Building an Offroad Fixed Gear on the Cheap

no get 'em made - disc hubs on rim w/ brakeing surface - i used crc and got the rear hub on a mavic 317 non disc for about 70 quid i think

Well i have a raleigh yukon, its 501 tubed frame with horizontal drop outs that I've converted with on one hubs and running 42 or 44 16.

Its cool and alot of fun.

Any idea what it is? Frame looks exactly like a Claud Butler Saragoza (I think that's the name) that I had.

Old rigid steel framed MTBs like this cost peanuts and are easy to convert to ss.

British Eagle ? was/is 501 worth the lable

You could take things a stage further......... Marin frame GT forks running with a front Formula disc and no rear brake (naughty)
I am experimenting with magic ratios and half links to run this as a true fixie
all bosses and cable guides have been removed

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Nice work Scott, that's the kind of thing I'm going for (although I'm expecting mine to look more like I crashed it into the parts bin behind a bike shop and rode off with whatever stuck).

Whereabouts do you ride?

Nice work Scott, that's the kind of thing I'm going for (although I'm expecting mine to look more like I crashed it into the parts bin behind a bike shop and rode off with whatever stuck).

Whereabouts do you ride?

I'm on the Wirral, mate (turn left at Chester)

I quite like the idea of a bolt-on cog for the rear hub. Am I right in thinking the Velosolo ones just bolt onto a disk hub? Does that mean I could just buy a cheap front disk hub like this one and get the cog from Velosolo? Or am I missing something

I quite like the idea of a bolt-on cog for the rear hub. Am I right in thinking the Velosolo ones just bolt onto a disk hub? Does that mean I could just buy a cheap front disk hub like this one and get the cog from Velosolo? Or am I missing something

Front hub would be too narrow. Doh

I've just used a front wheel with a disk mount as a rear today in my latest project. Went together well with a little cold setting of the rear triangles. Even made my own fixed gear by modifying a sprocket off an an old casette. Seems to be OK so far.

I've just used a front wheel with a disk mount as a rear today in my latest project. Went together well with a little cold setting of the rear triangles. Even made my own fixed gear by modifying a sprocket off an an old casette. Seems to be OK so far.

Nice one. Did you just keep the same axle then? That's surely quite a big difference is it not?

Looking at the Shimano front disc hubs, I'm pretty sure you could just replace the axle with a solid, rear one and be set to go.

I haven't changed the axle ...yet. It's still fitted with a QR at the moment! allbeit one of the 1/2 turn cam ones. I think after a couple of rides, I'll have to stick something more solid in there, but I'll see how things go for now.

got lost reading all the thread but where are you? I have a Raleigh mtb frame . 501 tubing so fair quality. Purple. I think its a Mirage. F&F plus head set all there. could easily bung on a pair of cheap wheels witha threaded back . all you need is fixed cog for the wheels. Other bits maybe possible especially if you want cheap stuff. Can post it all via courier for about 9 quid. Actual cost according to how much you have.

got lost reading all the thread but where are you? I have a Raleigh mtb frame . 501 tubing so fair quality. Purple. I think its a Mirage. F&F plus head set all there. could easily bung on a pair of cheap wheels witha threaded back . all you need is fixed cog for the wheels. Other bits maybe possible especially if you want cheap stuff. Can post it all via courier for about 9 quid. Actual cost according to how much you have.

Cheers Matt, thanks for the offer but I think I've got something sorted. I'll definitely give you a shout if it falls through though

If you want a sic cog set up then a front hub with a new axle isthe way to go. There's a guy who sells them all ready to go on ebay and he has a website that explains it as well. Can't remember the name though!

If you want a sic cog set up then a front hub with a new axle isthe way to go. There's a guy who sells them all ready to go on ebay and he has a website that explains it as well. Can't remember the name though!

Could well be Velosolo. They seem to be the only people selling them on eBay at the moment

Theres been an old steel, triple triangle (not GT though), MTB/trekking bike parked in exactly the same place (not locked, just standing), for a week now. By the nusery my nippa goes to. 90% sure its been dumped.

Really want to to take it home and corrupt it into a fixie mud bike. But its blatently way too big for me :(

Kinda sucks that no-one esle round my parts has bothered to do it TBH.

there is no way you live in London. would be gone in seconds, even if it is rubbish.

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Trickstuff-Trickstuff-Excentriker--Converts-24mm-external-bottom-bracket-axle-to-eccentric-style-18255.htm

Any Good?

I have two MTB frames
Steel Handsome dog talisman, only worth £50 new from allterrain cycles, I've had it for 3 years so not worth trying to sell. It's dbl butted cromo so I could get someone to braze some track ends on.
I also have a Marin B17 alloy frame.

Just trying to decide which way to go. If the above Eccentrica is any good I could use the Marin frame or not have to butcher the Talisman.

Opinions please.

Have you considered the W.I endo hub? I think you would be more likely to have a better resale value if you change you mind than that b.b.

It was a thought, but then I'd need to build a wheel, I have everything else just not a way of tensioning the chain. Going to be running fixed in the plantanions and disused railway lines.

I suppose it come down to the fact if you think if the extra cost of the b.b pays for how much more you like the Marin over the hansom dog + trackends. I'd just get the trackends fitted personally.

I've never tried it myself, but isn't riding fixed a pain in the arse off-road? I'd imagine you'd be getting pedal strike quite a lot.

http://www.63xc.com/

It's bit like asking why ride SS off road because it's harder up hill e.t.c

I'm not trying to take the piss, i'm just asking if you guys have to deal with a lot of pedal strike issues. And the downhills must be hard spinning that much on 50-something GI. I was just asking if what I was thinking was right/wrong as I have no experience myself.

I ride SS off-road and I like it, it means I can't go really fast on the descnts which isn't much of a problem as that's probably my weakest point. SS isn't that much slower than geared when it comes to off-road in my experience. The ascents aren't that much difficult assuming you have a decent gear, however I imagine fixed would take a bit of fun out of off-roading.

As I keep repeating, I have no experience of it so correct me if i'm wrong.

I rode for around 6 months off road fixed and it is fine. Didn't get any pedal strike. The cure for spinning out is to use a higher gear than you would usually use for SS. I was using around 62GI so could go pretty fast downhills.
I did find it a chore in the end though so have gone to SS and still using 61GI so it did me some good...

I'm not a FG off road rider, I primarily ride SS off road in the south of the UK. I'm saying all of these questions are analogous to the questisons many people who ride geared off road that don't ride SS ask.

Isn't it harder up hill?
Don't you spin out on the flat sometimes / downhill?
Why?
Yes is ofcourse the answer to all of the questions but it's part of the riding for the people that ride that type of bike. The limits and challenges which it creates is why people ride that bike.