Rowan

Pedal strike is an issue of crank length and BB height. Oddly, a fixed MTB would be an interesting combination because of the higher BB. Anyway, I run 170mm cranks rather than normal 175s, and on my old Shogun 400 conversion, I have never had pedal strike. It does need a little care but it's not something that bothers me. Riding fast downhill on a fixie is a function of gearing, but then, of course, there are trade-offs with a harder-to-turn gear for uphills.

And riding fast downhill has no influence on the health of your knees, unless you use your legs to slow the bike. That's what brakes are for. High cadence needs practice and a good bike set-up.

The gearing I chose to tour in Europe in 2007 was a 39x17, which is quite low, but it wasn't really an issue because I could ride the brakes on downhills. I wasn't riding in the Alps, but there were quite a few hills. I got off only once to walk up around a 12 or 13% incline. I toured with two panniers and a handlebar bag and the load included cooking gear, a three-person tent and full sleeping gear -- not a credit card load by any means.

I've toured on an MTB, too. I wouldn't go back to it, but that is a personal preference rather than a damning of the idea.

Rowan

Ahhhhh... I've just noted the OP is the same one who wants to ride across the US at 100 miles a day to raise money for charity and is looking for advice on fundraising strategies and training programs and bicycle choice and equipment options... with the aim of starting the tour next month!

I'm out of here.

staehpj1

Well I can see where you are coming from. He doesn't seem to have a clue. But... I have to say that I know three riders who were similarly clueless and planning last minute and all three finished their coast to coast tour. Like you I am skeptical, but I wish him well.

znomit

OP you're going to find a lot of different opinions on bikes/gear/nutrition/fitness/safety/security/gadgets/health/clothing/etc/etc/etc, and everyone is right because it works for them.
Honestly the best bet is to visit the LBS and kit out a bike and get going.
A weekend mini tour will tell you an awful lot about what to expect and where you are at.

biknbrian

Seriously, there is enough noise on these forums. Don't ask ridiculous hypothetical questions, then chage the subject to some other absurd topic like worrying about the weight of eyelets. I mean this is a touring forum. It isn't that hard to understand why they are they. And if you really can't figure out that there are different size tubes, well, good luck on that cross country charity tour. Troll or ablsolutely, utterly clueless. I can't belive I wasted my time.

Machka 

Did you quote the wrong person? Or were you agreeing with Rowan?


I agree with you about the OP. There are several things that don't quite add up, and I can't help but wonder if this thread in particular is the evidence of a troll at work.

If not a troll, then clueless and very lazy ...
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...Racks-backpack

biknbrian

I was sort of agreeing with Rowan while commenting about the OP. Anwyay, after looking at some of the other posts, I will recant a little bit and say, don't let anyone stop you from trying. But seriously consider all of the things that people are saying on these threads. And mosty importantly, whether you succeed or fail, be willing to look at the things you could have done differently and learn.

djb

Rowan, thanks for the heads up on the OP. Along with Steapf, I shall wish him good luck.

about the gearing 39x17. Last summer one day I thought about if I had one gear which would I want to use, and I went back and forth between 39x16 and 39x18 on my bike. 16 was good for flat, but I figured that with hills, some weight on the bike and the fact that Im a skinny feller whose legs prefer spinning than grinding, Id go with the 18 myself, but its a moot point as I dont really ever see going the single route (but who knows, thats why I was curious with noting which gears would work)

ya, I see what you mean by crank length and bb height, I still see lean angle as an important issue (and concern) as I really do enjoy cranking a bike over in a turn. Re speed downhill, I can see how with a fixie, this isnt really an issue, as you say, you will always be keeping it in check.

again, even though I really dont have an interest in singles, as a lover of bikes in general, its fun to see them as an alternative and especially with fixies, a diff style of riding.
cheers

Machka 

If he's for real ... then I wish him well too. And if he really wants to do this, I would suggest he start putting in some effort.

indyfabz

Really? I crossed the country on asphalt with a 60 y.o. guy who was riding a full suspension MTB (he had back problems) pulling a BOB with a very heavy load that included a homemade tent that we affectionally called "the condo." (When the zipper crapped out in mosquito country he traded down to a lighter tent in the 8 lb. range.) He was the strongest rider in the group, and he was fast. Not even the three highly athletic youngsters in the group could outride him. And believe me, there were times when we all tried.

simplygib

Regarding the fixie vs. mtb question, it is not even a consideration for me as I have ridden an mtb for just about everything for the past 20 years, until a couple of months ago when I added a road bike to my small bike collection, so now use that for day rides. But for touring I will keep my trusty mtb, which has served me well on many tours, and many years of commuting and recreational riding.

fietsbob

Take the knobbies off, lose the Sus fork, or lock it out 99% of the time.

i like My Bike Friday [door #3] they design their bikes to cut the handling surcharge
that Air carriers charge for bikes , to get to the places you want to see,
other than the loop out your front door.