Dave W said:Quoted message said:Actually, I agree with this statement. Not necessarily the SS part, but I'm certainly of the
opinion that riding rigid teaches you to be a better rider.
As a hardtail rider, I agree. But I don't think the addition of a front shock makes you
"disregard" finding the right line on a particular section of trail. Probably does on an
FS though.
From what I recall of those days riding rigid, changing to a front fork made a big difference in
what I could get away with.
Apparently there are differing opinions in what is meant by "skills". I suppose it is a "skill" to
know how to hit a hill at the right speed to make it up in one gear, and perhaps its a "skill" to
maintain a cadence to ride as fast on flats as someone who's in a higher gear (though that seems a
bit of a stretch).
Certainly having only one gear means they have to concern themselves with things that the geared
rider doesn't - which is why I don't really buy the "free your mind" bit. They still have to concern
themselves with the technical details of the ride - just different technical details.
In the end, I see that people who have these bikes all seem to ride them a lot and enjoy it (for
whatever reason). If people were buying them and then leaving them in the garage, THAT would be
hype. I don't pretend to understand what the big deal is, but I don't see a reason to ignore the
concensus.
On the other end of the spectrum, I don't see the reason why anyone would feel the need to "sell"
singlespeeding the way Wheeler does. I have missed more riding time from my one stupid attempt at
riding in one gear (resulting in a knee injury that has never fully healed) than I have from any
other thing (except family/work commitments, of course).
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-BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)
