After a bit of trouble finishing my single speed bike, I got to take it out for a ride today at Valley Forge. The trails there are a bit more mellow and without much climbing, making for a good testing ground. The bike rode great; it seems I got out all the kinks in the build process!
Single speed riding is a different feel, and the simplicity actually helped my riding skill a bit. Without any gears to mess with, I was free to focus on just pedaling hard to get up climbs and over obstacles. The hardtail was also more precise than my full-suspension bike, and perhaps a hair faster overall on this smoother terrain. It also brought back the forgotten sense of power that comes with pedaling out of the saddle and not losing any of it into the suspension.
I walked a few bits, but my only other complaint was feeling the bumps in my back a bit more. Mike’s recommendation of 32/18 gearing was a good call; it woke up my legs without killing them. Overall, it was a fun experience, and I’ll definitely be trying out some more trails on it.
