I just rode around Lake Washington on my single speed. “So what, you pussy?” I imagine you are saying. Fair enough. But what if your brother-in-law is keeping the pace at a brisk 24 mph on your 9-spd Cannondale, hills and all? My knees are numb and my quads feel like jello. I will never go near that Lake again without a derailleur.

By the numbers, 24 mph on my 42×17 single-speed means my cadence was 118 rpm. Sure felt like 200. Kick-ass cadence calculator is here.

[originally posted on ishouldhavebeendutch.dutchmonkey.com]