Rides and Races - Toronto Fixed

It's got pretty steep gearing out of the box...

Odd, I was at Urbane on Saturday and was playing around with the Fremont as well. It is very light and Urbane had their models set up as fixed but I am pretty sure it is fixed/free so that could make it very versatile. I wasn't super-impressed as it is 900$CDN; the brakes and brake-levers were no-name and the pedals are some really cheap plasticky things but the fork was CF, so that is kinda neat. I'd much rather ride a conversion for a lot less money but the rear spacing is 120mm, so it is track-inspired however the geometry seemed pretty slack to me.

Looks nice but those pictures don't show how massively thick the down-tube is; it looks like one of those old C-dales from the late 1980s.

but the fork was CF,

Meh, you can get cheap carbon forks for like $50.

I wasn't super-impressed as it is 900$CDN

For about the same price, we're getting in the fully built steamrollers near the beginning of March. I already own a steamroller, but I like it so much I would almost consider getting a fully built one as a real beater. Probably no where as light as the Bianchi though.

edit: of course, I'm really holding out for a Japanese Keirin Frame

For about the same price, we're getting in the fully built steamrollers near the beginning of March. I already own a steamroller, but I like it so much I would almost consider getting a fully built one as a real beater. Probably no where as light as the Bianchi though.

edit: of course, I'm really holding out for a Japanese Keirin Frame

There was a thread not long ago about this very subject & only the cross check is available guess that guy’s problems will be solved with the complete SR.
As for the fremont ahh its ok. The pista has it beat by a mile or more.

I got a CF fork for X-MAS 51.60 CND evil bay.

I once said NJS for life (ha-ha) I’ve now changed it to IRO for life(ha-ha)

This bike looks like it was run over my a truck...in a good way.

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2007/jan/TonyQuiroz.htm

(Funny carbon work)

Meh, you can get cheap carbon forks for like $50.

Hehe, I am even less impressed now. That is a whole lot of money for a nothing-special bike.

hey, check it out, i thought of a theme (http://www.pdxk.com/crankmychain/2007/01/reverend-phil-trial-postponed-again.html) for our next group ride.

For about the same price, we're getting in the fully built steamrollers near the beginning of March. I already own a steamroller, but I like it so much I would almost consider getting a fully built one as a real beater. Probably no where as light as the Bianchi though.

edit: of course, I'm really holding out for a Japanese Keirin Frame

One of my friends is going to Japan soon. How serious are you about getting a frame?

This bike looks like it was run over my a truck...in a good way.

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2007/jan/TonyQuiroz.htm

(Funny carbon work)

That is an ugly bike. The rock lobster bad ransom note lettering is nasty. Just my .02.

hey, check it out, i thought of a theme (http://www.pdxk.com/crankmychain/2007/01/reverend-phil-trial-postponed-again.html) for our next group ride.

umm... you go first!

Meh, you can get cheap carbon forks for like $50.

Cheap and carbon are not two words I want to hear describing the same thing.
I was looking at the Fremont when I was there last as well. I love the baseball bat downtube, but alas for 1000$ I think it could be a nicer bike. It is light, that's for sure, but too much I'd have to replace on purchase.

Naked bike ride?....ain't gonna happen dude....I don't care how many beers you give it'll never be a good idea in my head. Please be sure to tell me how it went though. :lol: GO Jeremy!!!

Cheap and carbon are not two words I want to hear describing the same thing.
I was looking at the Fremont when I was there last as well. I love the baseball bat downtube, but alas for 1000$ I think it could be a nicer bike. It is light, that's for sure, but too much I'd have to replace on purchase.

but it says Bianchi! ;)

but it says Bianchi! ;)

I know *sigh* I have a soft spot for Bianchis, the frame might be amazing if given a chance to fly, but not with that crank, those brakes, maybe not even with those wheels. You gotta be going something right if you been building frames for over 100 years.
Their carbon D2? stuff is insane.

I wonder how much they'd let a frame/fork set go for?

This one screams "traffic jammer" at me: http://www.bianchiusa.com/07_roger.html

:D

Also, this paint scheme makes baby jesus cry: http://www.bianchiusa.com/07_cross_concept.html

edit: hmm.. now I want that Bianchi Roger. :P

This bike looks like it was run over my a truck...in a good way.

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2007/jan/TonyQuiroz.htm

(Funny carbon work)
Holy mile long seatpost batman.

I'm back from Tremblant. The skiing was awesome and the whole place was in chaos as 1200 university students decended on the place. This was both a good thing and bad thing. Good times. It was colder than Aunt Sadie's icy stare though, especially saturday.

Roger Dodger!!!!!!! More than 1000bucks retail but a much nicer bike IMHO

Also, this paint scheme makes baby jesus cry: http://www.bianchiusa.com/07_cross_concept.html

hahahahahahahaha...id call that paintjob: 80s splash!

Anyone else here thinking about jumping onboard the IRO group buy?

Anyone else here thinking about jumping onboard the IRO group buy?

link?

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=260235&page=21

http://irocycle.com/iro/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=61

also: I'm thinking about it. Depends on whether my confusion as to wtf Tony is actually building eventually gets solved. :)

Wes beat me to the information punch but I'm probably going to get one as a dedacci frame for 150US seems too good to pass up. I'm now trying to figure out whether to get threaded or threadless but either way seems like a really good deal.

Threadless man! Unless you like carrying around massive headset wrenches...

Threaded ftw! You can just convert it to a threadless setup if you want to later on. And it looks cooler.


Cheap and carbon are not two words I want to hear describing the same thing.

Yeah I don't know. I've heard equally of super expensive carbon fork failures

This must be decided by a battle between Shiz and Operator. See you both after school by the flag pole.

One of my friends is going to Japan soon. How serious are you about getting a frame?

Pretty serious, but I guess it depends on the price. Are they a bit cheaper in japan than you find them here? I sure hope so.

New School 1 1/8" threadless vs Old School 1" Threaded...

What does the IRO come with?
I'm guessing it comes in 1 1/8", in that case go threadless.

It's a newschool bike anyway

Threaded ftw! You can just convert it to a threadless setup if you want to later on. And it looks cooler.



Yeah I don't know. I've heard equally of super expensive carbon fork failures

That's it man, destroy the entire carbon fork market. You better watch out for Black Suburbans today.
:lol: cheap and carbon, those two terms together just gives me the willies, in a Stick 'O Death kinda way.
Furthering my paranoia of carbon forks, you give me the above post..... :lol:

*Now looking for solid steel pipe forks* :lol:

Keith...forgot my lock at your store.....will wizz by at 5

Welll.......as long as it looks cooler, that makes everything ok then. heeheee

Tempting indeed... but I think I'm gonna keep working on my Miele conversion instead. I think I'd rather spend that extra money on a nice wheelset :)

(that and if I get a new frame I'll rationalize that since it's a new frame every single component on it has to be top notch! )

Yesterday I switched my ratio from 46X16 to 46X18 and it seems pretty decent. Didn't get to any big hills but I think this is probably what I'm going to start with when I finally get it "fixed"

I need to find a 2006 Discovery jersey (I'm going to get Hincapie to sign it for me). I don't care about the size, but cheap would be nice.

Does anyone have any ideas?

I need to find a 2006 Discovery jersey (I'm going to get Hincapie to sign it for me). I don't care about the size, but cheap would be nice.

Does anyone have any ideas?
http://toronto.craigslist.org/bik/265240217.html?

Threaded ftw! You can just convert it to a threadless setup if you want to later on. And it looks cooler.

Threadless conversion? ahahahhahaha!!! you lose on that one. Threaded setups are a pain to adjust, and the stems are not as strong, and you need funny tools. The 'coolness' aside (which is debatable), I can fully dissassemble and reasseble the front end of my bike on the side of the road with a 5mm hex wrench.

http://toronto.craigslist.org/bik/265240217.html?

I remember seeing that the other day, I don't know why I didn't remember. Thanks!!

Threadless conversion? ahahahhahaha!!! you lose on that one. Threaded setups are a pain to adjust, and the stems are not as strong, and you need funny tools. The 'coolness' aside (which is debatable), I can fully disassemble and reassemble the front end of my bike on the side of the road with a 5mm hex wrench.

Agreed. My only reason for threaded would be aesthetic.

You can't get threadless NJS :)

(I'm going to get Hincapie to sign it for me).

Just curious: how are you going to make that happen?

You can't get threadless NJS :)

Makes sense...wouldn't do to have the front of the bike coming off mid-race.

Threadless conversion? ahahahhahaha!!! you lose on that one. Threaded setups are a pain to adjust, and the stems are not as strong, and you need funny tools. The 'coolness' aside (which is debatable), I can fully dissassemble and reasseble the front end of my bike on the side of the road with a 5mm hex wrench.

If you keep your bike well adjusted you'd never have to reassemble your bike on the road :P Granted i'd go with threadless for something like touring. But for blasting around the block? Threaded all the way.

I'd just also like to state threaded is MUCH cooler than threadless and you can easily set your bar height with only a 6mm hex wrench and 15 seconds (just to rebuff your last sentence).

Tovi you at bikechain today?

Just curious: how are you going to make that happen?

I sent out an email to his manager last winter to ask for a photo to put by my trainer, while training for my ride across Canada. I got the photo. So I emailed the manager again and said this was a good summer for both me and George (since I did the ride, read my sig, and he wore Yellow) and it would be cool to have an autographed jersey from George.

He agreed. I'm looking to get the jersey quickly, since George is at training camp until the 5th and then leaves for the Tour of CA (?) on the 15th, it's a smaller window. If I miss that, he'll be back in May or something.

If only I could get a Lance and Merckx jersey I'd be set!!

Tovi you at bikechain today?

Nah, tomorrow.

you can easily set your bar height

This is the big plus for me, particularly as I like (and can afford) older bikes. I can adjust bar height easily to suit my preference or adapt a bike for a different purpose like touring. I suspect changing to threadless was more of a boon to manufacturers and shops than to riders.

As an aside, does anyone know a source for aftermarket wipers for old shocks (RockShox Mag21's). There's a set on cl and I found a source for seals, but not wipers. Threaded :D

I sent out an email to his manager last winter to ask for a photo to put by my trainer, while training for my ride across Canada. I got the photo. So I emailed the manager again and said this was a good summer for both me and George (since I did the ride, read my sig, and he wore Yellow) and it would be cool to have an autographed jersey from George.

He agreed. I'm looking to get the jersey quickly, since George is at training camp until the 5th and then leaves for the Tour of CA (?) on the 15th, it's a smaller window. If I miss that, he'll be back in May or something.

Cool story. And good ride! I actually did the cross-Canada thing as well (check out www.whereisjer.com) in 2003. It's funny that I'm talking to you, simply b/c I have this friend who wants to do a cross-Canada trip this summer, and directed me to your site, saying he wanted to follow your same route! Don't know if he'll follow through, but he plans to do the ride on a tandem with a blind person. Fund raising is also in the plans.

I'm actually working for the Tour of California, so I'll be there for the whole race, however I wouldn't want to offer getting Hincapie to sign your jersey. Every rider/team is very accessable for me, with the exception of Disco. They're very private at the races: always park their team bus away from all the others, and they always stay in their own hotel (all other teams stay together). This is known as the 'Lance-factor', b/c obviously he was a publicity/attention magnet, but even though he's no longer riding for them, they still behave like he is. Good luck with the jersey, though.

I wonder if the other teams sleep better with Disco staying away from the hotel.

You can't get threadless NJS :)

My actually city ride, long ride, lock up bike would be threadless for sure. My NJS glam ride would be threadless.

To everyone who has done cross-continental tours here: How much did you spend on airfare?

My buddy and I are planning on starting in LA, and then biking north to BC and east to Toronto. If we are lucky we can get flights for as little as $200 one way, which would mean our primary expense for the trip will be food and drink. We are planning on camping the whole way and cooking what we can, taking 2-3 months to do it.

We still need to buy the tent and a few supplies but apart from that we are pretty well set but my friend is still at school (no job like me) and needs to know if he'll have to borrow money from the parental unit.

Basically do any of you have a rough idea of how much you spent on airfare and food?

I've gotten flights to LA for sub 200 US one-way but there is no way to know when such deals will arise. I would budget 400 and then another 100-200 for on hand emergency transportation money incase you destroy a bike or body and need to get a bus somewhere.

Don't forget to check into additional charges for bikes as well. Air Canada are jerks about it and it's about $75 one way, as I recall. Many carriers won't take camping stoves, even without fuel. What I generally have done is mail it to myself poste restante and picked it up whereever I started out. You could consider hennessy hammocks instead of tents. That's what I've started using...

No answer for the primary question though :D

Oh yeah those Hennessy hammocks are all I use when surf camping these days. Easier set up, I find them comfortable, great protection from mosquitoes and OK protection from rain with the fly tarp set up. So much lighter and easier to pack as well. I can set mine up in under 5 minutes with a headlamp after a day of surfing no problem. The only issue would be in the prairies where trees are a rarity.

Reason #3450405423 that I love wikipedia: the zanta entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanta)

Anyone ever tried one of these?

http://www.deanwoods.com.au/store/images/topeak_bikamper.jpg

http://www.deanwoods.com.au/store/prod964.htm