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

Yeah the mulo looks pretty good. Might get one in the sale! I'm sure if I don't like it I can get most of my money back after

You might look at the 8bar Fhain Steel V3. The frameset is currently about 300 euro (including fork and headset) plus postage (50 euro). It appears to take at least 35mm tyres without mudguards (as the complete bike has 35mm tyres as an option). With mudguards it might take less (the complete bike has 38mm mudguards as an option - not wide enough for 35mm tyres).

They also have a new frameset (Neuklin Steel V2) which might fit the bill, but it is considerably more expensive (600 euro with fork).

What’s your budget? There are some great fixed gear-able framesets out there. My personal fav is the cross check, because giant tires and versatile. I sliced off the derailleur hanger on mine and it’s dedicated fixed now. I’ve done countless fixed miles, on and off road, and even raced SS cross on it.

HHSSCX

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Hi there. Maybe you have some thoughts on my "problem". So, I've decided to get build another (2nd) custom frame for me and am already in contact with the builder of my choise.

My initial plan is a rather classic fixed monstercross, with relatively high stack, short reach and clearance for about 700*45. Details are a nice lugged fork crown, cantilever brakes and hooded track dp's.

My first custom bike sounds more or less the same, except from the details (rocker dp's, disc brakes f+r, ...) and is one part of the reason to think of the monsteecross above - I know the bike will ride well and the way I want to.

Now the big BUT: why not going with wider tires, why not a more "ATB" style of bike, i.e the Tanglefoot Moonshiner?

My hesitation towards such a bike is my lack of real experiences on wider tires (except for 26" vintage mtb's) and how they might feel, riding fixed off road...

In any way, my plan is to have a fixed gear off road bike for day-long rides and short bikepacking trips made to the geometry I like to have on a bike...

Cheers

I’m going to throw my 2p in the hat.
I’ll be honest and say I’ve not ridden the Moonshiner, but it’s whole reason to be is that it’s a super comfortable, super compliant, super capable go anywhere, over anything’rig’ and if you fix it all those things are lost or at the least diluted. Now I have ridden a regular 45 x700c adventure bike fixed and it was fun. Felt good and went most places I pointed it, but at no time did I think that with bigger tyres or slacker geo I would have made it up that slope or down that trail. I think that to have that happen I’d would have been running such a small gear I would have hated riding it 95% of the time.
Maybe aim for 27.5x2.1 and see how that feels?

Yes, proably a good point. A downhill section I wouldn't ride with 45mm, I wouldn't ride with wider tires fixed. And when pushing through the woods on abandond hunter trails I would rather walk anyway...

Been watching eBay for a long time and finally snapped up one of these rigs, perhaps the best budget tracklo option around (?!), behold the mighty Elops 500.

It's had a hard life and looks like zero maintenance. Plan is to strip it back to the frame and raid the parts bin for disc brake parts.

@snottyotter did someone in Manchester build one of these up or was it something else? Ended up pretty good if I remember right

Yeah, Ste built one, weighs a tonne but great on a budget. It got donated to another friend who rides it most days.

Ste then built up a Skream ranger which is perfect for this thread but I can only find a shit picture. I think it's got a lever under the seat dropper now, but maybe that came off again.

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Yeah love this bike! Grabbed a pic from strava

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This bike sees regular singletrack time. Often ride to, ride trail, ride from. 38x17/20 fixed. Easy enough to switch around when I get to the trails.

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Really makes me want to build something like this.
With mudguards obvs as it rains here all year
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Off road bikes with mudguards, y tho?

Because I like not being drenched and I have never felt hindered by mudguards on the type of off road riding I do.

It’s a really fun bike to have around. Never a worry, and makes the same trails feel different than when ridden on my hardtail or “all rounder”.

I use this bike for commuting as well and can’t be bothered to pull the guards for every trail encounter. I understand the greater chance of getting something lodged in the guards, but it hasn’t been an issue(yet).

Hi @all . I rencently was talking to @dadbike and others on instagram about the idea of a new offroad dedicated fixed gear website. I just bought the domain "fixedgearoffroad.com" as a start.

The basic idea is, to have a more contemporary collection of stories, essays, pictures, gear reports on fixed gear off road / dirt touring, bikepacking, scorching and maybe a bit tracklocross as it is provided by 63xc.com and scattered around forums, reddit , and long forgotten blogs. And as I don't want it to be my personal blog, I'd like to invite all of you sharing whatever you think might fit the bill.

Just drop me a message on here :)

Best,
Nora

Hey Nora! Thanks for putting this together.

'Tis ok.

looks cool... ehm, the bike of course.

been caught racing
...

pic by riedgras.de

What stem is that?

Zipp