Post by Richard on Oct 23, 2015 14:26:48 GMT
I'm really enjoying commuting singlespeed at the moment.
I'm riding 50:17 which is about 77.4 GI. I was planning on 50:18 but I couldn't get the chain the right length even with a chain tensioner, required cos I've converted a geared bike with vertical dropouts. The only way was to make the rear cog smaller and allowed the perfect chain length. An Andel S*rly 17T cog from Velosolo sorted that out
I have to say that after 8 years commuting in various guises but always on geared bikes it's given me a new lease of life. It's only been a week but I'm really enjoying learning to spin quicker (which was always a weakness of mine, I had a really slow cadence before).
I'm also hoping it will make me stronger climbing hills and given that I'd plateau'd in terms of average speed hoping for an increase here too when I get back on the geared road bike.
I had a glorious ride home last night. The weather was mild and even though it wasn't a tailwind I had that feeling of invincibility that a tailwind gives you.
What's more I hit green on every single traffic light from Elephant & Castle all the way to Balham. That is some feat, I (and other CS7 commuters) can tell you. I even made it through the dreaded Stockwell light combo (three sets of traffic lights followed by a light controlled pedestrian crossing ) that normally catch everyone out, me included.
I was racing some guy who was pretty fast. I was quicker off a standing start on my singlespeed but his geared bike meant that he could power past me as he went up the gear range. But I kept overtaking him through a combination of better filtering and acceleration at key parts.
In the end he gave up and decided to draft me (holds hand up to forehead in 'L' shape) and he followed me for miles. Every time I shoulder checked there he was on my six.
I'm not particularly fussed by drafters, I take it as a compliment and let him sit there until he turned off. He didn't even acknowledge me though - strange.
Getting towards the end of my journey I pulled up behind a regular that i recognise from multiple commutes. Flat barred, short guy with a flapping jacket who always pees me off by going past me (I usually justify it to myself by thinking that I'm at the fag end of an 18 mile commute and he must be on a shorter commute and therefore fresher).
But not tonight sunshine, oh no. I went past him briefly but he rushed back past me immediately. Game on.
I decided to sit behind him for a while and let him wear himself out. He knew I was there and I could see him putting more power down but the power of the draft was equal to it.
The only thing I was worried about was the 50:17 singlespeed gearing that I've only been riding for a week. Would I be able to make a pass stick or would i have to give up in shame as I span out? Careful selection of the road ahead gained through eight years of commuting knowledge and experience let me pick my spot and after a quick shoulder check I casually pulled out to the right and put the power down.
I passed him with ease but now the game began. A gentle downhill slope and I span faster and faster to the point where I normally spin out but I kept on pushing. I knew it was only a short slope and as it levelled out I could keep the power coming through.
a set of green lights again (praise be) and I was through and left him for dead. Another green at my usual turn off and that was it. Success.
Oh and it was nice to see 10 cups on Strava. Considering that I've ridden this route almost 1,000 times over the last 8 years (although only the last three are on Strava) that's proof that I was definitely in the zone last night.
I'm riding 50:17 which is about 77.4 GI. I was planning on 50:18 but I couldn't get the chain the right length even with a chain tensioner, required cos I've converted a geared bike with vertical dropouts. The only way was to make the rear cog smaller and allowed the perfect chain length. An Andel S*rly 17T cog from Velosolo sorted that out
I have to say that after 8 years commuting in various guises but always on geared bikes it's given me a new lease of life. It's only been a week but I'm really enjoying learning to spin quicker (which was always a weakness of mine, I had a really slow cadence before).
I'm also hoping it will make me stronger climbing hills and given that I'd plateau'd in terms of average speed hoping for an increase here too when I get back on the geared road bike.
I had a glorious ride home last night. The weather was mild and even though it wasn't a tailwind I had that feeling of invincibility that a tailwind gives you.
What's more I hit green on every single traffic light from Elephant & Castle all the way to Balham. That is some feat, I (and other CS7 commuters) can tell you. I even made it through the dreaded Stockwell light combo (three sets of traffic lights followed by a light controlled pedestrian crossing ) that normally catch everyone out, me included.
I was racing some guy who was pretty fast. I was quicker off a standing start on my singlespeed but his geared bike meant that he could power past me as he went up the gear range. But I kept overtaking him through a combination of better filtering and acceleration at key parts.
In the end he gave up and decided to draft me (holds hand up to forehead in 'L' shape) and he followed me for miles. Every time I shoulder checked there he was on my six.
I'm not particularly fussed by drafters, I take it as a compliment and let him sit there until he turned off. He didn't even acknowledge me though - strange.
Getting towards the end of my journey I pulled up behind a regular that i recognise from multiple commutes. Flat barred, short guy with a flapping jacket who always pees me off by going past me (I usually justify it to myself by thinking that I'm at the fag end of an 18 mile commute and he must be on a shorter commute and therefore fresher).
But not tonight sunshine, oh no. I went past him briefly but he rushed back past me immediately. Game on.
I decided to sit behind him for a while and let him wear himself out. He knew I was there and I could see him putting more power down but the power of the draft was equal to it.
The only thing I was worried about was the 50:17 singlespeed gearing that I've only been riding for a week. Would I be able to make a pass stick or would i have to give up in shame as I span out? Careful selection of the road ahead gained through eight years of commuting knowledge and experience let me pick my spot and after a quick shoulder check I casually pulled out to the right and put the power down.
I passed him with ease but now the game began. A gentle downhill slope and I span faster and faster to the point where I normally spin out but I kept on pushing. I knew it was only a short slope and as it levelled out I could keep the power coming through.
a set of green lights again (praise be) and I was through and left him for dead. Another green at my usual turn off and that was it. Success.
Oh and it was nice to see 10 cups on Strava. Considering that I've ridden this route almost 1,000 times over the last 8 years (although only the last three are on Strava) that's proof that I was definitely in the zone last night.