Today is the first time I’ve cycled to work in Clapham completely on my own. I usually ride half way with the Boyf and more recently with a friend. However with the Boyf out of town and the friend out this evening, I was on my own. I had originally intended to tube it – but given a choice – I would so much rather cycle even if the mental effort of riding on my own seems overwhleming. It was ok, aside from my rash decsion to go via Kings Cross – what a bun fight.
As well as going solo today I also hopped off my single speed and on to my many geared bike. My rationale being that as I am a bit knackered the gears would make it much easier to tackle the hills. Guess what though – turns out to be just as hard if not harder.
It was really nice to whack it into high and take off on the straights, but taking off from lights was actually
slower. There are two reasons for this – I’m never in a low enough gear to really get away fast and my spd’s slow me down because I can’t just stomp onto them like I can on my normal pedals.
I also missed my bull horn bars which really allow you to yank up on them and put some pressure on the bike. It’s tricky also to remember that the brakes are in a different place – and are quite a stretch. Although you would think that more gears would make it easier to get yourself out of the valley that is Crouch end – it so doesn’t. Being in a low low gear just seems like harder work, you pedal and pedal withotu making much progress. The more even handed gearing on the single speed makes me more consistent in application of effort which is less tiring.
All in all I reckon I’ll be sticking to the single speed for commuting and the road bike for longer rides.
