Singlespeed or Geared ?

That is the question I hope to answer over the next two weekends as I wind-up then wind-down for the Dawn til Dusk 12 Hour Race. Trying to get two good four to six hour rides in over the next two weekends (to go along with all my garbage miles). I hear the Willow Springs area, the site of the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo , calling me out. It is the perfect place to ride singlespeed, mostly flat (12oo ft of elevation gain/lap), fast singletrack. The Dawn til Dusk course gains about 1600 ft per lap with a pretty similiar profile so it should be a good test of my legs on the singlespeed.

I guess the real question is why, for my first solo endurance race, am I even toying with the idea of singlespeed ? I mean I'm not a complete endurance neophyte. I've done several 24 Hour races as part of a five person team and one as a duo. I've never done any on a singlespeed and have only recently become involved in the "singlespeed scene". I've done a few centuries, on the road. So I know how to suffer and have fun at the same time and that is ultimately what it is all about for me, fun. Will I get that on my singlespeed? Maybe after this weekend I'll know a little more.

Riding to work today, I thought how fortunate I am to live in a place where riding is a 365 day a year option. Today's forecast, for the first day of spring, highs in the mid-80's today, no rain, a few high clouds, just absolutley perfect riding weather. I left the house this morning around 7:25 with the sun trying to burn off the cloud cover that kept our overnight temperatures in the sixties in just my shorts and short-sleeve jersey. A little cool starting out but after ten minutes I was perfectly comfortable. I rode a moderate pace most of the way and felt okay, not real strong but fine. This afternoon I plan to take the long way home, 27 miles, before my rest day tomorrow. Legs should be fine for Sunday's big ride . . .