page_title: Single Speed World Championship
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Single Speed World Championship / History
caption_attribution_description: Steve Makin, finishing the 2002 Single Speed World Championships, in Downieville, California
context_page_description: 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 easy categorization.
context_section_description: The first known and recognized SS World Championship 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 title, 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." 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.
caption: A finisher at SSWC 02
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