Rides and Races - Toronto Fixed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo

that one of the coolest ideas i've heard of in a while. i like anything than break people out of their blind routines and begin genuine conversations.

lol @ alllll byyy myseeeellff :D

I met a buddy of mine at Donlands/Danforth and we rode over to Main via side streets, both of us thought each other had taken a photo when that first flash appeared right in front of us... Gotta say, that's the first time I've ever seen a snowstorm with thunder/lightning in my life - and I used to pride myself at looking out of the window.. :p I just got in after the second rumble and didn't hear more, but there were more apparently.

Sidestreets were tricksy, I kept sinking through the hardpack with the 28c in the back, and it made things very squirrelly but lots of fun - I could've passed as a giddy schoolgirl no problems ;)

I've got to get me some goretex pants and booties, I've got the jacket (albeit camouflage, but whatever) - I split the arse out of my rain pants landing a toboggan off a ski jump and they were only cheapo plastic basic service ones I was issued with (AND camouflage too), heh - people seem to give me odd looks when I'm in the camo stuff, bleh.

Just going to have a bite and then head back out for some snow fun :D

Sorry to hear about the bike/set-up clown.. hope it shows. I have heard Vesuvio's is good eats, but that's not the point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo

Don't know where the online hook up is for it, but there's a group that does this type of stuff. SMS-based random meetups - they went to Yonge/Dundas and did a similar "freeze" thing IIRC. Very cool stuff, great vid.

that one of the coolest ideas i've heard of in a while. i like anything than break people out of their blind routines and begin genuine conversations.

Yeah that was wicked. My first thought was

"X-men"

Some of their other parnks kind of suck. But this one was great.

*cue theme from welcome back kotter*
just got home

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2288/2247853114_8894dea650.jpg?v=0

spot the bike...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2005/2247853230_7e9074e8cf.jpg?v=0

Haha, shamil 4tw

Well, this should be interesting.

Ok who did it? I shoveled the sidewalk.

wow. 3nd worst road rage evar. The other two were when a guy got out of his car and lunged and tried to grab me... and also when a driver grabbed my arm as they drove by on the right (I had signaled and moved into the center lane to make a left).

So, some homeboy in a giant suv yells at me as he goes by. Cuts me off and starts driving through the snow bank so I can't get by. Speeds up. Slams on the brakes causing me to nearly run into the back of his monstertruck. I roll up to his window, he starts yelling at me. I tell him to relax and go to work and he responds with "yo I don't gotta work". Then he drives off again. When he catches up with traffic (approx 10 seconds later) and stops, I catch him and I stop behind him as I can't get by (this of course happens at least a dozen more times). When he starts moving again he nails the gas in an attempt to snowjob me.

What a ****.

The worst part? His license plate was covered with snow so I couldn't get it.

Seriously, I ride very civilly and within my limits. I don't do anything to intentionally piss anyone off. Yet this **** keeps happening. All three of these incidents happened on Harbord Street as well. I think I'm going to go back to my 'no Harbord' rule.

*sigh*

Humanity is ****ed.

Those westenders..... Dundas wasn't bad except for the bad stretch through Regent park where the plow hasn't touched anything. Had to take the lane a couple of times with nary a beep.

"yo I don't gotta work".

If your daddy saw you driving his truck like that he'd kick your ass.

Sometimes I think I should go with my gut feeling of '**** everyone, I'm going back to bed'.

Somebody give Wes a hug!

So, are the roads really that bad? They don't look too bad out my window, guess I'm gonna find out post coffee.

Seriously. That's actually the worst part about idiots like that. 50 minutes later and I'm still totally on edge and full of adrenaline. *deep cleansing breaths*

The roads aren't really that bad, considering. Just have to take the lane occasionally. The smaller side streets are obviously still pretty messy though.

wes i admire your calm; i would have pulled a traffic jammer and thrown a giant slush ball in his window...

Yeah, well, after that one guy tried to beat the crap out of me I've been somewhat scared of provoking someone into violence. You never know what's going to send somebody over the edge. I think I might have been less calm than my story led you to believe, however. I would have just let it go, but he kept up the BS without any provocation from me. I think me smiling and waving in his back window probably enraged him even more. :)

Well, karma will catch up to him I suppose.

The roads were a mess: Vaughan was plowed once last night, and likely again early this morning, but the city didn't salt, so there's a nice layer of slushy ice. Drivers were surprisingly patient this morning. No rage from people going down St. George, nor any from people behind me at Beverly & Queen, while I was waiting to make a left. Side streets are a wash, though. I was riding on a sheet of ice all the way down Duncan to King.

Guys, I'm pretty set on getting a decent fixie, now that I know how they handle better for city riding (from riding my conversion), especially in inclement weather like this, what would be a good starter frame or complete bike? I want something which can take 700x32 cross tires, so I was looking at the Surly Steamroller. Other bikes I was looking into are:
Jamis Sputnik
Cannondale Capo
Kona Paddy Wagon

Any suggestions?

Wes, sorry to hear about your bad experience this morning. Harbord tends to attract ******-bags for some reason. ...you could have keyed his truck ;)

take a look at the bianchi ss cross frame, the san jose.

Courteney Cox has bought Jennifer Aniston a $12,000 Chanel bicycle.

The actress bought her ‘Friends’ pal the expensive pushbike after she expressed an interest taking up cycling.

A source close to the star said: “Jennifer said she wanted to start bike riding because it’s such good exercise. So Courteney sent her the new, ultra-chic Chanel bicycle.”

The bike features eight speeds, weighs 36lbs and comes complete with a quilted leather seat and saddlebag emblazoned with the famous Chanel ‘CC’ logo.

The source continued: “Courteney only sent Jennifer the bike two weeks ago but she already loves it! She goes out riding all the time.”

No wonder it's so expensive, it's super light!

The roads were a mess: Vaughan was plowed once last night, and likely again early this morning, but the city didn't salt, so there's a nice layer of slushy ice. Drivers were surprisingly patient this morning. No rage from people going down St. George, nor any from people behind me at Beverly & Queen, while I was waiting to make a left. Side streets are a wash, though. I was riding on a sheet of ice all the way down Duncan to King.

Guys, I'm pretty set on getting a decent fixie, now that I know how they handle better for city riding (from riding my conversion), especially in inclement weather like this, what would be a good starter frame or complete bike? I want something which can take 700x32 cross tires, so I was looking at the Surly Steamroller. Other bikes I was looking into are:
Jamis Sputnik
Cannondale Capo
Kona Paddy Wagon

Any suggestions?

Wes, sorry to hear about your bad experience this morning. Harbord tends to attract ******-bags for some reason. ...you could have keyed his truck ;)
I built up a pretty sweet at the shop the other day. Specialized Tricross SS. Tons of tire clearance but it has V-Brake mounts. The IRO Rob-Roy is a decent frame for the dough...brake mounts again tho. I don't think any of the bikes you mentioned, with the exception of the Steamroller, will handle a 32c cross tire. If you want to be able to run fenders, stick with a SS cross frame.

Anyone who is willing to use their vehicle in the way Wes mentioned would go bonkers, and prolly run you down, if you keyed his car.

I think what we all need, in light of the dodgy weather and the of mouth breathing sucker-chumps on the road, is a scotch night.

Mouth Breathing Sucker-Chumps

My new "when I start a band" name :D

I think what we all need, in light of the dodgy weather and the of mouth breathing sucker-chumps on the road, is a scotch night.

Here Here!
I would be happy to host and thanks to you guys...I have an awesome selection.

Courteney Cox has bought Jennifer Aniston a $12,000 Chanel bicycle.

The actress bought her ‘Friends’ pal the expensive pushbike after she expressed an interest taking up cycling.

A source close to the star said: “Jennifer said she wanted to start bike riding because it’s such good exercise. So Courteney sent her the new, ultra-chic Chanel bicycle.”

The bike features eight speeds, weighs 36lbs and comes complete with a quilted leather seat and saddlebag emblazoned with the famous Chanel ‘CC’ logo.

The source continued: “Courteney only sent Jennifer the bike two weeks ago but she already loves it! She goes out riding all the time.”

No wonder it's so expensive, it's super light!

http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/1193/chanelbike1dc9.jpg

And that's what i looks like...£6,200

http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/1193/chanelbike1dc9.jpg

And that's what i looks like...£6,200

What?...no Swarovski crystals and Cristal bottle holder?...what a rip.

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/981/picture1rk8.png

I basically took the entirety of the curb lane all the way in this morning. Only one other vehicle wanted to play in the snow/ice narrow lane. Awesome, and so much less crappy than yesterday. Glad all is good Wes, he sounds like a total f-tard. I'm thinking in a SAFE kinda way.....

Mouth Breathing Sucker Chumps...I like it, Cam can I use that phrase?

I took the entire lane yesterday on Lansdowne going south and everyone seemed pretty cool with it until out of nowhere a red mini-van passes the two cars behind me and rushed closely by me, I guess to show me how pissed off he was. He also honked me and then at the red light, when I pulled alongside him, he kept glaring at me, I guess to further show me how pissed off he was at me? He was also talking to me over and across his wife/girlfriend/sister/whatever who was sitting in the passenger seat but I couldn't hear him since there was a lot of traffic and he didn't roll down the window (and I didn't care).

This is the sort of behaviour I don't understand....why would I care if you are pissed off at me or not? Am I supposed to feel guilty that I made his red mini-van go slightly lower than the speed limit? It is a weird mentality that some drivers have, this sense of entitlement to the road. I think I ruined his night :(

I took the entire lane yesterday on Lansdowne going south and everyone seemed pretty cool with it until out of nowhere a red mini-van passes the two cars behind me and rushed closely by me, I guess to show me how pissed off he was. He also honked me and then at the red light, when I pulled alongside him, he kept glaring at me, I guess to further show me how pissed off he was at me? He was also talking to me over and across his wife/girlfriend/sister/whatever who was sitting in the passenger seat but I couldn't hear him since there was a lot of traffic and he didn't roll down the window (and I didn't care).

This is the sort of behaviour I don't understand....why would I care if you are pissed off at me or not? Am I supposed to feel guilty that I made his red mini-van go slightly lower than the speed limit? It is a weird mentality that some drivers have, this sense of entitlement to the road. I think I ruined his night :(

I know it's hard but try not to let this stuff get to you. I think I "get" why drivers are pissed at cyclists, most of the people who drive feel that roads are exclusively for cars and not also for bicycles.

I really believe that they believe that. I can just totally imagine if you were to ask them, why they react the way they do, the reason they'd give would be "they don't belong on the road with cars".

I think what we all need, in light of the dodgy weather and the of mouth breathing sucker-chumps on the road, is a scotch night.

**** yes! We'll live like kings! Hell damn ass kings!

ps. Dan/Keith: when are we gonna rock out? Clearly we have a project name.. (mouth-breathing sucker-chumps)
pps. I 3rd the SS CX bike recommendation. I vote IRO Rob Roy, Bianchi San Jose, or potentially the Specialized Tricross as I've heard good things from a few different sources. I think since Sky Yaeger left Bianchi for Swobo the 'different' bikes that Bianchi makes will be going the way of the Dodo. Get 'em while you can. In fact, I thought I heard through the grapevine that the San Jose was being axed for '08, but it's still on the Bianchi USA website.

I know it's hard but try not to let this stuff get to you. I think I "get" why drivers are pissed at cyclists, most of the people who drive feel that roads are exclusively for cars and not also for bicycles.

I really believe that they believe that. I can just totally imagine if you were to ask them, why they react the way they do, the reason they'd give would be "they don't belong on the road with cars".

Yup, that is the mentality for sure but it is something I don't understand, especially in the city. Cars in the core really don't make much sense at all, I never take my car downtown, it is too much hassle. And yeah, it is hard at times to not let it get to you, this guy in the red mini-van didn't bug me at all and I think he was over-reacting and that he let me get to him....and all I did was ride my bicycle. I would hate to see him in a truly stressful situation, he'd lose it.

Since we are talking about SS CX bikes, are there frames made specifically for SS? By this, I mean no braze-ons for derailleur cables or hangers. I guess it isn't likely since it would really pigeon-hole the frame to a niche market, but it would be nice to have a super clean frame like that. This Pini is sweet but I doubt it has eyelets for fenders, something I would like to have: http://cgi.ebay.com/Pinnarello-Cyclocross-Frame_W0QQitemZ260209943771QQihZ016QQcategoryZ98084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

wow. 3nd worst road rage evar. The other two were when a guy got out of his car and lunged and tried to grab me... and also when a driver grabbed my arm as they drove by on the right (I had signaled and moved into the center lane to make a left).

So, some homeboy in a giant suv yells at me as he goes by. Cuts me off and starts driving through the snow bank so I can't get by. Speeds up. Slams on the brakes causing me to nearly run into the back of his monstertruck. I roll up to his window, he starts yelling at me. I tell him to relax and go to work and he responds with "yo I don't gotta work". Then he drives off again. When he catches up with traffic (approx 10 seconds later) and stops, I catch him and I stop behind him as I can't get by (this of course happens at least a dozen more times). When he starts moving again he nails the gas in an attempt to snowjob me.

What a ****.

The worst part? His license plate was covered with snow so I couldn't get it.

Seriously, I ride very civilly and within my limits. I don't do anything to intentionally piss anyone off. Yet this **** keeps happening. All three of these incidents happened on Harbord Street as well. I think I'm going to go back to my 'no Harbord' rule.

*sigh*

Humanity is ****ed.
harbord? really eh? I ride everyday there and never have any problems, mind you I'm never there during morning rush, which is the worst. When I had a 9-5 job i used to take college from ossington to university right at like 8am, everyday was some incident or another. It was during this time i learned that i shouldn't ride with headphones during rushour commute!

keith i'm gonna call you in a bit, just got to finish my wheaties here

Since we are talking about SS CX bikes, are there frames made specifically for SS?

All the ones I mentioned are specifically SS.


harbord? really eh? I ride everyday there and never have any problems

Yeah, it's probably partly a statistics thing.. I've just spent so much time riding on Harbord that it's bound to be the street I have the most incidents because it's the area I do the most regular riding to/from work. But I can't think of any other really memorable run ins that I've had anywhere else in the city, and it's not as though I do *all* my riding on Harbord.

Cool, I didn't think that Specialized would make such a thing as a SS CX bike. Nice.

I am thinking that I would like to get my stable down to 4 bikes in total...2 roadies, 1 track and 1 CX bike for commuting.

only 4? can you do that Jet?

only 4? can you do that Jet?

;) It is going to be hard, but yes, I can do that.

no MTB?

That's pretty much my idea as well. Commuter, cx, mtb & "track". I'm going to sell my roadie come spring (anyone want a 55cm platinum OX steel roadie with 10-sp 105? She's a beaut!).

**** yes! We'll live like kings! Hell damn ass kings!

And best is I can stagger home across the parking lot when it's all over. Let's set the date. Pretty much any night excepting Mondays is good with me.

Cool, I didn't think that Specialized would make such a thing as a SS CX bike. Nice.

I am thinking that I would like to get my stable down to 4 bikes in total...2 roadies, 1 track and 1 CX bike for commuting.
The Specialized SS cross is pretty sweet. They have one built on the floor at Cycle Solutions if you want to have a look see. It even comes with a cartridge bearing flip-flop hub. There are fender/rack eyelets. If you stop in tell em I sent ya. ;)
Ohhhh,,,if I could get it down to 4 I could actually keep them all at my place rather than rely on the compassion of my large garaged friend.

Rocking out will very soon be a reality. Finishing off he last little bit of soundproofing....well sound dampening anyway...so we can soon have the first meeting of the Mouth Breathing Sucker Chumps.

And best is I can stagger home across the parking lot when it's all over. Let's set the date. Pretty much any night excepting Mondays is good with me.

I am away this weekend.....dog sled races in Kearney...WOO WHO! Next week is pretty much good for me except for Wed...going to see my buddy's Sabbath tribute band.
Thursday afternoon trip to Bicycle Specialties! YAY! Perhaps for the final time...BOOOO. Leaving my credit card at home.

Must... move to amsterdam.

Back from Bicycle Specialties.....god I love that place.
Nerdsgirth is now the proud owner of a Cyclops road frame w vintage Mariposa fork. He needs parts to build it so anyone with spare stuff lying around....Man up! I promised myself I wouldn't buy anything but I had to grab the last Mariposa Mussette bag that was hanging on the wall.

Damnit. I never ever made it over to Bike Specialties. :(

op: fo' sho'. I might be tagging along with the missus to a conference in Utrecht this Summer. We'll definitely be hanging out in Amsterdam too. Copenhagen is also an awesome city for bike riding. I fell in love with it immediately. Unfortunately the Danes have some other issues goin' on. :P I'm more obsessed with Portland these days, however.

edit: speaking of Amsterdam, we should do another brewery 'tour' sometime. :)

Yeah Bicycle specialities is great... a bit like a museum.

Are they having a sale? I need an excuse to get a 'cross frame.

Yeah Bicycle specialities is great... a bit like a museum.

Are they having a sale? I need an excuse to get a 'cross frame.

They're shutting the doors for good, but I don't know the details.

Speaking of which, to the musicians who haven't already heard, Songbird on Queen W is shutting down as well. They're having a big liquidation sale starting tomorrow morning at 10:00.

Details: http://www.songbirdmusic.com/

Ah you beat me to it Keith! Pretty excited. I'll post some pics in a bit. Super record anyone? I would love some input from all 'yall.

Mike at B.S. isn't taking on anymore jobs. I guess the doors are technically shut. If you are looking for something super particular give him a shout.

They're shutting the doors for good, but I don't know the details.

Speaking of which, to the musicians who haven't already heard, Songbird on Queen W is shutting down as well. They're having a big liquidation sale starting tomorrow morning at 10:00.

Details: http://www.songbirdmusic.com/

I asked Mike about that and he told me that he will be keeping his collection there for the foreseeable future and will also still be around on a part time basis mucking about with some projects he never had time for.

That's pretty much my idea as well. Commuter, cx, mtb & "track". I'm going to sell my roadie come spring (anyone want a 55cm platinum OX steel roadie with 10-sp 105? She's a beaut!).

I might be, seriously. I think I'm going to build a 8 speed mtb/commuter for my wife and was thinking of getting a decent used road bike. Lets make a deal here raggamuffin.