Why SS Cross bikes?
#26
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I'd still wager a bet that the winners of the race were on a geared bike. SS is fun no doubt but to answer the OP's question in regards to a mixed field especially the Pro/1/2 field where everyone is a strong and or talented rider then the geared bike will have a greater advantage. I see people on SS bikes do well in the lower cats but that is just because they are a Pro/1 rider working through the ranks.
#27
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I think the simplicity of it is a big draw for people who are otherwise daunted by the complexity of everything involved to race on the road. For whatever reason, I just enjoy it more.
#28
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I did quite a few races this year. Most races I did both a geared and a SS race. I just took a 3 inch piece of derailleur cable and put it in backwards and chose a gear for the SS races. Since my SS races were usually first and twenty minutes later was my geared race after a while I just kept the SS setup for the geared race instead of changing it up in between. I saw the course on the SS race and adjusted my gear accordingly. I noticed with the SS setup I didn't miss the gears after a few races. Secondly, the SS racers were usually a more relaxed crowd. Field sizes were smaller and they were all around more fun.
That being said I was not in contention in either races and usually finished in the middle somewhere.
Super muddy races like santa cross this year saw a bunch of popped derailleurs and the true SS setups had an advantage as the deep mud never allowed for the speeds to get very high.
That being said I was not in contention in either races and usually finished in the middle somewhere.
Super muddy races like santa cross this year saw a bunch of popped derailleurs and the true SS setups had an advantage as the deep mud never allowed for the speeds to get very high.
#32
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i race both SS and geared and for me I find the SS bike to be much better for getting into shape and learning how to really drive your bike. Since one of the worst features of riding single is having to get back up to speed after losing speed or coming to a stop you end up doing whatever you can to not lose speed which in turn made me a much better bike handler. I also find when you are having a bad race and you are on the single its easier to finish strongly because you dont really have a choice where as on the geared bike you can just shift down to relieve the pain.
With all that said when I am serious about a race or in top form i almost always take the geared bike
With all that said when I am serious about a race or in top form i almost always take the geared bike
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