Husar

I have finally made a commitment to doing a 5 day fixed gear tour this summer . I am wondering if there are any other fixed gear tourers here?

I'd love to see your bike loaded and hear about what gearing you went with based on your location/trip. I looked through the "show me your bike" sticky but I did not come across anything fixed.

I am in the market for a dedicated fixed gear touring bike. Right now I am debating on new or a vintage frame build. Both steel frames. There really is nothing marketed as fixed gear touring bikes so a normal road frame with a few comfort mods and panniers will have to do the trick.

Any thoughts, suggestions, or comments on fixed gear touring would be much appreciated.

nun

Here's your singlespeed/fixed touring bike

https://www.rivbike.com/products/show...rameset/50-740

I have singlespeed toured on it's cousin the Quickbeam. Take a look at the various ultralight threads on here to get gear suggestions

https://wheelsofchance.org/england-2009/

zoltani

A surly cross check could make a nice ssfg touring bike as it allows for fenders, and front (2011 at least) and rear racks, though you might not want to load it down that much if touring fixed. With my touring bike still in transit I have thought about taking off for a camping trip on my fixed gear, but it just doesn't sound that fun to me since I like to be able to take it slow and not work as hard as I would have to if touring fixed.

zoltani

A few thoughts on gearing. If it were me I would have a flip flop hub with a flat/climbing ratio fixed and somewhere in between or even way higher on the freewheel. Ride flats and climb fixed then flip over and descend freewheel. I'd hate to spin my ass off down a descent that is 5-10 miles long, but that's just me.

Husar

I have been riding at 48x16. I just did 115 miles two weeks ago. Took me 12 hours with stops and a huge headwind. I have rode two training rides in the last week at 40 miles each. Since this has been without any packs I know I will have to drop down to a 42 ring fully loaded. I like the idea of two cogs for possible hard climbs and spinning flat distances. Great idea. But I can't go with a free wheel that would be cheating.

fietsbob

There was guy that rode a high wheeler on a long tour. Australia and such .

D.B. Cooper

With all due respect, why on earth would you want to tour on a fixed gear bike? I just don't get it. It can't be a weight or reliability issue, can it? Bragging rights? To me it just seems like unnessasary self inflicted punishment. Will someone please edify me as to the motive for wanting to do this.

zoltani

meh

Different strokes for different folks....

If that's what he wants to do who cares?

marmot

I believe Mr. Cooper is genuinely curious, as am I. I don't really care, but I do have to wonder. One-gear touring sounds like a needless limitation, like hiking in sandals fashioned from rope and cinder blocks.

zoltani

Well, you'll have to wait for the OP's answer cause as I said before:

So maybe if it is your only bike you could give it a go, but if you are buying a touring bike why look for a fixed one?

D.B. Cooper

That would be correct.

Husar

Fixed gear touring. Why? That is a good question. I originally started riding a fixed gear for the simplicity of the bike. The bike I currently ride on my 40-100 mile rides actually doesn't have breaks on it either. You would think that might be very dangerous but in fact it is perfect for long rides on designated bike trails. I have no problem slowing down by using leg pressure on the pedals as they continue to move forward. I can guarantee that I am a better biker (control, fitness, balance) due to riding a fixed gear bicycle. You would think that going up hill would be the hardest but actually going down hill is killer since you can't coast and continue to spin. When going downhill fixed with no breaks controlling your speed with your legs gives you one hell of a workout. Your senses are ultra heightened since you would have to avoid anything that might get in your way and not squeeze the breaks to stop.

Now, I might not take a fixed gear to tour the Rockies. You are correct, it would be limiting but it wouldn't be impossible. Keep in mind that the Tour De France was originally raced on fixed gear. Maurice Garin won the tour in 1903 running a 52x19 with no break.

But in the end I think for me it is the challenge of the ride. Riding a 100 miles on a geared bike is easy compared to riding it on a fixed gear. Just think how many times you coast on a geared bike. If your moving on a fixed gear then your legs are working. Riding 300-500 miles fixed over 5-6 days would be a dream come true for me. The physical aspect of it is what really apparels to me I guess.

Husar

I am looking at a few Surly bikes. The Cross Check could even be geared so it would all me to run fixed but still wimp out and put gears on it at a later date.

jimbojonez

Because all the kewl kids are biking without brakes and gears nowadays. Remember, its not about how practical it is, but about how much you can brag to your hipster friends and be the uber hipster.

Ratzinger

^^
A lot of lame-ass (relatively speaking) people ride FG bikes. I wish I never had to hear this kind of tired complain/joke anymore.

Full-disclosure: I am a lame-ass, though I don't have a fixie

cyklehike

I've only toured on a derailluer bike, but was just looking at this https://cgi.ebay.com/Specialized-Tric...item33676e7e94 . It's got front/ rear rack braze ons, fender ready.

Rowan

I deleted my first post here because I suspected it would bring out this sort of juvenile rationale. Just so you know, I am in my mid-50s, run brakes, I don't have hipster friends, and I deleted the post about how I have toured on a fixed gear because it obviously was bragging.

nickw

Riding with no brakes is downright dangerous. Don't kid yourself into thinking you have some superhuman skill, you don't.

Besides track bikes, the ONLY reason people take brakes off a bike is for vanities sake.

With that being said, I love fixed gear bikes, the offer a 'connectivity' to the bike like no other.

What your doing reminds me of a buddy who likes to ride his motorcycle all over the states. He does 10 hr days at 90+ mph. Doesnt have a chance to experience all the cool stuff, BUT, he has a little tick mark next to all the cool places to say he has been. I think your going to miss the true enjoyment out of touring if your doing 100 mile days on a fixie.

But, YMMV, do it and let us know. But put brakes on first for gods sake.

clasher

Do you knees a favour and run a dingle cog.Your knees will eventually pay the price from braking and skidding and pushing too high a gear up hills.

Do yourself and everyone else on the road a favour and use a pair of ****ing brakes. A pound of brakes won't make your ride easier, and you can just reserve their use for emergencies, there's nothing stopping you from punishing your knees any time it's safe to stop like that. Having a set of brakes on your bike isn't going to make a 100 mile fixie ride any less of a ride but you will be able to save your skin so you can ride the next day.

I don't think riding a 100 miles on a geared bike is easy (otherwise everyone would be doing it) and I don't think riding a 100 miles on a fixie makes you a better cyclist (or person in general) either, so you'd be wise (IMO) to drop that kind of attitude as well. Like something because you like it, not because you think it makes you better than someone else.

Husar

I have about 7 bikes. Only one of them is fixed. One is a SS and the rest are geared. The all serve specific functions. All have breaks other than the fixed gear. So don't get too heated over the topic. This topic was about fixed gear touring not about riding with or without breaks. But I do find it funny how some poeple immediate make judgement about a person by the bike they ride.

@clasher I can guarentee that spending time on a fixed gear bike will make you a better bicyclist. There is no doubt that it would improve your fitness level, balance, and make you stronger. If anything it is a great training tool. But it is unfortunet that you are too blinded by what you think is your typical fixed gear rider. For the record I don't know a single hipster and I am over 40.

But back to the topic, I have decided to get a dedicated touring bike that is not fixed. I may have to leave the fixed gear touring to only 1-2 days trips locally. Pretty excited about the new bike. Should be delivered to LBS this week!

bradtx

Husar, Even though you bought a geared touring bike, could you mount a triple chainring in front and use the fixed gear in back? I'd have to mount a front brake anyway just to lesson the possibility of a downhill runaway situation with tour weight.

Brad

trafficcasauras

i have an iro phoenix from jensonusa.com
https://jensonusa.com/store/product/F...+Frameset.aspx

i have a 32-22. you can get the 32 square taper crank as a 33 170 or 175
https://store.icyclesusa.com/rpm-10-s...3t-p36422.aspx

i have my plans here
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...icycle-camping

buelito

Like Rowan, I am in my mid-fifties as well... I ride a fixed gear as my main commuter. I did Ride the Rockies on it in 2007... including Independence Pass. Why? To be different. I have done long rides geared, and wanted a new challenge. Ride the Rockies is not 'touring' in the sense that I did not carry my gear-- it was trucked from town to town-- I just had to ride... up to 100 miles a day for 7 days. The hardest part was not the uphills (although they were tough)... it was the downhills. That is why I had brakes on the bike-- to slow me down when my leg speed got too fast and I started bouncing on the saddle. I did hit speeds of around 36 MPH-- which on a fixed gear is WAY TOO FAST.
My comment to you-- GO FOR IT. You will enjoy it, you will prove to yourself that you can do it, and don't worry about what others think. One of the best comments I ever got from someone on a bike was when I did the Civil War Century a couple of years ago on the fixed gear, and as I passed someone struggling up a hill, they said to me '...but you don't have any gears!!!'. I just smiled and kept my rythmn--(momentum is your friend... don't slow down for anything on a tough climb because it is so much harder to get started again...)

train safe-

irwin7638

There might be a reason for this! Good luck!

Marc

Brennan

Haven't done any fixed touring myself, but you're making me feel more confident about my upcoming trip on a double chainring cross bike.

I agree with two recommendations given so far: Use a flip-flop hub and pack ultralight. Also, I knew I saw a fixie in the touring bike picture thread:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post11961511