A practical fixie

OK, I'm looking to buy a nice frame.

Are there any OTP frames that come drilled for mudguards and with 120mm spacing? Something a bit nicer than a Pompino but with a straight top-tube?

Does anyone out there ride a fixed-gear bike with real, full length mudguards? Does it work well for you? Any toe overlap?

This thread should have what you need.
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/239243/?offset=25

^^New Surly Steamroller will have mudguard mounts. I ride a Pompino with full mudguards and it works great, no overlap really.

Condor Tempo (you can pay more to get a second set of bottle cage mounts and not have the S3X cable guides, but this will mean an 8 week lead time) is at the expensive end but lovely. I use mine for commuting, training in Richmond Park and the Surrey Hills, and long distance stuff:-

http://www.greenbank.org/audax/pbp_02.jpg

(that photo was taken at the end of the 2011 Paris-Brest-Paris - 1228km in 87h53m - so it's more than just practical)

Yes there is toe overlap (small frame and UK size 10 feet) but it's never caused a problem. Unless you've got a 36"+ inside leg, or stubby midget feet, you'll struggle to avoid toe overlap.

Mmm, that new Steamroller is plenty purty - but no mounts on the front fork? What were they thinking?!

Thanks for the pointers folks!

I think Ed said that there are mounts but they're hidden somehow? Worth double checking the website.

Dolan FXE

I imagine they might just be drilled onto the inside of the fork legs like with the All-City Nature Boy?

Subscribed

From reading their literature it looks like just a set of rear braze-ons - probably intended for a rack. A bit sad, I'd have snapped one up if it had real mounts!

I imagine they might just be drilled onto the inside of the fork legs like with the All-City Nature Boy?

(least that what i can see).

My bad, description clearly said rack mount rather than mudguard mount, boo you whore.

Dolan FXE

Yep, that works. Mudguards, rack, dynamo lights - that practical enough for you?

Don't notice any overlap with a biggish frame and size 9 feet.

Be wary, the Dolan have a very long reach for the size.

^+1

Forward facing horizontal dropouts work slightly better than track ends with full 'guards.

Lots of 90s steel touring frames have these and adjusting screws (if you get a good one) for fast flat-fixes. The same frames don't always have eyelets but they'll usually fit 28mm tyres and 'guards. Rear spacing will be 130mm, so a couple of spacers on a track hub (behind the locknuts so they stay on when the wheel comes out).

Get your head around the above and you have a sea of beautiful frames with nice tubing and paint to choose from. You might have to put up with a quill stem or use a converter but they're the most practical frames you can own. Race cross or cross a continent, not a problem! A modern equivalent would be a Cross Check or a Long Haul Trucker. Both are burly as hell, a bit overbuilt for me.

I would not be averse to doing this but these frames tend to have low bottom brackets! I'd prefer something that's been designed as a fixed gear ride...

Mudgards-riding does sound like a non-leaner-type - prejudice aside.

That's a good point.

I've never once had a problem with a road (not touring) frame and proper pedals (atacs, keos etc) and 165mm cranks. I crashed that bike in so may ways I would have found that issue if it existed. That bike had a BB height lower than a track bike. Tourers ... perhaps a different story. Long Haul Truckers certainly do have low BBs. A Cross Check would be fine.

Noway. Ride it like you stole it (whilst keeping your drivetrain clean)!

#yolo

These are available frame only:
http://talbotframeworks.co.uk/bikes/pathracer/

Compact geo, but certified awesome.

Repped

gahhhh thats nice.

does anyone know when the new steamroller is out?

pedal strike fear