Paul Petch

Single speeding… is it love?

Well- it is the third week since we arrived in Christchurch and it has been an interesting time. The first 2 weeks have pretty much taken up with moving in and finding our way around the city and our suburb. It has only been this last week that we have had time to actually chill out and relax somewhat. We sold our car in Australia as part of the move so we are getting around on foot, bus, or bike :) A little bit of a transition (well quite a kicking and screaming kind of transition actually!)- but I’m loving it! Luckily once upon a time in a time far away- I used to not own a car and commute differently- so this feels quite ok!

So you want some exciting images of me in the big ring spinning up and down Port Hills with a race face? Well- I just have not had time! For the first time in I have a genuine excuse for not riding on dirt- moving countries! Now what I have been doing is giving my new single speed a good caning in the city and surrounds. I have had nothing but fun bombing through the city weaving through cars and acting like a bike messenger and dropping down stairs and man made ‘stuff’ on a rigid :) I’ve actually considered getting a job over Christmas as a bike messenger- but seeing as my geography of Christchurch is total shite- it would end in tears. Maybe once I’ve settled some more I’ll try it one year during my holidays.

More importantly I think I’m in love with this single speed bike! It was built from ‘left over’ parts I had- and it is a breath of fresh air to ride- it’s kind of like pedal and um pedal and enjoy the ride. My good friend Jon in Australia will chuckle when he reads this post as he has been a long time single speeder- who will now grin and say “I told you so” or more characteristically ” It’s a sick and twisted kind of fun – welcome!”. Who knows…. I may even ride a rigid single speed at my second visit to the 2008 Otway Odyssey at Forrest in February 2008 if i ever get any ‘real’ training in!

Related posts:

1. The GT Peace single speed is for sale
2. Single speed riding – an introduction
3. Kona Unit 29er – my first single speed
4. GT Peace 26″ – rigid steel single speed
5. Single speed riding – trail rises

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 20th, 2007 at 1:24 pm and is filed under Bike Stuff and tagged with rigid, single speed. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.