The Belgian Singlespeed Championships

Swarf owner Ian Stott raced his bike at the Belgium Singlespeed Champs in September, he's just sent over this great report of his experience, it sounds like a lot of fun! All photos are from third parties at the event.

More of a singlespeed festival than a bike race, SSBE was held over a weekend in September in Hamme, Northern Belgium.  The Saturday started out with a hangover (from the Friday night arrival drinks) which blended nicely into a 30k ride from the event site taking in the local woodland trails.  At least 50+ singlespeeders being led by a couple of locals around their trails, with a beer and BBQ stop about 3/4's of the way round.  In the UK i couldn't help but think we would have been seen as a nuisance, but in Belgium we were treated with respect and smiles by both car drivers and dog walkers alike.  This was the first time i had really ridden the Swarf on tight, fairly flat, woodland trails.  It was fantastic. This bike seems to corner with far more grip than my old one which had exactly the same build.  It also popped and jumped off the roots as easily as i could have hoped.

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