Rides and Races - Toronto Fixed

dukes.



the thing is i really like the guys who work the floor, there all really helpful, i only have issues with there tech abilities... I dunno im pretty anal when it comes to working on my bike (they look like ****, but the run smooooth), so i have really yet to find a store i am comfortable with letting them fix it... and the stripped bolts really doesnt help.





yea i think i'll walk it in tomorrow

wondering if u guys can help.....not going to post in main forum lol.
I recently crashed my bike and was forced to build a new one. On the crashed bike i rode 48/15 with no problems. the cranks sucked, but i had campy bb which was smooth.
so, i build this new bike and basically move all the parts over from the crashed one to the new one. It's been a week and i can't handle the 48/15 gearing. Not only can i NOT move the bike, my knees are killing me, which has never happened to me b4 and I've been fixed year round for about 4 years now.

The only difference between the drivetrain is that new ride has a 35$ shimano bb in it, not a campy one. I'm going to switch the chainring, but i'm pissed because I really liked the way my old bike felt.
can a cheap bb make that much of a difference?
i've also tried the seat height/position, cleat position solutions, to no avail.

Couldn't the length of the chain-stays add to the gear-inches? As well, the frame geometry may be very different which can affect your positions. My Ciocc and Marinoni have the exact same size measurements but the angles were quite different and so was the ride.

Couldn't the length of the chain-stays add to the gear-inches?


good point.

good point.

Uh I don't see why chainstay length would affect gear inches at all. Otherwise you'd see a variable in the gear inch formula that says "chainstay length".

It's totally dependent on your chainring size and rear cog size. Crank length would have an effect on it. but I can't think of anything else.

About the "slowness" of your new bike, you might want to check that your rear cones aren't too tight (cartridge or loose), and that your crank isn't bottoming out on the bottom bracket. You shouldn't also interchange Campy which is ISO and shimano bottom brackets which is JIS.

ISO (Campy) cranks should be used with their proper ISO bb (e.g campy bb's). I wouldn't interchange the two unless you really didn't have a choice. This is an extra caveat anyways, I doubt this is making your bike feel slower than it was.'

The final, completely obvious thing you need to check is that you haven't set your rear wheel back too far, binding the drivetrain. The chain should have some slack in all parts of it when you rotate the cranks. It shouldn't bind so much that it's causing major drag.

You will see variation in chain tension, which is normal for most bikes as you rotate the cranks on the stand. Some bikes are better at this than others.

This is the GI formula + vars.

gi=dwd*fct/rct

gi = Gear Inches
dwd = Drive Wheel Diameter
fct = Front Chainring Teeth
rct = Rear Cog Teeth

Uh I don't see why chainstay length would affect gear inches at all. Otherwise you'd see a variable in the gear inch formula that says "chainstay length".

It's totally dependent on your chainring size and rear cog size. Crank length would have an effect on it. but I can't think of anything else.

About the "slowness" of your new bike, you might want to check that your rear cones aren't too tight (cartridge or loose), and that your crank isn't bottoming out on the bottom bracket. You shouldn't also interchange Campy which is ISO and shimano bottom brackets which is JIS.

ISO (Campy) cranks should be used with their proper ISO bb (e.g campy bb's). I wouldn't interchange the two unless you really didn't have a choice. This is an extra caveat anyways, I doubt this is making your bike feel slower than it was.'

The final, completely obvious thing you need to check is that you haven't set your rear wheel back too far, binding the drivetrain. The chain should have some slack in all parts of it when you rotate the cranks. It shouldn't bind so much that it's causing major drag.

You will see variation in chain tension, which is normal for most bikes as you rotate the cranks on the stand. Some bikes are better at this than others.

I should add to this that your knee pain might come from the positioning of your saddle with respect to your feet. If the saddle is too far forward or back it will cause pain.

the wheels are way IN on the dropouts. Chain tension seems ok, I'm not sure what you mean by the bb "bottoming out"
I have a sugino arm on the right side and a shimano on the left.....
it's just that on my other departed ride, once i was going i was able to spin pretty easily. With this bike i'm just mashing, i can't get the rpm's high enough.

+1 on all the above plus the obvious: with the NEW frame, how is the chain line?

++1 on all of the above and the other obvious thing perhaps not mentioned: maybe you're hurting because you were in a crash? Just a a thought.

also keep in mind that any change in tire width will affect the ease of forward motion. is your new frame heavier maybe?

+1 on all the above plus the obvious: with the NEW frame, how is the chain line?

off by 2mm when first built. I added 1mm spacers to fix it. But the drivetrain is far from ideal in terms of chainline. The bb is 127mm......

off by 2mm when first built. I added 1mm spacers to fix it. But the drivetrain is far from ideal in terms of chainline. The bb is 127mm......

Q factor. The old Campy BB was prolly a 113 or thereabouts...the new one is 127....cranks are much further apart. Crank "stance' is often over-looked. You are pedalling outbounds now where you were pedalling straight down before. My bi-weekly post...out.

Q factor. The old Campy BB was prolly a 113 or thereabouts...the new one is 127....cranks are much further apart. Crank "stance' is often over-looked. You are pedalling outbounds now where you were pedalling straight down before. My bi-weekly post...out.

Like a freaking ninja...

Q factor. The old Campy BB was prolly a 113 or thereabouts...the new one is 127....cranks are much further apart. Crank "stance' is often over-looked. You are pedalling outbounds now where you were pedalling straight down before. My bi-weekly post...out.
thanks k.

Stolen stuff alert...

My friend Lyndsey had her wheels ripped off the other night...

Mavic laced for Formula Track Hubs
650 (6xp33) front
700 (DA22) back

Stolen stuff alert...

My friend Lyndsey had her wheels ripped off the other night...

Mavic laced for Formula Track Hubs
650 (6xp33) front
700 (DA22) back

crimewave wtf? i saw you leaving liberty village at approximately 8:51 this morning.

crimewave wtf? i saw you leaving liberty village at approximately 8:51 this morning.

haha, approximately 8:51? i live in the village and would have been on my way to work... 3 minute commute on a good day! booya!

yeah dude, it's brutal! i pity the fool that i catch in the act, i'll tell you that much!

See you later boys and girls. Off to the airport in a while. Woot!
Daughter has her laptop so maybe some europostages.

Two locks isn't too much... Damn that sucks - I saw the post on CL earlier. :(

I fitted a chain around my Brooks on the weekend finally after all of the reports of those going missing.

edit: yay Have a wicked trip, TJ :D

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/bik/754577041.html

i've heard of this guy being kinda odd but this is disturbing news(if it's true).

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/bik/754577041.html

i've heard of this guy being kinda odd but this is disturbing news(if it's true).

Hrmmmmm, I would be very surprised if this isn't just more anonymous slander against Jan. Yes, the guy can be rude and somewhat of a dick but he has incredible frames in there, he doesn't buy Canadian Tire bikes or Magnas from Wal-Mart. All of his stuff comes from teams and/or team-riders and, my understanding is that he knows them.

It could happen of course but Jan is only like Igor in one way....his shop is cluttered.

lyndsey like from adrift? that sucks!

lyndsey like from adrift? that sucks!

that's her! i'm lending her one of my old winter wheels for the rear and toby seems to have a surplus of 650 fronts so she can at least ride while she figures out what to get to replace the wheels but it's a huge bummer for her, regardless.

Hrmmmmm, I would be very surprised if this isn't just more anonymous slander against Jan.

Yes, someones been humping his leg on CL of late.

For any photographers out there: http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/mag/3134/

Have a good trip TJ. Keep your valuables and wallet tight on the metro and when assailled by groups of gypsy kids.

Two locks isn't too much... Damn that sucks - I saw the post on CL earlier. :(

I fitted a chain around my Brooks on the weekend finally after all of the reports of those going missing.

edit: yay Have a wicked trip, TJ :D

My friend had his brooks stolen, even with a chain around his brooks. I think it might be better just to put it on a QR post and take it with you all the time. Annoying, but if you don't want it to get ripped off....

I have been worried about my Brooks for awhile now. I have a chain on it but yeah, they want it, they will get it. Totally sucks, I've only had it for a short time and it was just starting to get comfy...

I have been worried about my Brooks for awhile now. I have a chain on it but yeah, they want it, they will get it. Totally sucks, I've only had it for a short time and it was just starting to get comfy...

I am gonna outfit my city bike with a full complement of TORX bolts. Brafasco has em in all kinds of sizes.

I jammed a ball-bearing into the allen-key-hole bolt and covered it with wax, but it is only a deterent. I need a large doberman like that junkyard dog in Stand By Me that was trained to sic balls: "Chopper! Sic balls!"

Can you not just jam a phillips into a Torx or does it cam out when you're loosening it?

You know what sucks? To be making fairly good time up a hill, only to be passed by a huge ****** on one of those electric bikes. **** you, clown!

TJ: happy trails!
Wheel thief: you suck!

time for some vigilante justice...

Can you not just jam a phillips into a Torx or does it cam out when you're loosening it?

haha "cam" out...
I don't remember hearing about this many thefts last summer. The Brooks thing is truly an epidemic.

You know what sucks? To be making fairly good time up a hill, only to be passed by a huge ****** on one of those electric bikes. **** you, clown!


Did he blip his little horn at you? That pisses me off. Get in the lane and pass, cheese-eater.

I have no probs with fatasses, it's when I see young and apparently healthy people on them that it gets kind of worrisome. At least they're not Segways.

inline segways

anybody know where the best place to get a bike fit is in Toronto? I recently found out I have tendinitis in my right knee and my physiotherapist strongly suggested I get my bike fit. I've heard La Bicicletta does a good job. Anywhere else?

my week of bad bike karma continues: some considerate person decided to relieve me of my brooks saddle while i was at my first day of work today. and yup, it was locked up with a mastercraft airplane-grade cable - they cut right through it with cutters. **** you toronto! it was a broken in brooks saddle! i've had it since 2003!

oh, i forgot to mention that they also took my top tube pad, because....you know...everyone knows the street value of TOP TUBE PADS!!!!!!

those fixed gear bling fans are becoming worse that crack addicts.

my week of bad bike karma continues: some considerate person decided to relieve me of my brooks saddle while i was at my first day of work today. and yup, it was locked up with a mastercraft airplane-grade cable - they cut right through it with cutters. **** you toronto! it was a broken in brooks saddle! i've had it since 2003!

Man that bites, whereabouts in town was this? Doesn't make me feel good at ALL about locking out anywhere outside... :(

Yes, someones been humping his leg on CL of late.

For any photographers out there: http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/mag/3134/

Have a good trip TJ. Keep your valuables and wallet tight on the metro and when assailled by groups of gypsy kids.

... and thank you Orion for not claiming dumbass usage rights (your photo is still your photo after you submit it to them).

anybody know where the best place to get a bike fit is in Toronto? I recently found out I have tendinitis in my right knee and my physiotherapist strongly suggested I get my bike fit. I've heard La Bicicletta does a good job. Anywhere else?

Somnambulant went to someone fancy - or rather, someone fancy did a house call!

Shapelike did mine. It was good!

my week of bad bike karma continues: some considerate person decided to relieve me of my brooks saddle while i was at my first day of work today. and yup, it was locked up with a mastercraft airplane-grade cable - they cut right through it with cutters. **** you toronto! it was a broken in brooks saddle! i've had it since 2003!

That really sucks. Sorry to hear it. I'm really tempted to put my Brooks on my bike and stake it out with a baseball bat.

inline segways

hahaha beautiful.

And bike parts aren't the only things being ripped off apparently

http://www.thestar.com/GTA/Fixer/article/461015

my week of bad bike karma continues: some considerate person decided to relieve me of my brooks saddle while i was at my first day of work today. and yup, it was locked up with a mastercraft airplane-grade cable - they cut right through it with cutters. **** you toronto! it was a broken in brooks saddle! i've had it since 2003!

And this was a day after we talked to a random guy for 20 min about a Brooks saddle that he had given to him. He was wondering if he should use it cause it looked dry and hard.... This sucks. Sorry to hear that.

Cavit, I am all for a stakeout. The corner of Bloor and St. George would be fun to hang out on one evening... Your electrocution method would be good... or perhaps a magician's silk scarf attached to the base of the post so when it is removed miles of ribbon comes form the tube... hilarity ensues!

hahaha beautiful.
I don't get it. Pics?

inline segways

Two of 'em have weaselled into the bike lockup at my work, they shoved the bike racks out of the way to make more room for their motorcycles. I love the vestigial pedals; they have little hinges so they can flip up out of harms way when you don't need them! So anyway, one of these two clowns has used some elastic bands to make this more or less a permanent setup on his rig. I'm waiting to meet this guy face to face, just have to think up a good one-line zinger to deliver.

And bike parts aren't the only things being ripped off apparently

http://www.thestar.com/GTA/Fixer/article/461015


more than 100 reader complaints about thefts of vehicles or parts such as catalytic converters, collision airbags and stereos.


REALLY? Catalytic converters are being stolen?





i watched some of the polo game at dundas/bathurst last night
never taken the time to watch one before, looks really fun.

REALLY? Catalytic converters are being stolen?



I rented a car yesterday and when getting driven back to my office I was told how in Brampton a HUGE issue is catalytic converters being stolen from cube vans. I was also talking to a guy who had the master brake cylinder stolen from his car while it sat in his driveway.

Remember that that police officer that got a shot a few months ago was investigating a ring of airbag thieves. A ring of airbag thieves killed a cop. There is big money in this sort of thing; my understanding is that they are all transported down to the U.S. but that may be incorrect.

Another interesting thing to me is the amount of U.S. registered cars that are re-sold up here. Take a minute and watch traffic one afternoon and count the number of cars without day-time running lights. There are thousands of them which means they were not initially registered in Canada. Are these cars all stolen? Hack-jobs? I can't think of a shadier business than selling used cars, *shudder*.

That sucks about your Brooks JW, any identifying marks on it? I put my name on a piece of paper and tape it to the inside of the BB on all my bikes, I wish I could think of something similar to mark my Brooks.