It's not a case of fashion, making life difficult for myself or anything like that. I know that I can't build up as much speed on the decents, or climb a long tough hill very fast (especialy weighing 14 1/2 stone!). But, for now, I'm sticking with my track bike.
Lately I've been doing a 40mile+ rides 3 or 4 times a week, making the most of decent weather and plenty of spare time. When I'm out an a run, roadies look at me with a mixture of awe, suspicion and respect. Reactions ranging from a wave to a slight nod to nothing at all. They glance to where my derailleur should be.
But, I'm having a blast tackling longer rides, both runs I know well and new routes, on my 'unpractical bike'. If nothing else, it feels more satisfying. Not in a smug way, just the fact that I accomplish something fairly difficult with each ride. There is also that connection you get with your bike. You feel way more attached to a track bike as there is less of it, it's lighter and more responsive and also the whole direct transmission and slowing and accelerating with your legs thing too.
Sure, there will be a point when the length of my rides increase to over 100miles and I might need to think about getting a road bike. Although I do want to complete at least one Century on my Bob Jackson.
