Note:
Some weak ass, scared POS tried to leave an ANONYMOUS comment saying that my fixed gear "fucks up the trails". Well, sorry to disappoint you, but it does not. My trails are like cement - they are not soft at all, and what really messes things up are when people ride the trails when they are closed - worse when equestrians ride on them when they are closed. The ground is clay and hardens like it. An occasional skid (I did 2 on my last ride) on "dirty cement" does nothing to the trail. I see clueless weekend warriors (probably like yourself, Mr. Anonymous) doing them with brakes more than I do on my fixed gear, who have no clue on how to take a turn.
I've been riding these trails for years and I am an advocate for them. These trails are my home and I respect them like a church for the religious. So before you start spouting off with zero knowledge of where I ride, shut your trap. This is my blog, I moderate it, and at least have the balls to sign in with your name next time you're going to try and leave a stupid comment.
My blog was designed to be positive and share riding stories with others. If you can't play well with others, take your piss-poor attitude somewhere else.
/endrant
A few weeks ago I fell into a riding slump (burn out) and realized I needed to change some things up a bit. While browsing MTBR, I had the wild notion of ordering a TomiCog - a fixed gear cog that allows you to convert your bike by simply replacing your rear disc rotor and flipping the wheel.
Well... fast forward to a few days after Christmas, and I am pedal striking and spinning away to my heart's content at my local trails.
The TomiCog is a nice piece of metal; pulling the disc and slapping this baby on was a snap. The caveat, however, is that you will no longer have a rear brake, so you are forced to use only a front brake and leg resistance to stop. Not wanting to throw myself off too much, I went with the same 32X20 gearing, which allows me to get up-and-over everything on my local trails.
This is my third go at fixed off-road and I've seem to have forgotten how exhausting it is. If you're a bicycle rider and haven't been cryogenically frozen for the past 5 years, you know that fixed gear riding does not allow one to coast on descends - you still have to pedal. Combine that with off-road obstacles, rocks, loose terrain/lack of traction, hard climbs and extreme concentration as to not face plant, the off-road fixed gear truly adds a whole new dimension to your local romp.
Since I ride to the trails, the 3 mile ride out and back is brutally slow; and since you can't coast on descends, the overall ride time takes much longer than with a freewheel bike. So, as I've said in my previous post about riding off-road fixed, you have to go into the ride with a different mindset or else you will scream to the gods when a granny on a 1994 Roadmaster comfort bike cruises past you on the multi-use trail.
I would recommend off-road fixed to anyone who 1) wants a challenge or 2) stopped taking their medication. It is fun, entertaining and will get you the craziest comments and stares on the trail. Viva la FIXED!
Source: http://www.dionridesbikes.com/2012/01/i-fixed-my-on-one-inbred.html
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