Rides and Races - Toronto Fixed

Mallets? hmmm, that would be a good place to start..I was thinking of octagonal wheels, for that, clip-clop, clip-clop sort of a ride :D

:lol: old 80's 5spoke plastic rims...go ahead hit me.

i'm totally up for bike polo! i'd prolly want a beater to ride though(or at the very least i'd have to change my setup from 48X16) anybody have any suggestions for an ideal polo bike setup?

Well, I have a fixed gear BMX that would be perfect!

Straight outta Crumpton (http://www.frameforum.net/forum2/index.php?showtopic=2907)!

Well, I have a fixed gear BMX that would be perfect!

Fixed BMX? That's pretty cool, I've never seen one of those.

Brakes are key....loads of stop and go..I'm not sure how well fixed would play polo.

Straight outta Crumpton (http://www.frameforum.net/forum2/index.php?showtopic=2907)!

What? That thing looks feather light..
The gear ratio looks like you could pull mad wheelies. 42x24?
The front end looks like a toothpick. I'd probably snap it.

Interesting, but MEH.

Custom built for a custom purpose, like an OC Chopper, might as well be a drawing.

http://toronto.craigslist.org/bik/277641219.html

nice colour but $125 +"set up costs"??! doesn't jet kote offer blast/coat for $75? or $30 for coat only from spectrum?

http://toronto.craigslist.org/bik/277641219.html

nice colour but $125 +"set up costs"??! doesn't jet kote offer blast/coat for $75? or $30 for coat only from spectrum?

I don't know. I got a coat at spectrum, and it cost me $75. More than I was expecting/hoping. And that was just for black that wasn't exactly perfect. I think for a nice colour like that, plus the stripping, doesn't sound THAT bad.

http://toronto.craigslist.org/bik/277641219.html

nice colour but $125 +"set up costs"??! doesn't jet kote offer blast/coat for $75? or $30 for coat only from spectrum?

I emailed him to tell him it was expensive. That said, the problem with Jet Kote is that you do get it for $75 but it has to be a colour they are shooting for something else. If you want lime green they'll do it for that cost, but you'll have to wait until they shoot a bigger order of something that is lime green.

At least that's what they told me. So if you wanted the specific colour this guy does, then this is likely a good deal. Otherwise, stay with Jet.

"oh wacking day, oh wacking day..."
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0b/9f18.jpg

Heres a couple of pics of my studded tires. Both pairs have won and/or podiumed almost every race they have been in. The mtn ones use heat-treated drywall channel screws (VERY sharp) and have about 550 per tire. These do not slip no matter how chewed the ice gets. The other set are 700 x32 Vittoria cross tires and use standard sheet metal screws. These are not quite as grippy but are way faster. These have about 500 per tire.

Purty...

I'm starting to wonder if I'll be able to find the time to get a set together for the race this year...

Purty...

I'm starting to wonder if I'll be able to find the time to get a set together for the race this year...
They can be time consuming to make but it really is all in the method. Besides these I have made 4 other sets for people (one of these was the winning set in Montreal) and have a pretty good method. Expect to spend 3-5 hours on the first one and 2-4 on the second. Worth the time spent as you will get many races/uses out of them. Nothing like hitting the Nathan Phillips rink in the middle of the night and buzzing the hockey players. This is prolly pretty obvious but NEVER ride em on pavement.

What about in the living room? :lol:
Down the stairs?

Ice Racing update...... apparently the fixed track guys were RIPPIN' it up in MTL. It would seem the fixiness of it all would churn the rear wheel forward...seems they were gripping better generally than the geared folks.

What about in the living room? :lol:
Down the stairs?
Sure...as long as the living room and stairs are covered in ice.

Great for doing holes in the lawn too. Oh...there was a guy who went and did two laps in his boxers, then slid out/stepped off.....grazed his leg...ew just scratches but man o man. The photographers went nuts with guy racin' around -20C in his boxers.

They can be time consuming to make but it really is all in the method. Besides these I have made 4 other sets for people (one of these was the winning set in Montreal) and have a pretty good method. Expect to spend 3-5 hours on the first one and 2-4 on the second. Worth the time spent as you will get many races/uses out of them. Nothing like hitting the Nathan Phillips rink in the middle of the night and buzzing the hockey players. This is prolly pretty obvious but NEVER ride em on pavement.

Yep, 3-5 hours was what I spent on the first one and happily discovered it didn't fit. I've got a pretty good system down now at least. I've got some 26X1.6 knobbies that would be perfect... but they're also perfect on my city bike at the moment so I'm not ready to contribute them to the cause. Too bad the bike show isn't for a few more weeks- there's always those bins 'o tires to dig through for cheap.

haha.. I was thinking harbourfront 'cause of the hourglass shape but either one would be fun! Not sure how to get there without going on pavement though!

Is the bike show worthwhile to go too?

Is the bike show worthwhile to go too?

If you have to pay for it, no.

Is the bike show worthwhile to go too?

meh. At 13 bucks to get in you've got to spend quite a bit to make out. Don't kid yourself that it's anything more than a marketplace though!

It is fun to wander around and blow some money though.

Great for doing holes in the lawn too. Oh...there was a guy who went and did two laps in his boxers, then slid out/stepped off.....grazed his leg...ew just scratches but man o man. The photographers went nuts with guy racin' around -20C in his boxers.
Ahhhhhh Tofu....he loves riding semi-clothed/naked. And boxing.

Not sure how to get there without going on pavement though!
Everyone rides there on their regular tires and then changes em in the changeroom.

If you have to pay for it, no.

If you're looking for a complete bike, maybe. If you're just looking for random parts, the fall bike show is a better bet as it is more 'bargain bin blowout' style (Plus TJ can get you in for free). The spring bike show is a bit more like a trade show and they are generally hawking new 07 stuff at retail prices. Its good if you just want to check stuff out and window shop though, since the fall bike show is a brutal soul killing experience. Still 15 bucks? Too expensive to window shop, and you'll need to spend at least 100 bucks to make it worthwhile.

It's a bit of a rip off if you are already in the bike industry. I went looking for parts for my Orbea build, and most stuff was at retail or slightly below. Now if I was looking for a (really nice) complete bike, and didn't work in a shop, it would be great.

or, what Shiz said.

I emailed him to tell him it was expensive. That said, the problem with Jet Kote is that you do get it for $75 but it has to be a colour they are shooting for something else. If you want lime green they'll do it for that cost, but you'll have to wait until they shoot a bigger order of something that is lime green.

At least that's what they told me. So if you wanted the specific colour this guy does, then this is likely a good deal. Otherwise, stay with Jet.

The advantage you just mentioned does not apply to that CL post, if by custom you mean "Dark Red Gold Metallic". Even if you DID want that colour you could just do it yourself for $125 from another powdercoater place in 'sauga that Offhoff went to.

I see no advantage of using this guys "deal".

http://toronto.craigslist.org/bik/277641219.html

At jet Kote ($75) they pretty much have all the basic colours covered but if you wanted something special you'd have to pay extra. Can't be $50+ worth of extra though.

If you have to pay for it, no.

I was going to go, but am skipping it now. Going to spend that weekend in London with my sister. Anything I need I will get at the Cyclepath sale this weekend.

i like to go to the bike show even if i have to pay for it. for $13 i consider it an afternoon's worth of entertainment which is still cheaper than a movie. besides, seeing all that bike stuff in the flesh is like going to a live sex show after you've been reading porn on the net all year.

...seeing all that bike stuff in the flesh is like going to a live sex show after you've been reading porn on the net all year.

GOLD!

Just got back from a solo snow ride. It's pristine out there. A bit cold, but you can get a wicked skid on.

Reading pr0n? Sounds pretty pre 95'ish to me :P

Oh yah: http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/mos/skydiver.html?in_article_id=435694&in_page_id=1990&in_a_source=

This guys last words when parachuting (main + reserve failed) was "I'm dead Bye". Best to-be exit line ever. Can't imagine what I would say. Probably "GG" or something.

http://toronto.craigslist.org/about/best/sea/274495936.html

and yah bicycles are cool

Just got back from a solo snow ride. It's pristine out there. A bit cold, but you can get a wicked skid on.

Threw the knobbies on the mtb today and went for a spin around midnight. Fun and slow. No way could I have riden the fix tonight. Realized what a blessing a 28 tooth chainring can be.

Yeeeehaw!!!!! Great God Almighty what a ride in to work!!!! Dang....

*looks outside*

This is going to be interesting.

I'm just putting on some new, wider fenders and I'm gonna give 'er a go this afternoon.

*looks outside*

This is going to be interesting.

Oh it is. I managed to make it about 500 meters before I turned around and went home. Couldn't make it. Side streets were a mess and Pape was no better. Even rode the bike with good knobbies in the lowest gear. Too bad I was looking for forward to a fun ride.

...I'm going to attempt ... oh, let's say college/yonge/queen. Looking at Ossington/Harbord this morning it seems like even if I can keep upright on the roads I'll just get side-swiped by some idiot fishtailing around a corner. I saw a whole string of cars almost lose it trying to turn right. Gee guys, maybe see what happens to the car in front of you?

hahahahahahaha damn it was a ride alright...up over the hubs in some spots, but the snow is light because of the cold, but it's not turning into slush either. I let out alot of air in the front for my ride in.

hahahahahahaha damn it was a ride alright...up over the hubs in some spots, but the snow is light because of the cold, but it's not turning into slush either. I let out alot of air in the front for my ride in.

TJ you're crazy to go out in this.

...I'm going to attempt ... oh, let's say college/yonge/queen. Looking at Ossington/Harbord this morning it seems like even if I can keep upright on the roads I'll just get side-swiped by some idiot fishtailing around a corner. I saw a whole string of cars almost lose it trying to turn right. Gee guys, maybe see what happens to the car in front of you?

I had the same thought. Damn you Henry Ford. The cars wheeling by my place are going relatively slow, but still no place for slick 22's and 72 gi's. I need to rethink my winter bike setup.

TJ you're crazy to go out in this.
*cough* slacker *cough. It really isn't that bad. As T.J. said the snow is really light and dry. If you ride in the clear lane it is tons of fun. I took Dundas all the way in from Leslie and it was great.....I actually passed a couple of cars. 23c slicks FTW!
Now THATS a snow ride.
Oh yeah...also full Goretex suit and Sorel boots FTW! lol

I made it in all right. I fell over twice when I rode in to large snow drifts and was sliding all over the place but it was good! I wouldn't have made it on slicks though, thats for sure! I was trying to ride in the somewhat clear tire tracks but occasionally it would just turn to hard pack and I'd start shimmying around violently, wrenching the handlebars this way and that. Cars were giving me A LOT of room. haha

now today would be the day for a snow ride!

Yes cars were VERY forgiving today....but they were having an even harder time I imagine. I didn't get to reverse the tyres to the "soft" setting...my front was fishing around quite abit All in all it was good, I did cheat and hit the sidewalk in some places though. :lol: You know the hardcore messers that came to work today are busy and makin' coin today.

*cough* slacker *cough. It really isn't that bad. As T.J. said the snow is really light and dry. If you ride in the clear lane it is tons of fun. I took Dundas all the way in from Leslie and it was great.....I actually passed a couple of cars. 23c slicks FTW!
Now THATS a snow ride.
Oh yeah...also full Goretex suit and Sorel boots FTW! lol

Okay, I'll give it an "around the block" before I lower myself to the better way...

i have the day off! christie pits plus my mtn bike and a krazy karpet! woohoo!

i have the day off! christie pits plus my mtn bike and a krazy karpet! woohoo!
GOOD TIMES!

So who wants to meet up after work for some snow biking shenanigans followed by a beer (or an espresso martini if you care to come by my place)?