Rides and Races - Toronto Fixed

Wes-

was that you I saw biking westbound on St. Claire ave. around 11:30 or so tonight?

Nope!


How does 5:15-5:30 sound for a start time?

So I was planning on going but then I realized I had other things I have to get done after work before I go to the concert. It'll have to be another day for me, sorry!

So I've been busy cutting this video (http://www.silverfishlongboarding.com/newsflash/top-challenge-06-video-976.html) and doing things related with Top Challenge. But now I want to ride anyone down for a CV this week?


:lol: Dude that is so my flippin' hill from back in the day.

why is it that the roads get WAY more dangerous every year when school starts again? Shouldn't people be trying to be MORE safe? I had one guy walking down the bike lane, another group of people walk off the sidewalk into the street and THEN look, and another guy walking in the same direction as me encountered a pole on the sidewalk and went around the left side (ie. walking directly in front of me) without even looking.. then there was a car driving in the bike lane and when I rode along side of him (and matched his speed to block him from passing in the bike lane) I got a dirty look and then he screeched his tires to "catch" the traffic 20 feet ahead of him.

also: it's shocking how often I get work-related emails from people at say 11:30pm or on weekends, etc. wtf is wrong with people? I've never understood the work slaves. It's different if you're doing something you love, but I can't imagine that anyone gets a big thrill out of setting up a meeting with a loser like me. If I ever, EVER do work at home or on the weekends without getting paid extra for it, I give you full permission to smack me.

Powergrips are great. Pretty much better than clips and straps in my opinion... they look like crap but who cares? I only really ever used them for messing around in the winter and going to class. No word on how they would be for distance.

Same reason that the first snowfall of year results in cars spinning and flipping themselves into oblivion even though, strangely, we've gotten snow and ice almost every year here since the damned car was invented. People are mind bogglingly stupid sometimes.

Powergrips are great. Pretty much better than clips and straps in my opinion... they look like crap but who cares? I only really ever used them for messing around in the winter and going to class. No word on how they would be for distance.

Does somebody local carry these?

Does somebody local carry these?

pbk doesn't carry them? ;)

pbk doesn't carry them? ;)

Wheres your office again? And uh no :P I need them like, now unfortunately.

Wheres your office again? And uh no :P I need them like, now unfortunately.
If you grovel before the mighty Eyefloater, he might hook you up. Be nice and don't mention online bike shops.

Keith-
When's the last date that I can pick up some raffle tickets?

Keith-
When's the last date that I can pick up some raffle tickets?

I think the draw is on the 15th (friday).


ps. Keith: I dropped by the shop yesterday, but I guess you're not open on Mondays now? It wasn't a big deal since I was just coming by to waste your time anyway. ;)

why is it that the roads get WAY more dangerous every year when school starts again?

the film festival crowd is pretty bad too. i almost got doored by two gussied-up blondes coming out of a taxi on king in front of roy thompson. and for the record operator, they were hot. that ******-film-festival-hot.

I think the draw is on the 15th (friday).


ps. Keith: I dropped by the shop yesterday, but I guess you're not open on Mondays now? It wasn't a big deal since I was just coming by to waste your time anyway. ;)

I also passed by the shop yesterday as well my first clue that it was not open was when I saw Keith on his bike riding east. Ha ha i'll try again today.
As I now have lots of time on my hands well kind of!
Cheers

I also passed by the shop yesterday as well my first clue that it was not open was when I saw Keith on his bike riding east. Ha ha i'll try again today.
As I now have lots of time on my hands well kind of!
Cheers

you can hear his handle-bar radio blaring a kilometer away.. scares the locals.

Goki:
Don't tease the poor boy. You're a bad man. :lol:

Keith-
When's the last date that I can pick up some raffle tickets?
Sellin' em up till the end of business day on Friday.

you can hear his handle-bar radio blaring a kilometer away.. scares the locals.
Jealous that they don't make an NJS radio that fits yer bike? Cmon man...yer better than that. :D

http://www.aomorikeirin.com/img/index.html
:lol: I want more!

Can anyone recommend some good wheelbuilders in the city? I can't wait to build up my ENO eccentric hub, and have another couple of wheels to do too. No fancy spokes or anything, just want solid quality. Thanks.

http://www.aomorikeirin.com/img/index.html
:lol: I want more!

http://www.aomorikeirin.com/img/h15-07.jpg
Its the Handsome Boy Modelling School of bike racing!
http://www.vh1.com/shared/media/news/images/h/Handsome_Boy_Modelling_School/sq_hbms_04promo_trich.jpg

Oh to be able to read Japanese....

the film festival crowd is pretty bad too. i almost got doored by two gussied-up blondes coming out of a taxi on king in front of roy thompson. and for the record operator, they were hot. that ******-film-festival-hot.

Ftw!

Stripped the thread on my track nut again, count = 5 now. They don't like me. :(
I need to carry a bag of spares.

Stop playing with your nuts!!!!

Its the Handsome Boy Modelling School of bike racing!

hahahaha.. I'm a male model, not a male prostitute!

Non-fixie related...

They just announced new iPod Nanos, Shuffle, iPod video, iTunes 7, preview of iTV...

Back to your regularly scheduled program...

Non-fixie related...

They just announced new iPod Nanos, Shuffle, iPod video, iTunes 7, preview of iTV...

Back to your regularly scheduled program...

iTV better stream pirated videos too.. ;) Otherwise it's all pretty meh. (yes, I watched the news coverage come in online as well)

iTV better stream pirated videos too.. ;) Otherwise it's all pretty meh. (yes, I watched the news coverage come in online as well)


Let the pirating begin! YAR!

It's interesting to see the Nano revert back to the mini-like asthetic.

:D

meh, I still don't want an ipod or mac... I like ugly brute-force looking electronics with as many moving mechanical parts as possible.
Like this:
http://www.briscoebarnyard.com/pictures/batcave.jpg
Only without Robin...

I like my bashed up old Rio Karma that I have disassembled and reassembled several times.

why is it that the roads get WAY more dangerous every year when school starts again?

i just read an update in the star about another cyclist getting killed by a truck this morning. http://tinyurl.com/fd87s
so that's the third truck/cyclist fatality this year?! damn, not much you can do when a cement truck plows into you going the same way. no mention if he was rear-ended or anything.
correction: it occured 430pm yesterday but was reported by the star this morning.

I'm finally fixed!!

And I love love love love love it!!!

Unfortunately I don't have a digital camera with me in Victoria, so the pictures will have to wait until I get one. But my IRO Mark V has finally been built. And although not quite complete (I'm riding a ghetto fab $15 front wheel at the moment), i think it's fantastic. Thank you cavernmech for getting me started.

Victoria is an interesting place. I've run into only 2 fixed riders. It's full of hardcore roadies, and hardcore downhill mtb'ers. Oh, and a ****load of bmx kids. One roadie dude asked "isn't that the kind of bike you use to deliver mail?"

One question: there's a slight grinding-type noise (not really a grinding, but more of a parts rubbing together too much) coming from my rear hub area when spinning fast. Could that possibly be from the chain tension being too tight?

I want Robin's boots...they kick a** :lol:

I'm finally fixed!!

Congrats! I was thinking about you today (aww) when I cut through camh to go get myself some lunch at the pakistani/indian place on spadina.


One question: there's a slight grinding-type noise (not really a grinding, but more of a parts
rubbing together too much) coming from my rear hub area when spinning fast. Could that possibly be from the chain tension being too tight?

Your chain should be as tight as it can be without having any binding. Basically what I'd do is turn the bike upside down (or prop it's back wheel off the ground somehow) and find the tight spot by wiggling the chain up and down while turning the cranks. From what I understand you should still have an inch or so of play there. Also, try spinning the crank, letting go, and seeing if you can see it slowing down when it passes the tight spot. That's just my totally self-created technique however.. :P

Another option: is your chain dirty and/or not lubed enough? Mine gets pretty grindy if I don't clean/lube it regularly (especially after rainy weather).

ps. the kind of bike you use to deliver mail? wtf? what kind of bars do you have on there? or was that an ignorant victoria roadie's idea of what a messenger does? :P

I think that guy laid a burn down on you. You two should have raced to see who the real man is. And you should haver laid down the 'pink slips' to your bikes as a bet, like in Rob's favorite movie, The Fast and The Furious

I think that guy laid a burn down on you. You two should have raced to see who the real man is. And you should haver laid down the 'pink slips' to your bikes as a bet, like in Rob's favorite movie, The Fast and The Furious
I used to make my girlfriend watch that movie with me at least once a weekend.

and wes, right now i've got drops. i think he was referring to the handful of messengers here (there are about 5 of them)

I think that guy laid a burn down on you. You two should have raced to see who the real man is. And you should haver laid down the 'pink slips' to your bikes as a bet, like in Rob's favorite movie, The Fast and The Furious

burninated * 2!

http://www.newathens.org/journal/wp-content/Trogdor.jpg

edit: I'm surprised Rob hasn't mentioned that this is page 500. :)
edit2: I've actually seen a Canada Post dude delivering mail on a Lightspeed Ti mountain bike. :S

One roadie dude asked "isn't that the kind of bike you use to deliver mail?

hahahahahahaha thats a good one!...yup I forgot to put my canada post logo on the frame :D

http://www.newathens.org/journal/wp-content/Trogdor.jpg

TROGDOOOOOOOOORRRRR!!!!

burninating the peasants.

TROGDOOOOOOOOORRRRR!!!!
:lol:

i just read an update in the star about another cyclist getting killed by a truck this morning. http://tinyurl.com/fd87s
so that's the third truck/cyclist fatality this year?! damn, not much you can do when a cement truck plows into you going the same way. no mention if he was rear-ended or anything.
correction: it occured 430pm yesterday but was reported by the star this morning.

Where he was hit is a dirty stretch of road. You have trucks heading north on Leslie both East and Westbound. The spot under the bridge, there, is a usual speedtrap so you can believe traffic speeds get pretty high. I could easily see a collision there, buddy in the truck highballing westbound (there's not a lot of room on the curbside with two westbound lanes) and the need for a cyclist to shift left to avoid the northbound turnlane that turns off. Plus it's pothole/grating city. My whiteknuckle ride is eastbound on Eglinton and trying to cross the lanes to make a left onto Leslie. I've had busses/heavy trucks pass me within a few inches on that stretch. A big thanks to the city for not repairing the only alternate, sunnybrook park trails, and ensuring it's an unviable commute by requiring you to walk your bike out at Edwards Gardens.

While there's always a lot of noise about bike paths in the downtown, what's critically needed is a viable East/West and northbound corridor in this neighborhood.

Ftw!

Stripped the thread on my track nut again, count = 5 now. They don't like me. :(
I need to carry a bag of spares.

I've stopped using track nuts. I've stripped two as well.

Lets not get onto bike lanes... I see my future as somehow very involved in them and don't want to spoil it for myself.

Any of you guys have any experience touring? I've been idly looking at touring bikes but I keep ending up looking at cyclocross bikes instead, which seem more versatile and race-friendly, but with essentially touring (slightly tighter) geometry and the whole glut of brazeons, rack and fender mounts. Soma doublecross comes to mind. Is this a good idea for a bike to cross canada, keeping in mind I will want to fart around on it in Toronto before and after?

Lets not get onto bike lanes... I see my future as somehow very involved in them and don't want to spoil it for myself.

Any of you guys have any experience touring? I've been idly looking at touring bikes but I keep ending up looking at cyclocross bikes instead, which seem more versatile and race-friendly, but with essentially touring (slightly tighter) geometry and the whole glut of brazeons, rack and fender mounts. Soma doublecross comes to mind. Is this a good idea?
The Doublecross is sweet. A real nice steel, reasonably priced, multi use bike. There were a few guys doing cross on em last year and they loved em. The IRD cross is quite nice also...Crossfire?...altho not sure about braze-ons. Slap on some 23 road tires and you can do road rides as well. Pure touring bikes are made a bit stouter in the construction for heavy loads.

keith, is there a link to the toronto global-gutz course? or is it hush-hush....? i checked the mess-media site, as well as the gg site but found nuthin'. is it not customary to make public alley-cat routes?

pbk doesn't carry them? ;)

oh no you di-ent!

I don't know if he is still around but Chris Bishop from D.C. would give him a run for the title. When we had the NACCC's in Toronto we had a pretty long skid course. At the end was a barricade to keep folk's out of traffic on Cherry Street. Not only did he go the whole length of the course but he also skidded around the barricade...thru traffic....around another barricade on the other side and just kept going. That s#!t was the bomb. It takes a certain (read nuts) type to pull that off.

If I remember correctly, it was a mouth dropping occurance.
I was the starter of the event and thought I had set the skid line far enough away from Cherry St. that no way was anyone going to reach it. Surprise - Chris had just come back from a beer run, almost losing his start time, so when I called him he was stoke to move - and did he move - like a shot when he hit the line but so smooth, and kept on going, and going, and, and, and there was silence, then awe, then screaming.

He went around both barriers at Cherry and Mill to stop 6 inches short of the west curb of Cherry St. I paced off the distance to about 140 meters, then went back the next day with a tape measure - 146.5 meters. Unbelievable.

see'ing I can't ride my SingleSpeed I am very stoned and am enjoying it

oh no you di-ent!

Stop that

keith, is there a link to the toronto global-gutz course? or is it hush-hush....? i checked the mess-media site, as well as the gg site but found nuthin'. is it not customary to make public alley-cat routes?
Yeah...I usually like to post alleycat courses in the public domain....this way the cops dont have to guess where to bust everyone. Is there a sarcasm italic?
But seriously....traditional alleycat courses are kept secret from the racers. You get the first checkpoint at the start....each subsequent one yields a new and exciting destination!
Oh yeah...results are at dirkdarko.com

my supposed water proof pants dont seem so waterproof today :(

lucky I didnt wear my workpants underneath.

Any of you guys have any experience touring? I've been idly looking at touring bikes but I keep ending up looking at cyclocross bikes instead, which seem more versatile and race-friendly, but with essentially touring (slightly tighter) geometry and the whole glut of brazeons, rack and fender mounts. Soma doublecross comes to mind. Is this a good idea for a bike to cross canada, keeping in mind I will want to fart around on it in Toronto before and after?

One of the things to keep in mind if you are thinking of using a CX frame for touring is heel clearance for the rear paniers, especially since you have big feet. I haven't tried a rack and panniers on my CX frame yet, but I think it may be tight. I don't see why you couldn't use a touring specific frame for cross though, so maybe that's the most practical option.

Man O man did CANADA ever represent in the overall results!!!!!