iridetitus

have: a beater mtb w/ OLD shimano lx hubs, 7 speed cassette. my first mtn bike from '91/92.

want: to make it fixed, on the cheap, for the dirt.

anyone tried the surly fixxer yet? i can't really find much info on them (having only looked for about 10 minutes, honestly) other than sales info. i know about 63xc.com, but the a.d.d. kicks in pretty quick.

anyway, anyone have any experience in this arena? fixxer or not? all help appreciated.

r.

genericbikedude

whenever someone answers, also tell us what chainline the thing gives.

Jameson

Do you refer to single track trails as dirt? If so you might want to rethink fixed MTBing. On smooth trails it can easily be done but on the majority of trails I've seen riding fixed would be near impossible. I've heard it referred to as having a learning curve beyond jedi... I guess this means it's hard. Seriously though in my region, on the trails I ride you MUST be able to coast. Catching a root or rock while pedaling would be dangerous. Some of these trails are average easily ridden trails others are a little or a lot more difficult. I don't see any way to pedal through some sections without crashing, breaking the pedal/crank or breaking my foot. Obviously fixed bikes have been driven on dirt paths/trails but on even lightly techy trails... I wouldn't recommend it.

Retem

what he said it will render a 42mm chainline and it will work it is spacable to just about any spacing
you might considera ss cassett hub with disc on the other side use a rim brake and flip flop that bad boy disc fixed style 63xc has a how to disc fixed that way you get a 53mm chainline on both sides atleast you do with the nashbar ss disc hub

iridetitus

i've been mtn biking since '92, raced bmx and rode halfpipes through the early to mid 80's, raced xc in the early to mid 90's, and have been doing mtb endurance races for the past several years. even took second in a very recent 17 mile race in the mtns where the required gear was: walmart bikes, no modifications, no regular bike gear other than helmets and gloves (no clipless pedals, no removing kickstands, etc). i regularly do 30+ mile rides in the n ga mtns on the gearie and 30+ mile rides on other trails around atlanta on the ss. i am by no means a freerider, but have no prob hitting 4'+ drops @ speed and as far as logs go, if i can get my front wheel on top of it i can get over it.

i say all this only to support the following statement: while i fully, sincerely, completely honestly appreciate the 'don't do it' posts, i'm gonna do it. please don't turn this into that. and...what the hell...i'll even post carnage pics.

carry on.

iridetitus

brakes are a definite. hell, they're already on the bike..and cantilevers at that. gear? hmmm...running 34:18 now on the mtb ss (about to be 33:17 for the no-convert magic ratio on a frame with horiz drops). this is where the inexperience specific to fixed mtb comes in. i am thinking about 32:18ish since i am comfy there, unless i am missing something. could go 34:19/20 if necessary.

Retem

usually you wil have enough drop out to do a two tooth change int he real and have good tension

pyze-guy

I used one for a while. It worked well. Only issues I ever heard were from people stripping the threads skidding. Never happened to me. Gave a 42 chainline I believe and matched up on the innside of my crank. A fairly cheap way to try fixed riding without building a wheel. If you want to build a new wheel, spend a few extra bucks and get the fixed free hub from them instead. Otherwise a good choice.

iridetitus

hmmm...like i said, riding 32:18 mtb now (48:16 on the pista) and it seems fine for the climbs on the trails. 40:16 sounds like a nice compromise if i am reading for all around riding to mean dirt/road/fire roads/whatever. most cats i know are racing 32:16/17/18 on 26" and 34:20 on 29ers. and this bike would solely be for singletrack (or forest roads in the mtns when trails are wet). 40t is almost the big ring on mtb - well, closer to big ring than middle.

i keep hearing a new hub/wheel is the way to go, but i may not even like this damb thing and give it up after 3 rides.

decisions...

Aeroplane

A cheap (and reusable) way to do it is get a rear disc wheel and use a bolt-on cog to bolt to the disc mount. You can probably pick up a wheel for less than the Fixxer ($80?), and it requires a lot less hub surgery. You may even have a spare laying around.

As far as gearing, I'd go up if anything. I ride offroad with a 32-20 because I am a big sally and I like to spin. On a fixed gear, I'd be more worried about spinning out of control on a descent than having to hike-a-bike. Maybe a 32-16? I rolled with that gear for a while, and I had to get rolling pretty quick before I spun out.

iridetitus

https://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=138359

genericbikedude

this sounds like so much fun. did the bikes crumple and were you forced to carry them?

mattface 

The Fixxer looks cool, but at $80, unless the hub you already have is really special, why not just buy a hub and a handfull of spokes?

Cynikal 

I agree on the price, they should be in the $40's. But beyond that, the only negative things I've heard was that they tend to develop some play.

pyze-guy

Mine had a bit of play at first. I added a bit of blue loctite to help and never had a problem after that. It was alot cheaper as well when I bought one from surly in 2004. I didn't realize they are $80 now. I see them as an easy way to make a casette hub into a fixed gear with out having to dish/(re)built a wheel. When I wanted to try fixed gear riding I knew nothing about wheel dishing or building and the fixxer was the easiest solution to this problem. Just attach and go really. Still, too bad about the cost.

iridetitus

the race was fun and funny as hell.


i was actually riding a borrowed chick's schwinn bike, w/ kickstand, plastic flat pedals, some oompaloompa 8ish# seat (which was the cadillacbombdiggity, btw). wore hiking boots, camo cargo pants, long john t, blue blockers, etc. we climbed for about 6 miles and then had to chug a beer we had to carry to the top - cheaper the better. my nectar du jour was a budweiser 22 ozer (chimay awaited us in the lot). d/h for about 3 miles, climb back up the other side, and then bomb all the way down about 5 miles. the trail was covered at the top in ice and the creek crossings were frigid.


my bike made the duration suffering only two wheels in dire need of truing, but a lot didn't. there were huffys, beach cruisers, 20" kids bikes with ape hangers, etc. time penalties were handed out for any bike modifications noticed. one guy rode out w/ 2 flats and a stoopid-loose headset the last 7ish miles. 3 bikes never made it down during the race (local riders'friends went up the next morning and got them) and one cat passed out on the mtn from being too drunk to continue. it was insane.

iridetitus

still have it? want to sell it?

jamey

holy hell that sounds amazing!

iridetitus

there's always the 2nd annual...

pyze-guy

That bike was stolen.

iridetitus

damb, sorry bro.