I saw this picture on a website about a crazy hill climb race in LA and this was the picture of the climb winner. I've never seen somebody rock a gearing like this and I"m curious why somebody would.

nevermind...now that I think about it it's just like having a tiny chainring on a double and being on the largest cog in the cassette. It just looks really funny as a SS.

that picture is your photoshop iron chef ingredient for the day. GO!

man, if it wasn't so late, and I wasn't so lazy, I would totally rock that PS style. Maybe tomorrow at work. I'd rather get paid for it.

less likely to get stuff caught in the chain? just a random thought...

stuff caught in the chain? like what? Old man balls?
Its just good for climbing hills. no big deal

you could run up the hill faster than spinning that.

OK so it's 5:30 and I'm pulling an all nighter for school... I'll break for a lil photshop action!!!

if you've seen the hill you would understand. its like a 32% grade.

The bike is curious. MTB with road wheels and disk brakes. Does the fork look like its bending back to anyone else?

yup, I noticed that too

Yes, but I think that defeats the purpose..sense of challenge...whatever, and would disqualify you.

I'm actually surprised he is running brakes at all.

I don't think it's an MTB frame, I think it's road tubing made into that outrageous form.
I think it's like that in order to get his weight closer to the front wheel, which I'm guessing would increase his leverage. Plus, he might be able to ride steeper grades while still in the saddle (like in the picture) whereas normal geometry he might have to get out of the saddle to keep the bike from flipping backwards?

This guy did the Fargo St hill climb using this set up:

I'm guesing for the down hill portions, probably a SS

uh, it's a 29er.
with slicks.

I figured as much but for the race I would pull everything off that I didn't need. But he won so what do I know?

It looks to be a trials gearing.

It's just an optical illusion caused by the disk brake cable running at a weird angle in relation to the fork. It's really just a straight fork which I think has 0 mm of rake.

*edit - I ran my mouth off about the frame. I am not really sure what is up with the geometry now, but I'd assume it gives the rider better positioning for such a steep climb.

looks like motocross gearing

is it just me, or does that make no sense. its only a 29er if it has mt bike tires.

a 29er with slicks would just be a hybrid... right?

nevermind, i looked it up.

awesome photoshop.


and yeah, my parents live on the top of a hill in eugene oregon, so i have to be in similar gearing on my mountain bike to get back up. most of the time i just walk it.

The hill on the way up to the "Butte"?