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Having only a singlespeed clown bike to hand, that is what I have been riding here in Italy.

I've taken it from the best the peaks, Woodbank, Werneth Low can offer to the Alps and Dolomites.

It works well anywhere so long as you are fairly fit; have a good technique for riding singlespeed to its best.

The link below explains how to make your singlespeed work for you...http://www.dirtragmag.com/blogarific/projectssr-part-four-training-techniques/

It's pretty good, good training too...

Granfondo Maschile

A great event 1700 entered in total for the long, medium & short courses. I did the long one at 147km.

Everyone set off together at 8am. Being unseeded I was pretty much at the back, which made making up ground on the early flat sections cool, as we were travelling superfast in a massive group. Going up small bumps etc were not an issue at this point.

By the time of the 1st big climb (Colle Lys 1316m, 13km of climbing after 45km so far) I felt good & climbed well. I stayed with some riders who moved through the bunch with me. It was mainly big ring. Took some water at the top, loads of helpers handing out bottles & food.

The descent was wicked Again in a group of 20 riders drafting downhill at 70kmh just following wheels through the bends, felt good.

At 92 km we started the second climb.(Colle Braida 1007m, 9km climb). This one realy hurt the legs which were feeling heavy and starting to cramp. Also at the bottom of this climb, the group I was with turned off as they were doing the Mediofondo, so me & another rider struggled up togewther. Also met Loz going up here as she rode some of the course.

At the top another food station but we rode through. Nice descent again flying through little towns with narrow streets, the roads were still closed here.

At the bottom of this descent we met up with the mediofondo riders again, which caused a bit of confusion to me as I carried on with them for about a Km until I realised. Heyho, back up to find my mistake & took the correct turn. Now I was on my own and facing another climb to 620m. Legs were really cramping bad here, muscles I'd never had cramp in were giving pain.

Managed to get into a small group again & we worked together into the headwind on the flat section.

The last climb upto the finish in Rivoli was a killer - only 2km, but painful. Luckily there were riders going worse than me.

I finished in 5.07 in 159th (of 331 finishers) place overall. I'm happy with that considering I've not actually riden that far this year until today, & also not with such climbs.

Rode it on the prolite with thwe stelvio wheels in (carbon rims & LF hubs, had the alloy cassette on the back which was excellent), all worked well.

To improve next time I need to keep in with a group riding my long event, there is no way of knowing, unless you ask everyone you ride with.

http://www.championchip.it/pubblico/eventoClassifica.do

Don't know if you'll be able to open this link without being a subscriber, but its all the results, I'm on page 7 of the granfondo event.

Now going out for Pizza