Project SingleSpeed Racer: Part One, What is Project SSR?
Posted: May 28th, 2008 by Lath CarlsonI’ve heard a lot of reasons why some riders prefer a singlespeed over a geared bike, but one that doesn’t come up often is that they are faster. Welcome to Project SingleSpeed Racer (Project SSR), a regular blog feature where I will be exploring if that could be true. Over the course of the coming months I will be looking at singlespeeds from the perspective of technology, efficiency, performance and racing. This project will focus on building the ultimate singlespeed race bike to take on all comers, with or without gears. As the project progresses we will look at how to maximize the advantages of singlespeed bikes and attempt to scientifically measure the results.
In mainstream cycling, singlespeed riders have often been looked at as oddballs. Just a few weeks ago a race promoter called me a “self-limiterâ€. It’s a little odd that we are looked at this way, as it is well known that a single geared drivetrain is more efficient then a multi geared one. In track cycling sprinters reach speeds over 40mph and Madison racers change pace at will, with a single fixed gear. No one ridicules them for not having 20 gears. Travis Brown has been one of the few mainstream cyclists to challenge the assumption that singlespeeds were slower. He convincingly won both mountainbike and cyclocross races on a singlespeed. Rather than spawning honest questions about how he was able to do this, most people just labeled him a freak.
The idea behind this blog is to explore as rationally as possible how racing a singlespeed is different than a geared bike, and if by taking advantage of those differences it can be faster too. I will be mixing component reviews, interviews of people involved in singlespeed technology, singlespeed specific training approaches and race feedback.
Your blogger winning the 25 mile overall title at the 2008 Michaux Maximus, with one gear.
A little background on your blogger; I’ve been riding and racing bikes since I was 12 when my friend David and I started exploring the trails around our hometown of Ashland, Oregon. I’ve competed in trials, ‘cross, XC and road racing. In 2007 I won the Expert 30-34 National XC Championship at Mt. Snow. I currently race in the Mid Atlantic area at the Elite level, usually on a singlespeed. I live in Jim Thorpe, PA with my wife, Pro track cyclist Liz Reap Carlson, and our two smelly dogs. My paying job is engineering interactive museum exhibits for science centers and children’s museum. In this capacity I mix engineering, scientific theory, and user interface design. So basically, I’m part bike racer and part science geek, with an anthropology degree thrown in for good measure.
Tune in next time for a look at how riding and racing a singlespeed is different, from an efficiency and physiological standpoint.
- Lath Carlson
May 28th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
My curiosity is piqued and I’m looking forward to reading more.
“Self-Limiter”! Ha-Ha, I like that. I myself often feel limited but I doubt it has anything to do with my SS.
May 29th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
You must not’ve been to Wisconsin yet, eh?
Look forward to reading…
May 30th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Ronstra, “You must not’ve been to Wisconsin yet, eh?”, ok, what am I missing? It has been a while since I was in Wisconsin…
May 30th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Hey Lath-
In one brief sentence, why should I get a singlespeed? I have been riding and racing bikes all my life, including BMX. And, a lot of that time I lived in Wisconsin Ronstra! Try it here in the Phoenix area if you really want to hone your skills. Riding on the granite and scrabble is a challenge! Can you say two wheel drift!!
May 30th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
I’m no singlespeed zealot or proselytizer. Riding a singlespeed is a choice, and I just plan on looking at the facts behind it, not try and convince anyone that it’s right for them. Half of my bikes have gears and I enjoy them all. My friend Bill out in Tuscon rides a rigid singlespeed 29′er and loves it. While in Colorado a few weeks ago I rode a geared full suspension 26′er and had a great time. When I lived in New Mexico I rode a geared rigid 26′er. One of the topics I’ll be looking at is the conditions in which a singlespeed excels, and the ones they don’t do well in. Maybe in the end you’ll want to give it a try, and maybe not.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
A lot of folks ride ss here in the PNW and we’ve got some relatively steep and techinical terrain. One thing it will do is work your upper body more so than a geared bike. And spinning casually uphill is usually not an option. Walking is though. So is getting out of the saddle and attacking.
May 30th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
I agree. it’s not for everyone, everywhere. In our little part of the country, 3 of the top 5 elite racers in our state series were riding 29″ rigid SS’s. Seems to work well here. I’ve gone to Fruita, Moab and Pisgah with a SS and had a blast! (though I think I’ll take shock next trip) Anythings possible with the right gearing. In the end, I think you’ll always be fastest on what you enjoy riding the most, but I look forward to an objective comparison on your blog. Thanks and good luck!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 am
Lath,
- seems a lot of folks turned in top times riding SS at Michaux. I missed it this year but last year I passed you while you were dealing with a flat only to have you blow by me agian about 15 minutes later on what appeared to be a ridgid SS 29er. I was 26 and all gears. Could give me/us a breakdown of the rig you rode there this year, frame, fork, wheelset, gearing, tires ?? Thanks
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:51 am
Yeah, last year I got two tires full of nails, Stans sealed the front but not the rear, which I flatted twice. I think some geared rider was laying a trap! I actually raced the same setup both years, my South Mountain Cycles Team rig: Kona Kula 2-9 Scandium frame, Maverick SC32 fork, Stans wheels, Maxxis Ignitor tires, Magura Marta SL brakes with Stans rotors, misc Easton and Thomson bits. I rode a 32×19 this year, I was weaker last year and rode a 32×20, on a 29′er of course. Michaux is great for a SS, technical with some good climbs, and only a little flat fire-road.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:53 am
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June 4th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
I agree that “riding a single speed is a choice.” If racing, I think the fun would be vert or technical. Help me with a stiff tailwind on the flats! Having fun is the best part for me. Thanks
June 7th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Great blog. For me, single speeds are more fun. I ride a 26″ rigid. It smoothed out my style. I’m still working on the best gear ratio.
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