Hey Lithuania!!!

[p4nh4ndle]

did you go out for the popsicle race at carlisle this weekend?

[Lithuania]

No I work on Saturdays and I ended up getting sick today anyway. How was it?

Im racing Reston tomorrow regardless if I am still sick or not. You going?

[p4nh4ndle]

no, the potential for winter precip is keeping me local. It was very cold, but fast and technical. lots of fun.

[Lithuania]

todays race was tough on a single speed.

[p4nh4ndle]

every race is tough on a single speed. did you do anymore geared B racing?

[Lithuania]

not today. i only had enough time to do the C race. Next week I am going to race C and B but I am not sure if I am going to do the B geared or not.

I got yet another 15th place today and I am not sure how much better I would be doing with gears.

[p4nh4ndle]

I find I use a very narrow range of ratios (I could probably get away with a 1X5 setup if it were available) during any given race. But then I'm not really that fast; I just try to maintain contact with the back of the field during a race and delude myself into thinking I'm doing well after that.
Up your gearing a little bit? You might find you can push more gears if you've no other choice and it would surely make you faster initially.
Why not race B on your single speed? If you're riding up a category you might as well be on something you're comfortable with.

[Lithuania]

I am really leaning towards racing the Bs in the single. We will see. Its funny you mention pushing a bigger gear because I was talking to my coach after the race and saying the same thing. I ride a 42x18 right now and it already helps me go a lot faster later in races when I am tired then I would be with gear choices. A larger gear would just make it easier in the flats. I am not strong enough to race course like the one today on a larger gear though. The one hill I had to put everything into and I was barely making it up. Perhaps is I was a better bike handler I could get away with not being as strong.

Next year I was planning on going geared but I dont know anymore. I really like the torque I get out of the single. The difference in tension was just weird last week. If I do build up a nice geared bike it will definitely be a single ring setup.

If I dont build up a geared bike I will have to look into at least buying some fancy single speed carbon wheels instead :D

[p4nh4ndle]

how'd you deal with the cold?

[Lithuania]

ok. not as good as last week where i only wore short sleeves. Today I had on tights and a long sleeve under armour shirt under my jersey. I was really hoping to go shorts and shortsleeves again for some intimidation factor (HA) but I think being a little sick put a stop to that.

My feet felt like frozen blocks at the end of the race though. I cant believe there is only one more week of cross here.