It's August! Riding through the heat.

[north woods gal]

Sorry, no, nothing in that size. Have plenty of longer ones, though. I usually keep a couple short stems of that size around, because it's the first thing I typically need to change on a unisex/men's bike when I get a new bike. Just me getting a proper fit on a new MTB. That, and having to trim the length on new factory supplied MTB handlebars, which are now coming in insane widths. A hacksaw is a girl's best friend.

Yeah, the single speed thing is very addictive, all the more so for me since I've always been kind of a minimalist as far what I want on a bike, the simpler, the better. Yes, it was nice to know I had another forum pal, here that rode single speed, too. That helped. Thanks. As for shifting gears, I really, really don't miss it at all. I never especially liked it, anyway. These last few years, I've actually been more inclined to mash it out rather than shift, even though I probably would have been better off, shifting to a lower gear. Then, too, nothing screws up a climb like a bad shift. Then there's derailleur and shifter adjusting, problems, noise, blah, blah, blah. Those can be a real headache. Was initially worried about going single speed on some of the hills on my road routes, but have conquered them all, even my worst one, with one gear, so my confidence level is high using a single speed for most of my riding.

Can't believe it's the last day of the month. What a month! I won't quite make it to the 400 mile mark, but I came close enough, probably finish around 375, depending on what I ride, today, between storms, which are in the forecast, yet, again. August was all about getting back in shape, anyway, not about breaking records, so, in that respect, a very good month for me.

On to September and fall.

[Crankin]

I truly don't know if I could ride a single speed. Am I weird because I like shifting and it is one of the most intuitive things in cycling for me? Electronic shifting has eliminated any issues with the derailleur on the bike I ride the most. There are huge climbs around here; not long, but short and steep. I can't imagine doing them on a single speed. Even with the really low gearing, I like preparing by shifting up and down and back up again.

[north woods gal]

Gosh, no, didn't mean to imply that there's anything wrong or inferior to shifting and having gears on a bike, Crankin. My bad if it came across that way. If anything, we single speeders are the weird ones. Choosing to go single speed in this day and age of truly great shifters and derailleurs is totally a personal call and, yeah, a bit nutty. (As we all know, I'm definitely a bit nutty in a lot of my bicycling preferences in other things too.) No way would I ever try to talk anyone out of giving up their geared bikes for a single speed. Going single has a lot of benefits for my riding, but going single might be a really bad idea for some folks. One of those things you just have to try and see.

As for hills, though, you'd be surprised at just how effective a single speed can be for climbing hills, but you have to carefully get the gear ratio just right for your area and you absolutely have to learn the proper technique for tacking hills with only one gear. Our area is about 85% gentle ups and downs and about 5% really steep climbs and, maybe, 10%, at best, actual flats. Have done every one of those steep hills with one gear, now, and try to include one or two of those hills on every ride for the sake of staying in shape. The gently rolling stuff, though, is a blast with a single speed. Lots of fun. In other words, single speeds are not just for riding the flats.

We're off to the St. Pete's area in Florida, tomorrow, for one week while my DH attends a conference for folks with his disability. I'll be renting a bike and doing some riding in the area, though, as always, I'll have to take what I can get as far as a rental bike and area biking.

[north woods gal]

Good tip, Sheila. Might have to try it. The forecast is for storms all week, down there, but, as always, I'll get out and ride, one way or another.

No, those are a Salsa Bend 2 with 23 degree sweep. Nice and comfortable bar for my trail riding. Have to get a shorter stem, though. Have a 65mm on, now, and just too much reach for me, now, with my preference for riding more upright.