Country Ramble

Recently (a few months ago) I picked up another Surly Cross-Check. This one being a 58cm frame size is slightly smaller than my 62cm black version with gears. When I purchased this bike it had one of those hideous 3-speed internally geared hubs on it. Yuck. No I know there are some folks who might enjoy those drivetrains but I certainly don’t. My main gripe is the gear spacing (from the ones I’ve owed at least which were all Shimano) is that the gears are spaced evenly enough. There is one gear all by itself and then two close together, but a long way from the other one. I think 3 evenly spaced gears would work better. Then again, I’m not an engineer and ultimately get glossy-eyed when someone waxes poetic about ratios and stuff. I just ride bikes and base my opinion on how it feels to me.

Anyway, I swapped this bike over so single speed for a spell but then realized, I had an extra track cog in my bicycle toolbox and a locking collar. Sweet!! I haven’t ridden fixed for quite some time but when I was into it I was intoxicated with it. Now, I have a 62cm Steamroller up in my mezzanine that is fixed and brakeless (for the time being) but there is a particular hill near my house that is part of my favorite route. Going up is hard. Always hard. Geared or single speed. But, the coming down with a brakeless fixie an old man knees….that’s what has me concerned.

Enter a second fixed gear bike. The gearing on this one is lower (40-16) compared to the (45-16) on my steamroller, but this one has brakes and it will allow me to test the resistance requirements of riding a fixed gear down a steep hill, while having brakes to rely on if it is too much work to anti-pedal. That’s my theory anyway. But, even without that hill, I think a second fixie is a good idea. Especially one that is already a little beat up from its previous life as a commuter. I mean really, when is getting another bike every a bad idea? I agree. Never.

Fixed gear Surly Cross-check. Size 58cm.

Found someone’s secret party spot

Really enjoying this bike for the back country gravel.