Mindful Single Speed

 Two weeks ago I raced my first Single Speed race. I have only ridden a single speed three times. I bought my bright orange Kona Unit so that I could always have a bike to ride. The beauty of SS is that the bike is simple and not much can break! The fixed gear movement was not something I have ever been interested in, until now. There is a simplicity, a ZEN like experience when riding with one gear. You must learn to accept where you are on the bike and how fast you can go. For someone like myself, not being able to go any faster can bring up a lot of frustrations. This can only mean I have something to learn; Patience, mindfulness, Zen. During the thirty five mile race I connected to my Kona which I named Apple to be funny…. I realized I needed to handle this bike differently. I used my momentum, I looked ahead at the trail, I utilized the bike more. I learned to adjust myself instead of adjusting the bike. I learned skill's. Skill's that my mind is learning too. Instead of becoming frustrated I am learning to accept. Instead of forcing something/someone to adjust or "shift" I am adjusting I am shifting. Mindfulness