|   A peek into the singlespeed brain... | Flanders
Apr 22, 2002 9:03 AM | | Please forgive me if you've already read this, or just don't care, but I thought I could add some perspective to the singlespeed discussion. I posted it as a reply to a thread about a week ago, off the current page, and it kinda slipped under the radar. It's a little wordy, so I might have to break it up due to that pesky truncation thing (what's up with that?), but here goes:
"Why geared bikes are a JOKE!" Of course I don't think geared bikes are a joke. It is rather easy to pigeonhole a person by a few statements though, isn't it? I've enjoyed reading the SS related rantings and musings over the past few days, and wanted to add to the din. Not that what I say will have any earth-changing effect; it just makes me feel good to express my point of view. Biking Viking, I think you must feel pretty misunderstood, but you have to concede that some of your statements were a little inflammatory. Of course you're right, that a rider who is fast on a course on a singlespeed bike *should* be as fast, if not |
| re: A peek into the singlespeed brain...continued | Flanders
Apr 22, 2002 9:05 AM | | faster, on a geared bike. The added friction probably would never be noticed by anyone I know. However, as this whole thread has shown, we are definitely thinking and feeling beings. I don't ride because the technology is efficient. I don't even ride (usually) to get from point A to point B. Good grief, I'm usually just going around in loops of varying size and shape, only to end up back at the same spot, dirty and tired, faced with the task of cleaning the bike again. How efficient is that? My point is that riding is, at its root, something we do (most often) for how it makes us FEEL. There are several ways that our brains and emotions interact with the riding experience, which are just as powerful and important as the physical factors, such as bike weight and body fat and aerobic threshold. I get pleasure from riding my singlespeed Surly. I enjoy riding it more than my gearie, which cost WAY more. I almost always go faster on the Surly. Is that because the bike is technologically better, or a more |
| re: A peek into the singlespeed brain...continued | Flanders
Apr 22, 2002 9:08 AM | | efficient method of propulsion? Heck no! Logic says that I should be able to go MUCH faster, and MUCH farther on the Ibis, which should result in MUCH more fun. But it's not so. I can only speak for myself, but I wouldn't be surprised to be supported by other SS'ers on this: I push harder on the SS because I have to. It's a level I didn't know I could maintain. When I get back on the Ibis, I know now that I can ride at that level, but I JUST DON'T DO IT, even when racing. Yes, that's operator "error." But without ever having ridden a singlespeed, one has no concept of the difference it makes in the effort one is
capable of. Physically and mentally. It amazes me, and frustrates me, that I'm slower on the geared bike. Why can't I push as hard on it? Why do I always shift down, when I'd be up the hill by now on the SS? Why do people I beat on the SS beat me when I'm on the gearie? Pain is subjective. I daresay that our perception of our bodies' capabilities at a given moment is also subjective, |
| re: A peek into the singlespeed brain...continued | Flanders
Apr 22, 2002 9:12 AM | | and I'd guess usually wrong by a long shot. I'm no biologist, but doesn't the body release endorphines to combat pain and increase performance in times of stress? I'd guess that this is one of the factors pushing me up the hill on my SS. I'm totally in the zone. When riding alone, I'm proving to myself that I can do it again, maybe faster, maybe with more grace. I'm proving to the hill that it's my plaything. When riding with others (read: "against"; I'm pretty competitive), I'm testing my abilities against those of others, with or without gears. Make no mistake, singlespeeders feel a huge rush of endorphines when outperforming a rider with gears. It's a victory against odds, with less technology. The underdog's victory is always sweetest. I often growl audibly when climbing atough hill on the SS, and proclaim my victory at the top, Toolman style! I ride because of these feelings. The singlespeed gives them to me more often, and in a purer form. That's why people say their singlespeeds are faster. |
| re: A peek into the singlespeed brain...the end | Flanders
Apr 22, 2002 9:15 AM | | I don't care to recruit more singlespeeders. Being misunderstood adds exclusivity to our clan, and breeds a sense of pride and accomplishment. This is going to show itself as bad attitude once in a while; sorry about that. I don't try to get my friends to all build and ride singlespeeds, but when they ask me about mine, I can't hide the pride and joy. I do enjoy hearing about others' shared love for riding, and singlespeeding has re-awakened that love in many riders. SS'ing probably isn't for everyone, but Biking Viking, if you ever do spend some time on one, come on over to the Singlespeed page and let us know. I'm sure we'd love to hear your impressions!
See ya, I'm going riding. |
| That's sort of what I said... | Carl Mega
Apr 22, 2002 10:29 AM | | you know "human factor" and all...but I did it in less than 4 messages. ;-).
cheers. |
| re: Shut-up Flanders. :P | Code
Apr 22, 2002 9:18 AM | | Sorry, just couldn't help it... Had nothing to do with your post there...
Regards,
-Code |
| That's Stupid Sexy Flanders to you! nm | Flanders
Apr 22, 2002 9:25 AM | | nm |
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