DORC Singlespeed Challenge.
Fancy dress and bikes, a fun event in the spirit of the great singlespeed championships. Dress up, hang out and have fun.
No plates. No timing. No categories. A champion is selected at the end of the event.
Selection is very much by the judges discretion and we don’t know what they’re thinking.
| When: | Sunday 31 October 8am Sharp(ish) |
| Scrutineering: | 7am. There will be pre-race scrutineering to ensure all bikes are singlespeed-ified |
| Where: | Howard Springs Pine Forest. Map Here Same location as the RUOK Race. |
| Difficulty: | Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. There may be mid-race challenges. (The bike part will be easy) |
FAQ
Q: But I don’t have a singlespeed bike.
A: This is your lucky day. We have an easy, cheap and reversible hack to make your bike embrace the awesome of singlespeed-ness
-
- Choose a gear
- Tape the shifter
Q: Huh?
A: Ok…
Choose a gear
Find a gear you like to ride in, especially at the pine forest.
Hint: Most singlespeeders start with a 2:1 ratio. That is, if you have a 34 tooth front sprocket, choose a 17 tooth rear.
Set your bike in your favourite gear. If your rear does not quite match up and you have a 16 or 18 tooth rear, don’t worry. 34:16 will be a bit faster, 34:18 will be a bit easier. Test it out and see what you like.
If you are still unsure, there will be a preview social ride at the course the day before.(Saturday 30th Sept)
Tape your shifter
We suggest using painters masking tape. It’s simple, cheap and easy to remove.
Wrap the tape around the shift lever, then wrap the tape around the handlebar in the opposite direction to the lever travel. It should hold the lever back and stop it from engaging gears. If you tried, you could probably break the tape but it should be firm. The pictures below show a Shimano shifter, with the UP and DOWN shifts wrapped separately for clarity. You’d wrap both at the same time. Obvs.
DO NOT wrap the tape around the brake lever.
There’s no need to worry about being in the wrong gear, because you’re always in the wrong gear.
Q: How can you tell if someone you know rides a singlespeed?
A: They’ll tell you.
Q: Do I need a beard, tattoos, piercings, or to drink craft beer?
A: Research is ongoing.
Q: What gear you running?
A: Singlespeeders favourite question, you’ll fit right in. Be prepared for a lengthy answer.
Q: Is there more information about the race?
A: Maybe, maybe not. We are making this up as we go.
To be held in the spirit of other great singlespeed events.
One gear and a lot of beer: Mountain Bike Single Speed World Championships – CyclingTips
Australian Single Speed Nationals 2013 – Flow mountain bike
But.. seriously. Heat management in the tropics
It is VERY hot at the moment, please check our race hydration details.
If your fancy-dress outfit is hot, please consider only using it for the pre-race parade, or for part of the race, say, one lap.
Image Credits
- Flow Mountain Bike
- Cycling Tips
