Looking for "Chain-slap" solution...

On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 06:39:58 -0500, Dan Volker wrote:

So far this idea that someone on a SS rigid bike can smoke the hard tail
riders with gears, sounds like an 'Urban Legend", the kind of thing that
spreads well on a NG, because no one ever has to back up ANYTHING they say
in real life.

Show me ONE "urban legend" that is based on first-hand experience by a
significant number of people who are regulars on a newsgroup. And as far
as not being willing to back up what they say, I do believe you've
received the invitation to come to their backyard to be humbled. I have no
doubt that JD would be willing to do it just for the sheer entertainment
value, but he's probably not going to go too far out of his way for such
nonsense!

Even though Florida is not my idea of good mountain biking, you'd think if
ss bikers were so impressive, you'd see at least a few here....

No one is saying that SS bikers are "so impressive". Certainly they can be
particularly lame, just as multi-geared bikers can be lame. If they spend
their whole life riding on trails where the biggest climb is a couple
hundred feet, they will probably always be lame.

But it stands to reason that when a few guys get to the point that they
frequently ride SS bikes on trails with several-thousand-foot gain at
altitudes of well over a mile up, these guys are going to be smoking the
rest of us when the get down to our altitude and ride trails with a mere
one or two thousand feet of elevation gains.

It also stands to reason that they'd have little interest in riding trails
in Florida, and the fact that you haven't seen them there is not exactly
surprising.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

"S o r n i" wrote in message ...
Dan Volker wrote:
This whole thread is completely blowing my mind---the whole certainty
that so many posters on this NG have, that SS's are so competitive. {snip}

At the risk of stating the obvious, Dan, you've been trolled and swallowed
the hook whole.

I beg to differ, Bill. A singlespeed is a viable solution to the
"problem" of chain slap. Dan here decided to shove his foot into his
mouth to the knee and is now suffering the consequences further every
day with his increasingly ludicrous statements. At the rate he's
going, pretty soon he'll be swallowing himself whole.

JD

Dan Volker retorted :
I would love to see first hand, a guy on a SS bike, able to do what
you guys are so certain they can do, on the South Florida trails.
Looking for "real" clues,
Dan V


Last year at the Ouachita Challenge, on the Womble Trail in central
Arkansas (arguably one of the nations finest trails), I had the
pleasure of meeting one Mister Jim Smart. Jimbo rode a fixed gear
cross bike with moustache bars, if I remember correctly, on a 63 mile
timed ride with 2 or 300 riders. He did extremely well, and put many
to shame who thought a lot of themselves. Jim is from Florida. Maybe
I can arrange an interview for you if you like.

Really, what is it we're arguing here? If singlespeed bikes can go
fast? If they can ever go as fast, or faster than geared bikes? If
singlespeeds are fun? If fast riders ever ride singlespeeds? If
anyone ever races singlespeeds? If singlespeeds can keep up with top
riders in a race?

I don't see that you have a case on any of these points, Dan. You say
that anyone can make boasts on a newsgroup, but why would people lie
about what they've seen? Especially people from places with trails a
lot more challenging than those in Florida? I don't think it's worth
arguing whether a "pro" could turn a faster lap on a geared bike or a
singlespeed.

Listen carefully: If any "pro" spent a year on a singlespeed, they
would turn a faster lap on any bike, on any course. (than if they'd
spent that year on a geared bike)

It does that to you. No one is saying it's a technical advantage,
except for the obvious plus of less potential for mechanical failure.
But those who ride singlespeeds become better riders, and learn a
completely new love for the experience of mountain biking. (Please
pause here for that to sink in, or read it again)

One more example of a "top rider" (Norba qualified even!) who will
gladly stand behind the ss experience: Cameron Chambers. Look up his
results in the 24 hrs of Old Pueblo, and last year's 24 Hours of Moab,
and ask him what type of bike he's spent more time on in the last 2
years. Ever heard of Tinker Juarez? Tinker knows who Cameron is now.
Or show up at this year's 12 Miles of Hell in Lawton, OK and see what
happens. I can gladly furnish links to any of the above information
if you'd like.

I hope you meet some singlespeeders soon, Dan. We're not that bad.

(JD) wrote in message . com...
"S o r n i" wrote in message ...
Dan Volker wrote:
This whole thread is completely blowing my mind---the whole certainty
that so many posters on this NG have, that SS's are so competitive. {snip}

At the risk of stating the obvious, Dan, you've been trolled and swallowed
the hook whole.

I beg to differ, Bill. A singlespeed is a viable solution to the
"problem" of chain slap. Dan here decided to shove his foot into his
mouth to the knee and is now suffering the consequences further every
day with his increasingly ludicrous statements. At the rate he's
going, pretty soon he'll be swallowing himself whole.

JD

So what can you really expect from a leg-shaving Roadie trolling along
in territory he's unfamiliar with, but unwilling to admit it? He could
have pulled the toe of his italian gay roadie shoe out early, but like
Jim Belushi used to say, "buut noooooooooo" he had to keep
pontificating and shoving it down his throat. O well, good
entertainment, I like to say.

And for the record, I must agree that SS'ing does increase your bike
handling skills.

paladin

(Paladin) had this to say
m

but like
Jim Belushi used to say, "buut noooooooooo"

Sorry CDB but this is a BLATANT error that has to be corrected. It was John
Belushi famaous line from "Weekend Update" On SNL, not his younger brother
Jim. O.K, now that that's cleared up, carry on.


he had to keep
pontificating and shoving it down his throat. O well, good
entertainment, I like to say.

And for the record, I must agree that SS'ing does increase your bike
handling skills.

paladin

Dave W wrote in message ...
(Paladin) had this to say
m

but like
Jim Belushi used to say, "buut noooooooooo"

Sorry CDB but this is a BLATANT error that has to be corrected. It was John
Belushi famaous line from "Weekend Update" On SNL, not his younger brother
Jim. O.K, now that that's cleared up, carry on.


he had to keep
pontificating and shoving it down his throat. O well, good
entertainment, I like to say.


And for the record, I must agree that SS'ing does increase your bike
handling skills.

paladin


Thank you. I never thought I'd get those two mixed up. Musta been
the SS passion affecting my memory. Or age, or too many crashes,
or...

paladin

"PBnJ" wrote in message
om...

I hope you meet some singlespeeders soon, Dan. We're not that bad.


After looking at all the posts on this, I'm thinking arguing about whether
SS bikes or geared bikes are better is a huge waste of time.
I like mountain biking better than road biking, and I like adding skills as
I go.
I don't know that I'll ever try single speed bikes, but whether I do or not
will not really matter. Getting out on good trails as often as possible does
matter, and for me, this means getting beyond Ocala, to North and South
Carolina, and Georgia, and doing this as often as I can.

Once or twice a year I'll get out West, and sooner or later I'll see one of
these "fabled" SS guys blazing down the trail.
When this happens, and I get to see this first hand, I'll have something
worth contributing to the NG on SS bikes..for now I'm just wasting my time
and everyone else's.

And then again, even if I get to be impressed with SS bikes, I don't know
that I would discuss it again here for more than a single post, since this
whole discussion has had far too much religious zeal on the part of many
from the SS crowd, with the attendant expectation that the "non-believers"
should bow down and kiss their ring.....:-)
I wanted to have mountain biking discussions, and to me, single speed
discussions are just too much of a sub-specialty---kind of like looking for
scuba diving discussions, and having everyone talking about rebreathers
instead---its a subset with a value, but its not the primary topic I would
be looking for.


Regards,
Dan V

On Mon, 23 Feb 2004 15:10:41 -0500, "Dan Volker"
wrote:

And then again, even if I get to be impressed with SS bikes, I don't know
that I would discuss it again here for more than a single post, since this
whole discussion has had far too much religious zeal on the part of many
from the SS crowd, with the attendant expectation that the "non-believers"
should bow down and kiss their ring.....:-)

Equating facts with religious zeal just illustrates the severity of
your ignorance.

"P e t e F a g e r l i n" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 23 Feb 2004 15:10:41 -0500, "Dan Volker"
wrote:

And then again, even if I get to be impressed with SS bikes, I don't
know
that I would discuss it again here for more than a single post, since
this
whole discussion has had far too much religious zeal on the part of many
from the SS crowd, with the attendant expectation that the
"non-believers"
should bow down and kiss their ring.....:-)

Equating facts with religious zeal just illustrates the severity of
your ignorance.

Again, all I was interested in was discussing mountain biking, but instead,
what I get to hear about is the "Evangelical Church of the Single
Speeders"...Speaking of ignorance, you can't possibly believe that everyone
who rides a mountain bike should cherish your "holy grail" the way you do ?
For that matter, if you are aware of this, then why do you feel you have to
push this SS existence on anyone who does not care about SS's.

Even when I get down to my target bodyfat level of around 8 or 9%, and a
weight of about 180 pounds, I am going to be too heavy to enjoy riding a
rigid SS in technical terrain . I rode a rigid Diamond Back bike the first
year hyperglide came out, and a rigid Raleigh two years before that--this
was long before suspension...back in this time period, I was at 175 pounds
and extremely lean, and I was fast on a mountain bike or road bike---but the
rigid bike was no where near as "enjoyable" to me then, as a dual suspension
bike is to me now. Some people really like working and finessing the
trail---I appreciate that, and enjoy it, but I put more emphasis on going
fast. And the bike that lets me do this with the greatest ease, is the bike
I am going to preach about :-)

Dan V

Dan Volker wrote:
"PBnJ" wrote in message
om...


I hope you meet some singlespeeders soon, Dan. We're not that bad.



After looking at all the posts on this, I'm thinking arguing about whether
SS bikes or geared bikes are better is a huge waste of time.
I like mountain biking better than road biking,

From your attitude it doesn't sound like you're mountain biking. It
sounds like you're road biking on a mtn bike.

Greg