Rides and Races - Toronto Fixed

Okay, I'm bored and I could use an opinion or two, so here goes ...



Nice. Sounds pretty solid to me. I wouldn't run egg beaters if I were you though. I know some people love them, but they are not very robust. Pedals should never use a bushing in place of a bearing-ever. Plus, when you smack them on a curb-and you will on a fixie, they tend to get bent. They are a nead design, and light, but I think there are better pedals (that don't look as cool, but....)

Okay, I'm bored and I could use an opinion or two, so here goes ...

Spring Bike Build (best bang for the buck):

Frameset:
frame - IRO Angus (56cm, black like my future)
fork - Bike Works NYC straight blade - or - dig through the pile of used forks at work

Wheelset:
rims - Mavic CXP33 (silver, 32/32)
hubs - Formula (silver, fixed / free, 120mm)
spokes - DT Revolution (silver, 2/1.5/2)
nipples - brass
tires - Vittoria Rubino (black like my future, 23mm)

Drivetrain:
cranks - Miche Primato Pista (165mm)
chainring - 48 tooth (1/8")
bottom bracket - Miche Primato Pista (107mm)
chain - KMC Z510HX (1/8")
sprocket - EAI 17 tooth (1/8")
freewheel - White Industries 16/18 double freewheel (3/32" I'm assuming, 1/8" if I can get it)
lockring - Dura-Ace
pedals - MKS GR-9 + MKS mini clips - or - Crank Brothers Eggbeaters SL

Ass Bucket:
saddle - Selle Italia SLR
seatpost - Kalloy aero Campagnolo rip-off

Cockpit:
headset - Shimano 105, Ultegra ... something w/ a cartridge bearing - suggestions?
stem - threaded ... depends on bars - suggestions?
bars - dunno ... "won" an eBay auction for some Mavic pursuit bars, but the seller disapeared
grips - cheesy Keirin grips
brake - Tektro ... dual pivot caliper ... RX 40, RX 20G, 423AG (silver) - suggestions?
brake lever - Tektro cyclocross (silver)
Looks like a sweet build. I would suggest a Campy B.B. instead of the Miche....The miche B.B. is a really cheap unit and they have a tendency to creak...I think because of the dual adjustable cup design. Most of the folks I know running Miche cranks are using Campy for the B.B. and have had much better results with it. Miche does offer an upgraded B.B. over the Primato unit...If you go with Miche you may want to consider that one.
The Shimano headset is a pretty good choice...they are pretty durable and itès easy to get replacement bearings for em when they wear out.

freewheel - White Industries 16/18 double freewheel (3/32" I'm assuming, 1/8" if I can get it)


I think I want to get one of these freewheels for my trials bike... after chewing a 2nd derailure off it early this year and never changing gears I always though it'd be a cool idea to just set it up as a single speed.... but this double White Industries thing is like a bmx freewheel with 2 sprockets no?

how much do they cost??


your sping build looks dope!!

Me back in May on a tbn ride. On the left.

Yeah yeah it's not fixed.


i like yer fork. very tasteful. ;)

bars - dunno ... "won" an eBay auction for some Mavic pursuit bars, but the seller disapeared
grips - cheesy Keirin grips


your build is beginning to sound like best bang for the somewhat-big bucks! but like you said, it's giftmas.

keirin grips ain't cheesy!! they grippy. float, what colour were you thinking of getting?
how about nitto drops and stem if you're going for a track-look. they're not the lightest but who cares.
oh, unless iro is spec'ing the nyc bikeworks fork along with the frame, perhaps you could do some forum searches on "bikeworks".. some bad buzz.

on a separate note:
i'm running a cxp-33 up front (sweetness) and a drc in back. does anyone else think it's easier to change a tire on an aero-rim vs. a box rim? i swear, the difference is night and day. or maybe it's my mad skillz... in fact, i'm really tempted to get a cxp for the back now too.... or maybe i should just ride my tubulars on the street. heh..

or maybe i should just ride my tubulars on the street. heh..[/QUOTE]
Only if you are good at sewing as well as patching tubes.

or maybe i should just ride my tubulars on the street. heh..
Only if you are good at sewing as well as patching tubes.[/QUOTE]
keith, i'm good at neither, and that was a jab at you. please don't sell my wheels. and yes, i have to pick them up.

Where have I been in this thread? Oh well! Heres a catch up: Having a winter beater is necessary, and you will enjoy riding so much more when you can treat the bike like the incredibly useful tool it is (ie. not your girlfriend). I have in fact become so attached to my winter beater that I (almost) prefer it to speedy bike. Eyefloater: nice sounding build, you'll be rocking the same bars that I am (if they ever make it to you). Gokiburi, get your damn sannino off the road you tyrant! I just want to say again how sweet and buttery and bombproof my tied cxp-33/level wheelset is.

Also, did I see someone here on tuesday afternoon riding a black fixie left off of bloor onto bathurst (probably coming from curbside)? I'm in Paris again (for christmas), and the bike shops here are either big sports stores with a decent enough bike section with some road and mountain bikes ranging from crap to decent, or super boutique stores with all CF colnagos in the windows speced with crazy crazy parts going for 4000 euros. Also they have everything you could ever think of branded with colnago, in case people can't already tell you have a sweet ride. There is no real 'pignon-fixe' scene here though, despite the velodromes, and none of the shops seem to carry fixie stuff.

Now below are pictures of my 3 bikes. The grey one has new wheels and tires now (cxp33s/level/conti-gp3000), the blue one now has the wheels and tires off of the grey bike, and has since been given back its original fork and lost its brakes and had its fenders replaced with full coverage, as well as some high-vis lights and an ever so sexy rack. I also replaced the bars with the flopped and chopped original nitto road bars that came with the bike, and put on campy strada GS cranks off of my bmx. In fact the only parts on it that are the same as in the picture are the frame, seatpost and saddle (new headset and bb even!), I should probably just take another picture of the darn thing. The silver bike is in pieces in the shed waiting to be rebuilt as a not-quite-as-insane fixed gear bmx I intend to mess around on and attempt to hurt myself doing tricks. No pics of me as I am on the parental laptop, but I assure you I bear a stunning resemblance to Ghostface Killah.

Only if you are good at sewing as well as patching tubes.
keith, i'm good at neither, and that was a jab at you. please don't sell my wheels. and yes, i have to pick them up.[/QUOTE]
Wheels? What wheels? I assure you I have no idea what you are talkin about! lol

This may be totally out of this thread, but I feel like I know you guys like family now. *weep*.
I have a sweet trials bike I'm trying to sell, and it's in super condition (Selling in order to buy another bike. Guilty!). Does anyone know of a friend of a friend or anyone who is in the market currently for a trials bike like a NORCO moment (in the T.O. area)?

Worth a check right? Note: This is not an ad, Suckas!

If anyone wasnts to see a pic or two I'll post them. Just PM me!!

P.S. it's a single speed trials bike, so I think it totally counts.

Wow, a pile of useful responses ... craziness!

Eggbeaters: I hear such polarizing responses about those, but you raise a good point. I've got a set of the GR-9's already and they're nice - might use those. I may also just tear the Suntour Cyclones off my current bike and replace the straps / cages. Who knows ...

Bottom Bracket: Isn't that Campagnolo one ~$85 more than the Miche? If you think it's worth the extra cash, I'll certainly go with the word of Keith over the word of Mike (Hi, I'm Mike).

Freewheel: They retail for ~$105 I think ...

Pursuit Bar Debacle: weird situation ... I won the auction, but the guy never responded to my request for a shipping charge. He just dropped off the face of the planet and no money ever changed hands. Weird situation, since he had close to 100 good feedback responses. *shrug*

Grips: The rest of the bike is going to be monochromatic with all the logos peeled off (no Mavic / IRO logos ... if I find out how to do it, I'll get the logo off the cranks too). I'll likely go completely overboard w/ the grips and get my sea foam green on.

Bike Works NYC: Were you thinking NYCBikes? I've heard bad things about them, but good reviews about Bike Works ...

Hey all. I just talked to the guy with all the beater frames. He has a whole crapload of bikes but only 15-20 of them are probably worthwhile for conversion duty. The price he quoted me, $20, was for the crappy department store bikes. For the road frames..and he has a few complete bikes as well, he wants between $40 and $100. There are a few Bianchi's..one with all old 600 parts...several Peugeot's...a couple of Miele's and some other ones I am not that familiar with. In any case the deal is whatever he sells em for you will get a tax receipt from the M.S. society. So a good deal and all the $ goes to a worthwhile charity. He told me he comes to TO. on a regular basis and would be willing to drop off a load here at the shop. If anyone is interested let me know what sizes you require and I will get him to bring the applicable sized frames by for your perusal. A small donation of beer or pork buns for this service would be appreciated :)

Wow, a pile of useful responses ... craziness!

Eggbeaters: I hear such polarizing responses about those, but you raise a good point. I've got a set of the GR-9's already and they're nice - might use those. I may also just tear the Suntour Cyclones off my current bike and replace the straps / cages. Who knows ...

Bottom Bracket: Isn't that Campagnolo one ~$85 more than the Miche? If you think it's worth the extra cash, I'll certainly go with the word of Keith over the word of Mike (Hi, I'm Mike).

Freewheel: They retail for ~$105 I think ...

Pursuit Bar Debacle: weird situation ... I won the auction, but the guy never responded to my request for a shipping charge. He just dropped off the face of the planet and no money ever changed hands. Weird situation, since he had close to 100 good feedback responses. *shrug*

Grips: The rest of the bike is going to be monochromatic with all the logos peeled off (no Mavic / IRO logos ... if I find out how to do it, I'll get the logo off the cranks too). I'll likely go completely overboard w/ the grips and get my sea foam green on.

Bike Works NYC: Were you thinking NYCBikes? I've heard bad things about them, but good reviews about Bike Works ...
You can get an alloy cupped Campy B.B. for about $35. Most of the high zoot Campy B.B.'s are for use only with high end Campy cranks...it will not work with anything else as the spindle length is like 103 or something.

He told me he comes to TO. on a regular basis and would be willing to drop off a load here at the shop. If anyone is interested let me know what sizes you require and I will get him to bring the applicable sized frames by for your perusal. A small donation of beer or pork buns for this service would be appreciated :)
Sweet! I'm very interested, mark me down for a $40 - $100 road frame...56-60cm range.

Thank you, sir. You are smart in the head.

I'd also be interested - let's say 54-58cm for me ... what beer do you like?

Wow thats amazing!
I'm really interested in anything from a 53 - 56cm
and I'd def. bring over a crapload of bbq pork buns... if thats the kinda stuff your into!
and there's tons of other diff types of buns....
pinapple buns
red bean buns
.... and egg tarts... yum.

I'd also be interested - let's say 54-58cm for me ... what beer do you like?
Isn't all beer good? Anything thats not lite or American.

Side note:

My girlfriend made me so proud last night. We're sitting there watching some show on the tube and a Bailey's commercial comes on (That one with all the pretty idiots dunking marshmallows in their booze). She scowls at the tv and yells, "Why do people drink that sh*t, anyway? It doesn't even get you drunk! F*ck that." *sigh* ... she's so dreamy.

Isn't all beer good? Anything thats not lite or American.

the silver bullet it is then.
52-54cm for me please.

Yeah well my girlfriend told me that she thinks all my (incredibly dorky) bike gear looks hot, and has decided to start winter biking (presumably because of yours truly), even though she just got her full license and has access to cars. Also a few weeks I was riding her home and some jerk peels by us half way in the oncoming lane and she hollers out with incredible gusto "SHARE THE ****ING ROAD *******!" I was very proud to say the least. I'm only going to put her on a fixie if she asks though; I'd feel like some kind of perv if I just gave her one out of the blue

just out of curiousity...
do you guys drive?

Do I have a license? Yes.
Can I afford a car in this city? No.
Do I have any desire to own a car? No.
Do I rent cars for out of town trips and whenever I move? Yes.

I can drive, as in I have a licence. But I don't drive unless I go home to see my parents, and then I use their car. I don't really plan on owning a car as long as I'm living in the City. It's silly. You can't go down one way streets the wrong way, or through parks, run lights, drive drunk, snort coke, smack kids. What are the perks? :D

snort coke, smack kids.

those two sold it for me.

My G2 expires on february 5th, which means that I have very little time to get my license before I have to start all over again. I had a test on november 30th, but I failed it on account of the roads in the north of the city being insane (ie. everything is road.. its just one big six lane wide wasteland full of interchanges and gigantic intersections), me living my entire life downtown, and also not having driven for about 3.5 years. I only made one (seriously, just one) mistake in the whole test, but it was enough to fail me. I'd just forget about it and not get a license, but for some reason my mother has this strange obsession with me getting a license and she actually deposits money in my bank account from overseas to pay for driving tests and a car for the day and stuff. So I do the good son thing and do what she asks me to do, but at this point I may not be able to even book another test before my license is expired. Who needs a license anyways? You just need friends with licenses, then you can never be the DD. Woot!

My G2 expires on february 5th, which means that I have very little time to get my license before I have to start all over again. I had a test on november 30th, but I failed it on account of the roads in the north of the city being insane (ie. everything is road.. its just one big six lane wide wasteland full of interchanges and gigantic intersections), me living my entire life downtown, and also not having driven for about 3.5 years. I only made one (seriously, just one) mistake in the whole test, but it was enough to fail me.

Dang, that sucks so hard.
at least you get more funds from your parents hoorah!


Who needs a license anyways? You just need friends with licenses, then you can never be the DD. Woot!

... or get a girlfriend, just kidding! :p

I regret getting my drivers license, $400 I could've better spent on a bike, or beer or strippers.

It (g2 license) expires in ilke 2009 or something like that. Can anyone actually afford insurance? Companies quoted me like 3-5g's. Wth.

Welcome to the wonderful world of private insurance. A nasty shock for me too when I came to Ontario from Saskatchewan (which has government insurance as well as private).

If you've had your licence for three years and don't want to fork out for a car, autoshare may be an option
http://www.autoshare.com/isit.html

Or ride your fixed gear (to stay on topic).

holy shiznit.
3000 for insurance in INSANE.
so Operator, how long does it take you to ride down from richmond hill to downtown?
yea my g2 also expires sometime in 2009.

well, my insurance is $500 for a year when listed as a second driver of my parents' 2 cars.
(partially because they both have spotless driving records)
But yea, driving in downtown is quite silly when you have you guys have such sweet bikes.
IMO I think its a different story when you live uptown where places aren't located quite so near to each other.
Unless your a hardcore biker, then in that case, a car is silly in any situation :p

Does anyone 'round here know if there is a Critical Mass ride going in Toronto this month? I'll be down visiting relatives and I might still be around on the Friday night. I figure if anyone comes out, it would be a fun way to kill an evening in a city I've never really biked in before.

It's about 29k from my house to UT campus. Takes 1hr 10-15min in good traffic down and 1hr 20-30min back up.

Thats good time :)
I was just wondering as I'm applying for Uni this year and just seeing if if it'd be manageable biking 3 - 4 times a week from Scarborough to U of T campus.
I guess 1hr and a bit its't too bad.
What route do you take op?
btw- any of you guys part of Toronto Fixed Group or take part in any planned group rides like the donut ride I keep on hearing about?

http://www.pathcom.com/~praxis/rides.html

I drive a fair bit, especially in the winter. I was only able to afford insurance because I have a university degree. I went through TD Meloche Monex. I just told them that I have a degree from U of T and they gave me a group rate of 1350$/year, which is a lot more than I am used to paying but much less than the 3500-5500$/year I was being quoted by other insurers. I hope this info can help someone here; and when you do drive, I know you will all be respectful of cyclists ;)

Thats good time :)
I was just wondering as I'm applying for Uni this year and just seeing if if it'd be manageable biking 3 - 4 times a week from Scarborough to U of T campus.
I guess 1hr and a bit its't too bad.
What route do you take op?
btw- any of you guys part of Toronto Fixed Group or take part in any planned group rides like the donut ride I keep on hearing about?

http://www.pathcom.com/~praxis/rides.html

That's definitely doable, route choice, for me not much of one. Straight down Yonge st. to bloor and across. I live on Bayview so. Did that for a 2 months straight last year.

Shiznaz and I did the donut last year..... we got out asses kicked. I feel the need to go back to that ride though.

Did you guys do the "short" or the long version? There's a regular at Cycle Therapy who does it every week and I think it still kicks his ass on a regular basis.

yea....
me and my friend thought we were cool after we biked over to lake simcoe last summer.
So the same week we went to the donut ride ...
We were both on our garage sale road bikes
(I had a benotto which i scored for 20 bucks... but I had no clue what it was worth back then. Now its sold... and I totally regret it!)

We were wearing baseball caps, t-shirts and shorts
and it seemed that everyone else had their 1k road bikes and lyrca shorts + we were the only teens.
We got embarassed the hell out of and consequently got our asses kicked.
It was alright in the beginning when everyone was just going at 35km-ish but after that bridge section... we got SWOOPED.

I'm going to train all summer and my goal is to somehow keep up with those people, they are BEASTS!

Er, what is the donut? I don't see it in that link there.

Did you guys do the "short" or the long version? There's a regular at Cycle Therapy who does it every week and I think it still kicks his ass on a regular basis.

We didn't get far enough to decide ... :D

Sr20det I could swear you were 25+. Donut ride is a regular ride fri/sat/sun starting from elginton & laird, uninsured every man for himself hammerfest once it goes north on Keele. Tempo up until there.

Friday night triva time, name that bike:

http://x11.putfile.com/12/35001520573.jpg (http://www.putfile.com)

Jessica Alba ^

We didn't get far enough to decide ... :D

Sr20det I could swear you were 25+. Donut ride is a regular ride fri/sat/sun starting from elginton & laird, uninsured every man for himself hammerfest once it goes north on Keele. Tempo up until there.

Thanks for the compliments. :p
Maby if I was legal drinking age then I could come and hang out with you guys.

I have a license and a van but only use it in the city to pick up large items or bikes. The nice thing about not having a license is being able to run stop signs and whatnot without having to worry about getting a ticket. It comes in handy when I want to go to London or go to ravenshoe or Hardwood with a bunch of my buddies. When I was looking for insurance, cold calling places, thay were quoting me $4000-$5000. My gf hooked me up with her Dads insurance company and got it down to 2500...but thats for insurance that allows anyone on my team to drive as well. Get a hook-up with someone you know and you will get a better deal.

The donut ride was hilarious. I can still feel pangs of shame from when we were drafting that poor girl up that hill with the crazy headwind for like 3 kms. Then I had to get off the bike so that I didn't die on the saddle. The ride back was freaking wicked though, we probably averaged around 40km/h most of the way back. Those guys really do look down on you if you don't fit in though, so if you ever feel like messing with some meatheads, then show up on a tricycle or something just to freak them out.

PS. Jessica alba ain't gonna be so pretty once that rev-x explodes and she sucks asphalt. Also I didn't know she lived in a homeless commune....

Friday night triva time, name that bike:

Jessica Alba ^

cannondale frame for sure (note the integrated front shock/headset thing).... is that from when she used to star on DarkAngle as a bike courier in seatle?


I'm 24 and have never got my car licence, but I have had my motorcycle (m) licence since I was 16... and have owned and insured bike(s) for the last 8 - 9 years. Usually for $1000 or less per year. Unlike a car that is a money pit waiting to happen (maitnince, parking, insurence, etc), a motorcycle is completely different and I would never think of giving it up no matter what city I lived in.

Damn Dood. How long is this thread going to go on for? I think you folks in Toronato should ask the BF admins to set up another forum called "Toronto has more Fixies than any other town". 1400 repies! That more than some other forums like Folding bikes.

The funny thing is there are like four of us

Plus all the lurkers.

Plus all the lurkers.

Sweep, looking in your direction ...

Ps. Did you get that IRO you mentioned?

Damn Dood. How long is this thread going to go on for? I think you folks in Toronato should ask the BF admins to set up another forum called "Toronto has more Fixies than any other town". 1400 repies! That more than some other forums like Folding bikes.

I haven't responded yet, I just joined, so if you're counting make it 1401. And blame it on Cavernmech, he's so cute.

OK, so I'll toot my horn. Ride a fixed on the street, plus other good wheels as well as a tandem. Used to run the fixed gear sprints on Wednesday night on Unwin Ave (how many remember those). And I'm the designer of the HPR, that crazy over/under figure eight velodrome. I know you talked about it in various forums, so if you need to know more, send me a note. :beer:

Can I rent that thing out this summer for my birthday?

Holy **** you designed that thing!?
Rent it out to us and you'll become the richest BF member!