Rides and Races - Toronto Fixed

those are sweet, iwannit

Already planning some rides when I go back to NL for a visit in June.. *fingers crossed for not totally horrendous weather*

one route: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/119755

This is what it looks like around there: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewedwards/497141215/

Here's why the weather could prevent me from riding: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnthnhys/52233245/

:P

... does anyone know where I can get a replacement hood for a Shimano brake lever (not STI)? One of my cats chewed the crap out of one of them while I had my bike inside on the trainer for the winter.

Bueller?

Edit: it's a Shimano BL-R400 aero lever.

your shop can't get em?

I actually decided not to work for Curbside/BoW again this year because I have too much research to do this summer. I did stop in to both Curbside and Urbane to see if they had any lying around- Curbside didn't have any and Urbane gave me an old Exage hood, which fit, but unfortunately it was old and had a small cut in it. When I tried to mount it the hood split. Boo-urns! I guess if the only way to get it is through a special order I'll have to do that.

32flavours:

http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/index.php?category=1603

Hmm. Those ones have a ridge while mine don't. I guess I'll just get a pair of the Tektro ones which look identical and cost a quarter of the price, and replace both hoods. The ridges make you faster, right? Thanks iherald!

Finally made the commute to work today by bike. Pape to Overlea, across to Donmills, upto Sheppard, Warden to Finch. Was feeling very refreshed at 6:15 when I woke up and decided to give it ago. Was faster than I thought, 45 minutes to do 17km ride. No traffic either. So sad I didn't start sooner.
-
And I LOVE the dirt drops on the mtb. Spent some time Sunday with bar/brake position and have it set so I ride in the drops with no discomfort and can shift and brake without moving my hands. Great bars for commuting, rode the whole way in the drops. Can't wait to try the trails now.

i didn't buy them so i couldn't take a photo.

alright, found a photo on line:

http://home.earthlink.net/~rivromulus/images/adidas.jpg

Those look good - any idea what the model name is? I couldn't find them on the Adidas Originals store.

Can't wait to try the trails now.

*high five* ... I think there's already talk of a weekly Tuesday night "no-drop" Don group ride.

*high five* ... I think there's already talk of a weekly Tuesday night "no-drop" Don group ride.

Wes was telling me on Sunday. Seems I am not going to be doing an line work (sorry Jer). The money offered wasn't nearly enough to entice me back into a kitchen. And no under the counter either. Anyways Tuesdays seem to be free again. As long as it starts atround 5ish so my wife can get home in time to watch Carson, cause as of next Friday I am stay at home Dad.

*high five* ... I think there's already talk of a weekly Tuesday night "no-drop" Don group ride.

http://www.devilstriprollers.com/2008/04/06/dsr-now-includes-dirt-singletrack-rollers/

also, courtesy of 32flav, dunks + bike shoe =

http://www.highsnobiety.com/uploads/RTEmagicC_dunk_bmx_1.jpg.jpg
http://www.highsnobiety.com/uploads/pics/dunk_bmx_2.jpg

http://www.highsnobiety.com/home/the_daily_news/archive/2008/april/08/nike_dunk_gyrizo_bmx/index.htm

Nice pyze, I woke up at 6:15 this morning too - not feeling as fresh, however, went back to bed for another hour and decided to take the GO again... tomorrow!

Can't wait to get out into the sun, though - even though tomorrow is due for rain I think I'll do a full day commute again, need to discipline myself to not stay out so late :p

Was thinking very consciously about me riding platforms on my current conversion beater this morning, maybe I had a weird shin-bang dream or something. Can't wait to get the 'beaters on my Rob Roy, all the miles I've logged riding fixed so far has been on platforms :eek:

I like the eggbeaters so much I think I'll get another set to replace the ones coming off my road bike, I was concerned about long distance riding with so little cleat/shoe platform, but with my Cannondale shoes the sole seems plenty stiff enough to not cause me a prob.

Hey Nerdsgirth - was that you I rolled past this morning as you ripped a long skid across Bay (or somewhere near Bay)?

Those look good - any idea what the model name is? I couldn't find them on the Adidas Originals store.

adidas "cyclo-tourism (http://home.earthlink.net/~rivromulus/revshoes.html)"

I can understand this concern. I don't have a soul, so I don't worry about ethics, but if I did it would be hard to do anything. :) I've suggested to others in this position that you invest in 'good' stocks, and donate 50% of your earnings to a charity you like. But since it's in your RRSP you can't really do that.

You could likely keep the money in a GIC and make no real money but at least it would be somewhat ethical.

aw, i find it hard to believe you have no soul!

if i could pick and choose specific companies or enterprises, it wouldn't be such a big deal. unfortunately because it's such a small "portfolio" (trying to learn the lingo) i have no choices. all i can decide is the split between equity and fixed. i just don't understand how my employer gives me money that the government will write off in order to be a stockholder some foreign company that exploits it's workers who may then end up fleeing to canada and then needing to be a client of the agency that i work for that gives me money to etc etc.


+ 1 for shants.

- 1 for cops who aren't on duty but feel the need to tell you they're cops so they can threaten you with a ticket "next time".

Wes was telling me on Sunday. Seems I am not going to be doing an line work (sorry Jer). The money offered wasn't nearly enough to entice me back into a kitchen. And no under the counter either. Anyways Tuesdays seem to be free again. As long as it starts atround 5ish so my wife can get home in time to watch Carson, cause as of next Friday I am stay at home Dad.

Yeah we are looking at a 6.15 start at Pottery and then a second meet-up at 6.30 at the Loblaws lot. It's a total fun and good attitude ride. We're also looking at riding the west side hills first and finishing up along the flats in order to maximize light conditions. If we end up somewhere along Bayview for wings and beer that is cool too ;-)

I saw the city cutting the locks on all the abandoned bikes today on my commute. They were on College when I saw them with a half-ton truck full of bikes. Most of them looked pretty beat-up but some will probably pop up on the eBay auction site that the cops run. Or maybe they have another outlet? That bi-annual city auction down at the Ex is no longer held regularly, I hope they don't just throw them into a landfill...

Checked out the Don tonight. Rode the flats and the top half of the Ridge (or whatever they call the section that comes out in the parking lot). The flats had a couple muddy sections in the open, but in the trees it was totally dry. The only wet spots along the ridge were the usual little gullies and run-off streams.

38x20 on the Roger took it like a champ too! Good ****ing times! whoop whoop!

I saw the city cutting the locks on all the abandoned bikes today on my commute. They were on College when I saw them with a half-ton truck full of bikes. Most of them looked pretty beat-up but some will probably pop up on the eBay auction site that the cops run. Or maybe they have another outlet? That bi-annual city auction down at the Ex is no longer held regularly, I hope they don't just throw them into a landfill...

The cops outsource that to rite auctions. Bikes are shipped to a warehouse near the citys west end where they are photographed, described and basic fixes are applied wherein they go on ebay.

You'll notice the police auction descriptions usually suck balls. That's because the people who are writing them aren't really bike mechanics.

Yeah, I bought a lot of 5 bikes last year because I wanted this one cool Raleigh in the lot for my friend. You can view the bikes (or any other items) beforehand, so it is kind of neat in that respect. The place is over by Islington north of the Lakeshore, kind of far, especially when you have to ride 1 bike back to the city, take the bus back out there, ride another bike back to the city, take the bus back out there and so on and so on until all 5 bikes are home.

Boys Noize - Oi Oi Oi ... add that to the list of my random electronic music recommendations.

Hey Nerdsgirth - was that you I rolled past this morning as you ripped a long skid across Bay (or somewhere near Bay)?

Not me buddy, the only skid I ripped today was in my.... Speaking of shants, can we please call them shorts?

But they're not shorts.. they're shants. Short pants. Shorts go above the knee. Shants go to the calf. We can potentially call them shpants or knickers, but not shorts.

ps. photographic evidence of the Don ride.. gooooo BIA-CH!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/2399246721_5760b793de.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2213/2399246471_18624a94eb.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/2399246187_8bd7c117fd.jpg

Shants 4tw

Rob needs a mtb or 'cross bike. DRINK THE KOOL-AID!

Not me buddy, the only skid I ripped today was in my.... Speaking of shants, can we please call them shorts?

Well then good I feel less like a jerk for not saying "hey" to the guy that was not you :D

Those Don picts are looking great. Oh please bike gawds let my new toy be ready to roll this weekend and let the trails continue to dry out. Hope tomorrow's rain doesn't set things back too far.

But they're not shorts.. they're shants. Short pants. Shorts go above the knee. Shants go to the calf. We can potentially call them shpants or knickers, but not shorts.

ps. photographic evidence of the Don ride.. gooooo BIA-CH!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/2399246721_5760b793de.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2213/2399246471_18624a94eb.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/2399246187_8bd7c117fd.jpg

Sweet looking Bianchi, got any specs?

I live in the west end, so I've never actually been to the Don Trails. After looking at those pics (and after receiving my new JTS which should be here any day now) I'm definitely going to check them out. Where exactly are they?

Trails are looking better than I thought they would be this early. Too bad I don't have any time to ride!

Wes: They are also called pedal pushers, clamdiggers, capris and jams! I guess it depends on the context and how tough you want to sound.

I'm trying, i'm trying!

But they're not shorts.. they're shants. Short pants. Shorts go above the knee. Shants go to the calf. We can potentially call them shpants or knickers, but not shorts.

ps. photographic evidence of the Don ride.. gooooo BIA-CH!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/2399246721_5760b793de.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2213/2399246471_18624a94eb.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/2399246187_8bd7c117fd.jpg

I believe the correct term is " Wes Capri's"

Looking good Wes... that Roger looks peachy. Does it come in non-white... *googles* *dreams*


I live in the west end, so I've never actually been to the Don Trails. After looking at those pics (and after receiving my new JTS which should be here any day now) I'm definitely going to check them out. Where exactly are they?

In the Don valley, which seperates the far east side of the core (Parliament->east) and Broadview/Riverdale basically (and north thereof, it's where the DVP runs through). The trails are a little north of Bloor and all over both east and west sides, with some minor ones in Taylor Creek (that's a right turn off the main Don Valley near Broadview/O'Connor type area).

To get there, either ride to Queen/the valley and walk down the steps in the middle of the bridge, ride across Lakeshore to get to Lower Don Road(?) and across and onto the paved path, or go to Broadview/O'Connor or on the far west side at the top of the Bayview hill there (parking lot of Loblaws I believe it was mentioned). Pottery Road cuts right through the middle east/west at valley-level too. There's steps/a bridge on or nearGerrard too I think, but can't be certain - I remember a pedestrian bridge of sorts around there. From Pottery Rd. I think you head north to a crossroads of sorts, go left (West) to the tracks, along said tracks and right into what I think could be a "main" area - there's some dirt jumps/switchbacks and a carousel, etc. built there. I think they finished off the bridge that goes under the railway bridge too, so it's easier access to that lower section - I've never been there though.

That valley can, through various means, take you from the lake right up at least easily to Lawrence without any real actual road interruptions and can make for a beautiful ride. I've not done the trails more than 3 times, but the paved path system I've ridden/walked/ran all kinds around, I wholeheartedly recommend a trip.

Sweet looking Bianchi, got any specs?

I live in the west end, so I've never actually been to the Don Trails. After looking at those pics (and after receiving my new JTS which should be here any day now) I'm definitely going to check them out. Where exactly are they?

Bianchi Roger: http://www.bianchiusa.com/07_roger.html

There are lots of trails and it's kind of hard to describe where all of them are, but the two longest ones are usually referred to the Ridge and the Flats. The former starts at the little dirt parking lot just off Pottery Road, near Bayview. The latter starts a little North of Pottery, just West off the paved Don pathway, which sounds like what FlimFlam was describing.

When we start our Tuesday night group rides in another week or two, you should come out. That's the easiest way to find out where the trails are.


Looking good Wes... that Roger looks peachy. Does it come in non-white... *googles* *dreams*

It doesn't come in anything anymore, it was discontinued for 2008... 2007 was its last, and possibly its *only*, year of production.

To get there... ride across Lakeshore to get to Lower Don Road(?) and across and onto the paved path

I haven't done it this year, but last time I tried, there was still a wall blocking off the Don path from Lakeshore... has this re-opened?

I haven't done it this year, but last time I tried, there was still a wall blocking off the Don path from Lakeshore... has this re-opened?

Yeah, all that was opened up late in the season last year - it was part of that waterfront regeneration stuff as they're (re)building on the lower west don-lands area there (as well as the Martin Goodman was closed down by Cherry Beach, etc.)

ahem. Scotiabank presents Cherry beach.

It doesn't come in anything anymore, it was discontinued for 2008... 2007 was its last, and possibly its *only*, year of production.

I have a NOS 55cm model for sale. It'll be up on craigslist again this weekend.

I'm on the hunt for a 1" suspension fork (Rockshox Mag20/21 styles, etc.) for an old Gary Fisher. This isn't a work thing so I don't need it to be NOS ... but does anyone have a used fork kicking around? Only strict criteria is 1" and in decent condition.

when driving down the 401 around milton there is a yard with those brown domes where they keep the salt and sand for the road.

The entire area between them and the fence on the highway is stacked iwth thousands of bikes.

i've been planning on stopping by for a little look see for the past couple years, but i have never had time to stop.

Against all logic, I decided to bike to work today. My right leg was like dead weight while clipped in, so I was basically spinning with one leg. Naproxen is a wonderful drug :)

Also: shapelike, I'll bring the Cannondale to CT, but I have to get a hold of the vehicle claims department for authorization first.

Edit: just spoke with the insurance; they want a copy of the accident report, an estimate, and the bike's receipt. Looks like I'll be taking the C'dale over to CT this week.

Against all logic, I decided to bike to work today. My right leg was like dead weight while clipped in, so I was basically spinning with one leg. Naproxen is a wonderful drug :)

Advice: Take it easy, fella. You could turn 2wks of annoying healing into 6 weeks of annoying healing if you don't give it a chance to heal properly so soon after. Listen to your body!

when driving down the 401 around milton there is a yard with those brown domes where they keep the salt and sand for the road.

The entire area between them and the fence on the highway is stacked iwth thousands of bikes.

i've been planning on stopping by for a little look see for the past couple years, but i have never had time to stop.

Are they abandon bikes or something...? Are they usable bikes I could bring home and fix up?

Are they abandon bikes or something...? Are they usable bikes I could bring home and fix up?

No clue.

Its a city owned propery, so i'm assuming they're bikes that have been reclaimed by the city.
Its also fenced in, so dont think you'll be able to show up and grab a bike.

Don't kid yourself that the best bikes don't go to the guys that cut them off and their buddies.

Update on the computrainer ride. Checking the forecast - calls for rain Friday through Sunday. Bummer for the outside ride but great for the indoor one. Absoulte Endurance 115 Merton Street. For those still wanting the challenge, if you're driving parking is on the east side of the building or else on Merton Street. Be there early enough to setup and start riding by 12 noon. Hee-Haw!

that's like a block from my place, didn't even notice anything like that around there

ahem. Scotiabank presents Cherry beach.

Ugh :(

Rode in today, screwed myself for the "get the earlier train in the east end" option by leaving too late for that, so I rode all the way over here. Started feeling drops and it slowly got heavier so I put on the goretex jacket and carried on - my only regrets were not bringing my waterproof gloves, and not bringing booties/bags for my shoes. My calves had got cold, they really tightened up, but I think that having two blocks of ice for feet probably helped that more than the wind/rain. All in all not a bad ride, but not something I'd want to repeat without the aforementioned apparel - I started to sag pretty heavily once I got past Westney Rd. in Ajax (at which point I know I'm "almost there" - stupid mind games! :p)

speaking of cutting off bikes, and ethics....

I had a tenant move out april 1, and left their bike on the porch attached to the railing.
the new tenants have expressed intrest in using the porch for hanging out.

is 9 days too soon to cut it off?

speaking of cutting off bikes, and ethics....

I had a tenant move out april 1, and left their bike on the porch attached to the railing.
the new tenants have expressed intrest in using the porch for hanging out.

is 9 days too soon to cut it off?

Personally I'd wait 30 days. But I'm not sure the 'right' answer.