Singlespeed in a Crit?
04-26-08, 12:24 PM
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Singlespeed in a Crit?
Originally Posted by USACycling
1J3.(b) For road races, only a bicycle with a freewheel and one
working brake on each wheel shall be used, except as allowed
elsewhere in these rules.
working brake on each wheel shall be used, except as allowed
elsewhere in these rules.
Yes, I'm thinking about it, once I check out the lay of the course.
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
04-26-08, 12:50 PM
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Quite possibly, but humor me. 
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
04-26-08, 12:51 PM
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You CAN do it. SHOULD you do it? No, not unless you want to get dropped sooner rather than later 
04-26-08, 12:52 PM
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i did a crit last year where I never once shifted gears so I have thought about trying it for kicks.
i didnt get dropped and it was actually my first 3/4 race
i didnt get dropped and it was actually my first 3/4 race
04-26-08, 01:44 PM
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I think it's a great idea, that way when you get dropped you can blame the bike.
Az
Az
04-26-08, 01:53 PM
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Chipcom - I'm not saying that if I saw you out there, I'd gap you off the back - but I'd sure be thinking that someone should gap you off the back.
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04-26-08, 01:55 PM
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May I ask WHY?
You can ride a single speed on your training rides with your buds. Under certain conditions you could actually improve your conditioning riding single speed and being pushed hard by others.
Why go to all the trouble it takes to find yourself at the starting line of even the most modest contest, and then let all the other riders have an equipment advantage over you? Unless you could actually WIN riding the danged thing and want bragging rights, or don't care much about winning, I just can't see it.
You can ride a single speed on your training rides with your buds. Under certain conditions you could actually improve your conditioning riding single speed and being pushed hard by others.
Why go to all the trouble it takes to find yourself at the starting line of even the most modest contest, and then let all the other riders have an equipment advantage over you? Unless you could actually WIN riding the danged thing and want bragging rights, or don't care much about winning, I just can't see it.
04-26-08, 01:59 PM
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Yeah, the bike, that's why I lost...not because I am fat, slow, old and out of shape!
I've done a lot of fast group rides over flat terrain on the singlespeed, using about 85 gear inches. This being a Cat5/Citizen crit and my first race in 30 years, I was just mulling options to avoid risking the road bike. I guess another option might be to get some brifters to replace the bar-ends on my old Bianchi and use that bike.
Or, I could just HTFU and put everything on the line, including the road bike.
I've done a lot of fast group rides over flat terrain on the singlespeed, using about 85 gear inches. This being a Cat5/Citizen crit and my first race in 30 years, I was just mulling options to avoid risking the road bike. I guess another option might be to get some brifters to replace the bar-ends on my old Bianchi and use that bike.
Or, I could just HTFU and put everything on the line, including the road bike.
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
Last edited by chipcom; 04-26-08 at 02:31 PM.
04-26-08, 02:52 PM
#11
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Yeah, the bike, that's why I lost...not because I am fat, slow, old and out of shape!
I've done a lot of fast group rides over flat terrain on the singlespeed, using about 85 gear inches. This being a Cat5/Citizen crit and my first race in 30 years, I was just mulling options to avoid risking the road bike. I guess another option might be to get some brifters to replace the bar-ends on my old Bianchi and use that bike.
Or, I could just HTFU and put everything on the line, including the road bike.
I've done a lot of fast group rides over flat terrain on the singlespeed, using about 85 gear inches. This being a Cat5/Citizen crit and my first race in 30 years, I was just mulling options to avoid risking the road bike. I guess another option might be to get some brifters to replace the bar-ends on my old Bianchi and use that bike.
Or, I could just HTFU and put everything on the line, including the road bike.
Might want to go up a tad on the gearing. With an 85 in. gear, you are spinning about 95 at 25 mph, about 115 at 30 mph and for your sprint, a whopping 150 rpm at 40 mph!
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Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
1988 Ducati 750 F1
04-26-08, 03:50 PM
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Sure you can, a few years ago someone showed up with a single speed bike to a mass start hill climb race. I bet it was under 15lbs too, cheater...
I can't see it working too well for a crit though.
I can't see it working too well for a crit though.
04-26-08, 03:57 PM
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CC racing is like botto entering the Priesthood. Who woulda thought?
04-26-08, 04:16 PM
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Well thanks for humoring me as I thought out loud here in BF. I can always count on you guys to let me make an ass of myself, because you already know I'm an ass. 
I already called the LBS, gonna throw some cheap Tiagra bits on the Bianchi and make it my crit bike.
The La Raza is just too darn purdy for crits.... crap, so am I...imagine the worldwide mourning if I messed up this pretty face and luscious bod! Well we'll just have to risk it, besides imagine how much more cash my pinups will catch if I croak!
I already called the LBS, gonna throw some cheap Tiagra bits on the Bianchi and make it my crit bike.
The La Raza is just too darn purdy for crits.... crap, so am I...imagine the worldwide mourning if I messed up this pretty face and luscious bod! Well we'll just have to risk it, besides imagine how much more cash my pinups will catch if I croak!
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
04-26-08, 04:17 PM
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
04-26-08, 04:29 PM
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last year at the 4/5 race at Dilworth, some self-styled bad@$$ rode with a singlespeed in the crit. it was quite a hilly one too, and he stayed with the pack till the end, even though only about 20 of 50 finished. i was impressed. speaking of which is anyone doing Dilworth next Saturday? it promises to kick ass as usual.
04-26-08, 04:43 PM
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I'm in for Dilworth if I can get someone else from sunny, scenic Fayettenam to carpool out there. If not I think it's a good weekend for a solo vision quest style 6+ hour ride.
04-26-08, 04:57 PM
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CC, Pcad pledges $20 if you race with those SPD sandals.
04-26-08, 05:09 PM
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that sounds like fine gearing to me..
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04-26-08, 05:20 PM
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At our local crit (Gainesville, FL) somebody in the Cat 3's was single speed. (I am making an assumption here that he was legal and wasn't fixed gear.) I don't remember seeing him spit out the back so I'm guessing that he hung in for at least pack fodder.
Our crit is pretty flat, just in case you were interested. I'm thinking that it is at most two gears. I wonder when was the last time somebody did it with a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hub!
Our crit is pretty flat, just in case you were interested. I'm thinking that it is at most two gears. I wonder when was the last time somebody did it with a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hub!
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04-26-08, 05:29 PM
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At RATL? There is one hill with a downhill following, and a false flat.
04-26-08, 06:39 PM
#24
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Nothing wrong with a single speed in a crit, as long as it's a freewheel and has brakes.
As for gearing, there's a saying a bike industry bigwig has for single speed bikes (he can't be identified because he deals with single speed companies).
"Why would I want a single speed bike? I'll be in the wrong gear 19 out of 20 times I'm pedaling."
note: he has a 10x2 road bike for his regular rides.
Someone with an extremely flexible rpm range should be fine. But if you don't, limiting your gearing to one speed is like, well, limiting your car to one gear. It reduces your viable speed range.
cdr
As for gearing, there's a saying a bike industry bigwig has for single speed bikes (he can't be identified because he deals with single speed companies).
"Why would I want a single speed bike? I'll be in the wrong gear 19 out of 20 times I'm pedaling."
note: he has a 10x2 road bike for his regular rides.
Someone with an extremely flexible rpm range should be fine. But if you don't, limiting your gearing to one speed is like, well, limiting your car to one gear. It reduces your viable speed range.
cdr