FTF Fat Tyre Fixed

Smashed it. Really really nice.

This is the best thing I've seen in a long time!

Sure, this is running on a Neco, not a household name but super reliable sealed bearing unit. JIS taper, 116mm axle.

Cheers! Will share pics as and when. Definitely not for panniers, the idea is more to strap a dry bag of warm clothes for the end of a long ride, ultralight tent or isomat (what's the English word for that?). My fair weather overnight camping set up is normally, hang the sleeping bag from the bars, clothes and food in a saddlebag and then isomat clumsily strapped somewhere...now it has a home.

Thanks for all the kind words, means a lot.

This project and this bike as the outcome has really fired up my framebuilding mojo and reminded me what drew me to it in the first place, glad it speaks to you all as well

It actually kind of is, looking at LFGSS many years ago shaped my idea of what a good looking bike was and sharing projects, tricks and tips has built my love for the craft. My Orlowski, in its many incarnations, was definitely a product of the forum and this is it successor.

That is helpful. Thank you very much.

This is totally ace, love it.

Awesome work. Lovely stuff.

Absolutely incredible. Even down to the bar tape fitting well with the logos. Nailed it.

Haha happy coincidence! ESI tape is the one

This turned out so well! Really beautiful and the paint is absolutely perfect, love the raw steel showing.

Wow! Thought your Orlowski was about as good as it gets, this is another level up, that rack is a beautiful piece of work, same for the stem.
Between you n @Hulsroy I think you've got this tube glueing sussed, his geared bikes, your fixed bikes, among the very best this forum has to offer.

Love the idea of bike lineage or genealogy.

Also bike is 10/10.

You should start making more of those racks, the world is in short supply of astethic rear racks

Absolutely fantastic, so many details to notice but the custom anodised crank is an especially sweet touch

rad!

I have just been to the Fern website to look at all the pics. So many nice touches and details, it just gets better as you look closer. Top work.

Hot AF !

For years I've been toying with the idea of a fat tyre fixed but nothing existed. I finally "hacked" my Pompino last year, as a proof-of-concept. It works, but it is far from ideal in terms of clearances, and lacks the refinements such as fenders and lights (not to mention quite heavy, not a very "refined" ride)
Your bike and @cgg's Stayer are exactly what I had in mind : super functional, super clean in execution, absolutely lovely.

I hope having one made eventually by @Hulsroy and join the club :-)

Proper bit of pr0n that. Love the paint, and all the details. Particularly how sleek it looks despite the functionality. So many utilitarian setups like this just look so busy - as if they're some sort of accessory hanger for all the bits and bobs. Well done man!

Wow that thing is fantastic. Makes me want to convert my Kona Unit to fixed gear.

This is hands down amazing. Reckon we're gonna see a new trend in Fat fixed minimal tourers!

So good.

Ooh that's nice, everything is just spot on - I really don't need a bike like that, but I really want to!

Thanks again for all the kind words people, dunno what to say other than I’m honored.

@kjlem no raw steel showing through here, it’s a chrome effect base coat

@SasenFrAsen unfortunately it’s not really a one-size-fits-all kinda thing

Test Ride!

The position came out millimeter perfect. It’s the same position as my road bike and my Orłowski, fairly aggressive but one I can comfortably ride all day, day in day out. So as soon as I sat on the bike I felt home. Handling geometry straight away also gave me that “yep” feeling, intuitive. I wouldn’t change it at all if I were to build the bike again.

The route was 137km, 57 on road or paved bike path, the rest a mix of gravel, sand, forest roads and singletrack...a good all round test for bike, tyres and rider.

The first 10k or so were on road and at first I couldn’t help thinking “maybe these tyre are just a step too far, too big” They’re so much bigger than anything I’d ridden before and from an aesthetic point of view, looking down from my road position, past a road cockpit, the front wheel looks bizarre! Then onto the gravel “ok they make a bit more sense” but as soon as I hit the first Sandstraße it was a eureka moment “woah, alles klar!”

The float they offer is unreal, it’s not just a case of being able the get through the sand but actually being able to rip over it. It’s weird, you don’t really get a sense of how deep the sand is until you turn, otherwise the bike just sits on the surface and flies over it.

The combo of the tyres and the super light wheelset is really special. They looks so big and cumbersome but acceleration is like on the road bike and for fixed off road riding being able to punch over short steep climbs without feeling weighed down is great.

On the road the speed feedback is totally different to a traditional setup but it certainly ain’t slow, whenever glancing down at the wahoo I was pleasantly surprised how fast I was going.

Gear ratios I chose feel spot on, one for road (which will likely be winter miles with the guards on) one for off road fun times.

I’m waiting for a Thomson seatpost to arrive for this, in the meantime I nabbed the seat & post from my road bike...virtually unpadded Arione is too firm for off road. Will get the Antares VSX on there and see how I go.

I lost a water bottle somewhere along route but other than than no catastrophes.

Average speed for the ride was just over 25kph which considering the terrain I was astounded by.

In short, it’s fast and more importantly it’s fun! I really feel this bike will change my riding and open up Brandenburg for me. There’s no hills to speak of, lots of long straight roads and to be honest I found it quite boring coming from Scotland and even London but there’s limitless forest roads, tracks, trails, which were previously blocked by the sand, that are now open to me and I’m super excited to spend the summer exploring and going hard.

It’s a niche bike this one but for me, my riding style and where I live it’s perfect and I couldn’t be happier.