"Dark, have been my dreams of late"

"Dark, have been my dreams of late" - King Theoden, Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers.

The Dark Side that is singlespeeding has been working its way into my thoughts whenever I think of long bike rides. For instance, the WRIAD; White Rim In A Day. It is a ride that means a long day in the saddle in the wilds near Moab, Utah. I would like to do that someday and it makes little sense to do that on a hardtail SS when I have a multi geared FS in the garage. So, why then, when I think of this type of ride do I envision it being done on an SS?

I think some of it may be romantic delusion cuz the reality is that I am no where near as fit and young as most of the SS riders who are doing long rides across the country. But, even though I know it would hurt...a...lot...it still fires me up to do it that way.

What is the deal?

For some reason I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction standing and pedaling that rolling stairmaster from hell, a satisfaction that I do not quite get on the FS. It is perplexing, is it not?

Yesterday I was riding a steep section of trail near me and I passed two riders at the beginning of the climb. Sections are ride able SS and others are granny ring, nose of the saddle steep, so that meant pushing. I would pull away from the geared rider and then get reeled back in on the uber steeps. At one point we rode side by side. He looked over and commented on the SS, saying that he had tried that and it was not for him. "I understood", I said and then pedaled up the trail, dropping him on the next climb. It sure felt good to do that.

I bet his dreams are different than mine.

Race Across The Sky

Last night I went to the special showing of Race Across The Sky, the documentary of the Leadville 100 mtn bike race. The theater was filled with bike freaks from my area, many of them I knew, some I did not, but the experience was pretty cool.

It was very Lance focused, but give him his due...he is an amazing cyclist and has a hammer for a motor and the will to use it hard against anyone or anything that gets in his way. If it was not for Lance, I wonder if the film would have even been made? Likely not, and even if it had been, it will be watched by more non-bikie folks cuz the Lance factor is there.

But ya gotta pull for Dave W. I met him once and he was just the nicest down to earth guy. I can totally see goin' for a ride with Dave (as long as he waits for me). The part where he crests the top of the long, cold climb, hits the turn around point and thanks the volunteers who are there in all that ugly, cold, nasty weather....that is character. Character always will out, good or bad.

Something I noticed...Lance wins the race to the cheers of the crowd, finishing the last few miles on a rear flat. Post finish line, he is whisked away by his 'people' and others, security folks, etc. to some trailer somewhere. Dave crosses the line in second place and is greeted by his family...wife, kids...all on camera. I like Dave's ending better.

I would have liked to have seen more historical footage and seen more from the guys like Tinker, but the stories from the 'average' guys and gals were touching and inspiring. All in all it was well worth it and I will be sure to add it to my library alongside stuff like 24 Solo and Seasons.

Makes ya want to ride.

I am so glad I am a mtn biker. I am glad I like to do hard things. I am glad I know and have known lots of great folks that feel the same way. Cycling rocks.

Hubba Hubba

Some new SS wheels are in the making and these are the centerpiece (literally) of the new hoops. Suave, no?

Congrats to the 24Hr SS Solo National champs, Dave and Lynda of Team 2 Epic. Good people, great riders, true winners. Proud to know ya' both.