Rides and Races - Toronto Fixed

I try to stay away from that area, the only problem is that all the roads south of St. Clair all have long hills, they are all scary and there is no way around them. My commute used to be on Bayview north of Sunnybrooke, that was a terrifing ride. The cars regularly hit 80km and the bike lane is horrible. Cutting across 3 lanes to turn into the Granite Club was a little hairy. My commute now involves dodging cows, ox drawn, hundreds of dogs, roads with no apparent rules other than might is right, no street lights and the majority of vehicles don't use their lights. Never thought I would miss T.O. drivers.

Anyone know of a place to buy cheap fixed hubs? I am going to fix my Atlas Nucleus (http://www.atlascyclesonepat.com/atbmtb.htm) and don't want to spend alot on a year of riding a crap bike. And I won't coast either.

Nashbar has some reasonably cheep hubs, also I found these guys NYC Bikes (www.nycbikes.com) (who also sell a lot of stuff on ebay.) If the Fixed thing works out, I'll probobly get one of their hubs and build me up a rear wheel.

And, where exactly is this ginormous mount pleasant road/hill you all speak of? We should ride this weekend if the weather cooperates...!

It's not so much that it's ginormous, but rather that the road down it sort of sweeps left then right. Traffic is really fast and tends to drift right because of the road orientation. At least that's why I don't like it.

My commute now involves dodging cows, ox drawn, hundreds of dogs, roads with no apparent rules other than might is right, no street lights and the majority of vehicles don't use their lights. Never thought I would miss T.O. drivers.

watch out for the cow patties... it must be kind of surreal to conjure thoughts of north toronto while sitting in bangalore... hmm.. "might is right... majority of vehicles don't use their lights.." that's not too far removed from toronto traffic.

so who's interested in doing evening rides? Like after work... it's balmy outside and the days are getting longer

so who's interested in doing evening rides? Like after work... it's balmy outside and the days are getting longer

I'm in. Now that it's warming up a little I'm getting the itch to do some riding.

I'm in. I'm done school on Friday and then I can finally sleep! and ride

This Saturday/Sunday? I'm good for Friday too..! Shiznaz you going to ride your bmx hax?

This Saturday/Sunday? I'm good for Friday too..! Shiznaz you going to ride your bmx hax?

how about down mount pleasant? :D

how about down mount pleasant? :D

Heh, no fair, haven't gotten a chance to check it out yet :D Like we always said back in grade 2... you go first!

If I'm gonna be barreling down mt. pleasant brakeless on my bmx hack I'm gonna need a some sort of a devo costume, or at least a cape.
http://www.clubdevo.com/mp/images/discog/fashions/hits-misses.jpg

Hey what do you guys think is the steepest hill in TO? I vote for Pottery Road. Yeah it's short, but man it's steep!

Hey what do you guys think is the steepest hill in TO? I vote for Pottery Road. Yeah it's short, but man it's steep!

try Lee street starting at queen east (just past woodbine) running up to kingston road (beaches area), when your walking up it you have to lean into the hill and your achillies start to hurt after a block because your toes are almost pointing up at your face. It's just one of those streets you have to stand at the base of and look up it to believe it....

and yeah I'm down for riding friday and or the weekend.... anyone have any ideas of where to go? or meet up?

Try coming out of the Bluffer's Park marina sometime. That hill and I don't get along...

i remember family drives to edward gardens (don't you love those) back in the day.. there were a couple of roads off the major streets (post road?) that are pretty steep. a section of markham road (hwy 48) just before it hits hwy 7 is a pretty fast stretch of 2-lane highway that dips like crazy. i've walked it.. no way would i bike it.

I vote for meet at St. George subway station.

Not sure where the rest of you guys are located, if it would be inconvenient or what not. Saturday forecast is warmer than friday. Both sunny so no problems there.

Hey what do you guys think is the steepest hill in TO? I vote for Pottery Road. Yeah it's short, but man it's steep!


York mills heading west just before yonge is pretty steep. Haven't tried it on my Fixie yet. North of the beaches too-have to try some of this stuff out!

If you guys want to meet up for a quick ride or whatever, this weekend, I'd be game. Maybe just suggest a time and meeting place?

York mills heading west just before yonge is pretty steep. Haven't tried it on my Fixie yet. North of the beaches too-have to try some of this stuff out!

If you guys want to meet up for a quick ride or whatever, this weekend, I'd be game. Maybe just suggest a time and meeting place?

Friday at noon at St George station or Sat at 1:30 same place guys?

Friday at noon at St George station or Sat at 1:30 same place guys?
cool, I can't do anything on week days unless it's after 5pm or 6pm cause of work. Saturday I'm fine with

i'm a working stiff so it'll have to be just a lunch ride for me. any other blue-collar types thinking about a quickie?

Saturday is cool for me. Or at night on weekdays.

Hmmm, I vote Fallingbrook Drive, not to be confused with Fallingbrook Woods, Fallingbrook Creek or Fallingbrook Road which all intersect with Drive. Very annoying delivery location! It's fairly steep headed back west on the north patch to Fallingbrook Road. It may have been me though, I presume I made my dispatcher mad that day or half the guys called in sick cause I saw Lawrence a few times before he sent me out to the eastern boonies. I just remember rounding the corner after dropping off, and I expected to go uphill, I had gone down after all, a steep curvy fun bit. But I round the corner and thanked god I was going home while cursing that incline.

About the steepest hill round that I know of is Donwoods, into Hoggs Hollow off of Yonge, just south of Old Yonge. Short but sweet, and a muther to climb with two kids in a bike trailer!!

Hey guys,

Another fixie freak in Toronto here :)
I work downtown, but for the last 5 years I had worked up an DonMills/Eglinton area and commuted on my 52/16 from the bottom of Yonge Street. Not a bad ride....I don't get out as much now because I work so close to home...I try to get a good half hour to an hour per day still...but its much easier when you have a longer commute!

As for the steepest Hill...For me there are a couple that are brutal.

1. Pottery Road
2. There is a hill off of ThornCliffe road (just off Overlea) that goes down into the Don Trails.. I have to zig zag down it otherwise my legs do a "fred flintsone"

[QUOTE=Bikeophile] and commuted on my 52/16 from the bottom of Yonge Street. QUOTE]


That is a serious gear! I like it....

About the steepest hill round that I know of is Donwoods, into Hoggs Hollow off of Yonge, just south of Old Yonge. Short but sweet, and a muther to climb with two kids in a bike trailer!!


I haven't been down there in years. That *IS* steep....and covered with gravel IIRC.

I acutally buit up a LEVEL / Open Pro Wheelset which I am riding now with 52/17 which is much nicer on the knees than my 52/16...Its a little tougher on the downhills, but more comfy on the flats and uphills.

Whatever, i'll be at St. George subway station Sat. 1:30 pm (St George/Bloor). Bring some $ if you want to go over to Toronto island (ferry operating yet?).

Whatever, i'll be at St. George subway station Sat. 1:30 pm (St George/Bloor). Bring some $ if you want to go over to Toronto island (ferry operating yet?).

I'll be around too, same time (ugly green/black fixie wearing a black dirt jump lid)

ferry runs all year. There is a residential community there after all.

I'll cruise by too. Like to check out some of your rides, and take advantage of stupid toronto drivers, bike gang style.

I'd love to come along...I don't really know anyone who enjoys road cycling. dunno about the ferry - no cash till money goes in my bank :)

.........just to be sure - we're takling about april 9th right?? I'll be at the St.George entrance on a black cdale. (not fixed) *ducks*

I'd love to come along...I don't really know anyone who enjoys road cycling. dunno about the ferry - no cash till money goes in my bank :)

.........just to be sure - we're takling about april 9th right?? I'll be at the St.George entrance on a black cdale. (not fixed) *ducks*


Cool. I'll tell you what, if you show up, I'll pay for your ferry ticket. You just have to name your first born after me.

Cool. I'll tell you what, if you show up, I'll pay for your ferry ticket. You just have to name your first born after me.

cheers, very kind of you! I'll see if I can get my income tax back early - in which case i will also bring some drinks. any idea what the weather is going to be like?

Weather is going to be F'n excellent. High of 13, sunny.

in case someone checks this site more than say, a news site... the ttc will strike on monday.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1112954635912&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154

probably more bikes on the street monday.. which is a good thing.

I gotta get my hands on some sort of helmet camera before monday so I can record my commute to work when there are 2 million more cars to deal with than a regular morning.....


in case someone checks this site more than say, a news site... the ttc will strike on monday.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1112954635912&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154

probably more bikes on the street monday.. which is a good thing.

I gotta get my hands on some sort of helmet camera before monday so I can record my commute to work when there are 2 million more cars to deal with than a regular morning.....

that would be awesome. I want to try that sometime. The video of the NYC race was inspiring.
I'd be worried about biking during the strike, at least during rush hour. Just that many more rubber necks

Sweet....TTC strike. It is going to be chaos! I love it when this happens. Just slows the cars down so you can pull even more audacious moves. I hope they walk out....

I just got clipless pedals today. They are great, I can get so much more power now. However, they take some getting used to and I have a scraped and slightly swollen elbow to show for it. If I'm lucky I'll get another hour or so practice before I meet up with you guys!

seeya then

Sweet....TTC strike. It is going to be chaos! I love it when this happens. Just slows the cars down so you can pull even more audacious moves. I hope they walk out....

Sure, then you get three times the vehicles, 2/3 of which are whiteknuckled freaks who don't drive and aren't used to bicycles on the road. If TTC goes out, watch your back...

Ah that was awesome, I wussed out and took the transit the entire way back. 115km total. Fun riding with you guys, we should do it again sometime!

So what route did you guys ride???

So what route did you guys ride???

well..........we went all over the place. first to center island by ferry, drank beer went around (???) then took the ferry to lakeshore.....biked to a park. smoked a fatty - then went east on the harbour front......what can i say? IT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOO FUN

definately want to do it again sometime - email me at mattgale@gmail.com if you want to organize another ride

Yeah, that was cool. Good meeting you all. I was out riding all day Sunday as well, my legs are smoked.

ditto, yesterday I was out from 10 till 4 as well, totally wiped out and sunburned....

I saw on the news yesterday morning that dukes cycle was completely sold out of all bike locks by mid afternoon on saturday because of the transit strike.... a profitable time to be a bike shop owner I guess...

ditto, yesterday I was out from 10 till 4 as well, totally wiped out and sunburned....

I saw on the news yesterday morning that dukes cycle was completely sold out of all bike locks by mid afternoon on saturday because of the transit strike.... a profitable time to be a bike shop owner I guess...

no ****! I assume a profitable time for bike thieves too...

I want to take out my bike so f'n back right now but i have an assignment for wednesday i haven't started :eek: and two exams coming up ! i guess I'll have to make up for it by commuting to school as fast as i can

ditto, yesterday I was out from 10 till 4 as well, totally wiped out and sunburned....

I saw on the news yesterday morning that dukes cycle was completely sold out of all bike locks by mid afternoon on saturday because of the transit strike.... a profitable time to be a bike shop owner I guess...

Funny. Reminds me of that Y2K B.S. Everyone bought all kinds of bottled water and camping stoves-what a joke.

ditto, yesterday I was out from 10 till 4 as well, totally wiped out and sunburned....

I saw on the news yesterday morning that dukes cycle was completely sold out of all bike locks by mid afternoon on saturday because of the transit strike.... a profitable time to be a bike shop owner I guess...

damn.. that sounded like a good ride. i was busy on the weekend and had to work sunday but still got some biking done. could it have been any more gorgeous on sunday?????!!!!!!!

kinda off-topic but.......... what are people's experiences with duke's? any problems? it seems like they're always getting some kinda publicity or other. now magazine award for best bike store, eye award for best bike store.. blah blah blah... is it all deserved? their prices are ok on components, and i've experience the full spectrum of customer service there...
on another note, strike averted at last second. wow, big surprise. they like to keeps us in suspense though.

[QUOTE=what are people's experiences with duke's? any problems? it seems like they're always getting some kinda publicity or other. now magazine award for best bike store, eye award for best bike store.. blah blah blah... .[/QUOTE]


I'm not a huge fan of Dukes. There are worse stores, to be sure, but I generally have to go in there and stand around for half an hour waiting for the resident crack head to help me. I prefer Urbane Cycles, it's in the same 'hood. Much better service, and more knoledgable staff.

way more track stuff at urbane too