This past weekend, as you may have read in Moe’s pictorial ride report that we rode Aliso Woods. On our way down to a place called Dripping Cave, we stopped to rest and wait for the remainder of our group to catch up. As we were waiting this guy on a green single speed muscles his way up one of the hills. So in my normal social way, I started talking to the guy about single speeding and how I was at this same trail a few days ago with my SS and even commented on how hard it was.
He began telling us that he has been single speeding for nearly 5 years and that SS bikes are better because there’s less maintenance involved with them. It wasn’t until recently that he actually broke something on his bike, the chain. Joe Solancho asked him about the shirt he was wearing, Warrior Society…one of OC’s premiere mountain biking club/teams that are always hosting some crazy race. This fella tells us that he recently broke a new course record on his rigid SS at the Counting Coup race…Before I go on, just picture this guy to be super buff and veins are popping out everywhere. I’ve always have heard about SS riders are buffer because they are constantly grinding through everything. At the same time they’re are pushing and pulling on the bars which in return they get an upper body workout…
After we said our goodbyes, this guy, I think his name is Eric Hunner, I looked up the race results…left a pretty big impression on me. I was motivated to start riding my single speed more than I do my geared bikes. Mind you, this Saturday was the first time I had been on my geared bike since I’ve built up my SS…almost 3 months.
Anyway, because of this stranger I have this new found need to make sure that I master my single speed riding. I know it will be tough and I’m sure I’ll puke a few times, but having to put your body through that kind of harsh work is going to just make me a better rider as a whole.
I do feel kinda wrong talking about how a passing stranger made some sort of impact on me…it almost sounds Smurf encounter. But who cares, I’m pretty glad I did run into that fella, I’m sure its going to help me in the long run.
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Funny you wrote this as I thought of almost the same…I’m riding my SS today. Last few weeks, I’ve been spending lots of time on it vs my geared bikes. It truly is a challenge!
I’ll be in Fullerton later today if anyone wants to ride.
I’d love to go, but I don’t home until after 7pm…
That’s really cool RL. I am glad you felt inspired. Can’t wait to see what that is going to produce in you! ;D
maybe some spinning classes will help out ,HA,just had to throw that in
A few of the Warrior Society guys hang around socaltrailriders.org maybe you can pinpoint who the dude was.
Hey RL it is Eric, I just ran across this. I’m not a stranger anymore, just a local friendly rider.
Eric, So was that you that we ran into at Aliso? By the way, how did you hear about our this article?
RL, yes that was me at Aliso on my green Santa Cruz; I Goggled my name looking for some old Sea Otter Classic results with no avail, but this popped up. I looking at putting some miles down tomorrow 3/30/08 maybe Holy Jim.
Hey Eric, it’s Eric. Your record setting time will forever remain in the annals of the Mountain Bike Pow Wow!
Congratulations Again!
Nice post RL. Eric is crank-arm snapping monster. I mean truly scary. Guys that big shouldn’t be that fast over a long distance course like the Counting Coup. But he’s a super nice guy too.
Haha, I was just at Aliso the other day, I wanted to see how far I could get Cholla before stopping. Though I had to stop 4 times, its still better than last time I tried it with my SS.
I’ve been primarily riding my SS to build up my strength and endurance. Now I’m finding that my upper body needs to be conditioned too. So that means I need to start hitting the weights pretty soon.
RL