After we final met I’d geared up my artisanal singlespeed mountain bike with a “dinglespeed” drivetrain, and shortly after doing so I headed out for a trip:

My testing floor for the brand new configuration was the so-called (by me) “Trails Behind the Mall.” To get there by way of the filth I can use the Previous Croton Aqueduct path, however the barely extra direct approach (or at the very least it feels extra direct) is the paved South County Trailway, as pictured above. It’s additionally an excellent testing floor for the dingle, since a paved path with solely minimal elevation achieve is precisely the type of place you want you had a much bigger goddamn gear.

As I discussed yesterday, the place I stay is sort of handy for using to the trip; the trail that turns into the South County Trailway begins just about proper throughout the road from me, and the Trails Behind the Mall are fairly near the Trailway too, although it does contain a brief stretch of bike-unfriendly highway:

However at the very least there’s a motorbike restore stand:

A number of years in the past now the Metropolis of Yonkers put this stuff all over. A few of them have been in wise areas (alongside the South Nation Trailway for instance), however this one specifically is senseless as a result of I’m fairly certain I’m the one one who ever rides a motorbike by means of right here. I prefer to suppose they have been following my Strava, noticed I usually come this fashion, and put it there only for me, however it’s extra doubtless the state gave them cash for bike infrastructure, they purchased a bunch of motorcycle restore stands, they usually ran out of concepts for the place to place them–sort of like while you stay in an house with a tiny kitchen and might’t discover a place for all of the roach traps:

After all with the roach traps you are taking the excess and transfer onto the toilet, however with the bike restore stands you simply stick them on random sidewalks and allow them to rust:

Cash effectively spent.

Anyway, the mall behind which the Trails Behind the Mall lie itself lies atop an excellent ridge, or a hill, and is in reality known as Ridge Hill. From the bike restore stand you begin climbing, and earlier than lengthy you’re in retail Shangri-La:

The Dick’s Sporting Items represents the mall’s northern frontier. Then behind it’s a little sidewalk town in all probability made the builders construct:

This sidewalk results in an unassuming gate, which is in reality a again door to Sprain Ridge Park, the formal identify for the Trails Behind the Mall:

Clearly for the trip to the paths I’d been in my “massive” gear. So was it an enchancment? Effectively, I’d be mendacity if I stated I wasn’t nonetheless wishing for a much bigger gear on the South County, however I used to be wishing for one lower than I often do, an that’s price one thing. However now I used to be on the trails, so I undid the skewer and moved the chain over to the decrease gear, which took round 10 seconds:

There was somewhat extra slack within the chain than there had been within the greater gear, however it actually wasn’t extreme, and was in all probability loads lower than I often have:

If something I feel individuals are inclined to over-tension their chains, and so long as it’s not falling off it’s often simply high quality.

Temperatures have formally hit freezing round these elements so the paths are precisely the place you wish to be on a motorbike. The Trails Behind The Mall have loads of difficult rocky sections, and in case you like gears and suspension you may actually justify them each right here, however the portion of the park closest to the mall is conveniently single-speed pleasant:

Whereas the bigger transit gear was solely a modest enchancment, the decrease path gear was a extra considerable one, particularly on rocky rises:

And sure, I needed to come again for the cellphone:

The chain didn’t shake itself off on the way in which down, both, so it formally passes the stress take a look at.

As at all times, the bike was nice, and the gearing had gone from “tiny bit excessive” to “excellent:”

Exiting the park, I returned the chain to the bigger combo:

As soon as once more, it took only a handful of seconds:

Whereas a slight enchancment on the flats and gradual ascents, the transit gear was in fact negligible when heading downhill:

In all although I’d say the dinglespeed is a hit: it’s two gears for the worth of 1 (assuming you have already got the elements, which I did), and even when I by no means hassle to maneuver the chain I wouldn’t discover the extra cogs have been there. One thing like a 36×16 for the “highway” gear would make a extra significant distinction, however I don’t suppose I’ve a 36-tooth chainring, and so there endeth the seek for which means. If I need extra gears than this I’ll trip a motorbike with a derailleur, downside solved.