Ok, I know...

All I talk about is bikes. But imagine if you were in my brain. You would go crazy. Trust me. I have some serious bike issues. Not the kind of issues like gambling or smoking crack where you spend ALL of your money, but I think it may be something of a combined sickness.

I thought riding singlespeeds would cure the whole "I need" or "I want" syndrome. Well it could. It starts all nice and well, learning to ride your mountain bike all over again. Eventually you ditch your suspension fork and have to relearn once again. Then you come to the astounding realization that you need a bigger tire to compensate for the lack of suspension. After getting adjusted to that, you realize that your 17lb 26" machine is a little harsh. The weight of it is actually part of the problem too.

After a summer and fall's contemplation (and further destruction of a Litespeed mountain bike head tube..oh well at least when bought used they are cheap) you realize that maybe 29" wheels could be the wonder you were looking for as far as extra comfort and steel would bring "needed" durability. Research, research, then pull the trigger on a budget priced frame. Take the time to ride it geared, ultimately pulling them off in favor of the original SS setup. Spend too much money on nice, but burly-ish parts to ensure HTI (Head Tube Integrity) as well as cheap but over priced wheels.

Start realizing after a coupld of races that the bike is too heavy. Damn. Well it rides like a dream, but when you are trying to go all out, it comes up short (as well as realize that you are lacking fitness as well...I know what you were thinking). In the mean time a once in a lifetime opportunity (yeah f*ck*ng right, I've heard that one before...alas there is money to be made) and dreams seem to be coming true.

That dream brings upon ultimate realization. It doesn't matter if it has 1 gear or 30. Bikes can be and will be expensive. In the graduating syndrome that is racing, you get faster. Being more fit almost 100% demands better equipment, or simply just more new crap. Then after it all you realize that you are addicted. Crack. Carbon Fiber Lust. The performance. The speed, the ride, the precision. And ultimately, the failure. Whether manufacturing, or accidental, it inevitably happens.

And as with everything else in life, the addiction lingers, and as human desire and planetary forces dictate,

The cycle starts again...