fit unless something under 700x35mm counts as fatty and unless you can find something besides a caliper brake to work). Honestly, there is no way to get any kind of adequate clearance in the front with a caliper brake and 35mm tires. I am running fairly narrow rims (cxp22 in front, open pro in rear) but nothing outlandish. And in the back, with the rear axle squarely in the center of the drop out, there is less than 2mm of clearance between the tire and the seat tube. I'm going to try out some 30mm tires today and see how they work--but these are hardly "fatty." Or if they are, they're like "new Ricki"-fatty and not "Hairspray Ricki"-fatty.

2) I would not be doing this except for wanting to breathe new life into a neglected bike. I you're considering the ss route, look into other Surly makes, ones with cantilever bosses and longer chainstays.

3) That said, I still think this bike is going to look pretty dang cool when it's done.

Speaking of which: right now I have some old 3-spd mustache bars on it. These were taken off a Raleigh Robin Hood cruiser and have several deep gouges that I'm a little leery of. But the nice thing about them is they're short (no need to chop) and flared (not straight back like nittos). Anyone know where I can find a replacement set with these specs?

http://www.planetricki.com/assests/images/09_rls_4.jpg

Goddamnit. I just ordered a Steamroller frame for that exact reason. We'll see how it works with my wheel/tire combo.

re: the bars-
nashbar, 14 bucks.

Goddamnit. I just ordered a Steamroller frame for that exact reason. We'll see how it works with my wheel/tire combo.

I know people on the forums (soze) have had success using wider rims--this means less vertical and more lateral 'puff' to the tire. This would be a definite gain in terms of clearance. Don't despair, it's still a very nice frame and you can still make it work.

My lbs also has a Long Haul Trucker fork for sale (I could probably get it for around $20--they're having a sale and what bike store needs an LHT fork?). This could be another way of getting around the caliper clearance issue. I will probably go with the build as-is, though I keep thinking about buying that fork. I just can't see running a canti brake in front and a caliper in back. Plus there's the color mismatch thing. Though I kind of like the idea of having a Surly frankenbike.

tire-seat tube clearance is more a problem of gearing choice than frame size. And 35's really are fatties as far as road bikes are concerned. It's a steamroller, not a crosscheck.

It's a steamroller, not a crosscheck.

Exactly.

How the hell can you call a bike a 'steamroller' and then limit it to tiny-ass 700x35 tires?

Even the monkey's got issues with truly fat tires.

I weep, surly.

hmmmm.
just last weekend I saw a steamroller with 37c and brakes. granted there was virtually no clearance left, the wheels still spun. and they were just regular-old long reach brakes

maybe you just need bigger calipers. tekro R556's perhaps?

I think 35mm tires are pretty fat for a track bike. Why not get a crosscheck or a karate monkey?

The 1x1 allows 2.7 in tires. The monkey supposedly has clearance larger than any mass-produced 29" tire.

And there's always the pugsley. 4" tires!
http://singlespeedgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/Pugsley_Beach_Back-2.jpg

The 1x1 allows 2.7 in tires. The monkey supposedly has clearance larger than any mass-produced 29" tire.


The monkey won't take my 700x60 big apples. Well, the frame will, sort of. It's just a matter of the tire rubbing the front derailleur clamp, which is kind of a bummer. It's also kind of a bummer that the tires catch on the v-brake straddle cables.

Until I go disc, there's no way I can run these tires on the monkey.

yeah, I'm just going by what Surly says fits.

Fat tires are fun.

The monkey won't take my 700x60 big apples. Well, the frame will, sort of. It's just a matter of the tire rubbing the front derailleur clamp, which is kind of a bummer. It's also kind of a bummer that the tires catch on the v-brake straddle cables.

Until I go disc, there's no way I can run these tires on the monkey.

Is that even with monkeynuts (the dropout spacers that Surly sells)?

Is that even with monkeynuts (the dropout spacers that Surly sells)?


I toyed around with building a Crosscheck for awhile and eventually decided on a KM. I wanted a "do everything" bike, but then I realized that I didn't have a fat tired geared mtb. Looks like it could handle 2.4", maybe even 2.5" in the rear.

As a geared bike you need to run the QR wheels up at the end of the dropout; I indeed had rub against my traditional bottom pull derailleur without the monkey nuts. but no problems after I added 'em.

I think it's gonna become a 1x9 before long, though, so I'm not worried.

For fixed / ss...pull the wheel back a tad and there's plenty of room.

Surly has an article about the KM derailleur problems on their site.

Surly has an article about the KM derailleur problems on their site.

yeah, did you try replacing the anchor bolt on the derailleur?

The monkey won't take my 700x60 big apples. Well, the frame will, sort of. It's just a matter of the tire rubbing the front derailleur clamp, which is kind of a bummer. It's also kind of a bummer that the tires catch on the v-brake straddle cables.

Until I go disc, there's no way I can run these tires on the monkey.

So it fits in the frame fine, but rubs on the front deraill. clamp. It sounds like fatties fit fine. What are you doing with a front deraill. anyway this the SS/FG forum? The Karate Monkey can fit the biggest 29er tires available now without any problem. The biggest nobby tire option right now is the WTB Weirwolf 2.55 mounted on the fattest rims available, Kris Holm.

yeah, did you try replacing the anchor bolt on the derailleur?

Using monkey nuts and replacing the derailleur clamp bolt buys me that clearance, but I'm still rubbing on straddle cables.

Like I said: these tires won't do me any good until/unless I move to discs.

Using monkey nuts and replacing the derailleur clamp bolt buys me that clearance, but I'm still rubbing on straddle cables.

Like I said: these tires won't do me any good until/unless I move to discs.

why not v-brakes?

straddle cables!

Like I said: these tires won't do me any good until/unless I move to discs.
Get with the 21st century, yo. Disc brakes are the best thing to happen to mountain bikes since the threadless stem.

1) fff should in reality be: fffusu700x35cfuycfsbcbw (fatties fail to fit unless something under 700x35mm counts as fatty and unless you can find something besides a caliper brake to work). Honestly, there is no way to get any kind of adequate clearance in the front with a caliper brake and 35mm tires. I am running fairly narrow rims (cxp22 in front, open pro in rear) but nothing outlandish. And in the back, with the rear axle squarely in the center of the drop out, there is less than 2mm of clearance between the tire and the seat tube. I'm going to try out some 30mm tires today and see how they work--but these are hardly "fatty." Or if they are, they're like "new Ricki"-fatty and not "Hairspray Ricki"-fatty.


I'm running 35mm panaracer t-servs on my steamroller. The LBS used a Shimano BR-A550 caliper brake for my front brake. It was supposedly one of the only brakes listed in the quality parts book that fit the requirements for reach on this frame and did not cost a small fortune (they can be purchased as singles, not as a set). There is decent clearance between tire and caliper.

The rear tire is another story. It fits just fine, with maybe 2-3mm of clearance on the seattube and 1-2mm or so of clearance on the brake boss. The hub sits about middle of the track-ends. It fits, but it is very close tolerance. Surly claims these frame can fit up to 38mm... I guess it really depends on the tire? Alex DM18 rims, for what it's worth... 62cm frame.

I am running 35mm WTB allterreainisaursssss tires on my surly and I have a ton of room in the front and a few millimeters on the back but It wouldnt be that way if i didnt run the wheel slammed.

The 1x1 allows 2.7 in tires. The monkey supposedly has clearance larger than any mass-produced 29" tire.

And there's always the pugsley. 4" tires!
http://singlespeedgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/Pugsley_Beach_Back-2.jpg

Monster truck madness!!!!

besides the pugsley, which surly takes the biggest tires practically? i would thnk the 1x1.

Get with the 21st century, yo. Disc brakes are the best thing to happen to mountain bikes since the threadless stem.

Disagree. Big fat knobby tires that actually roll and don't pop when you ride are the best thing ever. You can't say discs are the best after you see CX guys training on cantis on the same trails the FS Disc guys are doing.

as for brakes, have you considered center pulls? like old mafac racer's? paul also makes some too. they'd have more clearance than a caliper would.

Disagree. Big fat knobby tires that actually roll and don't pop when you ride are the best thing ever. You can't say discs are the best after you see CX guys training on cantis on the same trails the FS Disc guys are doing.

Okay, race downhill w/ cantis then. Weee-COMPOUND FRACTURE.

Ok, race uphill with 8" disc rotors then. Wee, dropped after four seconds.

Ok, race uphill with 8" disc rotors then. Wee, dropped after four seconds.


That is more a factor of the 8" travel and 40lbs weight of the bike then just the rotors themselves.

Cantilevers may be workable but vbrakes were a huge improvement and discs even better for some conditions.

The only cross guys I ever see may be going faster then some weekend warrior with more bike and travel then they know what do with but nowhere near as fast as even a mediocre xc rider and they are constantly hopping on and off the bike.

I know people on the forums (soze) have had success using wider rims--this means less vertical and more lateral 'puff' to the tire. This would be a definite gain in terms of clearance. Don't despair, it's still a very nice frame and you can still make it work.

Ok, I'm running Delgados so I should be fine. I'll probably have to cut up my fenders but that's usually to be expected.

If you gave me a set of disc brakes, I would certainly use them. XC racers are faster on XC bikes and XC terrain than cross racers on cross bikes on a cross course. I just don't think discs are the best thing to ever happen to mountain biking, because many very good riders get along just fine with V's or Cantis.

I just don't think discs are the best thing to ever happen to mountain biking, because many very good riders get along just fine with V's or Cantis.
I can see what you are saying. The old "If it's good enough for them, why shouldn't it be good enough for me?" I felt the same way for a long time. Then I rode with discs. It is incredible to be able to apply and modulate your brakes all the way down a long descent without fading. It is awesome to fall in the mud and not have your braking compromised for the rest of the ride. Is it joyous to be able to replace pads without taking a half-hour to adjust them so they don't squeal. It is wonderful to have brake pads that last more than 30 rides. It is super to not have to have my wheels trued perfectly in order to avoid brake rubbing. I could go on and on, but I'm probably being a little too evangelical as it is.

Got my frame and fork (56cm Steamroller) and started putting it all together. With Salsa Delgado's and Conti 37's, I still have plenty of clearance for fenders with a bit of modification. Truth be told, I was expecting to have to cut 'em up a little bit. Fleet Farm is your friend for all manner of little hardware bits and pieces at 8:00 PM. Pics to follow...

moustache bars and cruiser bars are not the same thing.



Speaking of which: right now I have some old 3-spd mustache bars on it. These were taken off a Raleigh Robin Hood cruiser

The 30mm (Ritchey Speedmax Cx) tires work fine. Not quite the fatty blunt I expected to roll, but it'll work for a snow bike, and we'll see how it handles some of the trails when the snow disappears. jaypee, what fenders are you using?

onceinalifetime, thanks for the handlebar 101. The robin hood cruiser doesn't have cruiser bars; it has mustache bars. Sorry for your confusion.