Singlespeed

Going out on the singlespeed at the weekend, for the first time for about three months, wasn't like normal cycling. It's much more physical, much harder work. Instead of using gears to control how fast you travel, it's just about using the legs and body. And the body really matters. There's no way of just simply sitting on the saddle and twiddling away away at the pedals. No, it's more about standing when necessary, throwing your weight around to climb over bumps, and heaving away at the bars with your arms & shoulders to climb up the hills.

The lack of gears is psychologically satisfying, too. There's less concentration upon controls, and correspondingly more on observation of the terrain and surroundings. Mechanically simpler, singlespeeds are good for mud and winter, and wherever the rider isn't inclined to shower love and affection upon the lumps of metal that he rides.