This past weekend I strayed from the usual routine to try something a little different. Leaving my usual ride, a Fluid 1 in the stable, I swung a leg over a 2010 Judan. If you aren’t familiar with this bike it is a 29er singlespeed which uses a Gates Belt Drive. Now, I am not really one to do much in the land of 29ers or singlespeed but I figured it was worth a shot.

I took the bike out Saturday for an XC loop and got semi-used to the bike. The climbs were tough, but after all it is a singlespeed 29er. The true test though was on Sunday. I took off early Sunday morning to Maple Ridge BC where the Pumpkin Cross race was being held. The Pumpkin Cross is an annual event held just before Halloween where you will see a mix of hard core riders, costume wearing recreationalists and a few confused soles somewhere between the two. I like to consider myself as a confused sole as I was on a mountain bike, and riding singlespeed…

Anyway, I figured I would sandbag and go for Cat C as there was a bit of a disadvantage on the bike I had chosen. But… this was a pretty technical cource. With 5 dismount areas, being on a mountain bike meant that there was really only one. Staying on the bike would be a huge advantage in speed and energy conservation. On the downside though there was one downhill straight stretch where I could make a milkshake on my back with a cadence of 130+. Take the good with the bad and see where it takes you I guess.

Off the start line the pace was brisk, but not crazy. As the line settled into some wet grass switchbacks I found myself in about 10th place out of a field of 30. The mountain bike did have one other advantage that I had forgotten though. I was running a 29″ x 2.1″ tire, cornering was in my favour when on wet grass. I knocked off a few riders that were a little bit unnerved that my bike had passed them… I know I would have been… After the first ‘dismount’ zone I moved up into about 5th place, things were looking good. The second and third obstacles were back to back ups, then downs, I figured that this would be my area to really gain some time. I was the back of the lead group and decided to start the one way trip to the hurt locker. Standing and powering up the outside, I passed three, then as we approached the first up, I yelled ‘rider’ and hopped up. Through the two dismounts I had managed to spread a gap of about 30m. ‘Not bad’ I thought to myself…

The race turned out to be a little friskyer that originally planned which resulted in a 5 lap race instead of the expected 4. I was amazed with the Judan. There were only a few spots where I was undergeared and even less where I was overgeared. The belt worked flawless and the 29″ wheels rolled much faster than a traditional mountain bike. I am pretty sure that the bike was actually an advantage in these circumstances. I lead the pack through the fourth lap when I was finally caught by someone who seemed much fitter than myself. They were also on a traditional Cross Bike. I am going to blame the loss on fitness though, or lack-there-of… The Bike Reigns Supreme!

Looking at the dark, wet rides ahead I am starting to consider simplicity, the singlespeed works, no complicated parts, no mess, no fuss. Maybe I just found my new winter bike??? I am thinking though ahead to the next race… B Cat???

Dustan

P.S. Here are a few photos of the race. (not of the Judan, as I was riding it)