The constant motion, vibes, adrenaline, community, that feeling of becoming one single wild element are just some of the factors of why I love fixed gear cycling and what makes it so addictive and hard to let go.

Somehow riding a cargo bike in a non-urban landscape can recall some of those feelings.
For example being out of place on a track bike, away from a velodrome and thrown into the streets, the fact you’re not carrying goods for a customer but your own supplies and camping gear, or just the silliness of being in the right place with the ‘wrong’ bike – and that just makes it more fun.

After several trips on both track bikes and on my trusted Titanium Omnium Cargo I finally had the pleasure of merge this two worlds together assembling probably the funnest bike I’ve build: a fixed gear Titanium Omnium Mini-Max. The perfect coalition of fun and utility.
What better occasion to test out this frankenbike than the TrackloCross World Championship followed by a gravel bikepacking loop of circa 350km around Catalunya?

The last day before departure always feel as a slippery slope of infinite tasks to get done before finally clip in, let the legs rolling, and the eyes wonder through stunning landscapes. I completed the build of the bike just 4 hours before departure, at 3 am. Quick double-check of the bags and off we go!

For the whole journey from Copenhagen to Barcelona I only had one thought: is it even gonna work properly? A fixed gear cargo bike…

I’m not new to singlespeed cargo bike riding, but fixed gear is a whole different thing. I kept reassuring myself on the fact that I knew well both cargo bikes as well as fixed gear and everything would work out just fine.

I love going to Barcelona. The city is incredibly fun to ride (probably in the eyes of a bike courier), nature wise there’s literally everything you could wish for: sea, mountains, easy hikes, hard hikes, bike rides of all kinds, nice view spots above the city and so on. But the thing I love the most about Barcelona is getting to see all my friends that live there. They are part of an international network of riders that I consider my family. I talk with many of them regularly updating each other about life, work, racing and travel plan, mainly to understand if we’re gonna see each other and for how long. I care deeply about this community.

The following two days after the arrival are basically a never-ending hang out around town waiting for everyone that signed up for the event to arrive. The main hang out spot was My Beautiful Parking: an amazing bike shop owned by some of the riders from PRBLMS!, a local cycling crew that host some of the most wonderful events and races in the European fixed-gear scene.

On race day the vibes were so tight you could cut the air with a knife.
The buzz in the air was making you nervous even as a spectator: it was time for one of the most rowdy race of the year.
Due to a crash while mountain-biking a week before TXWC this year, I set back and went to support my friends wether they where organising or racing.
I’m actually glad I did that since usually I’m always racing at events like this, and it was very nice for once to be able to watch, snap films and hang around a bit with everyone, cheering as loud as possible.

The win went to my friends and fellow messengers Aline and Florian ‘Flo’, from Zurich – they will hold next year’ TXWC in Zurich in October 2026.

After a well deserved closing party and a rest day on the beach on Sunday it was finally time to set off for a 5-day bikepacking trip with my mates Albert and Antonio (shout out).
For the occasion I’ve planned a loop of roughly 360km with 7.000m of positive elevation, exploring some natural reserves and parks around Barcelona.

Sadly for us the weather wasn’t very characteristic for Spain in mid-September; rain and fog would follow us for the first couple of days.
Despite the weather not being the best I have ever experienced, what I love about riding in Spain is how quickly you can find yourself riding into wilderness, feeling thousands of kilometres away from civilisation.

Rough gravel, single-tracks and short hike-a-bike section were a constant on this trip.

We spent the first three days riding north-east towards Girona, tackling some of the most beautiful gravel roads I’ve ever ridden (I’m starting to understand why this region is nicknamed “the gravel paradise”) – especially a nonstop 40km ridgeline over the Riu Ter in the Espai Natural de les Guillieries-Savassona.

Another thing I love about riding in Catalunya is that you can find an combination of infinite short climbs, turning your route into a proper bike rollercoaster – always fun, never boring, full of surprises.

Day 4 was tarmac day, riding south on the famous coastal roads of Costa Brava – easy pace, trying to enjoy every pedal stroke since the finish line was starting to get closer and closer.
Luckily for us a shy sun poked out of the clouds allowing us to have one last swim in the Mediterranean Sea before heading back to Barcelona.

This was our last bikepacking trip of 2025 before getting back to Copenhagen where me and Albert work as bike messengers and Antonio would start a new life chapter as mechanic at the Omnium warehouse.

Thanks to Omnium for the support – thanks to the Barcelona people PRBLMS!, MBP, LaMessBCN, EphemeralGang, Laura and Davide for the hospitality, the good times, the sincere talks and for always making me feel welcome in your house.

All words and photos by Sguatti follow on Instagram: @justsguatti