Single Speed World Championship

The Single Speed World Championship, or SSWC, is an annual event. It is only open to bicycles with a single gear ratio. Those bicycles can be either singlespeeds or fixed-gears. Most of the bicycles used in these races are mountain bikes however some people choose to take part in the event on cyclo-cross bicycles, racing bicycles and bicycles defying easycategorization.


History

The first SSWC of any kind was held in 1995 and called "W.H.I.R.L.E.D.". The first official Single Speed World Championship was held in 1999, however, it was less of a race and more of a bike rally focused on fun and not competition. About 260 people showed up for the 1999 event.

World Champion bicycle races usually award the victor a title and the right to wear a special jersey denoting their win. The SSWC does award a titled but instead of a special jersey winners are forced to accept either a tattoo or branding. Most race promoters and organizers have always issued the warning to competitors, "Do not win, if you do not want the tattoo." As of yet no winner has attempted to fight off the tattoo or branding artist. Some other organizers have attempted to move the focus from racing to make it more of an event, but each year the event becomes more like any other race.

Unlike most World Championship bicycle races, the SSWC is not sanctioned by any governing body. This recurring event has little organization other than the individuals putting the race on each year. The right to host the event next year is usually decided with some sort of drinking contest.

Venues and Victors

Results Summary

Year	Country	Location	Male Winner	Nation	Female Winner	Nation
2012	South Africa
2011	Ireland	Ballyhoura	Niall Davis	Ireland	Heather Holmes	USA
2010	New Zealand	Rotorua	Garth Weinberg	New Zealand	Heather Logie	Australia
2009	USA	Durango, CO	Ross Schnell	USA	Heather Irmiger	USA
2008	USA	Napa, CA	Carl Decker	USA	Rachel Lloyd	USA
2007	Scotland	Aviemore	Adam Craig	USA	Kelli Emmett	USA
2006	Sweden	Stockholm	Sveinung Bjørkøy	Norway	Tiffany Allmandinger	USA
2005	USA	State College, PA	Brian Keich	USA	Marla Steb	USA
2004	Germany	Berlin	Florian Eschenbach	German	Linda Eckhart	USA
2003	Australia	Castlemaine, Victoria	Clinton Jackson	New Zealand	Linda Eckhart	USA
2002	USA	Downieville, CA	Travis Brown	USA	Stella Carey	USA
2001	Wales	Afan Argoed	Jeff Wherlock	UK	Alison Rushton	UK
2000	USA	Minneapolis, MN	Jay Hollywood Henderson	USA	Stella Carey	USA
1999	USA	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	Travis Brown	USA	Marla Streb	USA
1995	USA	Big Bear Lake, CA	Adam Briggs	USA	unknown