A line in the sand…
I’ve been riding single speed mountain bikes for over 10 years now. Long enough to forget why I really started. I’m assuming it had something to do with my contrarian nature, or maybe it just seemed like a good idea at the time. For the whole length of that time, I have run a 2:1 gear, 34:17. I even have an email address ending in 3417. I have recently changed it, not by much though, but minimal change can still feel like a big idea. I always figured if I were no longer strong enough to push my 34:17 around, it would be time to get a geared bike, or hang it up altogether.
I crossed that line in the sand. Regardless of the fact that it was a very sensible thing to do, it was still a huge mental shift for me, a new paradigm. It feels like I’m finally acknowledging the fact that a different approach to problems can be beneficial. So, I’ve embraced change and realised that riding in steep alpine environments (Mt Buller) and the fact that I no longer ride for a living or race terribly often, my approach needed some tweaking. So now I’m hitting the hills with my 34:18 and whooping it up. I almost feel new again.
The Bike Buller Festival was awesome. While I didn’t race, I had a ball with numerous social rides that went from leisurely to hurt on some of the best trails short of a plane ride. There were over 650 racer types tackling the 3 stage event that had a Super D, enduro and short course.
I was on staff again as race support for the Fitzroy Revolution team. With the extended crew on hand hanging out on the mountain, I was looking after the racers and the rest of the riding family in the afternoons. I highly recommend getting to Buller for the long weekend next year. For me, as busy as the weekend was between riding and treating, I loved it. I’m looking forward to next year already.
My spark has been lit again and I’ve been out doing time on the bike again. First race up is the Duael. I’m racing, err participating with my old mate Dano of Shifterbikes fame. Should be fun, maybe. Having found comfort in solo 8 hour racing, I can hardly think of anything worse than punching out 20 min hot laps on and off for 6 hours. It’s really going to hurt.
I also dragged out my cross bike today too. It took a while to get back from Italy on the boat, but she’s back on the road again. Super excited about the upcoming Gravel Grinder events. In an attempt to get some big k’s back in the legs, there’s every chance I will be riding out and back for these rides.
There are as many great rides out there as I have crazy ideas. Get amongst it. Homework done, time to get back to work.