So Dave Harris says....
he doesn't get the single speed thing. Can I explain it any better than it has been done countless times before on MTBR (the thread has been viewed over 20,000 times)? Yes, I enjoy the smooth running quiet drivetrain while I cruise through the woods. Lack of maintenance is a definite plus, but there has to be more to it, right?
I love an underdog. I still get choked up watching Rudy. I love to read about Arctic explorers who survive frozen body parts and starvation (check out Mawson's Will). The whole "against all odds" thing just gets me going. I don't care if I am perceived as an underdog by my peers. It's not their opinion that matters. I like to think about myself as an underdog, not so much against other competitors, but against the mountain. Just me and my single speed being catapulted at the mountain to either go over the top or to splat against its face. There's more to it than that.
THE VIKING THEORY
A geared rider is like a Ninja (you should check this out) pulling out throwing stars, nun-chucks, and all manner of sneaky weapons. If he can't get the kill with one weapon he'll switch (gears) to get the job done. Sure as shit a Ninja will kill everybody in the room without them knowing, but he'll use 27 different weapons. Single speeders are Viking Beserkers. A Viking just needs a simple weapon like a big hammer or a sharpened 40lb piece of steel to do his dirty work. Not only will he kill everybody in the room, he'll kill everything in a 30 mile radius. The US military tried to turn GI's into Vikings back in the early 40's, but they found that the atom bomb was easier to control and almost as effective at killing. Ninja VS Viking? I'll put my money on the Viking. Sure he'll be pierced by the Ninja's pointy tools of death 20 times before the he knows what hit him, but that will just summon his wrath. Once he sets his beer down he with will destroy the Ninja and any black pajama wearing buddies he might have brought with him (they've been known to travel in packs). Then he will finish his beer. Yeah, single speeding is just like that, brutal, painful, merciless, something to do in between beers...a pursuit worthy of a Viking. All single speeders have some Viking blood in their veins. It is a fact.
Hey, I know a place that has great Viking food.
Your underdog paragraph - aside from giving me goosebumps, I think to an extent captures the heart of how most ultra athletes view their endeavors, and also why our chosen events have such a relaxed atmosphere.
That MTBR thread is useless. I ran out of patience reading all the smack talk...just what I need, another contentious forum to partake in :)
You explained it perfectly. Now I'm gonna go single up my Trek 9.8 frame I have collecting dust. Or should it be the Dos? Decisions, decisions. (Comment this)
01-17-2006 #204
PaddyH
your ankles are fat
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 170
Quote:
Originally Posted by brianthebiker
I am still trying to figure that out myself.....besides weight I can see none.
it's simple, quiet, light, fast, makes you a better rider--if you race(and are competitive) against geared bikers
Singlespeeding isn't Amway, no one's telling you to do it, or "get it"...riding is something we all do for different reasons, geared, not, rigid, full-squish...whatever.
__________________
ask me about kicking you in the junk
www.paddyslament.blogspot.com
PaddyH is online now
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message (Comment this)
always hard to get the tone in print from...
either way, enjoy whatever ride you 1x1, and ya sometimes there is crap on public forums, but I'd like to believe there's more honesty and soul to what people have to say than not. (Comment this)
I still don't think our bikes should be called "Single Speeds" though it is a catchy-catch phrase. We go many speeds. More than 27 speeds do we travel.... with a "Single Gear."
But that doesn't sound as catchy. Oh well. That's my single theory for the evening.
OGG (Comment this)