Joe Fox: Single-Speeding in Arkansas
Joe Fox is no stranger to the Arkansas High Country Race. He set the single-speed FKTs (Fastest Known Times) on the South Loop in 2023 and on the Central Loop in 2025. When he’s not tearing up the High Country on single-speeds, he runs his bike shop, Cycle City in Parkville, Missouri. Congratulations to first place in the single-speed category on the Northwest Loop in this year’s Arkansas High Country Race! Here is Joe’s story:
It was really great to be racing in Arkansas again this weekend. This was my fourth High Country Race in a row—on a fresh set of RH tires, as usual. I felt great for the first half of the race, keeping effort and fuel steady, and stops to a minimum. The sections between Eureka and Oark are some of my favorite riding around there! There was rain going into the night, it caught up to me around midnight. That was tough: My mind and body got really tired. I had to take some extended time off the bike in order to finish strong, sneaking in under Aaron Arnzen’s previous NW Loop winning time by 25 minutes, with a time of 22:14 hours.
As a bike shop owner, I obviously care a lot about my equipment—and my tires in particular. This past weekend, I ran a 48 mm Oracle Ridge on the rear and a 55 mm Fleecer Ridge up front. My Chuba Terlingua only fits a 50 on the back. My next drop-bar setup will definitely be built around double Fleecers! I love the traction, durability, confident handling, and low rolling resistance of any of the Endurance casing tires. I’m 6’3″ (191 cm), 220 lb. (100 kg), and can run them with confidence in all conditions and terrains. I rarely even think about them on the most blown-out Arkansas ‘roads.’ I think the only think I’d love to see is a 60 mm size in the future. I hope to do the Tour Divide again and find the 55 not quite enough for that distance, fully-loaded.
For now, I’m just happy with my first-place SS effort, though!
Further Reading:
Photos credits: Kai Caddy
