After a troubled season Marin’s Paul Lazenby took the National Singlespeed
title at Cheddar on Sunday. Having missed the start time for the pro race he
lined up among the single coggers for the normally less than serious grunt
and hustle charge up the hill, and back down the ultra twisty singletrack.
Though some purists chuntered at the fact Lazenby’s bike was his standard
fully geared rig with the shifters locked out, as with all races the event
has been getting progressively more serious with each passing year.

Last
year’s marathon running winner (runs the single very severe Cheddar hill,
rides a big gear everywhere else) came in second with Raleigh manager and Ex
pro Gary Coltman and Raleigh mechanic (and allegedly very handy road rider)
taking third and fourth there was no chance of podium pickings for the usual
motley crew of journalists, shop monkeys and other ungeared and unhinged
perverts.

The cards are now marked for a one gear showdown between Lazenby and double
World Single Speed Champion Travis Brown (Trek – Volkswagen) when Cheddar
hosts the World Champs next year. and yes Travis rides a real purpose built
Trek OCLV singlespeed, and no they won’t make you one however hard you plead.