Fixed Gear - Offroad

[funky-funky-chicken]

Okay... always interested in taking things to the next level... I just had to try it. I built up yet another single speed, this one with one of the White Industries ENO Eccentric hub (http://www.whiteind.com/eno.htm). Provided the opportunity, I just had to do it... I mounted a track cog and lockring.

Yesterday did a complete lap at Lebanon (beginner loop, up gravel hill, intermediate, advanced, advanced expert, back to advanced, out on new exit, back around on beginner.)

Climbing with a fixed gear is awesome. Cleared almost everything. Not the rock gardens... That will take more practice. Jumping and bunny hops will take considerably more practice. Here's what I learned for obstacles if anyone else thinks they might want to try.

Un-weight the rear wheel by shifting more weight to the handlebars
Apply front brake
Skid (Sorry) the rear wheel just slightly just before the obstacle to position the pedals just right.
Pedal over
Anyone else ever try it... have an advice for a newby?

[noise_is_life]

So was Leb your first ride on the fixie, sounds pretty impressive.

[funky-funky-chicken]

So was Leb your first ride on the fixie, sounds pretty impressive.
First venture off-road with a fixie. I have an old road bike that has been converted to fixed. That gets a fair number of miles. Offroad is a whole different ballgame... I will certainly try it again. I love the combination of fixed with rigid fork makes for climbing!

I'm not sure that having witnessed my actual riding that you would be all that impressed though.

[Crash]

Having only ridden a fixed up at the track in Blaine once - I am WAY impressed with your ability to even make it around Leb. Nice work.

[grizzly adam]

wow - nice work!
any dabs or wipeouts?
now the NEXT level would be to ditch that front brake! - yikes

[noise_is_life]

wow - nice work!
any dabs or wipeouts?
now the NEXT level would be to ditch that front brake! - yikes
That's scary enough to think about on a road fixie, I can't imagine off road...

[funky-funky-chicken]

wow - nice work!
any dabs or wipeouts?
now the NEXT level would be to ditch that front brake! - yikes
A couple of dabs, no major wipeouts. Couple times striking the pedal un-expectedly (oops!) I would maybe consider ditching the rear brake, but probably not the front. Although, since the rear wheel is a flip-flop, I probably won't ditch the brakes, because I do plan to continue riding as a singlespeed. In fact, I did flip the wheel and I rode two more laps with the freewheel after the first fixed, and that felt really strange.

[noise_is_life]

Where did you get your ENO, I still want to convert my old GT to a fixie urban destroyer.

[funky-funky-chicken]

Where did you get your ENO, I still want to convert my old GT to a fixie urban destroyer.
ENO's are Awesome... I talked a guy here at work into letting me build up a wheel for him. He's totally committed now to riding fixed.

I ordered mine through County Cycles in Roseville... My LBS. I would recommend buying locally through One on One Bicycle Studio. They have very FAIR prices... I've purchased a number of great items there! I think that they generally try to keep them in stock... I bought my White Industries freewheel, Surly track cog/lockring, brake levers, and some other goodies there too.

If you must order it online... I think www.bikeman.com (http://www.bikeman.com) has about the best price on 'em.