It was warm today, relatively: 40 F and sunny, not much wind to speak of. It has been a bad winter, too cold to ride much and not enough snow to ski. I've been putting in time on the trainer.

I built up a singlespeed over the winter. It was mostly a project to keep me off the streets and out of the pool halls.

My bottle cages and new tires (Bontrager Revolt SS, $20.00/pair from Price Point) arrived this morning. I had the afternoon free, so I slapped the skins on my single speed, and of course, I just had to ride.

I've never actually ridden a singlespeed before. Well, not since my last coaster brake bike in the early 70s. I chose a fairly short, fairly flat route. It was surprising how fast I could spin out on the flats. I should build up some leg speed if I ride this thing much. I found myself coasting more than I expected. The short climbs I hit were not as great a challenge as I'd thought they would be. I look forward to trying out some steeper stuff.

Those tires are FAST.

I put in 15 miles. For the first three or four, I kept trying to twist the handlebar grip. I had to remind myself that I could not shift. After a bit the desire to shift lessened, but it may take a while for it to go away altogether.

I think I understand the singlespeed/punk rock connection now. Like a Ramone's song riding this thing is cheerfully stupid. Gabba Gabba Hey!

The coolest part, so far, is that I built myself a bike and it actually works!

What gearing were you running? Were you riding the road or trail? Running a "trail" gear on the road will lead to lots of coasting and spinning out.

36 x 18...trail gear, I know. I was on the roads because the trails were way too muddy. I'm not complaining about the gear, just observing.

It is supposed to snow tomorrow, but today was 52F and sunny-bright. I got some work done early and will do some more tomorrow. This afternoon, I had to ride. Had to.

I took the singlespeed "RegularBike" out for its second ride today. The trails are still thick with mud, so I stayed mostly on the roads again.

I took a 17 mile loop, starting out past the prison and cruising down "3 Damn Hills" Road. That's not the road's official name, but it is the way I think of it. In the space of a mile it has three climbs. None of them is terribly challenging, but all of them are noticeably there. That 2:1 gear ratio handled them without undue strain.

I cut up past the country church and spun along on Sugar Grove Road. The road has a few long, gradual climbs. Again, nothing too hard.

I pedalled a stretch of gravel road toward the town of Woosung. I built RegularBike up with a rigid fork. Parts of the road were corrugated by farm equipment. It didn't take me long to figure out that I need to avoid the stutter bumps.

Somewhere in here my mental jukebox started playing "Little Willie" by the Sweet. I know hundreds of good songs. Why does my endorphinated brain come up with drek like this? Oh, well. At least it wasn't "Delta Dawn."

Coming home, I caught Penrose Road. This way I avoided the steepest hills. One day, I'll tackle Pilgrim and Lowell Park Roads, but not today. Cruising along, I could see a pair of dogs in the road ahead of me. I know these dogs. They chase bikes, but mostly in fun. Their territory is fairly short, too. As I came up on the first dog, I greeted him with a cheerful "Hiya, mutt!" He gave chase immediately, barking and woofing along beside me. I took a long slurp off my camelbak and spit in his face. It stopped him for a moment, but by then his partner was at my other flank. I gave a rebel yell and began to spin that little gear for all I was worth. On my gearie, I can drop these pooches. Today they kept my pace, but I made them work for it. When they began to slack off I hollered "Come on! Come on!" and they stuck with me a little longer. Eventually they ran out of territory, or ambition, or both. I laughed as I cruised away from them.

"Mama done chase Willie down through the hall, but laugh, Willie, laugh, he don't care at all." Will this song never end?

I jumped on a short section of trail that runs along an old railroad bed. The mud was deep and thick. It was slow going for a way. Eventually, I was back on the pavement, spinning my gear out and heading happily for home and a few minor adjustments. An allen bolt on the Singleator needed tightened and I changed the angle on my brake levers.

I'm liking this thing. It's a different pace but fun.

Now if I could just get rid of "Little Willie." "Staaaaaay down, Waaaay down. Staaaaaaayy downtown..." Gabba Gabba Hey!

Thanks for the ride report. Did you feel the urge to shift on this ride or did you forget all about it?

BTW, where are you located? I have no idea where R. Regan grew up!

We got over two feet of snow last weekend on top of the 8 inches we got the week before, trails are buried and now it is raining all weekend - no biking for me. I've avoided breaking out the dreaded trainer all winter so far, but it looks like I'm going to have to do it now.

We rode the trail in the early stages of the blizzard last weekend when we only had about 6" of snow. Picture of the one speed post ride:

I can't say I forgot all about it, but I didn't have to fight the urge so much, either. Riding the one speed may have some interesting consequences for riding the other rigs. I suspect that it will help me to build leg speed and strength. I wonder if I feel the urge to shift less on a geary. Time will tell.

North central Illinois. The town of Dixon. Young Ronald was a lifeguard here. It is really our only claim to fame. Well, Louella Parsons held her first job as a journalist here, too. Feel free to say "Louella who?"

i went out yesterday and i spun out a lot on relatively flat road/pavement through the hills. 38/18 gear.

Beautiful day today. 70 F here in Northern Illinois. I've been riding geared bikes as much as I've ridden lately. I took the singlespeed out today though. Spun out a lot. Rode slow. Got lost and couldn't find a trailhead. Struggled up a couple of hills.

All in all, it was pretty great.

Riding without gears doesn't feel as weird as that lumpy mass in your nephews diaper.
I don't think we ever get out of wanting to drop down a gear in the wind or up a gear at the top of the spin. I've been riding my fixie (52x18) on a 35 mile circut of bike trails and roads, and have gained a lot of speed. I can't tell you how wierd that is, to look at last year's averages and today's and wonder WTF. I can't wait to see how I've improved on the roadie. And this year I've built a SS MTB, so I'm going to do some single track in a MTB gearing.