Why Mostly Fixed-Gear Road Bikes?
 

I've had a single speed On-One for many years, but I am completely new to fixed-gear. I now have a Redline Monocog that has been flip-flopped to also a fixed-gear. It was a cheap build, mostly for the purpose of determining if I like riding a fixie. Turns out I like it and can't get enough of it.

One question: When I look through this forum and also the fixedgeargallery.com forum, I see mostly fixed road bikes and tracks. Why? Is it because of their lighter weight?

Sorry if I sound green to this whole fixed-gear culture. Thanks for any insight.

Meanwhile, I'm going out to learn how to skid.

im guessing because the hills and stuff encountered in mountain biking are harder to handle than the usual road stuff, but then again the guys in nyc and frisco take on some pretty crazy situations so i dont really know why to be honest

Because riding fixed on the street is no big deal, but riding fixed on anything but the lightest trails takes a lot of skill.

please dont call it frisco

Thanks for the reply. How about using an off-road frame and 26-inch wheels as a fixed-gear bike for mostly on-road commuting?

I plan to use my fixed-gear Monocog for commuting. Should I be considering a road frame fixed gear for the future?

It's probably a pretty good idea to build up an old MTB frame, with their classic touring geometry, as a fixie with some skinnier cross-type tires, sort of as a pathracer build, which would be comfortable for on the road, if not as fast as a dedicated track frame or road conversion.

Um, it's a lot of fun. Especially with slick tires and no suspension (or a lockout on your fork). You can jump down stairs and other stuff you (or at least I) wouldn't want to do with a road frame and narrow rims.

there used to be a laundromat on hayes called "don't call it frisco laundromat"

The Monocog has exactly that: skinny slicks, 26 X 1.25.

Riders being equal, is a road conversion fixie always a faster bike than a mountain-bike conversion? If so, what are the factors that make the road conversion faster... the 700c wheels?

Thanks, folks!

Lighter frame, thinner tires.

[QUOTE=powerband;6609668]Thanks for the reply. How about using an off-road frame and 26-inch wheels as a fixed-gear bike for mostly on-road commuting?QUOTE]


Works just fine.

+ more aero riding position

It's mostly style. The fixie-kids like track bike/road bike looks. There are tons of decent solid frame mt bikes out there for cheap that would make great, maybe even better in some circumstances, fixed gears. To alot of fixie-kids fixed gear is track frame, deep Vs, and gears too big to climb hills. Everything else isn't cool.

That's sorta an unfair assessment.

I ride a fixed mtb as an urban bike. Slicks, no suspension, and high bottom bracket. One reason they are less common as conversions is that MTB's with horizontal rear dropouts are less common. Most companies only made a couple of years models with horizontal drops. They are not exactly rare, but they are nowhere near as common as road bikes that can be easily converted.

The higher BB allows me to use long cranks, and that makes a real difference for pedaling leverage. I can run a higher gear ratio and still manage somewhat more torque at low speeds. I guess it also helps that I have long legs and therefore feel more comfortable spinning on long cranks.

jim

Right... what jgedwa said about the vertical dropouts on most mountain bikes and the challenges that presents in terms of chain tension (can be overcome but it's one more thing to deal with and for the most part would limit the gearing you could use... unless you went with an ENO hub).

'cuz it describes you so closely?

ZING!

I agree with jgedwa... I think that horizontal drop-outs is the key reason.

I ride a converted MTB framed fixie for the following reasons:
1) It has an aluminum frame which is lighter than that of my 23 year old Bianchi fixie's frame, has thicker walled tubing than a steel road frame so it's more dent resistant, and since I ride year round in rain, sleet and snow it won't rust like a steel frame will.
2) The frame is smaller and feels more rigid during sprints and climbs than any of my steel frames... it just feels quicker, faster and more efficient. As for maintaining speed, whether on my steel road framed fixie or this MTB fixie, I can join a roadie paceline (just as long as we're not going downhill) so I don't notice a difference there... I'm just easier to spot among the pack.
3) I scrapped the suspension forks for a rigid one which is susbstantially shorter. This results in less rake and trail than the typical MTB so the bike actually steers quicker and feels livlier... even more so than most road bikes I've ridden.

I ride a Sury Karate Monkey 29'r as one of my two fixed gear bikes.

A 39t chainring and 17t cog with 2.35" tires gives me 59 gear inches.

I can cruise around town at 15mph and the bike handles the rough very well.

A long travel Cane Creek Thudbuster seatpost keeps me from getting bucked off this critter.

I love it.

thudbuster, wow, thanks ken!

+1

my everyday ride is a fixed MTB with semi slicks on it running 44x17 I love this bike even though it is a beastly tank
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2410/...3f6f9890_o.jpg

I've got this geared mountain bike I never ride that I've been thinking of converting, just don't have the money right now. I figure i'll do it eventually.

Well, do you have a MTB conversion? Photos if affirmative, and an explanation if negative.

Powerband, welcome to BikeForums!

East Hill

My Monocog 29er is fixed and wears 2.35" Schwalbe Big Apples. It fears no pothole.