Originally Posted by willypilgrim
Well it's just like, if that's what you want, do it. When he said the gears are distracting him from enjoying himself I was just a bit put off, since like I said, no one is riding next to him with a beretta demanding he shift.
I bought an old peugeot, i rode around on it and never really switched gears. I thought about converting it, and realized that i never switched gears, so I did. SS didn't make much sense to me, since i saw in it most of the "limitations" of fixed gear without the benefit of fixed gear, so I just went for it.
Granted, after I did some initial conversion work, I found this board, and learned a ton, and now would have done some things differently on the front end, but the knowledge i've gained is worth it all.
Seriously, though, some single-speed mountain team was road riding recreationally (damned aliteration) as i was out farting around Monday. They slowed (way) down for me, seemed like nice guys. I mentioned that I'd been interested in ss but was concerned I couldn't afford a second bike. Then the one guy pulls out a paintball pistol and shoots me...in the back! I naturally crashed, and took two of them out with me. Umm...anyway.
I have been doing the "not letting myself shift" thing for about four days now and it seems fine. I'm a pansy on the gentlest of hills but that's not new, it's just more evident. But, yeah, bascially, it's more fun to forget about gearing insofar as I'm able. It's not more fun to be riding the same bike. I can't be the only guy here who thinks this way, yeah?
Doofo, number of gears is not a problem...are you saying the heavy-ass unattractive bike itself is, or that I (and my discontent) am?
EDIT: The Kona weighs about 30#. What can I expect a Surly/IRO to weigh in at?
20-ish#?