Rides and Races - Toronto Fixed
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the lady and i are probably going to be eating ethiopian food first in the hood. maybe meet at the drake at 8? or eat food with us first?
8 sounds good. Note that it's at the Gladstone, not the Drake.
operator
08-22-07, 06:29 AM
Switchback 2
Guys, the specs says 3w LED. How does this wattage compare to a halogen setup? Like is it equivalent to a 15w or 20w, less?
I'm guessing the retail is like around $300 or so? Was looking up the lighting system and came across this interesting bicycle crossing signal used in portland.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IwNJYtmlyqw&mode=related&search=
cavernmech
08-22-07, 06:35 AM
The Cronos are apparently made to order right there in Terrebone, Quebec - the carbon Marinoni's are apparently imported from China.
I'll be by to pick up my cranks tomorrow. :D
Your vintage 1975 Campy cranks can be picked up anytime. Oh I forgot to mention the right crank is cracked in 2....the chainring is a 56 and the length is 175. :D
cavernmech
08-22-07, 06:41 AM
I want to get a nice bright light for night riding, are the lights sold at the 24hr races any good?
I'm thinking about buying some this weekend
A ton of folks on the team were using the Switchback 2 system at the last 24hrs. No complaints from anyone. Did you call Roger and see if they brought more in for this one? They were offering em to team riders for $250. Princeton and Niterider were at the last one. Niterider has apparently realeased a new LED system that is supposed to be really nice. I have to say that the Princeton system is really good for the $. You get the light plus helmet and bar mounts...A.C. charger and 12V for the lighter socket in the car. Most of the other systems I looked at required you to purchase the extra bits.
Is LED the new HID, or is that still going strong too?
MattRennick
08-22-07, 06:56 AM
Your vintage 1975 Campy cranks can be picked up anytime. Oh I forgot to mention the right crank is cracked in 2....the chainring is a 56 and the length is 175. :D
Foiled again! I'll get you, Keith, if it's the last thing I do... hehe
cavernmech
08-22-07, 06:59 AM
Is LED the new HID, or is that still going strong too?
HID is crazy expensive compared to the high output LED. I also noticed the HID systems dont work as well in dusty conditions. The "blueness" of the light bugs me as well.
somnambulant
08-22-07, 07:00 AM
I have to say that the Princeton system is really good for the $. You get the light plus helmet and bar mounts...A.C. charger and 12V for the lighter socket in the car. Most of the other systems I looked at required you to purchase the extra bits.
Yeah, compared to the cost of HID's particularly! I think having maybe a Switchback 2 on the bars and a Switchback 1 on your helmet would kick serious butt.
I'm looking forward to trying it out tonight or tomorrow night.
I agree on the crazy expensive part... but I do like the HIDs. It's like driving a luxury car through the woods. :)
What kind of run time on the high end LEDs? Anything approaching the 12hr HID setups?
http://static.velvetcache.org/pages/2007/5/25/its-a-trap/tarp-30198.jpg
it's a carp! with a tarp!
somnambulant
08-22-07, 07:08 AM
I agree on the crazy expensive part... but I do like the HIDs. It's like driving a luxury car through the woods. :)
What kind of run time on the high end LEDs? Anything approaching the 12hr HID setups?
The Switchback 2 is rated at 5.5 hours on High.
More info here: http://www.switchback321.com/
cavernmech
08-22-07, 07:10 AM
The Switchback 2 is rated at 5.5 hours on High.
More info here: http://www.switchback321.com/
16hrs on low
cavernmech
08-22-07, 07:12 AM
I agree on the crazy expensive part... but I do like the HIDs. It's like driving a luxury car through the woods. :)
What kind of run time on the high end LEDs? Anything approaching the 12hr HID setups?
Riding solo? You sir are an animal.:D
Riding solo? You sir are an animal.:D
haha.. yeah, solo commutes and joyrides!
I'm just suspicious of the advertised burn times. On a nice summer day my halogen setup goes 2.5hours or so... and on a -15C night ride on the spit it lasts like 20mins and even that is dim. SO.. I figure the more the rating the longer the "real" burn time I'll get.
I've actually got 1/2 of an HID kit that I had on my car (one side burnt the capacitor I think) that I was thinking of trying to put something together with myself... Not sure what housing material I could use without access to a machine shop that wouldn't just melt. (and @12V 35W although it would be bright as hell I imagine battery life or size would be a big issue)
fisso416
08-22-07, 07:29 AM
The Gladstone opening is from 7pm-2am.
Anyone want to grab dinner/drinks at 6pm? Beaver? or Caddlilac?
somnambulant
08-22-07, 07:30 AM
Was looking up the lighting system and came across this interesting bicycle crossing signal used in portland.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IwNJYtmlyqw&mode=related&search=
I really want to visit Portland, it seems like an awesome place. Maybe I'll do the STP someday! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_to_Portland
cavernmech
08-22-07, 07:40 AM
haha.. yeah, solo commutes and joyrides!
I'm just suspicious of the advertised burn times. On a nice summer day my halogen setup goes 2.5hours or so... and on a -15C night ride on the spit it lasts like 20mins and even that is dim. SO.. I figure the more the rating the longer the "real" burn time I'll get.
I've actually got 1/2 of an HID kit that I had on my car (one side burnt the capacitor I think) that I was thinking of trying to put something together with myself... Not sure what housing material I could use without access to a machine shop that wouldn't just melt. (and @12V 35W although it would be bright as hell I imagine battery life or size would be a big issue)
I think the battery type has a lot to do with burn times. Lead acid...echh...ni-cad...so-so....Li-Ion...excellent. The LED systems are low wattage with super high candlepower. I think this has something to do with extended battery times.
somnambulant
08-22-07, 07:44 AM
The LED on the Princeton Tec system is also regulated, which means that the light intensity doesn't fade as the battery drains like many systems. It maintains a steady power all the way up until when it dies.. (but it also has a battery status light on the battery itself, so hopefully you don't get any surprises :P)
jeremywhitehorn
08-22-07, 08:39 AM
The Gladstone opening is from 7pm-2am.
Anyone want to grab dinner/drinks at 6pm? Beaver? or Caddlilac?
i'm supposed to eat some ethiopian with the lady afterwards but i could be persuaded to have a beverage beforehand. i like the beaver, wouldn't mind going there.
wow - i just re-read that post. inuendo at will.
EDIT: my new cell number is four one six - six five five - six three six zero if anyone wants to give me a dingle.
remind me to roll by that colnago again on the way.,,
Yeah, my current system is NimH so I think that falls somewhere between Li-ion and Ni-Cad and it totally doesn't last in the cold. Wonder if they have Li-Ion batteries at active surplus...
What time is everyone going to the Gladstone at?
I'll probably be there for 8.
Danhalen
08-22-07, 10:19 AM
Well friends I'm leaving Berlin tonight. London tomorrow until saturday. I like cake. That is as they say all. (P.S. Thanks Wes for making me dry heave at the public internet terminal)
somnambulant
08-22-07, 12:58 PM
belt drive craziness @ SpotBrand (http://www.spotbikes.com/)
http://www.spotbikes.com/images/Belt1closeup.png
somnambulant
08-22-07, 12:59 PM
who carries Bianchi in the city, other than Urbane?
belt drive craziness @ SpotBrand (http://www.spotbikes.com/)
http://www.spotbikes.com/images/Belt1closeup.png
I don't know what brand it was, but I saw some crazy belt drive folding bike at the shop recently. The girl who had it informed me that the belt was made of Kevlar "The same thing bulletproof vests are made of!" I wasn't that impressed since my chain is made of steel "the same thing tanks are made of"
I can't think of many advantages to belt drive, other than noise and lubrication (like oiling your chain every once in a while is a big deal) but you'd have to break the rear triangle at some location to install the belt which seems like a stupid idea to me.
somnambulant
08-22-07, 01:19 PM
bicycle film festival guy on cbc radio 1 now..
somnambulant
08-22-07, 01:20 PM
I don't know what brand it was, but I saw some crazy belt drive folding bike at the shop recently. The girl who had it informed me that the belt was made of Kevlar "The same thing bulletproof vests are made of!" I wasn't that impressed since my chain is made of steel "the same thing tanks are made of"
I can't think of many advantages to belt drive, other than noise and lubrication (like oiling your chain every once in a while is a big deal) but you'd have to break the rear triangle at some location to install the belt which seems like a stupid idea to me.
hahaha.. yeah, I don't really get it either. other than the fact that it looks kinda cool :P
I thought of one: with a belt drive folding bike, if you fold it up and carry it you don't get chain grime on your Armani.
somnambulant
08-22-07, 01:28 PM
Excellent point, Bradleigh.
iherald
08-22-07, 01:53 PM
I thought of one: with a belt drive folding bike, if you fold it up and carry it you don't get chain grime on your Armani.
I just got the new GQ with Obama on the cover, and apparently the Spring 09 Armani line comes with strategically placed grease!
fisso416
08-22-07, 02:55 PM
Meet at Beaver Cafe @ 7pm ?
If enough holla - I'll make a reservation
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=beaver+cafe+toronto&ie=UTF8&ll=43.644399,-79.420295&spn=0.020993,0.053988&z=15&iwloc=A&om=1
cavernmech
08-22-07, 04:23 PM
who carries Bianchi in the city, other than Urbane?
Wheels of Bloor I think.
I passed 5000 for the year so far today! :)
fisso416
08-23-07, 07:16 AM
Found this today:
http://www.brooksbulletin.com/news/local_news.asp?itemid=64686
Wes, further to last night http://www.redlightgo.ws/
Fisso, I should have looked up your flicker before heading down, I think I walked by you about three times last night.
cavernmech
08-23-07, 07:29 AM
Found this today:
http://www.brooksbulletin.com/news/local_news.asp?itemid=64686
A good article and all..thanks for posting it...but...where are the pertinent details about this tragedy? Still no word on what exactly happened. Still no details on pending charges against the driver. The conspiracy theorist in me smells a pass for a "good ole local boy". Perhaps the local authorities believe that dragging their heels and not making any of these details known will just make it go away. Whats with the deafening silence?
somnambulant
08-23-07, 07:42 AM
Found this today:
http://www.brooksbulletin.com/news/local_news.asp?itemid=64686
Martino is such a cheese bag.. :P
Wes, further to last night http://www.redlightgo.ws/
eh?
sr20det
08-23-07, 07:50 AM
I'm back in town tonight so count me in.
shapelike
08-23-07, 08:01 AM
So sr20det, you kick ass in school this year or what? How'd it go?
... and umm, fixies.
fisso416
08-23-07, 08:07 AM
A good article and all..thanks for posting it...but...where are the pertinent details about this tragedy? Still no word on what exactly happened. Still no details on pending charges against the driver. The conspiracy theorist in me smells a pass for a "good ole local boy". Perhaps the local authorities believe that dragging their heels and not making any of these details known will just make it go away. Whats with the deafening silence?
Your right - that's what I did a search to find out. I wanted to see if any details surfaced about the driver/charges... anything. This article is the only recent peice I could find. I wonder whats going on out there.
Cavit8: There where a couple of people looking at me from time to time - I thought for sure it must be someone from the forum... sorry. I'm going to be at Spin tonight for the other party.
shapelike
08-23-07, 08:12 AM
I'm going to show up for Pedal and Klunkers on Saturday afternoon, but which is the night to get my drink on proper? Let me know if there's a night "everyone" is showing up.
somnambulant
08-23-07, 08:20 AM
I'm hoping to get to the Goldsprints/party after the films tomorrow night.
fisso416
08-23-07, 08:36 AM
A couple of pics from the Gladstone last night: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fisso416/
Wes, weren't you looking for a copy of red light go? Or maybe that was Jeremy. Sorry, I seem to have had a few beers last night. In retrospect, I think it was Jeremy.
Re: the Brooks crash, I did come across a post relative to Calgary CTV on a link page (which I can't find again) by a guy from Le Duc (in Alberta) who was ranting about old people falling asleep at the wheel. Not sure if that's what happened here or not as there was a similar incident where a cyclist was killed by someone drifting onto the shoulder in mid July.
somnambulant
08-23-07, 09:03 AM
A couple of pics from the Gladstone last night: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fisso416/
Nice shots!
ps. 5D? bling bling! :)
DrBenway
08-23-07, 09:54 AM
I believe mass emails to the Brooks and Calgary news dept's may be in order. And in somewhat related news, how messed up is this: http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_14008.aspx
So, now the dudes who killed someone doing 150 in the city will get off becuase one of the guys they killed was drunk driving. Any chance someone will address wreckless driving on the whole? </vent>
I'm so down with Goldsprints tomorrow night!! Bummer I missed out last night but I had to be a grown up and stay home and do some freelance work. I'm looking forward to Klunkers as well. I think I'll probably be hitting a bunch of stuff on Saturday. Anyone else have plans?
@Dan: What time do you get in on Sat?
And while we're on the topic, does anyone know of any doc done on the "history" of the Alley Cat and Toronto's role in all of this?
So, now the dudes who killed someone doing 150 in the city will get off becuase one of the guys they killed was drunk driving. Any chance someone will address wreckless driving on the whole?
I would certainly hope they don't get off! Fair enough the guy driving drunk was wrong, but I don't think it would be inconceivable to think a perfectly sober and conscientious driver would turn in front of two cars he is expecting to be going 50, not 150. 150 on yonge. ********.
cavernmech
08-23-07, 10:05 AM
And while we're on the topic, does anyone know of any doc done on the "history" of the Alley Cat and Toronto's role in all of this?
Any doc, with the history of alleycats in mind, must begin with Johnny Jetfuel. The term "alleycat" was coined by him for a bunch of guys doing late night races in mostly underground garages. This morphed into the first open race for all comers in, I believe, 86. As far as I know, short of the cursory, minor blurbs you find online, I know of no comprehensive history being done by anybody.
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