Rides and Races - Toronto Fixed

sorry, don't mean to bring up the separate thread issue again... BUT... i was poking around the chicago fixed gear site (http://chifg.com/) and it's pretty nice. i like the separate stickies for commonly posted topics and it would be cool if we could have the same e.g. faces, ebay/craigs, beer rides, times to go bug keith..etc. their site doesn't use v_bulletin but i think the functionality of the site is fine. uh, i guess what i'm trying to say is if someone wants to host something similar. hahaahaha, ok, that's what i thought. back to regularly scheduled rambling.

edit: on the flipside, i'm aware that having an exclusive thread sounds rather cliquey and if that's where it's heading then fahgeddaboutit.

sorry, don't mean to bring up the separate thread issue again... BUT... i was poking around the chicago fixed gear site (http://chifg.com/) and it's pretty nice. i like the separate stickies for commonly posted topics and it would be cool if we could have the same e.g. faces, ebay/craigs, beer rides, times to go bug keith..etc. their site doesn't use v_bulletin but i think the functionality of the site is fine. uh, i guess what i'm trying to say is if someone wants to host something similar. hahaahaha, ok, that's what i thought. back to regularly scheduled rambling.

hahahahaha I got a pIII webserver...but I only have dsl so it aint gonna be fast...its .net 2.0 and php ready...

hahahahaha I got a pIII webserver...but I only have dsl so it aint gonna be fast...its .net 2.0 and php ready...
I wish you guys would stop speaking Hungarian.

I wish you guys would stop speaking Hungarian.

lunch time...Im feelin quite Hungary!!

mmm goulash.
On the way in had to use my Sgt. voice box to clear the road of jaywalkers on Yonge. One lad literally jumped a foot in the air, priceless. Hey, you don't look and just step out in downtown, worse things could happen than having 10 years scared off your life.

"Queen’s Quay West from Spadina to York will be partially closed to car traffic from August 11 - 20 to give us a taste of West 8’s plan for the Waterfront"

http://spacing.ca/wire/?p=1024

You mean the barriers separating the bike path from the road with all in driveways still intact? All the way to Spadina? Death Path, I saw it today outside my work. Partially closed... :lol: what does that mean, sounds like a biking nightmare with all the foot traffic.

On the way in had to use my Sgt. voice box to clear the road of jaywalkers on Yonge. One lad literally jumped a foot in the air, priceless. Hey, you don't look and just step out in downtown, worse things could happen than having 10 years scared off your life.

What gets me is how they step out into the curb space/bike lane without a look, but then stop there to look for cars.

Speaking of Hungarian, Elizabeth deli on Bloor St is gone as of last year, and now the Hungarian palace is turning into a book store. A little slice of the city multi-culture seems to be slipping away there, a victim of market forces I suppose.

Speaking of Hungarian, Elizabeth deli on Bloor St is gone as of last year, and now the Hungarian palace is turning into a book store. A little slice of the city multi-culture seems to be slipping away there, a victim of market forces I suppose.

There's always The Hungary Thai in the market. :D


You mean the barriers separating the bike path from the road with all in driveways still intact? All the way to Spadina? Death Path, I saw it today outside my work. Partially closed... :lol: what does that mean, sounds like a biking nightmare with all the foot traffic.

True dat.. but it's the thought that counts, and I'd prefer to encourage the decision to try and reduce vehicular traffic in that area.

Bah I just stripped the nut for my rear wheel. Replace with any regular 15mm ok?

You should all read this: ring and post lockups are vunlerable. Don't lock your bike to one.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=217905

Links to thestar article.

For anyone (Wes) thinking of stopping by today I have something to do that requires my immediate attention and will be closing early (read right now) sorry for the inconvenience folks. K.

On a completely different topic. Pyze-guy you look familiar

Well, the avatar is really me, so perhaps that's it. Either that or you have been in one of the kitchens I've run.

Of course, being so good with names and dates (faces I remeber), I can't recall your name. Or attach a face to "operator". Bad on me. I mean I am horrible with peoples names. There are guys I worked with for 2 years and have no clue what their names are. Makes it tough to introduce them to friends. Now women, have no trouble remebering there names. Funny that.

http://www.kvikmynd.is/myndband.asp?id=2408 <-- work safe link

Thanks for the link, operator...

For anyone (Wes) thinking of stopping by today I have something to do that requires my immediate attention and will be closing early (read right now) sorry for the inconvenience folks. K.

No worries. I'll drop by on the weekend.

True dat.. but it's the thought that counts, and I'd prefer to encourage the decision to try and reduce vehicular traffic in that area.

Yes I agree but the permanent solution has nothing to do with closing it off to cars ever I don't think.
It's like a little Waterfront Corp. marketing exercise. I'm all for blocking off motor access, but you'll actually have less room to ride in this situation, kinda like riding through Dundas Square.

AND who knows of some yummy Hungarian place to eat?

potholes of the edge of streetcar tracks...grrrr

Heh, St Clair W is certainly fun for that as the whole concrete road surface between the tracks is also crumbling away.

Speaking of which, did I see boroSS on traveling westbound on St Clair after Dufferin around 4ish?

How you feeling these days GBoy? Healed up nicely?

Bah I just stripped the nut for my rear wheel. Replace with any regular 15mm ok?

You should all read this: ring and post lockups are vunlerable. Don't lock your bike to one.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=217905

Links to thestar article.

I read that in the Star today (front page too). If this is making people think that the parking sign posts might be more secure (you know the four sided poles with the holes up and down each side), think again. Check that they're secure to the ground. They can often be lifted out of the holder that's imbeded in the concrete. Some have simply a bolt and nut holding them in place that can be easily removed, or else already has been.

Just read the Toronto star story that’s not good like who the hell is doing this. You know if i had some spare time I’d love to lock up my bike in a busy or not so busy spot & inconspicuously wait and watch just to see. A face to face with someone who did this would be interesting.

The quay to the city thing looks great a small peace of the puzzle. Better then a door to knee.
Cheers

The quay to the city thing looks great a small peace of the puzzle. Better then a door to knee.
Cheers

Come down here and have a look at it though. Unless they are going to do something drastic to it in the next little bit.

Just read the Toronto star story that’s not good like who the hell is doing this. You know if i had some spare time I’d love to lock up my bike in a busy or not so busy spot & inconspicuously wait and watch just to see. A face to face with someone who did this would be interesting.



If you do, don't forget this http://www.b2b-personal-security.com/stun/TITAN-GB8.htm followed by this http://tinyurl.com/rv8cf

If you do, don't forget this http://www.b2b-personal-security.com/stun/TITAN-GB8.htm followed by this http://tinyurl.com/rv8cf

Hell ya perfect
Q: Hi are you stealing that bike?
A: Oh no its mine just lost my keys bad day.
ZAP o dose that hurt? Snip
Ha a hahaha

Hell ya perfect
Q: Hi are you stealing that bike?
A: Oh no its mine just lost my keys bad day.
ZAP o dose that hurt? Snip
Ha a hahaha

ouch....hahahaha

dammmmmmmmmmmmmmmn...a couple of those and biketheft would slow down rell fast! ;)

God, why did I watch Hard Candy? *shudder*

Heh, St Clair W is certainly fun for that as the whole concrete road surface between the tracks is also crumbling away.

Speaking of which, did I see boroSS on traveling westbound on St Clair after Dufferin around 4ish?

nope! i wasnt downtown at 4ish today!

u ride around that are a alot? <3

God, why did I watch Hard Candy? *shudder*

For the exceptionally sexy Sandra Oh? Or perhaps Ellen Page...

So a funny story on my ride tonight. Stopped in Tim Hortons at St. George around 11:00 for coffee, locked up my bike and enjoyed a nice coffee and a smoke. Went to unlock and realized I lost the key for the crappy cable lock I use. Phoned the wife, no key there. No spare either. Went home and grabbed a hammer, screw driver and a hack saw. Waited until one of Torontos finest drove by (figured it wouldn't take long, being a donut shop and all....) and told them I had an unusual request. Watch as I broke the lock, so that no one would call the police on me. After convincing them it was my bike, giving them my name and address in case someone reported the bike stolen, as if anyone would want a bike that ugly, and by describing the bike in detail. So I then peoceeded to bash the crap out of the lock. Took a few good whacks. Faces from inside were curious to say the least. Thanked the officers and decided not to offer some donuts, but coffees instead. They declined and off I went. Nice night for a ride.

Ah yes, spare keys. Like a 1-up.

the William Gibson-esque thumb print proximity bike alarms that deliver a stunning ZAP!!! through the frame is what I'd love. It even tells people to back off. :lol: Powered by the micro-electrical generators in the hubs. mmmm one day. Funny story smackin a lock to death with the police watching, good plan getting them on board first.

Yeah if we had the gibson bike lock we'd all be riding paper core bikes made by the japanese. Though he definately got one thing right in the bridge cycle by basing all of that in a future frisco

*wes gives big nerdy hugs all around* :P

I want the radio bike before the alarm though. OH and the light up rims.
dibs on converting the DVP subway bridge into loft living once the fall comes. :lol:

Word to NERD!

*sobs*

... as I sit here watching my documentary on the Altair 8800 ...

It's all true!

hi everyone. newbie from the east end here. been riding my first fixie ever for less than a month now. she's a lemond filmore. really happy about the bike. new to a lot of this fixed gear/road bike thing. had a flat the second day of riding. am a bit clumsy on the road. used to ride my ss unibomber on the road.
am really really freaked out about downhills. started riding clipped in for a week now. started learning how to skid but not really that great yet. would love to learn from pros on this forum. i'd like to move my rear wheel all the way to the inside of the dropouts. because i hate to always have to make sure that i have proper tension whenever i put the rear wheels back on for what ever reason (flats would most likely be the most common reason). is there any disadvantage to doing this? i also like the fact that fixies look way cooler that way.

East end, eh? Stop by Cycle Therapy - 1114 Queen East. I'll take a look at that tire for you (maybe you've got something embedded in it that's causing repeated flats) and give you some tips on skipping/skidding.

- Mike

PS. I'm in every day except Monday/Tuesday.

The key to skidding is practise, you have to find the perfect body position on your bike to get it too work. Took me awhile but now I can hold it for pretty much as long as I have speed and a safe place to do it. The same thing with going downhill you have to figure out just how fast you can spin for how long. Just work up hills in progressions, I find Russel Hill Road works well because it provides curves, a one way street, quiet area and a good run off so you can go as fast or as slow as you want.

Anyone riding today??

And Keith you going to be open? I need to come chat with you about a few things

PS. I'm in every day except Monday/Tuesday.

Back to your old schedule now, post-rally?

Also: I vote for a crit.vac. ride next week.

Back to your old schedule now, post-rally?

Also: I vote for a crit.vac. ride next week.

... for the rest of the month (Tomas is selling his house, so he's at home most days getting it fixed up).

thanks mike. will do so. have some errands to do today and will try and stop by. that's close to carlaw isn't it?

Just east of Queen and Pape.

oops..sorry, i just realized you already gave me the address on your post. :D

oops..sorry, i just realized you already gave me the address on your post. :D

Would this be Dino?

Anyone know a messenger who rides a sky blue brakeless cyclops track bike? Just saw the dude go across traffic at front and bay, looked like he had a "the messengers" jersey on or something.

Also, I have been noticing that when I ride with no hands occasionally the front end of the bike will start shaking and flexing back and forth and the handlebars will start twitching. It gets worse the faster I go and I have to grab the handlebars when they start to really flail around. Is this a problem with the bike or a fact of life? i don't seem to remember this happening before, its more of a new occurence. When I lean forward with no hands it seems to help the problem somewhat. Front end seems nice and solid and I did a full maintenence of it a week or two ago.

High speed shimmys are fun.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/shimmy.html


It cannot be fixed by adjustments because it is inherent to the geometry and elasticity of the bicycle frame. The longer the frame and the higher the saddle, the greater the tendency to shimmy, other things being equal.

the William Gibson-esque thumb print proximity bike alarms that deliver a stunning ZAP!!! through the frame is what I'd love. It even tells people to back off. :lol: Powered by the micro-electrical generators in the hubs. mmmm one day. Funny story smackin a lock to death with the police watching, good plan getting them on board first.


Virtual Light?

yup.... that's where we first meet Chevette and her messer friends

Anyone know a messenger who rides a sky blue brakeless cyclops track bike? Just saw the dude go across traffic at front and bay, looked like he had a "the messengers" jersey on or something.

Also, I have been noticing that when I ride with no hands occasionally the front end of the bike will start shaking and flexing back and forth and the handlebars will start twitching. It gets worse the faster I go and I have to grab the handlebars when they start to really flail around. Is this a problem with the bike or a fact of life? i don't seem to remember this happening before, its more of a new occurence. When I lean forward with no hands it seems to help the problem somewhat. Front end seems nice and solid and I did a full maintenence of it a week or two ago.


I think i saw this messenger guy yesterday up by Davisville and Mt Pleasant. Is the Cyclops one of those super agressive forward sloping toptube track bikes? He looked really tired when he got up to the top of mt pleasant.

Nice bike though.

yup.... that's where we first meet Chevette and her messer friends

And I thought I was the only cyberpunk freak here. :)
You mean there is more of Chevette in other books?
Neuromancer is still my favorite of the two I've read.

Virtual Light is part of the bridge cycle which is 3 related books, Virtual Light, Idoru and All Tommorow's Parties. All are worth reading.

That is all.

whew.. finally past the page of death (444).

Interesting! I guess being tall makes you more prone to speed wobbles, because you need a bigger bike with longer tubes and you're sitting up higher. Maybe my long heavy stem and bullhorns mounted with a big light and a mini soccer ball, a bell, 2 oury grips and cork tape are also adding to the problem. It is cool to watch the front of my bike virbate like a guitar string though. Maybe its time for some handlebar mounted bottle holders. Kick it old school while getting the most out of my speed wobbles.