26" fixie good iea or not?

[idw]

hey guys, i've got a malvern star 26" frame from 1986 (maybe not lol) and the spare parts in the shed to turn it into a fixie

recon its a good idea i've never ridden a fixe gear before and just wondering why i there isnt any 26" ones

[Mulger bill]

I'd guess because most of them are road or track conversions.

It's an experiment, go for it. If FG is not for you you haven't lost anything.

[Uncle Grumpy]

Are you talking for on road or off road use?

If it's on road, then +1 to Mulger Bill.

If you're talking off road, then a few people I know experimented with fixed MTB and found all those fears regarding not be able to coast to avoid pedal strike on obstacles to be valid. Sometimes off road you need to be able to not pedal, such as jumping, rolling drop offs, hopping logs etc.

Grumps

[idw]

on road was the plan, or an interesting trick bike.i wasnt thinking for a mtb that just seems silly to me. i'll give it a go and post my findings. i'm only 173cm tall, and 26" frames fit me a bit more comfortably for general riding and mucking around than my 27" roady, anyone recommend a brand of flip flop hub?

[Oxford]

on road was the plan, or an interesting trick bike.i wasnt thinking for a mtb that just seems silly to me. i'll give it a go and post my findings. i'm only 173cm tall, and 26" frames fit me a bit more comfortably for general riding and mucking around than my 27" roady, anyone recommend a brand of flip flop hub?

I know it sounds silly but I am planning a fixie MTB just for the hell of it.

Anyway re hub, I would potentially go for a disk hub that can run the BMX sprockets. I know being a 1986 frame it is highly unlikely to have disk tabs, but you do not want to limit yourself on future projects. The advantage of a BMX style hub with disk is that you can run a disk brake in the future, you have the option of fitting a track sprocket or BMX free wheel. I know having flip flop capability is attractive but you really do have to ask yourself how often would you actually do it?

[gclark8]

on road was the plan, or an interesting trick bike.i wasnt thinking for a mtb that just seems silly to me. i'll give it a go and post my findings. i'm only 173cm tall, and 26" frames fit me a bit more comfortably for general riding and mucking around than my 27" roady, anyone recommend a brand of flip flop hub?

If you are in Perth, I can build a new wheel with Formula flip/flop hub a new 26x1 3/8 cr rim...

[idw]

well im kind of in regional victoria . i got one from the lbs with a 16t cog on it for 10 bucks just a second hand one, i'll get the freewheel of my old bmx and buld the wheel in a day or 2. not looking at spending anymore money on it, if i cant do it with my shed full of bits i put put it off till i can . missus thinks i have enough bikes as it is.

[sturmey archer]

When Ive tried, I could get 700c wheels in a 26" MTB frame. I havent actually ridden it on the road though
IanC

[.isaac.]

hey guys, i've got a malvern star 26" frame from 1986 and the spare parts in the shed to turn it into a fixie

recon its a good idea i've never ridden a fixe gear before and just wondering why i there isnt any 26" ones

pics...

[Oxford]

When Ive tried, I could get 700c wheels in a 26" MTB frame. I havent actually ridden it on the road though
IanC

A mate I have built a KISS 26 with 700c wheels with an Alfine for commuting. Plenty of room for the 700c wheels. Of course disk bakes are a must as trying to align rim brake pads to the 700c wheels is either impossible or extremely difficult.

[idw]

finaly got some time to dig the bike up out of the pile in the shed. its got a shimano tourney rear on it circ 1993~ so im changing my guess to its from about then its a malvern start renegade mtb and weights a tonne, has some cool bars on it though pictures soon.

[idw]

piccie


i really like thelook of the bars, they aren't the best shape for holding onto or riding with at any angle standing or seated.

[hartleymartin]

MTB frames should have enough room to run a 700C wheel with a 28 or 32mm tyre. In fact, you may even have an advantage in that your bottom bracket would be slightly higher than on a road bicycle frame of similar size.

[idw]

i've got 26" 1.75 kenda road tyres for it atm. tried a 700c and not even the rim alone will fit.

[Oxford]

i've got 26" 1.75 kenda road tyres for it atm. tried a 700c and not even the rim alone will fit.

sure its not a 24" frame? 26" wheels with MTB tyres are very close to 700c wheels with road tyres in diameter, so if a 700c wheel will not even fit in without a tyre, I doubt a 26" wheel with tyre will fit either or it will be very tight.

[idw]

i'll put another pic up in the morning, it is a 26" frame for sure. the 700c doesnt fit because of the chainstay connection, i can squeeze a 700c into my old giant mtb frame. but it dont fit in the malern star frame because of the design i think it's designed like a very early mountainbike frame and just has the chainstay connection and the break mount with ought enough room. i like the fatter tyres tho. it's just a lazy hacked SS atm...with the 5 speed free wheel still on it hit the cranks with an angle grinder so fit a smaller chainring.

[.isaac.]

Saw one of those stems/bars you have on yours yesterday...

[rapier]

i think its a good idea

[.isaac.]

i think its a good idea

If it's gonna work and you like that style of bike I think it's a good idea too.

[Resg]

I've been thinking this myself - I have a Repco (salvaged) frame that is early MTB style.

As it bears a strong resemblance to a road frame, apart from the forks, really, I thought that having 26" fixed wheels might be a good idea. I'm not a wheel builder myself though ( but then again a few years ago I didn't have anything to do with bikes, so this may change !)

As an aside, I did experiment with a set of 700c wheels (with fixed cog) in the Repco, and they fit quite well. The brakes didn't though.

Richard

[Verbs & Nouns]

A bunch of the “trick” fixed gear guys run 26” wheels and frames. It allows them to run bigger (softer tyres).

Just google 26” fixed gear freestyle.

Also, a courier in Adelaide gets around on a fixed MTB conversion with 26” wheels.

[idw]

just abit of an update, i've started stripping the paint on the frame and doing some rust repair. not sure what colour to to paint yet.

[mitzikatzi]

You can use a disc hub as "fixed"
here

I have also seen Australian made "disc cogs" for sale.

also here

[Dastirum]

My first bike (I was 12!) was an old english 26 incher with a backpedal brake - this was way back in the early '70's and it had the brazed lug frame. Can't remember what happened to it, but it would have been a great fixie project - however, those really old frames are probably a bit on the heavy side by today's standards.

cheers

[idw]

Well i guess it has been along time since i started this project and im a hack...i ended up with just a single speed

Anyway heres my single speed made from left overs and what was in the shed! its purple...and the seats not quite level