Touring on a fixed

Hi,

I just wondered if anyone here has ever gone touring on a fixed?
Is it desirable or even possible?

If so, do you have any tips, like gear size etc etc.
I'm thinking of using a trailer with a fixed. Probably in the UK to start with. Is this a stupid idea?

thanks
Ives

I know there is another thread on here, where some guys are going around the UK fixed. (nutters!)
I will be doing some fixed touring in the Netherlands this summer, but thats flat as a pancake and has lots of lovely cycle networks. I personally wouldnt do it in the UK.

EDIT: Here's the thread I meant

If you are going to do it travel light, i.e don't take a trailer, you are taking way too much stuff if you need a trailer.

Where's Ray's thread about his ride down to Devon? That was on fixed wasn't it?

I'd do it geared if you wanted to enjoy it and explore places but that just my opinion. The gearing will either be too tough for big hills going up or too spinney going down. Trip to Brighton ain't too bad though. There is no shame in a geared touring bike!

Is it desirable or even possible?

If it were desirable then you'd see plenty of fixed tourers around.
It is certainly possible. But touring using entails a hint of leisurely paced cycling.
Ditto the above about the trailer - throw 75% of the stuff in the trailer away and get some panniers.

I can't imagine why you'd want to.

I can't imagine why you'd want to.

If you want to do it that's enough as long as you are aware of the limitations. As long as you don't mind some woalking and taking it slowly in parts and taking some pain in other parts.

Just be tight on what you take with you. You'll feel every gram even more fixed.

I wouldnt want to pull a trailer with a fixed bike!!!

Any time you decellerate the trailer will be pushed into you from the back, could be well hairy on a fixed. Youd need a fairly low gear to manage long climbs but then youd have to spin like mad on the way down. It would be awful.

This guy does a lot: http://www.gordontaylor.co.uk/

I am always tempted by the idea of ultra light fixed touring. Just a carradice saddlebag, small stove, and a bivy to sleep in, there's something really nice about doing things a simply as possible - one of the biggest reasons I started riding fixed. There's nothing wrong with pushing up/down a big hill if you have to or hopping on a bus/boat/train when you need it. A flip flop hub with a freewheel on one side and two brakes would definitely be helpful though. Go for it!

Seems like making more work for yourself, I met a crew of people in georgia who do tours that way, but totally supported ones.

My knees won't let me do anything like a few days of carrying stuff on a fixed bike.

I'm one of the "guys are going around the UK fixed. (nutters!)". Not done too much yet - London to Brighton the long way round, but apart from the b@st%rd Downs it was all fairly pleasant.

Myself and bearoon have talked of taking a pocketfull of cogs with us to switch when we need - and we both ride flip flop so the when the downhills on the South Downs got "too spinny" we just flipped. And yes, I have pushed my one tonne Plug up a hill. On the whole though it's very do-able - with the additional beauty of getting into a spinning "zone" (see the blog - http://cyclearoundbritain.co.uk/Cycle_around_Britain/The_blogs/Entries/2008/5/12_Bear%3A_Day_two_-_Faversham_to_Gravesend.html for more on what Mr Bear calls "flow") and I am just totally hooked on the silence of it all. Not having that incessant click and whir follow you is rather hypnotic.

Gearing - Melon recommended 60-67GI from his Devon trip

We both take panniers - and pack very light. I agree about the panniers - lots of hills means lots of "ups" but just as many "downs"! We also seem to encounter endless varieties of cyclepath gates / barriers which often means the bike needs to be picked up.

All in all though, I would recommend it - though ask me when I have hit Wales!

I think if you know where you're going is manageable on fixed then I don't see why not, but for me the main attraction of touring is the huge possibility of freedom that it offers (if you do a random route), and to me that would probably be restricted by not having some gears.
Saying that, as I've probably mentioned in previous touring threads, my grandparents toured extensively on fixed many years ago and they loved it. But they didn't have a lot of choice either.

I plan on cycling to Amsterdam on fixed. But a flipflop is a necessity if u plan on doing any hills.

+1 to all the comments above. Nothing to add. Pointless post . . . Im gunna go cry.

2 curryers who toured Asia fixed: http://www.cyclingnews.com/cyclingtravel/fixedtour.shtml

fixed wheel nut on the forum does touring i think.....pm him?

Where's Ray's thread about his ride down to Devon? That was on fixed wasn't it?

Here's Ray's epic thread, including a cool video.

http://www.londonfgss.com/thread9761.html

The big fix

wasn't that the name of the tour across continental US that some guys did on fixed bikes?

the main reason i was thinking of it is because I only have a fixed geared bike that I commute on and don't mind trashing..
Ok, I have a carbon geared bike that I race on, but I don't really want to take that touring.

Maybe I should think about going extra light and ditching the trailer and using light panniers or a saddle bag. Sounds a bit easier...at least initially.

Thanks for the input guys!
Keep the suggestions coming, if you have any more.

Cheers!
Ives

Credit Card Touring FTW and as so often Sheldon has the answer

single speed but not fixed http://pompinos.blogspot.com/

I'd get a trailer, i use them all the time and take my kids on me fixed and have no different issues as to riding with gears, it also reduces the weight on the bike, back and legs. I'm planning London to paris and back ultra light with something like a xtrawheel.

How is it ultralight if you have a trailer? The trailer alone will weigh a few kg.

well you're not carrying the trailer your pulling, whatever little weight you have is reduced. With panniers or bags the weight is all on the bike or rider.

No denying what your saying there I have nothing against trailers but it's never going to be a lightweight solution. Carrying it or pulling it you still have to move the extra weight of the trailer.

Can't find the link now but there is one guy who take light weight to a real extreme, the pompino link I posted above do reasonably well. Sorry if I'm sounding anal but I'm currently in the process of redoing all my kit to cut down the weight so I'm getting a bit obsessed at the moment.