Winning the Tour de France earns you something in the area of 3/4 of a million Euros plus the respect of European cycling fans — something you obviously CAN’T put a price on. Winning the Single Speed World Championship doesn’t come with the same kind of prize.
Started probably in 1995, the SSWC is a mountain-bike race where all the competitors tackle a daunting course with just one gear on their bikes. Featuring a myriad of interesting characters in the race, the winner doesn’t take home a yellow jersey or a trophy, instead the winner gets a MANDATORY tattoo — where is up to you.
Where the Tour de France has rigorous drug-testing, the SSWC considers you like a doper if you’re NOT hung-over during the race. And forget those classy lycra bike uniforms with sponsors names all over them, at the SSWC ridiculous costumes and outfits are de rigueur. Think frilly dresses, neon unitards, Helga wigs, fishnets, feather boas, and faux fur, and that’s just on the dudes. The big prize for the participants, besides bragging rights, was a bottle opener with their placement number on it, but only for the first 150 of the 350 participants. SWEET!
Don’t worry, the participants aren’t the only ones in ridiculous outfits, with rambunctious (hard-partying) fans lining the course and celebrating the rides as they roll by.
The 2008 race was in Napa, California, the 2009 one will be in September in Durango, New Zealand. Start your training now!
The Slanch Report 
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