ss racer part 4

http://www.dirtragmag.com/blogarific/projectssr-part-four-training-techniques

Gasp! Lath suggests these training techniques are best done on a geared bike! Heretic! ;) It still seems to me that, other than track racing, a geared bike is faster than ss for undulating trails with flats, i.e. most trails. Though gears and suspension are slightly less efficient b/c of increased power needs, they more than make up for that by leveraging one's natural limitiations of cadence/power and shock obsorbing flexability.

I initially chose to ride ss b/c of the ride characteristics - no shifting nor ghost shifting, no bent derailer hangers nor chain derailing noise.

Mentally, the lack of shifting simplified the ride which made it more enjoyable for me. Rigid/ss transports me back 100+ years to the safety bicycle and no cars! It introduced me to a more in-touch dance with nature. In other words, rigid keeps me one with the ground vertically; fixed keeps me one with the ground horizontally.

Physically, ss made me a better climber b/c of out-of-the-saddle pedaling, and widening my cadence band. It also increased the upper body workout which helps muscle balance.

Most people like choice, different bikes for different trails, to change things up, etc. That helps motivate them to ride. I like consistency so I initially committed to riding only ss for a year and then re-evaluating. I've grown to appreciate the rigid/ss experience regardless of how fast or, more precisely, slow I get. Now if you ride ss and get faster, that is icing on the cake. 8-)