gmacmt

Hey there,

I am going to be riding fixed from Anchorage AK to Mexico this summer and need help on choosing a frame. I will be traveling ultralight, so a frame that can handle a lot of weight isnt really needed, as I am a pretty small guy (140#). I want something that is going to be fast, able to accept large tires, and probably run fenders. Eyelets on the dropouts/fork are a plus, but not necessary.

Thanks!

-graeme

ianjk

It really depends on your definition of ultralight and budget.

silver_ghost

Surly Cross check is the first bike that comes to mind. Horizontal dropouts, slackish geometry and good tire clearance.

Plus you can put a derailluer on it if you get sick of spinning your legs halfway through

roadfix

+1 on the Crosscheck.

somerslam

Salsa Casseroll.

What I ride daily. It feels as if I could ride it from Alaska to Mexico.

Brian Sorrell

Surely a Surly will suit your needs.

TheBikeRollsOn 

My friend recently got a crosscheck and he is doing the bike & build trip from Richmond, VA to Philadelphia, PA. Though he will be doing it geared, it seems like a pretty nice bike, fairly lightweight for steel. Also, Surly makes the Long-Haul trucker that is probably less versatile and more suited for tours, but I say the crosscheck would be a good option. Were you looking for ALU or steel?

kyselad

Long Haul Trucker is a better tourer than the Cross Check, thanks to a lower center of gravity, longer chainstays (esp helpful if you use a rear rack), and more eyelets / bosses. It lacks (and ought to have, imho) horizontal dropouts, but that brings me to a point of unsolicited advice. I'm guessing you've either never toured or you're trolling. So in the interest of either information or entertainment, I'll point out that, based on the described itinerary, you should use some sense and ride with gears.

gmacmt

I dont really care for touring bikes as I have no need to carry a ton of weight. I only plan to carry +-15 pounds of gear (before water) at most. The long haul trucker is a little more touring specific than I am looking for.

And yes, this is for real, and I have toured before. My last ride was an unsupported solo trip up the pacific coast from mexico to canada averaging ~100 miles/day. I am doing it fixed because on my previous ride I was virtually spinning the entire time. Plus, this seems like more of a challenge, and I am still young and stupid.

Thanks for all the info so far, the crosscheck seems pretty much like what I am looking for. As far as budget goes, I would be willing to look at anything within reason. If there is any frame out there that would cost more, but work better I might consider it.

10 Wheels

Get a seat post rack and go do it.
Have fun.

Brian Sorrell

I'm old and stupid and did the California coast on a Surly Steamroller. It was enormously fun. So I'd say if you want to have a track-esque bike when you're done with your tour, get a Steamroller. Otherwise, get a Cross-Check. Surlys are tough frames that accept wide tires and fenders and whateverthehellyouwant really. Do. It.

gmacmt

Brian, that steamroller definitely interests me, I love the classic feel that frame has.

Did you carry your own gear? If so, how?

Ken Cox

Surly Steamroller.

Probably the best designed and manufactured frame ever sold to the public.

The Surly Crosscheck has a lower bottom bracket than the Steamroller, which makes it less desirable as a fixed gear tourer, to me (higher probability of pedal strike).

The Steamroller has all the features the OP requested, and on a true fixed gear frame.

Ultralight fixed gear touring sounds like a great adventure.

What do you plan to include in your 15 pounds of gear?

gmacmt

I am really liking the looks of the steamroller. Think I am going to go that direction.

As far as what I am packing, the list is still being determined. I totally forgot what the previous pack list was, but solo it was under 20 pounds of gear. I think I can trim some of that to begin with, and now that I have another person to share the load, it will be even lighter.

But as far as what I am bringing, here is some of what makes it light.

-bivy
-patagonia micropuff synthetic down
-sleeping pad
-1 pair pants
-2 pair underwear
-1 pair bike shorts
-1 jersey
-1 shirt
-no cooking supplies aside from a plastic fork/spoon/knife combo.
-Lightest possible sleeping bag until vancouver, then I will switch to a sleeping bag liner for the coast.
-1 hat
-minimal toiletries (aka soap and a toothbrush, some TP)
-small crescent wrench with holes drilled in it for weight savings
-lockring tool.
-2 tubes and tire levers
-frame pump
-multitool

I am probably forgetting a thing or two, but that is the basics.

Edit to add: Here is my old pack list under my old username (of which I forgot the password). Basically this list, but with a few things removed. Should be +-15 pounds. Would be awesome to get the riding weight in the 30# range. Will be much easier to do this south of vancouver.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...t=#post6854022

kyselad

Where did you get that info? According to the Surly site, the Cross Check has a 6.6 cm bb drop vs 7 cm drop on the Steamroller. But really, I should think either is plenty high, and one should keep in mind for touring that bb height comes with the cost of a higher center of gravity.

As for the OP, sorry I implied you were new to this -- sounds like you've got a chunk of touring under your belt. If you really like the Steamroller, by all means go for it. Practically speaking for what you described, I think the Cross Check is a much better choice. It's better suited to run some of the load up front, and whatever you choose to mount (I should think fenders at a minimum for the route, even if you're going super-light), it will be easier on the Cross-check. It also has canti studs, which I would employ in your shoes.

In case you haven't already done so, I'd check out some rando rigs for inspiration -- they would suit your packing list and your plans pretty well. Most importantly, make sure to post pics of your bike (loaded!) when you get everything together.

gmacmt

Kye, no sweat man. The whole concept of the ride doesnt make much sense to most people

I know that the cross check, from a utilitarian perspective absolutely makes more sense 100% of the time. That said, the steamroller has a sex appeal that the cross check just doesnt have. Plus I want to build up a very classic looking touring rig. I think the steamroller could be a really nice setup if done up right.

I am hoping just to run a large rear saddle bag w/ a rack, and a small handlebar bag. Then I am going to make and mount a water carrying system where panniers would normally attach. Because I will be running (and sealing) a rear rack, there will be no need for a rear fender. I didnt have one on my last ride. That will make access to the rear wheel fine. I am not really sure what I am going to do for the front fender yet though, although I am sure there are options.

This is a steamroller setup that I think I will take a lot of inspiration from...



I would love to get a link to some rando packing lists, not entirely sure what to search for. My biggest source of inspiration for the packing list on my last ride was a guy who rode cross country on a carbon bike carrying everything in his jersey pockets.

And in other news, my buddy who I was going to ride with blew his knee, so this is starting to look like a solo mission...

roadfix

The Steamroller is another option. I have an older Steamroller with the 1 inch headtube and I love that bike. It is a very good bike for many hours in the saddle. I've done several century and double century rides on my Steamroller, running anywhere between 65 to 70 gear inches.

Ken Cox

I didn't get it from anywhere: I wrongly assumed it.

As for the "higher center of gravity," I don't see that as a bad thing.

At the cruising speeds the OP will experience, that "higher center of gravity" equates to agility.

The Crosscheck and the Steamroller both look like good choices.

When it comes to minimalism, though, I like the purity of a dedicated fixed gear frame.

In the balance, the Crosscheck offers more options at a later date.

I'd go with the Steamroller.

=====

Does gmacmt intend to use the Black Diamond Lightsabre bivy again; and, if so, because it works well or because gmacmt already has it, or...?

What makes of sleeping pad and sleeping bag did you choose, and what temperatures do you expect to encounter during the colder parts of your tour?

Does gmacmt intend to carry his gear on his body, in a pack, or on the bike?

When I think minimalism, the idea of a clean bike (except perhaps for water bottles) seems attractive.

I ride with an extremely comfortable custom newspaperboy bag setup that makes 15 pounds and more doable for my kind of rides, but, not having ridden with it for an entire day, I wonder.

What tires and gear ratio does gmacmt have in mind?

Over the past two years I have geared WAY DOWN to 61-63 gear inches, and I have learned to spin.

I like spinning, now that I know how to do it, and besides not giving up much speed, the lower gearing gives me a lot more control and safety, especially downhill.

The lower gearing lets me save my brakes, and presently I ride brakeless because I just don't use my brakes anymore.

I would think, though, on a tour, especially with a lot of dirt, it would save rims and brake pads if one could replace a portion of his braking with resistance pedaling.

Anyway, at 61 gear inches, I can high speed cruise at 19 mph for awhile, and I can cruise indefinitely at 15 mph (a four minute mile).

Regarding fenders, I ride year around and at my speeds (see above) I have found that a rear fender only (no front fender) meets my needs.

However, I service my chain (which receives significant crud from the front wheel) regularly by wiping it down and oiling it.

Finally, I noticed a lock ring tool on gmacmt's list, and I wonder why he would carry this.

Does he plan on changing cogs for different portions of his ride?

gmacmt

Considering the lightsabre again, but also considering something without poles to save weight.


Previously I used an inflatable sleeping pad (forget the make) that was purely inflatable, and packed down to nothing. No foam or whatever thermarest uses. It was slightly heavier, but packed much smaller. Said pad popped, and I am not sure if they are still in business. Not entirely sure what I will carry at this point.

I expect cold in AK and canada. The pacific coast was quite warm, so I was able to simply use a sleeping bag liner (cotton I think) and wear a my down tucked into my pants with a hat, fleece gloves and dry socks. Rarely was I cold. As far as sleeping bags, I am going to go with something in the 30-40 degree range that is ultralight. Like the TNF Beeline that weighs in just around a pound.

I was always taught that gear on the body was a bad idea. Although a light backpack that distrubutes the weight well could compliment a small saddlebag. Interesting idea.

This will be a product of training and experience. Dont know how strong I will be coming into the ride. I am absolutely an advocate of spinning though, and will likely choose a main gear that I can maintain a consistent +-15mph while spinning.

Downhill in the rain without a front fender is a miserable experience.

Cleaning and oiling a chain is an important part of touring, if you want to finish.

Potentially. It can be made very lightweight with a few choice holes.



A little info on ultralight touring...

https://www.adventurecycling.org/feat...ackinglist.cfm

roadfix

Regarding the lock ring tool. I personally wouldn't even bother installing a lock ring, especially when running both brakes. Unless you're planning on heavy backpedaling and skid stops, I guarantee you your cogs will not spin off under normal riding conditions.
You can also use the rotafix method of removing the cog(s) so that'll save you from carrying a chain whip.

Mos6502

Which is basically unnecessary, even unwanted for touring.

All in all, there's really nothing to suggest that the steamroller would be better for a long distance tour. The cross check frame has a longer wheelbase (good) and a slacker headtube (also good) in addition to eyelets for mounting what you want to mount on it.

Of course there are also people who go long distance on unicycles, so whatever you want to do. But I'd choose comfort over style.

gmacmt

^valid points, except I would rather end the ride with a steamroller than a cross check. It overlaps a lot with my poprad.

And I would be saving .2 pounds of frame weight

Brian Sorrell

OP: I carried maybe 5 lbs. of gear. This was a small but supported charity ride, so just the basics for roadside emergencies and food. The suggestions already here are much better than I can offer. But I can say that the Steamroller is super-comfy in the long haul.

I have some friends who did a self-supported FG tour along the coast last summer. They carried backpacks with < 20 lbs. of gear. Find one that distributes the weighs across your shoulders as well as possible, and do some long rides with it just to work out the kinks.

And I'll echo what roadfix said regarding both lockring tool and chainwhip. Unnecessary.

If I were you I'd bring a chain tool and a few extra links just in case. I know it's rare to bust a chain, but you'll be putting some serious stresses on the drivetrain and you don't want to get stuck like that. (And on this point, invest in a very very very good chain.)

TL179

between AK and vancouver there's basically nothing. Where is the food coming from? Are you going to rely on making it from truckstop to truckstop? Sounds scary.

Also, have you considered spare brake pads? Wet, dirt roads will probably burn them out quicker than on paved surfaces

JohnDThompson 

+1 this.

IIRC, there's basically one road, often unpaved, and heavily traveled by trucks and RVs. Towns and truck stops are few and far between. Fresh berries are good eating, but I suspect you'll be sick of them before you get to Vancouver.

Not bicycle specific, but gives an idea of what it's like:
https://www.outwestnewspaper.com/akhwy.html