Am I one of the last shifties?

[Raymo853]

Based on my MTB ride Wednesday and my road ride today, there are nearly no bikes with gears on them in State College. Yesterday I saw five other riders, four on SS MTBs and one on a SS cross bike. On the road today I saw four other riders, three of them on either fixie or SS bikes.

[WAM]

It's a plot, developed by the people at Surly to try and draw you to the dark side.

See ya on the trails soon!

[Andy in Wi]

YOU BLEW IT UP! DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!

(PS-there are still shifting bikes out there. But derailers don't break off of SS bikes)
-WiBA

[striker]

Whish I was there... I can only imagine.

A nice, quainte college town, with cool folks, trendy coffee shops and cool bars with tons of people riding SS.

[quazar76]

I am in the process of converting a bike to a singlespeed but its only so I have something to ride until all of the broken parts on my MTB get warranteed.

Gears in western Pa kick ass, and for the big climbs there's just no comparison. If I rode a singlespeed all the time I'd inevitably have to walk up some steeps and that ain't no fun is it?

21 speed, 24 speed, 8 speed...and away we go!

[WAM]

To each his own, but I believe the climbs are generally a lot longer with more elevation gain out here in the State College area than around the burgh. You would be amazed at what an adaptive engine a bicycle has when you remove all those gears.

Either way, its good you're giving it a try. Most people I know who've given it a try have stuck with it and it has become their primary ride.

[Raymo853]

I am trying it, I got a fixed road bike that I want to convert to SS just for town rides, fixed is just not for me. I just put together a SS MTB this week, have yet to take it for a good ride. Assume I'll be converted partway, probably have a SS rigid and a dual squishy shifty bike.

There aren't any good bars or coffee shops in this town.

[hairygrump]

Your time is at an end, gear-shifter!

Join us or join the legions of your dead.

[blink, blink]

Did you guys just hear something? Where am I?

[sworksxxx]

Originally posted by Raymo853
have a SS rigid and a dual squishy shifty bike.


I'm still riding a squish gearie for the stuff I can't handle on the SS yet. I just got the gearing right for one of my favoirite local rides, it's kinda sad to see my "other" bike sitting all alone in the living room. The SS hardly ever leaves the truck, always ready to go. It's like a drug, once it hits your veins, it's hard as hell to quit. Who got me started in this madness anyway?

[i8urbrain]

I keep telling people that mountain bike that gears are a fad. There are a few true-beilvers out there. Thanks goes to Scott Hansen for teaching me that derailurs are not a necessary part of your bike. All that extra weight on your mountain bike is mostly bad. All we have to do is wait for a supper squishy SS. The Kona A is just not worth it. I hope that Bianchi, makes my dream come true. They made the last on come threw with a SS disk bike and no silly heavy BB. I love my single and the Gunnar Track. Fixed in the mountains is the next goal, but I have to bunny hop my fixie better first.

[Raymo853]

My Saturday ride confirmed a SS will never be my primary ride. SS are fine when the route, distance, weather, and your mental state are known and static.

I planned a nice 60 mile long 70% fireroad 20% double track 10% singletrack ride. I planned to get two Cokes from vending machines at a local park, Greenwood Furnace, at the halfway mark but the machines were no longer there.

I ran out of sugars at about the 40 mile mark. Two Cliff bars, 8 Fig Newtons and one super strong bottle of Gatorade was not enough. I struggled even with my very low gears to get over the last two hills (Thickhead and Bear Meadows) All I could think while spinning a 22X24, 28 or 32 on those hills was what would I do if I had a 32*17 as my only option.

[Andy in Wi]

If you had 32:17 as the only option, well, you would probably stand right up and pedal that beast up the hill. And when you couldn't do that you'd walk. Remember, shifting equipment saps some of the energy, and a single with a good chainline and tough chain can just be stomped on until it makes it up.
-Andy

[mtnsparky]

The SSWC '02 had plenty of climbing- 6500', distance- 36 miles and elevation- 9000' give or take a little. From Travis Brown to the also rans, we mashed, spun, walked, survived and grined our way to the finish. You can do it grasshopper