An Amusement & Diversion for The Genteel Cyclist. Daily.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

The superiority of the singlespeed -- proven!


We haven't had a chance to put together our race report for the Chequamegon 40 -- there's always a period of mild depression to get through before we realize its cyclocross season.

Anyway, we wanted to mention this astonishing fact: For the first time in its 25-year history, the race was won by a singlespeeder. Jesse Lalonde, from Madison, has been threatening the podium for several years now, and this time he's done it. There's no better description of how he did it than straight from the horse's mouth. You can find his account of the events leading up to his remarkable feat here.

Around these parts, this is being hailed as a watershed event. Not exactly the shot heard round the world, but still. One of the unacknowledged aspects of riding no gears is the finesse it takes to ride momentum, know the course, and smoothly dismount run and remount cyclocross stylee. And that's not even factoring in race strategy against big rings on a flatish course.

One might argue that Lalonde's achievement is unrepeatable. That fully geared hammerheads like Steve Tilford, Brian Matter, Travis Brown, and Jeff Hall let Lalonde get away with two miles left is to their own discredit. We prefer the other argument: Lalonde played it masterfully, equal parts brain and brawn.

This much is for sure though: In future, no one is going to let him or any other singlespeedster take a flyer unchallenged. You have all those extra teeth on your chainring. Aincha gonna use 'em, fella?

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