Rides and Races - Toronto Fixed

I'll be at the funeral too.

Dan: didn't you and charlie both bring your bikes that time we went out? I remember Charlie had his chain bundled up in a rag or something. I didn't take any photos that time though.. just wanted to rip the track. :)

Time to get teary eyed again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg6nXiQYz3Y

Good luck to all those riding today. To quote Pearl "I need to get my drink on" at beerfest :) Nice ride this morn Wes. Where were ya Dupy?

I'll be at the funeral as well, hold one for me please Andrew. Thanks.

I'm planning on making it out to the funeral as well...

yo...toby told me to post this up...

Shop til u drop after party 11pm @ price chopper outside the beaver?
-Trackstand comp
-backwards circle
-skid comp
-best trick

Okay, I'm still working out the logistics to see if I can make this fly. I'll be back in Saskatchewan in early September for a bit and I'm seeing if I can get to Brooks to put up a ghost bike for Charlie. This may not be a go for a couple of reasons, but I wanted to let folks know so people have a chance to sign the saddle beforehand. I'll give some notice here probably by the end of the week.

I'm corresponding with the Brooks municipal government to see if I can actually get an endorsement to put it in, so it will stay intact. It'll go up anyway, but they might not take it down right away if I can get some kind of support or at least non-resistance.

This also pending permission of the family etc.

I'll be at the funeral too.

Dan: didn't you and charlie both bring your bikes that time we went out? I remember Charlie had his chain bundled up in a rag or something. I didn't take any photos that time though.. just wanted to rip the track. :)

Time to get teary eyed again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg6nXiQYz3Y

I found some photo's of that day.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/120/297706141_eb83ffc6fc_o.jpg

/tear :(

I will be attending the memorial on Tues.

another response from emma.


We are going to to a big type of critical mass bike ride for him. on friday @ 6, starting at jet fuel in cabbagetown. do you know hw i could post this info on bike forums? i tried to look at the threads, but am basically totally unsavvywhen i come to all things technichal.

Do you have any idea how to get all this info out to people in the bike community? we want the ride to be as large as possible, critical as it were, so any help that you could provide in this area would be much appriciated.

Sorry, Friday the 17th or at the end of the month?

I'm in Berlin right now. I'm going to visit Checkpoint Charlie today (one of the remaining Cold War checkpoints connecting east and west Berlin). If he were still with us, Charlie no doubt would have a witty pun or some such thing about said historical site being named after him or something. Okay he would have done it better. I tried.

Wes, yeah I brought my bike that day as well. The pic posted above is from before I knew you guys I think. I don't think I was there that day. Still brings back memories though. Man this is hard.

So ... Sara's brother/sister-in-law/nieces (4&6) stayed over last night ... and the kids were kind enough to wake up at the crack of 6am! Yaaay! Anyway, are we still meeting up at 10:30, or earlier/later?

10:30

See you there

I will definitely make it out to the funeral and am going to try and make it out this morning. Still a little creaky and scraped up so I'm moving slow.

As far as the critical charlie ride, I can put something on the board up at JetFuel - I'm on the same block as them - once the date/time is confirmed and I've already mentioned the possibility to the guys there as well. I'm up for this as well.

The race was great yesterday! Not as many people racing but there was a good turn out and a good vibe. It was a nice break from the bad juju of late. Did anyone go out to the after party/comp portion last night? Wasn't in the cards for me, unfortunately.

i'm going to get ready to head to moonbeam also; i presume we won't start riding immediately.

I'll be there too. It's going to be a sad day.

:(

I just got back from my vacation in Berlin, trying to recover from a bad cold/flu and your usual jet lag, only to recently find out about the tragic event with Charlie...

My deepest condolescences goes out to his family...

Charles was an amazing guy with tremendous loads of energy and spirit.

Rest in Peace Shiznaz...

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/774/fcv070428187go5.jpg

wow, what a great turn out for coffee this moring; i'm kind of glad that we didn't really head out riding as i really wasn't in the mood.
i forgot the mention this in the morning but for those of us that plan on attending the funeral, did you want to rendezvous somewhere first and ride down? i typically wouldn't attend a funeral suit-and-tie-less but in this case i think it would be appropriate if we all went together...

I'll be heading down from work at Bayview and Eglinton, but I'll probably be there around 1:30 or so.

Edit: And after having given some more thought to the ghost bike thing, I'll be making a donation to Covenant house in Charlie's name instead. I think it would be more meaningful than spending the money on a car rental etc. to put a ghost bike up for what is sure to be a short term gesture for people who wouldn't notice it or get it even if they did.

i forgot the mention this in the morning but for those of us that plan on attending the funeral, did you want to rendezvous somewhere first and ride down? i typically wouldn't attend a funeral suit-and-tie-less but in this case i think it would be appropriate if we all went together...

I just plan on wearing a slightly cleaner/simpler version of what I normally have on. I don't think Charlie's family expects us to be anything we're not. I'll be there to show my support and say goodbye, as I am.

James, that's a perfect photo - thanks for posting it. I don't know if you saw but the family would like some recent photos of Charlie. Wes is organizing a cd for them so please send him a version of that photo.

So you want to head down non-dressed up? I'd be in to that an 'as-we-were' scene..what say the masses?

I'll be riding down so I'll be in riding mode when I get there, then putting on a shirt when I get there. But it'll not be a tie affair for me either.

I'll be wearing a suit. I totally understand why others will not, but it's just the right thing for me to wear.

wow, what a great turn out for coffee this moring; i'm kind of glad that we didn't really head out riding as i really wasn't in the mood.

I would have liked to make it down to moonbeam this morning but practically imposable for me.

Like mike said that was the first time i met most of the folks from here including Charlie. The morning we all met to head to the bike show guess it was a bit more then two years ago a great day Charlie picked up a yellow SI saddle and Cinelli yellow cork tape and was very happy about it.
Good times I miss the moonbeam meet ups & the empanada lunch’s.

alright then; there's a second cup on bloor just east of church (south side) were we can meet up before the service, say 1:30. probably no tie for me but certainly no spandex...

Sounds good. See you folks there.

P.S. It was real good seeing all your faces this morning, fo' serious.

Just pretend I'm there guys. I wish I could just scoot back for the day to show my support. Sounds like you're doing a good job of respresenting us though. :):(

James, that's a perfect photo - thanks for posting it. I don't know if you saw but the family would like some recent photos of Charlie. Wes is organizing a cd for them so please send him a version of that photo.

Yeah, and nobody has given me any pictures. I know you people have some.

Back from the long trip up North. I will certainly be attending the service tomorrow. I am however torn between "suiting up" and just going as I am. I know Charlie wouldn't care either way but I have always been of the mind to dress with respect to the family. Thoughts?
The weekend was as good a time as could be had with a bit of a dark cloud following us up to Elliot Lake. The weather was spectacular. The lake was fresh and cool. The team did very well. The attrition rate was as high as I have ever seen at a race. The course was very difficult, Bradyn said it was the hardest thing he has ever done, and more folks came in with busted bikes than not. In the end I DNFed with a torn tire but our boy Bradyn kept up with his excellent racing with a 2nd place finish, the last 2 km running as he also had a mechanical.

re: clothing.. I'm likely going to just keep it casual. Probably plain black pants and a golf shirt.

the last 2 km running as he also had a mechanical.
hardcore! damn... go Braydn!

Are there any catlike dealers in the city?
I'm thinking of taking the plunge and riding... *gulp* with a helmet.

Are there any catlike dealers in the city?
I'm thinking of taking the plunge and riding... *gulp* with a helmet.

I think Wheels of Bloor sells em....maybe La Bicicletta?

Does anyone know what year Charlie was born?

1984.

re clothes: I think I've decided on suit with a golf shirt underneath.

I agree with what Keith was saying that Charlie wouldn't care, but much like any event, you don't want to distract from the festivities by being way under dressed.

thanks dom. I'm gonna make a little thingy that people can print out and distribute to get word out for the ride this friday.

i've been given the afternoon off to attend tomorrow. whereas i do have a suit and tie, i don't have to worry about that like you guys. i was thinking if the whole contingent of us had jerseys on, that might be interesting, but it would look kinda odd with dress pants. in either case, i'll be "representing" with my clipless shoes...


wow, what a great turn out for coffee this moring; i'm kind of glad that we didn't really head out riding as i really wasn't in the mood.


i hear you; perhaps it was just as well. a few of us headed down to the lakeshore, and then a couple of us headed out all the way to the end of the leslie street spit. the wind was strong from the west and we sat on the rocks, er, rubble, watching the sailboats on the waves. as we were leaving, the rain started falling at first gently and then the clouds opened up and it began to pour. the wind gave us a fast tailwind back to the gates, by which point everything was already drenched.

friday, we will ride.

I'll be in shirt and pants with fer real non runner/rider shoes. As for the spoke card, a new version, a more celebratory one, will be produced. I'm not at work today, took the day off for 13th anniversary, so I'll make it tomorrow evening most likely. I suppose they will be ready for Friday's ride. I'm going to use that shot of Charlie on the cyclops as well, it's a happy shot.

that's the shot I just used.. I assume Mr. James is cool with that. I'll post a link later on. I'll likely drop some off at the shops in my general area.. Bike Clinic, Bike Joint, La Carrera, Bikes on Wheels, Velotech and Curbside.

Happy shots are better then sad shots. I'm going to try and make the funeral but were short at work so I might have to come with my bag and all. We'll see. Go bradyn go! Catlikes can be aquired at wheels of bloor kompact pros 229 299 for the TT helmets and the whisper.

that's the shot I just used.. I assume Mr. James is cool with that. I'll post a link later on. I'll likely drop some off at the shops in my general area.. Bike Clinic, Bike Joint, La Carrera, Bikes on Wheels, Velotech and Curbside.

Hey Wes

It may be useful having some for the ride itself so we can hand them out to people.

sorry, you mean have some for the service tomorrow? That's what I was thinking too. I just have them done in b&w so it's no prob for me to print them at home on my laz0r printer. I have them at half-letter size to reduce paper consumption.. Charlie would be proud. :P

here's the image: http://www.somnambulant.net/misc/charlie-ride.jpg

Any feedback is welcome. I'm a great proof-reader, but I can never do it for my own stuff. Also, let me know if anyone has any weirdness with printing. It's not going to be ultra hi-fi, but that's not really the point.

that's the shot I just used.. I assume Mr. James is cool with that. I'll post a link later on. I'll likely drop some off at the shops in my general area.. Bike Clinic, Bike Joint, La Carrera, Bikes on Wheels, Velotech and Curbside.


Yeah, I think I could be cool with that... As long as you call me Mr. James from now on... :)

Let me know if you want a higher-res copy of that photo.

sorry, you mean have some for the service tomorrow? That's what I was thinking too. I just have them done in b&w so it's no prob for me to print them at home on my laz0r printer. I have them at half-letter size to reduce paper consumption.. Charlie would be proud. :P

I meant at the ride too. People handed out cards like this for Ryan Carriere's memorial ride to motorists who were a little confused as to what was going on.

Spelling looks good excepting two F's in Coffee (Jet Fuel Cofee)

here's the image: http://www.somnambulant.net/misc/charlie-ride.jpg

Any feedback is welcome. I'm a great proof-reader, but I can never do it for my own stuff. Also, let me know if anyone has any weirdness with printing. It's not going to be ultra hi-fi, but that's not really the point.

Good work Wes.

I'll see you guys tomorrow. I'm going to be in dress pants + shirt though. None of my cycling gear is really up to snuff and I think I would look a wee bit disrespectful in it.