This weekend was a good start to the summer with some long rides on the mountain bike, setup rigid and fixed. Two of the rides were group rides with the Lyons Fat Tire Fest. Great fun: see some pictures and words at the blog of host Dave’s Redstone Cyclery as well as on MTBR (including some of my pix from Friday and Saturday). Dave lined up some killer but fun rides and has a great attitude– he clearly loves bikes, Lyons, and spending time with friends and family (not necessarily in that order).
On the group rides, I got the usual remarks– “you’re crazy” and “why?”– some from people who just noticed the bike as a singlespeed and some from those who noticed it had a fixed gear. I didn’t think much of it until the fest party when Jason asked if I got tired of everybody saying “you’re crazy”. I guess so, but maybe for different reasons than I could express at the time. I’m not so much annoyed at the comments as I don’t understand them. I’m out having fun riding a bike, even if I’m actually carrying it up a horrendous jeep road. That should be enough (and it was for most folks). It’s also not as hard as some people seem to think. They could ride their own bikes in a higher gear if they chose (just don’t use the granny ring on your next ride). So I’m also a bit embarrassed when they compliment me on my fortitude.
Most people think fixed is even harder than singlespeed. It does mean a slower descent, as the speed is limited by your cadence, but I’m in no hurry. I think fixed is even better for climbing than singlespeed, as there are no dead spots in the spin that sap energy when you outpace the freewheel. The best part of a fixed-gear bike is that I like to pedal. That’s what a bicycle is for. If I wanted to coast, I’d get a motorcycle.
The simplicity of the singlespeed or fixed drivetrain is another factor. On multi-geared bikes, I could never find the right gear and my rear mechs (I don’t speak French) were always tempermental (ghost shifting, refusing certain cogs). I also walked the hard hills anyways, so singlespeeding just made that official. Although, I find that I’m actually walking less and moving faster (except for easy road sections of course) because I just ride something instead of ending up in the wrong gear and either spinning out or unexpectedly stalling (eventually I do stall out but it’s later and planned for). I’ve also always been cautious on technical downhills because I hate to endo, and setting up the right line for the always-spinning cranks of a fixed-gear bike fits in with that.
Monday’s ride was a bike patrol day on some trails that flow really well– arcing corners, rolling hills, just enough roots and rocks to make things interesting. Natural slowing through a banked corner translated to a slower cadence. Maintaining a smooth comfortable cadence up a small hill meant more effort. Setting up for a rock garden was a matter of evaluating the best rocks- no pedal strikes if you go over the rock instead of the easy way beside it. With no freewheel, and a well-lubed and tensioned chain, the fixed-gear bike is rather quiet. I actually (accidentally) snuck up on and surprised a hiker when I spoke, as well as remained peaceful myself.
In conclusion, I guess singlespeed and fixed-gear mountain biking just suits me. It fits my temperment and my style of riding. It keeps me in tune with the trail rather than abstracting the trail via too much technology. Remember- if it ain’t fixed, it’s broken!
Tags: fixed