Friday, March 27, 2009

OK, got to go now.

I'm done.

I've banged out my message.

And my message to you is this - one gear conquers all, which is another way of saying faith in equipment replaces faith in oneself.

Thanks everyone for reading KISL.

Ride bikes - climb mountains - skate the big hills - surf the oceans.




Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Know When to Hold, Know When to Fold

"Enthusiasm is the great hill-climber." - Elbert Hubbard (1856 - 1915)

Gelato is geared relatively low (44 x 18, 66"), which is light on the knees, fast on the hills.

When I go riding with my geared buddies, I know I can't attack on the flats, 66" is not a big gear.

So I wait for the hills and then I attack.

Single speeds are faster for sure on the hills as compared to geared bikes (most of the time). This is where I gain time on my buddies.

Of course, they all catch me on the downhill, but that's life on a single speed my friends.

You take what the road gives you, no more, no less.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

I Can't Drive 55

A lot of times, I ride Gelato in the freewheel mode (i.e., single speed), especially if I am going after the big hills.

That means that I'm just riding with one brake, and that would be the front brake.

But that's not really a problem you see.

Fixed gear riding is all about control - speed up or slow down by applying pressure to the pedals.

Single speed is more about momentum - keep your speed up so that you can make it over the next big hill.

So when Gelato and I are freewheeling it, I really don't use the brake except in heavy traffic because braking just slows you down anyways.

Make momentum your friend and ease up on the brake(s).

Monday, March 16, 2009

LoVe for SaLe

I searched 6 long months for her.

We were perfect together, her & I.

Sadly she passed away in 2007 of a broken frame.

The replacement frame & fork never felt quite right to me.

I don't love the "new" her anymore. In fact, I haven't loved her for the last 2 years.

I'm not sure if I could ever love again, but a new road bike may mend a broken heart.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG50iU7qTYM

Saturday, March 07, 2009

Prison Break


I wrote a little piece called "Freedom" way back in August 2007. I said fitness is freedom.

Well, due to school, work and being really sick, my fitness is nowhere to be found.

I'm in prison.

But that's OK. I'll do my time, put in the miles and pay my dues to society. I'll suffer thru the painful process of rebuilding oneself.

But when the warden sets me free for good behavior, I'll rip it up for sure.

http://keepitstreetlevel.blogspot.com/2007/08/freedom.html


Monday, March 02, 2009

be happy, don't worry


When I was riding Gelato the other day, I suddenly realized why I love one-gear bikes.

It's because I'm content and happy with a single gear. Let me explain further - riding a single speed places certain limits on you.

Based on what gearing you select, you are only going to go so fast, the hills will always be a struggle and you'll spin out on the downhills for sure.

With a multi-gear bike, there is always this need to push oneself faster by shifting up to the next cog and so forth. It's like you have this constant mental pressure on yourself.

Don't get me wrong, I love speed and I can hold my own with the best of them while riding Gelato, but once I reach my cruising speed, I tend to sit back and enjoy the ride.

It's like when you visit some tropical island, after a few days of relaxing, you're on "island time".

Riding a 1-gear bike is a lot like being on "island time", which is not a bad place to be.