Rides and Races - Toronto Fixed

What's a common ratio for 'round Toronto?

I'm just putting together something for the winter, Just SS for now, but when I have more cash I'll make it fixed. I want to get a chainring today... I'm thinking 44/16. Too low? (700c wheels 170 crank)
44/16 rocks. I have it on one of my bikes and it is great for around town.

Shiznaz you going to buy that GPX groupset? It looks pretty sweet. Besides the freewheel.

Thanks for the tips folks.

Another question... is there any reason I can't cut the chainring nuts shorter to make up for the missing small ring?

I'm on Queen and I don't go north much... if I did I could take a different bike. So, maybe I'll go with the 46/16 as well then. Last time I had this bike running I was using 53/16, which while fast was a bit of a dog getting started. (and no way I'd get past Davenport with that)

Thanks!

Is that you in your avatar? I've seen you numerous times around the downtown core, mostly on the critical mass rides. Sometimes in Kensington with your gf.


Another question... is there any reason I can't cut the chainring nuts shorter to make up for the missing small ring?

May be easier just to buy the shorter chainring bolts at a place like cavern or urbane. They were $7 at urbane last time I went.

yep. I suppose I've probably seen you too then! If things go well and I can find a chainring then I'll probably have the "new" bike for CM next week :)

I always loved walking into offices...soaking wet...and got the "is it raining out?" that was usually when I bent down to put my # on the waybill while simultaneously unleashing a deluge of rain water on the desk from my goretex hat.

Ahh yes I am quite familiar with that move as well. It's a classic.

Anyone get the feeling that those dudes outlined on the Cinelli's disk wheels are ritheing in pain after attempting to ride the thing?

Anyone get the feeling that those dudes outlined on the Cinelli's disk wheels are ritheing in pain after attempting to ride the thing?

hahahahahahaha..............ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuch

Thanks for the tips folks.

Another question... is there any reason I can't cut the chainring nuts shorter to make up for the missing small ring?
It isnt the (male) bolts that need to be shortened but the (female) nuts. If you have access to a bench grinder you can grind em down a little to make em work.

I am running 47X12 on my SS and I am along Queen all the time without too many problems. Fixed is 47X15 and not too many problems around town although I did have to bail when I was on Dufferin going south and forgot about the Casa Loma hill.....that could have been really ugly, I must have been on glue or something to forget that hill :o

Shiznaz you going to buy that GPX groupset? It looks pretty sweet. Besides the freewheel.

Its all yours big boy. I think my DA/ultegra/chris king 'group' may actually have it trumped.


Thanks for the tips folks.

Another question... is there any reason I can't cut the chainring nuts shorter to make up for the missing small ring?

I dremelled down a set of chainring nuts one time. Not worth it. Just buy the short stack chainring bolts (I got mine at urbane) and be happy. I had all sorts of trouble with the ones I ground down coming loose all the time. Plus the new chainring bolts you buy will probably be better quality (they were in my case). Its worth 7 dollars of your time.



In regards to gear rations, and the 43x17 on my commuter: I also run 49x16 and 49x15 on my other two fixed gear bikes, and strangely don't feel too much difference as far as the overall riding experience goes. I go faster on the higher geared bikes, but those bikes are super fancy compared to my commuter so maybe its the components. Something I have been glad of is that all my bikes (except for road bike) take 144mm chainings, so I can switch chainrings between any of my fixed gears.

What's a common ratio for 'round Toronto?

I'm just putting together something for the winter, Just SS for now, but when I have more cash I'll make it fixed. I want to get a chainring today... I'm thinking 44/16. Too low? (700c wheels 170 crank)

i would say it varies with the rider; i use a 71" gear (42x16) most of the year and flip my hub over to 18 (63") for the winter. works for me as i'm not superbig or muscular. or fast.

works for me as i'm not superbig

Lies! 6 foot giants in our midst!

Lies!

what!? i may be tall, but that doesn't count as superbig. although i am getting bigger these days...

Lies! 6 foot giants in our midst!

I actually posted the same kind of thing, but I had the other jeremy (darkmother) in mind for some reason. He really is a huge guy. Probably around 210lbs, 6'4". Still jeremywhitehorns got to have some height and at least some weight on my skinny a*s. Definitely speed!

I need to move back in with my parents or get an italian wife so I can just be presented with food all the time to shove in my face. Finding and preparing it yourself is nice, but I think overall goes towards lowering the potential face shoving volume.

I wish I could gain weight. God knows I've tried but I've been stuck at 140 for years now.

I wish I could gain weight. God knows I've tried but I've been stuck at 140 for years now.

I've got a few recipes that will pack the pounds on for you. They take 10 years off your life though.

I wish I could gain weight. God knows I've tried but I've been stuck at 140 for years now.

it'll happen homes...wait for it.. :lol: That KH bike would never see the street if it were mine... framed and lit it would be.

What's a common ratio for 'round Toronto?

I'm just putting together something for the winter, Just SS for now, but when I have more cash I'll make it fixed. I want to get a chainring today... I'm thinking 44/16. Too low? (700c wheels 170 crank)


I go for 42/15 and 42/13, because I have a 42 ring and am too cheap to get a 46. I find I can get up every hill (except Casa Loma and Yonge/York Mills ) on the 42/15, slowely I might add, and use the 13 when I feel like booting along the lakeshore paths. For winter I might get a 16 or 17 for the rear.

I've got a few recipes that will pack the pounds on for you. They take 10 years off your life though.
When I sailed for the national team the nutritionist had me eating over 6500 calories a day. I was working out with trainers all day every day and I still didn't gain weight, I have a scary metabolism, and I don't have the right body type for putting on bulk. I've accepted it, but man is it frustrating.

When I sailed for the national team the nutritionist had me eating over 6500 calories a day. I was working out with trainers all day every day and I still didn't gain weight, I have a scary metabolism, and I don't have the right body type for putting on bulk. I've accepted it, but man is it frustrating.

No, these don't involve carb loading, more like butter, cream, fois gras and beer. Tasty, and you can actually hear the arteries begin to clog.

Unless I stop exercising completely I 'm the same way. Until I moved to India I was around 185 for 15 years, then ate all the rice and dall cooked with pounds of butter and the weight was packed on.

Operator: Still want the stuff for bike chain?

When I sailed for the national team the nutritionist had me eating over 6500 calories a day. I was working out with trainers all day every day and I still didn't gain weight, I have a scary metabolism, and I don't have the right body type for putting on bulk. I've accepted it, but man is it frustrating.

I could say the same (except for the sailing part) but I've seen photographs of my dad when he was my age: super skinny. Now he is a big old fatty who is not allowed to buy a motorcycle unless he loses 25 kilos. Which will never happen because he likes to eat rich foods and is always away on business eating at retaurants.

I don't know exactly when it will happen, but my teabolism is going to slow down eventually. I can only hope that I lead an active lifestyle as I get older because my Dad is more or less sedentary.



No, these don't involve carb loading, more like butter, cream, fois gras and beer. Tasty, and you can actually hear the arteries begin to clog.
This is what my Dad lives on pretty much... When I was visiting he would get home from work and promptly take my brother and I to the bar downstairs for like 3 pints of beer, and then we would go back upstairs and have french dinner (butter, meat etc.) If there were guests over, add into the mix fine spirits and fois gras and its a wonder my dad hasn't keeled over and died yet.


Unless I stop exercising completely I 'm the same way. Until I moved to India I was around 185 for 15 years, then ate all the rice and dall cooked with pounds of butter and the weight was packed on.
My mother on the other hand is the exact opposite, and her brother is my height and weight. When my mum came back from India she weighed something like 75 pounds apparently. She just trekked across India on her own for 6 months eating nan and cabbage and other basic foods. Hopefully I get my genes from that side of the family, although I do have my Dad's family's roman nose and ingrown toenail gene (its actually amazing, it gets ALL of the men that share my dad's genes).

PS. I can hear the rain beating on the skylight, time to put on the booties and go home!

Woo! I don't need surgery!

excellent!!!!

I was taking the elevator up to my floor last month and a messenger got on and we were the only 2 on the elevator. About 5 seconds later the guy rips the most massive loud fart ever, but doesn't change his facial expression at all. It was pretty freaking funny, and we even got off at the same floor.

Just to clarify that wasn't me. Right? Ahem. Actually I would be pretty proud of a moment like that. Too bad I can't take credit for it.

Operator: Still want the stuff for bike chain?

Yes pyze-guy. Sorry about the delay. If its not raining tomorrow I promise i'll come by.

super wicked and super fun ride home in the fog tonight , man it was thick stuff ,, (42x16)

49 x 18 feels great.

Yes pyze-guy. Sorry about the delay. If its not raining tomorrow I promise i'll come by.

No problem, whenever is good for you. I'll be in and out all day, but will leave everything on the porch for you. Easy to find, has the big old '54 pickup rotting out front. It's not mine.

When I sailed for the national team the nutritionist had me eating over 6500 calories a day. I was working out with trainers all day every day and I still didn't gain weight, I have a scary metabolism, and I don't have the right body type for putting on bulk. I've accepted it, but man is it frustrating.

yeah, that uh, really sucks....

...bastard.

like TJ says, wait for it. What's that saying? the habits you have in your 20s catch up with you in your 40s.

EDIT: if you want to gain weight, get a job in a restaurant. not only will you be eating rich crap all the time, you won't have any time to excersise because of the long shifts. worked for me [loosens belt one notch]

thank jebus i don't have a scale or i'd be really paranoid.

keeping with the keith harring / cinelli bike theme, take a look at this:

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2006/nov/DanHalka_2-1.jpg

is it just me or is that a ridiculously long wheelbase?

The first thing that strikes me about that pictures is definitley not the wheelbase

It just looks that way because there is such a tiny wheel in front.

It looks like a 24 in front not a 650, must be someone messing around for fun, that thing cannot be ridden.

The first thing that strikes me about that pictures is definitley not the wheelbase

wheel sizes?

It looks like a 24 in front not a 650, must be someone messing around for fun, that thing cannot be ridden.

his description on the FGG says it uses a 24" front.

The fork looks like its designed for the wheel...

The fork looks like its designed for the wheel...

exactly. that's why i was so amazed at the length of the wheelbase. look at the amount of clearand between the wheel and the seat tube also.

Well the rear wheel is all the way back in the dropouts. I think if you pushed it forwards the tire would rub the seat tube. Also if you adjusted the frame so that it had a 700c wheel and that 700c wheel was located in the same relative position horizontally, you would have mad toe overlap and very tight wheelbase.

yeah, that uh, really sucks....

...bastard.

like TJ says, wait for it. What's that saying? the habits you have in your 20s catch up with you in your 40s.

thank jebus i don't have a scale or i'd be really paranoid.

Ha ha yes it will happen just wait you whipper snappers i went from 135 to well, who cares. Just a little time is all.
Cheers
Edit 44-16 winter bike

I can see my toes!!!!!

excellent!!!!

I am almost 270 and can still see my toes

So neither of you are blind! Congrats!

So neither of you are blind! Congrats!

^^^grump^^^ :D

Hey, being able to see when you're 270 years old is no mean feat!

snikker

Hey, being able to see when you're 270 years old is no mean feat!
I FART in your general direction

why is it always the skinniest guys who are the mouthiest?

Cuz they can run faster and hide behind skinny trees and light poles.