SingleSpeed Ride Report…..

Greetings Readers!

I feel shafted, like I’ve been missing out. Sheltered is more like it. All these years of gears, and I’ve just now discovered the joy of the SingleSpeed. I never thought I could do it, or, like riding SS. As Ned Overand said, “if your not wearing out your derailleurs your not shifting enough, shift early, and shift often” So I’ve honed my skills like a true journeyman, I work that cassette like an artist works in oils. I can shift front and rear in combo without throwing a chain. I’m a shifting afficionado. So, I didn’t think I’d take to one cog. Plus, I’m no masher, I go for the easy gears on the climgs like a sissy with no knees. Mind you I’m not spinning 120 in granny gear to get up a 5% grade, I’m not that bad. But, I’m not pushing the 53 up Germantown either.

It was my pal Ken, him and that Aussie I pass all the time on my way in to work. They started it, got me all intrigued about the simple life. I’ve been looking for months, looking for the right bike to come along. I found it in the Langster. I had an S-Works E-5 road back in 2003. I loved that bike, should have never sold it, I digress. The Langster reminds me of the E-5, only not as fast. It rides great, fits me well, and I got it at a bargain. What’s not to like? I was worried about the gears, never having ridden SS before. But it would seem that the stock 42/16 gears suit me well, I can cruise along at 17/18 miles an hour with not too much effort and I only have to get out of the saddle on the steeper pitches. I like that I can’t cheat, I can’t shift down and take the easy way up. Works me just fine, thank you.

I love it. I feel like I’ve opened the next chapter in the evolution of a cyclist. (took me long enough) I suspect that my SS is going to see a lot of miles this summer commuting and running errands. I’ll still break out the correct tool for the job on road rides and cross stuff. But the SS has offically arrived and I now don’t see me without one. I could…. even forsee me, racing in the new SS Master’s old fart class for cyclocross. Uhh, K-man, can you get on that please…..

Miles ridden today, 21

Miles ridden 2008, 1866.

Cheers!