When building up the Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross, I stripped the Van Dessel WTF 853 and used the drivetrain, wheels and seatpost. Xavier at Action Bikes and Outdoor in Milford, built up the Monstercross and converted the Van Dessel to single speed for me.

I was not sure how my body would react to pedaling without gears. I mean, why would anyone want to ride with one gear when 11, 12 and even 13 speeds are the modern norm? There are several answers, but I think most riders will tell you: simplicity. While I agree that is a good enough reason to shed gears, for me, adding a new wrinkle to spice things up a bit was all it took.

After a few rides, I’m starting to get a good feel for whether or not the 42/20 setup will work for me. I am getting up the bigger hills, but at what cost? Can I sustain this for 40-50 miles? Anything beyond that will be on a geared bike.

That said, I look forward to integrating the single speed into my daily rides as I’m sure it will help my fitness and add strength, allowing for more comfortable journeys.

What’s playing? (what am I listening to while writing or what’s dancing around n my head while riding) – today – The Pretenders – Middle of the Road