News: Deckerating The 2008 SSWC

We have a tandem down! Carl Decker

Since Adam Craig was in Beijing last weekend for some kind of sports festival thing, the hopes of a Nation would rest on my shoulders at one of the most (un)important events of 2008; the Single Speed World Championships (SSWC), held in Napa, California. This would be my fourth attempt at SSWD (Single Speed World Domination), and as it turns out, my most successful attempt to date.

Last week I left early and carpooled to Napa with the Web Cyclery 29'r SS Tandem duo of Henry and Amy. Friday morning was a group ride from Fairfax up into the trails near the fabled "repack" descent. I was excited to try out the Skidsteer on the trails. For those of you behind the times, the Skidsteer is the future: a coaster-brake only race bike. I reengineered a Shimano coaster brake, with a custom aluminum body, a bunch of integrated cooling fins, and a titanium axle, for good measure. Mike Olsen did all the machine work, and it came out beautifully. Stan at NoTubes.com built up a wheelset with his 287g rims and shipped them out express so I could toss them on my XTC hardtail in time for this trip. First riding impressions: having a naked handlebar with no lever of any kind looks really cool. And coaster brakes are dangerous. I hadn't yet ridden a mile when I had a colossal crash because I accidentally hit the brake. This would take some learning.

The highlight of the ride in Fairfax was hanging with the group on fast, fun singletrack descents. At one point I was riding behind a fellow who kept glaring at me every time I'd lay down a big skid into a switchback. Since I was decked out in Giant team kit, he thought I should know better than to skid the crap out of their well-maintained trail system (since skidding creates ruts and braking bumps and such). When we stopped for a break, the guy who was giving me the evil eye got a look at the Skidsteer and congratulated me instead of punching me in the sternum.

After a swim and some dinner, Henry, Amy and I rode our bikes across the Golden Gate bridge for some urban assault. I'd never ridden around S.F. before, and it was a treat. I caught a great picture of Team Tandemonium hitting the deck (literally) down by the marina and we ended up sessioning Lombard Street between carloads of enthusiastic Asian people. One Korean guy, after asking to have his picture taken with us, told me "You bike must have very good braker." I couldn't agree more.

Reader Comments 

Posted Thu Aug28, 2008, 7:03 PM — By Carson Blume

check out carsonblume.blogspot.com for more images and scroll to the bottom for more links to even more images!

Posted Sat Aug30, 2008, 12:55 AM — By Dana Kunz

Loved your pre-race routine with the latte and the cape. A few more pix and a report is at www.thruthetrees.com.

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