Where Do You SS?

"f4ichuck" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

OK, I've been reading about a lot of SS stories and heated opinions in
this NG. I also wanted a SS before I started reading this NG. But, there's
no way that it would be feasible where I live. There's too many steep-ass
climbs and fast downhills in the East Bay (N. Cal.) I've never seen an SS
on one of my rides.

Is this a Zen or a performance thing?

I consider my rides high-performance rides that average 9 MPH+ over 14
miles of hilly terrain with a top speed of 39 MPH. I'm guessing, but it
seems that I would never equal that on a SS bike.

Any N. Cal. SS riders out there?

-Chuck

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I SS in Orange County, CA and I have lived in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties.
For me it is the Zen thing. Yes there are hills too steep and long for me
to climb without a geared bike but not that many. I would not think twice
about SSing in the East Bay. Now on a trip to the Sierra Nevada's would be
another story. Down here all the local coastal foothills are not a problem
but when I get into the Santa Ana, San Gabriel or San Bernardino Mountains
the climbs are way too long for me to SS. But there are people that do it
without a problem. Try it before you pass judgment. Trying to get up those
hills that you think you will not be able to make will make you a stronger
rider. I have enjoyed the new challenge for doing technical uphills while
out of the saddle.

f4ichuck said:

OK, I've been reading about a lot of SS stories and heated opinions in this NG. I also wanted a SS before I started reading this NG. But, there's no way that it would be feasible where I live. There's too many steep-ass climbs and fast downhills in the East Bay (N. Cal.) I've never seen an SS on one of my rides.

Is this a Zen or a performance thing?

I consider my rides high-performance rides that average 9 MPH+ over 14 miles of hilly terrain with a top speed of 39 MPH. I'm guessing, but it seems that I would never equal that on a SS bike.

Any N. Cal. SS riders out there?

-Chuck

This article is posted by A4Pocket Newsreader from Pocket PC. View http://www.a4pocket.com for detail.

New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Deleware. Most places are fine for it
(not too steep or long). I basically know what to expect at the places
I ride and plan the bike I bring accordingly. Titus for Blue Marsh and
similar fast rolling hills, Ellsworth for Poconos and techie related
trails, and SS for just about everything else now.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

f4ichuck said:

OK, I've been reading about a lot of SS stories and heated opinions

in this NG. I also wanted a SS before I started reading this NG. But,
there's no way that it would be feasible where I live. There's too many
steep-ass climbs and fast downhills in the East Bay (N. Cal.) I've
never seen an SS on one of my rides.

Quoted message said:

Is this a Zen or a performance thing?

I consider my rides high-performance rides that average 9 MPH+ over

14 miles of hilly terrain with a top speed of 39 MPH. I'm guessing, but
it seems that I would never equal that on a SS bike.

Quoted message said:

Any N. Cal. SS riders out there?

-Chuck

My brother used to live and ride in East Bay and rode his Spot SS all
over. In fact, I visited him with my SS and rode a few places with
him, not maving much trouble at all with the climbs.

I ride my SS anywhere I wish to ride it. Sure, in some higher locales
I have to do a little pushing here and there, as well a hills that are
both steep and loose. Don't tell me you never had to push your geared
bike up a hill that was steep and/or loose.

As far as SoCal goes, I've ridden my SS all over. Yesterday I took a
jaunt in the Santa Anas and had to push a few of the steeper sections
and still had a great ride, despite the SPF 30 smog and one of "those
days" where my legs felt like two lead ingots.

Some might argue your notion that a 9mph average is "high-performance".
Also, 39mph on a rigid singlespeed is far from mythical.

JD

"f4ichuck" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

OK, I've been reading about a lot of SS stories and heated opinions in
this NG. I also wanted a SS before I started reading this NG. But, there's
no way that it would be feasible where I live. There's too many steep-ass
climbs and fast downhills in the East Bay (N. Cal.) I've never seen an SS
on one of my rides.

Is this a Zen or a performance thing?

I consider my rides high-performance rides that average 9 MPH+ over 14
miles of hilly terrain with a top speed of 39 MPH. I'm guessing, but it
seems that I would never equal that on a SS bike.

Any N. Cal. SS riders out there?

-Chuck

This article is posted by A4Pocket Newsreader from Pocket PC. View
http://www.a4pocket.com for detail.

Our hills around here are "fairly" steep, and there are lots of
singlespeeders. The bike's more efficient, usually lighter, you use more
upper body, and you learn how to make it happen. You can start with an easy
ratio, too. Or go back to 27 spds, I guess...

CDB

On Fri, 11 Mar 2005 06:20:57 -0800, f4ichuck wrote
(in article <[email hidden]>😉:

Quoted message said:

OK, I've been reading about a lot of SS stories and heated opinions in this
NG. I also wanted a SS before I started reading this NG. But, there's no way
that it would be feasible where I live. There's too many steep-ass climbs and

Quoted message said:

fast downhills in the East Bay (N. Cal.) I've never seen an SS on one of my
rides.

Is this a Zen or a performance thing?

I consider my rides high-performance rides that average 9 MPH+ over 14 miles
of hilly terrain with a top speed of 39 MPH. I'm guessing, but it seems that
I would never equal that on a SS bike.

Any N. Cal. SS riders out there?

-Chuck

This article is posted by A4Pocket Newsreader from Pocket PC. View
http://www.a4pocket.com for detail.

Both Tamarancho and China Camp in Marin are middle ring rides for me, I think
a single speed would be fun at either place. Where in the East Bay do you
ride? The fire roads of Tilden, Wildcat, Redwood and Chabot could for the
most part be ridden on a ss. There would be some hike a bike but from what
the aficionados say thats part of the charm.

Paul- Albany

f4ichuck said:

OK, I've been reading about a lot of SS stories and heated opinions in this NG. I also wanted a SS before I started reading this NG. But, there's no way that it would be feasible where I live. There's too many steep-ass climbs and fast downhills in the East Bay (N. Cal.) I've never seen an SS on one of my rides.

Is this a Zen or a performance thing?

I consider my rides high-performance rides that average 9 MPH+ over 14 miles of hilly terrain with a top speed of 39 MPH. I'm guessing, but it seems that I would never equal that on a SS bike.

Any N. Cal. SS riders out there?

-Chuck

I've ridden the SS on all the same trails that I ride my
geared pig on, including Squaw Creek which is a STEEP A$$
climb (averages 10% grade for 6 miles). I definitely walked
a bit, but I got there.

The main difference I find is that I cannot ride for as long
on the single. Meaning if I want to do some serious 'Back
Country' type of riding (5+ hours, more than 3k vert) I
cannot take the SS, but for just about everything else I
find it fun.

I am going to try and singlespeed exclusively this year.

G

In message <[email hidden]>, pauly <[email hidden]> wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

Both Tamarancho and China Camp in Marin are middle ring rides for me, I think
a single speed would be fun at either place. Where in the East Bay do you
ride? The fire roads of Tilden, Wildcat, Redwood and Chabot could for the
most part be ridden on a ss. There would be some hike a bike but from what
the aficionados say thats part of the charm.

Paul- Albany

Hi Paul,

That's where I ride. mostly at Redwood or Chabot. There's a couple places at Redwood and Joaquin Miller, that that I've had to hike.

Maybe I'll turn my old steel rigid Rockhopper Comp into a SS. I saw a reasonable rear gear conversion kit. I love that bike and rode it until about 6 Months ago. Now that's a bike that got no respect when I met new riders. Until we got on the trail...

-Chuck
San Leandro

This article is posted by A4Pocket Newsreader from Pocket PC. View http://www.a4pocket.com for detail.

Gman said:

f4ichuck said:

OK, I've been reading about a lot of SS stories and heated opinions in this NG. I also wanted a SS before I started reading this NG. But, there's no way that it would be feasible where I live. There's too many steep-ass climbs and fast downhills in the East Bay (N. Cal.) I've never seen an SS on one of my rides.

Is this a Zen or a performance thing?

I consider my rides high-performance rides that average 9 MPH+ over 14 miles of hilly terrain with a top speed of 39 MPH. I'm guessing, but it seems that I would never equal that on a SS bike.

Any N. Cal. SS riders out there?

-Chuck

I've ridden the SS on all the same trails that I ride my
geared pig on, including Squaw Creek which is a STEEP A$$
climb (averages 10% grade for 6 miles). I definitely walked
a bit, but I got there.

The main difference I find is that I cannot ride for as long
on the single. Meaning if I want to do some serious 'Back
Country' type of riding (5+ hours, more than 3k vert) I
cannot take the SS, but for just about everything else I
find it fun.

I am going to try and singlespeed exclusively this year.

G

Is it the vertical up or down that makes it rough on such a long ride.
I would think it's the down that would be the pain in the ass. You go
through all that pain to reach the apex and then spin like a hamster and
go nowhere on the way down. I find that I like having the gears when I
want satisfaction for my long climb.

Going SSing tomorrow at Pennypack which is the perfect place for it.
Good fun hardpack ST with short steeps and long flats.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

Ride-A-Lot said:

Is it the vertical up or down that makes it rough on such a long ride.
I would think it's the down that would be the pain in the ass. You go
through all that pain to reach the apex and then spin like a hamster and
go nowhere on the way down. I find that I like having the gears when I
want satisfaction for my long climb.

On the way down around here I don't usually have to pedal so
it's not much of a concern. The hills are steep enough that
I'm on the brakes more than the gas.

G

Gman said:

Ride-A-Lot said:

Is it the vertical up or down that makes it rough on such a long ride.
I would think it's the down that would be the pain in the ass. You go
through all that pain to reach the apex and then spin like a hamster and
go nowhere on the way down. I find that I like having the gears when I
want satisfaction for my long climb.

On the way down around here I don't usually have to pedal so
it's not much of a concern. The hills are steep enough that
I'm on the brakes more than the gas.

G

Lucky you. Not so around here 🙁.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws