Off-road / gravel / mud fixed-gear bikes (whisper: tracklocross)

One of these would probably work a lot better.

I think what will happen is you'll get it set up and it will work for the first few kms and then after the first few bits of radness the rear brake will start rubbing. It will probably stay in place and not really slow you down, but you'll be able to hear and feel the rotor against the pad. After a few more kms the noise and rubbing will drive you mental. And for the next part I would caution against SS and front brake only, it's amazing how much even unconsciously a person uses their legs to slow down on fixed. So I say make it fixed, no rear brake and nice front brake.

Of course who knows, maybe it will work great!

This is looking like a clean solution, nearly bought this last night till I realised I’ll have to convert to skewers to use it. Think I’ll try both for what its worth though and post the outcomes here.

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Couldn't you just drill the holes to make them bigger?

Needs to be centered correctly or?

Yeah just drill that sucker right out.

If you drill it out and use a normal track hub, will you not have to remove the whole ensemble to remove the wheel? Maybe that's less faff than I'm imagining, and maybe that's always going to be the case with track dropouts? With a skewer it's fairly easy to remove that, remove the wheel and leave the mount adapter.

Edit: online shops that stock it seem to say "will only work with vertical droputs".

Maybe that's less faff than I'm imagining

Working about levels of faff while trying to bodge a disc brake onto a track bike...

Ha, indeed. Maybe I should rephrase to "less repeated faff", after the initial faff of getting it working.

It does mean a major annoyance if you get a flat whilst out on a ride though, having to remove and then re-install.

Any news on when this might be released?

70s Peugeot conversion I've recently built up as a run around / off-roader.

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November - December

Has since had a bar/stem change to something better suited to offroad.

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That's cool. Is that 700c in an old 27 inch wheel frame?

Edit: Yes obviously, didn't see the 70s bit.

I really want one.

It’s really fun. Recommended. Nice to have a stiffer MTB type frame as a base. A lot of my previous off road fixing has been on a few different gravel/cross bikes with 40-45mm tires. Those frames would get a bit wiggly spinning downhill on rougher stuff.

fgfs -> “tracklocross”

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What tyres are people running on their tracklcross bikes?

I've been using Gravelking SKs but they wear out hella fast even with zero tarmac skidding and very limited gravel skidding.

I'm not convinced the tread on the Gravelkings is really doing much so would be tempted to go for a slicker, more durable tyre next time (if that exists, I've gone to the bother of building a tubeless wheelset for the bike so would like a tubeless tyre if possible).

I’ve been using SK’s and agree that they do wear out quite quickly and I don’t really skid at all. However, I’ve only ever had one puncture so I’m happy with the compromise on longevity.

Think I’d like to try Contis new(ish) gravel tyres as I’m a big fan boy of 4 Seasons for road riding.

Think I’d like to try Contis new(ish) gravel tyres as I’m a big fan boy of 4 Seasons for road riding.

Terratrail/speed?

They look (to me) like they'd tear up just like the SKs if you skid on them.

There are more tyres in the Urban/Tour range that look like they'll stand up to skidding buy none of them are tubeless.

Rebuilt with a longer chain so actually have some form of offroad gearing. This is fun

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Can I ask which bag and frame that is?

Sure, frame is a Stayer and the bag is a Carradice Super C.

looks fun!

readers