Track bikes, or more specifically, cyclocross on fixed gears, are gaining worldwide momentum as #TRACKLOCROSS, and the world championships are being held in Japan.
Even though it’s called a world championship, anyone who wants to enter can. As long as you have a fixed-gear bike. In other words... it’s a party.
TRACKLOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019
Advance entry is open until Wednesday, August 7th!
AUG 29 – SEPT 1
YAMANASHI JAPAN
Races and activities held within strictly defined rules and manicured environments are interesting in their own right, but new forms of fun are always born from stepping outside those frameworks. The guys who started riding road bikes on dirt, the ones who took beach cruisers downhill, the NY messengers who started riding fixed gears in the city, and the early MASH crew who spread tricks on them—they must have all been treated as outliers at first.
As for whether this kind of activity will become a trend... there’s no need for that kind of calculation. It’s enough that it’s fun right now. That’s how so many people from overseas are coming over just to play for real.
Word is that Chas and Sean from MASH, U.S. National Champion Kell Mckenzie, Red Bull athlete Nico, SLOW SQUAD CEO Max, and Squid Bikes' own Chris are all coming. Apparently, the field of female riders is pretty insane, too. It’s far more stacked than your average "proper" race.
Since the messenger world championships (CMWC) are being held in Jakarta, it seems some messengers are planning to stop by Japan afterward. Apparently, there are over 30 entries from overseas alone.
Fixed gears aren't exactly meant for dirt. You’ve got big rocks coming at your spinning legs at the worst possible moments, and sometimes the trail conditions—grass or loose rocks—make it impossible to skid. On climbs where the torque is too high, the rear tire just spins out.
So, why is it so fun despite being so inconvenient? It really just boils down to: "It’s incredibly fun, so let’s just do it!"
What about the bike? Some hardcore riders will be competing on 23c NJS track bikes, but if you can, a flat-bar bike with dirt tires 28c or wider is best. You can convert an old MTB using an eccentric hub or a Philcentric BB, and if you have a versatile frame from a brand like Surly or All-City, you can convert it to fixed gear just by prepping the right wheelset.
Our shop, Culture Club, is here for when you want to hunt for used parts and customize your ride without breaking the bank, so please come consult with us.
My own daily rider needed a 135mm spaced disc-brake fixed hub, and naturally, only Surly had that strange spec in their lineup. You really can’t say anything else other than "that’s classic Surly."
Riding fixed on dirt takes a bit of a knack. Jasmine, who is also entered in the world championship, will be hosting a practice session, so stay tuned for details.
Following this, there will be a domestic race in the Kanto region on September 22nd, and then another race at Bikelore on December 7th-8th. Of course, you don’t have to wait for any of that to start veering off the pavement.
Keep an eye on the website above, as well as Instagram and Facebook, for world championship updates.
https://www.instagram.com/txwc_worlds2019/
https://www.facebook.com/events/470032120193508/
Text by Monjya