Fixed gear in a really muddy mountain bike race

[@aliabdia5182]

Congratulations

[@addvurtbikes]

Thank you!

[@arolamorre]

Ace! Congratulations for making it to the finish line!

[@addvurtbikes]

Thank you!

[@KEIRINSTREETS]

Can't wait to get a tracklocross bike too!!!

[@addvurtbikes]

Yeah dude, it's super fun! I just put 42 mm tires on mine, time to get floaty!

[@KEIRINSTREETS]

The Ribble fits 42? Nice!!!@@addvurtbikes

[@addvurtbikes]

​@@KEIRINSTREETS There is still room to go bigger! I could probably fit 50mm if I had that, but I would to get a longer chain :D Do you have any specific parts in mind for a tracklocross build?

[@KEIRINSTREETS]

It will all depend on what frame I can get tbh @@addvurtbikes

[@addvurtbikes]

yeah, that makes sense :) probably a steel frame, right? :D

[@SandSanta]

Looks like an XC race or 'gravel' race or were there gnarly single track segments you couldn't capture ?

[@addvurtbikes]

You're right, it's absolutely XC/gravel. They call it a mountain bike race, and all the pros ride full mountain bikes in it, not a single drop bar in sight. The race has been around since 2009, I don't know if XC/gravel was a thing back then.

[@CsabaTothMr]

What's your opinion about SRAM Automatix?

[@addvurtbikes]

I have never tried anything like that. It seems pretty nice, but also expensive?

[@CsabaTothMr]

@@addvurtbikes Not sure about the price because I bought mine 10+ years ago. It shifts with less coasting than for example a SRAM Super 7. One of my problems is that it shifts to a higher gear too soon to my liking in an urban setting. It can be corrected by fiddling with a tension spring pair. It also adds some extra weight since it's an planetary gear mechanic. I like that I have two gears though.

[@CsabaTothMr]

@@addvurtbikes As for MTB races: I've done MTB race with a hard tail (which like yours also didn't have suspension fork). My wrists told me after that race to not do that again :)

[@CsabaTothMr]

Maybe ... if I had a Morati with the classic Morati Ti forks and the Morati Ti handlebar, maybe... some people have done Trans Alps with such setup (combined with a Rohloff speed hub).

[@addvurtbikes]

if you like it, then it's a good thing! I don't really want to give up fixed gear for having multiple gears tho, but sometimes I ride in races where fixed gear is not allowed, and then that could maybe be a good thing for me too.