It was an ideal weekend for each street:
And path:
And so I toggled between each on the Roaduno:
At one level I even ducked into the forbidding Trails Behind The Mall for a bit:
Sure, it’s Highwayuno, but when there occurs to be some singletrack between one street and one other it’ll do what it has to do.
In two-speed mode the bike actually does have a toggle change too. Presently, I’m utilizing the 38/26 chainrings it got here with, and a 17-tooth rear cog, which is one tooth greater than the inventory 16. On this configuration, on a typical mixed-terrain ramble round these components, I nearly by no means really feel the absence of any further gear combos. The large ring’s good for the whole lot from the flats to brief and/or gradual inclines, and the little ring takes care of just about the whole lot else–it’s in regards to the equal of the low gear on a street bike with an ordinary crank, so you have to get out of the saddle on a steep street climb, however it’ll nonetheless get you over just about something.
I may definitely see someday including a 3rd ring as kind of an “overdrive” for lengthy stretches of flat street or the kinds of descents that aren’t fairly steep sufficient for gravity to fully take over, and little doubt I’ll ultimately, however I’m in no specific rush to do it since I’m so happy with the gearing as it’s and I’m not precisely using in pacelines as of late, plus I just like the simplicity.
So are wide-range front-shifted two- or three-speeds poised to be the brand new 1×12?
I dunno, however they’re definitely the precise reverse, which naturally appeals to the contrarian in me. In truth, awhile again a reader supplied to ship me a quad:
If ever there was a motorbike that might profit from a quadruple chainring it’s the Roaduno. For that matter, possibly I ought to simply go quintuple:
As a lot as I am keen on the Roaduno, even I’ve to confess that when you’re bolting a five-ring crank to it as an alternative of simply using a motorbike with a rear derailleur you’re actually simply being obstinate. Even so, the location specifies that the quintuple is “solely advisable for a bicycle with a protracted chainline” like a recumbent, trike or tandem, and I can’t assist questioning if these trademark Rivendell chainstays would qualify.
Gearing apart, the match is sumptuously snug, and I’m very happy with the drop bars:
Clearly the bike is joyful to be arrange as a real singlespeed, however in toggle change mode it actually does handle to mix the enjoyable and ease of a singlespeed with the comfort of a geared bike, and it realizes what I used to be making an attempt to perform with the erstwhile Artisanal Singlespeed once I’d gear it up and alter the tires for longer rides:
All of which culminated in the bike’s eventual dingle-ization:
On reflection I suppose I used to be merely getting too outdated for a singlespeed mountain bike and clearly what I actually wanted to maintain the flame of irreverence alive was a two-speed fat-tired street bike–although trying on the Artisanal Singlespeed once more does make me miss it.
Talking of street bikes with fats tires, individuals name them “gravel bikes” now, and so they’re in all places. Even once I don’t see them I do know they’ve been right here. That’s as a result of I’m a tracker, like Leonard Smalls:
Simply by trying on the path I do know a small group of individuals have ridden by means of right here on Gravel Kings:
It’s additionally clear from the tracks that they hand handlebar luggage and MAAP clothes and rode up from Brooklyn.
Simply name it a hunch.
