Metro Perspective...

People often ask "why" when someone mentions using a singlespeed (SS) or a fixie (singlespeed bike w/out the ability to coast) and usually it's dismissed by others around as a "crazy thought," a "fad," or "someone just trying to be different."

I usually will argue that it's about the simplicity of simply riding, but here Metro took it deeper. A clear next level incite to why so many of us long to ride without gears, suspension or all of the above.

This came out of this post.

But that’s the first step of addiction. It’s a gateway bike part, you start with free wheelin’ and that leads to wanting to try new things like gears, then before you know it you’ve blown all your money on derailleurs, cassettes, big rings, little rings and shifty bits. If that wasn’t bad enough you will finally find yourself off the deep end one day living in a trailer park but happy that all you have left in life (and all that you need) is your full suspension bike. That’s the way the mind of a junkie works. If you get “lucky” you might find yourself a high roller or drug dealer (rather than a blue collar tweaker) that can afford to live the good life and indulge in fancy things like Carbon and Titanium. Then my friend you might be fooled into thinking you are on top of the word with your high end full-suspension all carbon fiber 19 pound, 27 geared, all Ti bolts and aluminum rotors high zoot mountain bike that practically rides it’s self. But you my friend are wrong.

I was just talking to someone a few weeks ago that was riding a very nice looking very expensive bike. I ask him how he liked the bike and he said “the bike rides it’s self I just sit on top and pedal, I don’t even have to think about line choice as the suspension lets me roll over anything. I think 5” of travel is perfect for the local (JRPS, Poor Farm, PSP) trails.

Being polite I told him “good to hear, she’s a beauty, have a nice ride today.” But in my mind I was thinking, I can go to the gym and sit atop a stationary bike and “just pedal w/o thinking.” As a matter of fact that’s the only way that I can stand to ride a bike indoors! I come to the trails for the experience. I like to interact and be in control (or at least feel in control of the situation). I like to know how hard I can lean into a corner before my tire breaks loose or what the easy and hard lines are through a tricky section. I like to know that there is a rock drop/jump up ahead that I can’t quite make yet but one day I will practice it enough to do it with style and make someone else who can’t do it say WOW the way I say it when I see someone do it now.

I like riding my bike to be like a relationship with a girlfriend/boyfriend. There should be a lot of hands on stuff and a lot of action. Some uncertainty is necessary and the payout is always a good feeling.

Others apparently view riding their bike as some view their marriage. They just sit back and put in just enough effort to keep the thing rolling not really knowing exactly how to get through a certain rough time other than to just hold on and trust that instinct and love (suspension) will pull them through unharmed. It’s a very passive game of pleasure.

Think about the crazy stuff you did when you were dating verses the stuff you do (or did) while married. That’s kind of how I view biking. At the end of the day though ride what ever gets you off!