Talbot Path Racer

^that

plus its bling

A few guys at work have road going fixed with forward facing dropouts. No reported problems.

Come look at them if you want, there is a Rourke, Yates and a Teague

Condor Tempo has them, seems to have a good rep. Also has road geo, mudguard eyelets, bottle cage mounts etc.

Maybe you should just buy one of them Dammit?

Sliding dropouts? Fixed transmission and mudguards in perfect harmony...

Are there any cons to sliding dropouts?

weight and cost

Are there any significant advantages for sliding dropouts over forward facing slanted dropouts though?

Unnecessary source of mechanical failure?

My everyday fixed is a conversion. The forward facing dropout are a god send for the mudguards.

Are there any significant advantages for sliding dropouts over forward facing slanted dropouts though?

porn points

Forward facing/slanted are winning it for me at the moment.

I think sliders only have the advantage if you're running a disc brake.

Just seems like an "opportunity" to spend £200 on dropouts.

Now obviously I may have been known to spend money on bike parts now and again, but I could get mudguard eyelets added to the carbon fork for a lot less than that.

No reason to run sliders/rockers if not using discs. Or if you go belt drive might as well go sliders as from what I've heard setting up the tension might be a bit frustrating if you had to do it every time you take a wheel off.

Ah. Now that's an interesting point, as I had been wondering about belt drive.

The frame is getting a splitter in the seat stay, which won't be used for now but I thought if we chuck it in then there is always the option later.

Anyone with belt drive care to comment?

here:

those have the split incorporated in the rear dropout. Plus they have m4 bolt hole through making belt tension setup easy.

Not sure, probably 52/18 to start off with.

What kind of speed do you tend to go on your commutes? I'd rather something spinner for getting away from lights and to avoid grinding away.

Assuming 25 mm tyres 75 rpm - 17 mph, 90 rpm - 20.5 mph. It's just rare to maintain that kind of speed on a london road.

It's what I have run for years.

What cadence do you aim for on a geared bike? I'd suggest trying to work out your rolling town speed and choose a fixed ratio that will give you a similar cadence.

Condor Tempo has them, seems to have a good rep. Also has road geo, mudguard eyelets, bottle cage mounts etc.

Maybe you should just buy one of them Dammit?

Even have your colour available:

Obviously it won't be, but I can't shake the feeling that forward facing dropouts would make it look like a conversion. Functionally it makes sense but aesthetically I'm not so sure?

How did the old school path racers get around the mudguard issue? I'm sure I've seen old frames with track ends and braze ons for mudguards.

It's not a deal breaker, just a fiddle.

You have to loosen the bolts holding the 'guards and move them back. I had the same thing on my old Mercian. In the end I just had them "stretched" at the back. Not great aesthetically as they don't follow the line of the wheel, but it works. If you don't get punctures that often or need to change your ratio then it's not such a big issue.

The sensible work around now is to use front SKS quick releases on the rear so you can just unplug them.

I'm going for forward facing/slanted. Functionally they seem the best solution, so they win.

Can you ride on the velodrome with forward facing dropouts?

Don't see why not.

At Herne Hill I believe so.

The sensible work around now is to use front SKS quick releases on the rear so you can just unplug them.

I've just installed these on my commuter. It's entirely irrelevant because it's got forward facing dropouts (conversion) but I was wondering if it would work with track ends.