Issue link: https://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25248
IN THE WORLD OF VELO-RELATIONSH RECONSIDER MONOGAMY. SINGLESPEEDS OFFER THE ONLY GEAR YOU'LL EVER NEED. TEXT: ROB REED If you've ever found yourself mountain biking uphill, shifting in vain, looking for that . .. one ... more ... gear easier than the easiest one you're already in, the notion of riding a singlespeed might seem to run counter to everything you've struggled to achieve. But there is method to the madness. Singlespeeds represent the bicycle as pure form: frame, wheels, bars, pedals. Nixed are the shifters, derailleurs, half of the chain, and any associated cables and housing-it's back to the 196os-era cruiser that predated mountain bikes altogether. But fast forward to the here-and-now and history meets technology. The frames might still be classic diamond shapes, but they're fash- ioned from lightweight steel, aluminum, or titanium. Supporting the solitary gear are singlespeed-specific cranks and hubs. Hydraulic disc brakes are increasingly more commonplace, and though purists hold true to rigid roots, suspension forks typically round out the high-tech spec. To further adapt bikes to the demands of sin- glespeed riding, subtle tweaks are made, such as wide handlebars and long cranks for greater pedaling torque. Therein lies their simple beauty: Riding a singlespeed is nothing more than pedaling. With only one gear, there are no choices to be made. By eliminating the rest of the gears and related equipment, a bike becomes lighter and more efficient. Save ten pounds of bike weight and, in the process, more precious ped- aling energy is transferred to the rear wheel. Without the mental clutter of "upshift, downshift, what-gear-am-I-in?" climbs can be attacked with pure focus, using momentum and power in ways not practical on a multigeared bike. Not to mention freeing your mind for more salient thoughts, such as the spacio-temporallimits of the universe or what to have for dinner. Is it any easier? The simple answer is no. Singlespeeds are the telemark skiing of mountain biking: more simple, albeit more challenging, more soulful albeit more intense. Going down- hill, singlespeeds recall the days of riding beach cruisers or BMX bikes down the biggest around. With pedals spun to terminal veloc- ity, it's all about the coast. What's left is the sweet pull of gravity. Whereas the mountain bike descent was formerly a cacophonous melee of gears, chain, and frame clanging together over rocks and ruts like a pots-and-pans band, the euphonic singlespeed descent is about uncluttered freedom. Singlespeeding is like learning to ride again, but it's worth the effort. -- --.......,.---....,..._., ... ---- ------- --------------_ ....... The lFG represents the fi rst of Cannondale's own HeadShok suspension, complete with on-the-fly lockout, and its high-end "Optimo" tubing. Add disc brakes, and this is one simple, high-tech mountain bike. Cannondale, www.cannondale.com. $1,500 60