Rides and Races - Toronto Fixed

Why so bitter with CBN? As someone mentioned they are a VOLUNTEER organization. Maogosha, the woman who runs the place, does so for little financial gain. On top of this she is a super nice, dedicated person. How about instead of ranting about how much better you could run it, you just put up and volunteer? It's easy to sit there and criticize.....not so easy to actually do something to help. They do tons of great things for cycling in Toronto...Wenches with Wrenches....Yellow Bike Program....Tool Rentals. You seem so ready to criticize....what have YOU done for cycling in Toronto? *End Rant*


Hmm

I started a few shops to give people cheap bikes and repairs.

I ran an ALLEY CAT race totally out of my pocket and everyone got 3 prizes. PLUS you didnt have to be a bike courier to enter m so in fact I help to expand the scene

I built and sold one of the first cheap fixed gear wheels so people with very little cash could give it a go
This is back when the cheapest well used a sovos hub and was $110 US.

I had a bunch of inexpensive frames made which were priced cheaper then anyone else

I gave most of the bikecouriers in city financial assistance with parts and bike purchases. That almost put me out of bussiness...

Hmmmmm I helped out a smaller shop by wholesaling parts to them

I always volunteered for recycled art auction.

I had 5 different events for bike week last year.

I helped get the bike lane in on dundas street east.

I was a liason between the recycled art auction and City TV

I have donated a pile of used bicycles to charity.

I think I used to hand out bike propaganda to people.. I think that was the same time I printed up all these
flyers about companies that supported aparthied.

I have helped people in other bikeshops pick out bikes, even crappy tire. Even at the sale I was helping out a lady find a bike.

Is that enough KIETH? or you want more?

now now lads,
http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/2285/thunderdomejpg6ir.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

So is your shop( Polly's ) appointment only still?

FYI Keith most of those yellow bikes are on the west side

I think you fail to notice how us eastenders are left out of the loop, or maybe you just dont care?

I havent even seen a yellow bike out here in ages. And most people who have used though yellow bikes hate them. Some of these programs should be run by the local bike shops not the city.

Ask yourself as I cyclist do I use any of these programs? If you dont then what use are they?

Then perhaps we need programs that the people will use ...

TRAFFIC JAMMER ..thunderdome?? **** that is funny

Steeker--- Hmm ya..soon I hope to open though. I had alot of crap go down... you know what happened right?

nope no idea what happened

Maogosha

ok theres another ****ing thing I did . She was at the alley cat figure 8. She frigging took a huge spill and bent her brake. I somehow pulled a macguyver and fixed it.
NO CHARGE.... so ya I kind know who she is.. just a little.

Ya I guess you ****ing forgot how I volunteered free bike service to everyone at that event..
I also provide cheap food. My ****ing samosas were like a buck? compared to dominos $5 a frigging slice

**** I never realized half the **** that I have done.. its kind of good that you asked.

Paulie, you're being a ******. Keep it to PMs if it's going to be personal **** like this. The same goes for Keith, too. Let love in guys ... let love in.

On that note, STOP THE VIOLENCE!

http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/news/05-11/dead_elk2.jpg


A fight to the death claims the life of two buck deer

Apparently, last Saturday, two mature mule deer bucks clashed in a fatal fight for breeding rights at the Nash Wash WMA in the South Book Cliffs. One buck with a 27-inch-wide, 3 x 4 rack was examined by Sergeant Meyers and was found to have suffered two broken legs as well as numerous puncture wounds. The second buck, a 24-inch 4 x 4, exhibited numerous scrapes and a fatal puncture wound to the throat. Although competition for breeding rights is common among most animals, fights don't usually end in the death of one or both combatants. Nonetheless, many adolescent and adult males bear scars and injuries from such encounters.

Edit: Okay, so that sucked. I had this brilliant plan to do a Google image search for "bike porn" and post something hilarious that would mend all wounds. Instead I end up w/ a few pages of gay porn dvd cover shots. Who knew having anal sex on a motorcycle was so popular? Plus, I think I'm gay now.

Don't make us hose you two down..... all your bikes will get rusty.
Rock, Paper, Sissors..... to the DEATH!!!!!

If you did all that stuff then you know what Keith's sayin right? When it's an all volunteer outfit the word is pitch don't ***** as the only critique worth giving or receiving. I know ya know. Not that ther's anything wrong with *****ing, I do it all the time. It's why they built the internets, cuts down the violence

haha eyefloater. My buddy and I were playing x-box last night around 1:30am and all of a sudden 2 mice literally slide right across the hardwood floor from the kitchen to the living room in a ball. By a ball, I mean one of those cartoon fighting dust ball things, because they were having a battle royale. They were sliding and fighting swo intensely they didn't notice they were about to hit into the speaker, but they did and one of them got the upper hand and threw they other mice a couple feet away. After one final bloodthirsty charge sending one of the mice back into the speaker, the mice had sufficiently tested eachother's mettle and went off to tend to their wounds.

We were both speechless for a little while before started laughing.. now we have a baseball on the table so that we can intervene in any future mouse wars.

FYI Keith most of those yellow bikes are on the west side

I think you fail to notice how us eastenders are left out of the loop, or maybe you just dont care?
I don't really consider myself eastside....more like downtown. I have offered to have a hub here....redundant. Seeing as you are on the eastside maybe you should install a CBN hub.
I havent even seen a yellow bike out here in ages. And most people who have used though yellow bikes hate them.
I have never had a single person who uses the program complain about it. It exists to get people who may not be able to afford a bike....or choose not to own one in our bike theft ridden city....a chance to ride. Most folks I know who use it either are here for a short period of time and just want a rental (pretty much the only choice) or prefer the convenience of it.

Ask yourself as I cyclist do I use any of these programs? If you dont then what use are they?

Then perhaps we need programs that the people will use ...
You unleashed quite the vitriol on an organization you yourself admitted to not knowing much about. I think very highly of CBN...the work they do and the people who volunteer to make it possible. Now you know this. All the fabulous charity work you do for the cyclist's of Toronto aside....CBN is and I hope continue's to be a valuble and well regarded organization for the cyclist's of Toronto.

Don't make us hose you two down..... all your bikes will get rusty.
Rock, Paper, Sissors..... to the DEATH!!!!!

A RPS (rock, paper, scissors) match would solve this in a gentlemanly way. for conflict resolution, there is no better. believe me, i've played in international competitions (www.worldrps.com).

A RPS (rock, paper, scissors) match would solve this in a gentlemanly way. for conflict resolution, there is no better. believe me, i've played in international competitions (www.worldrps.com).
Seeing as this is a "Bikes" forum....I suggest 200 meter fixed gear sprints....at dawn. best 2 out of 3 takes the "I will not talk trash on bike forums again" crown

Seeing as this is a "Bikes" forum....I suggest 200 meter fixed gear sprints....at dawn. best 2 out of 3 takes the "I will not talk trash on bike forums again" crown

good point. that actually sounds like fun; i'd be willing to referee that event.

may i also suggest a joust?

I suggest a 60 minute cook off based on a secret ingredient! The tasting panel will decide the victor! The vanquished will commit seppuku!

I suggest a 60 minute cook off based on a secret ingredient! The tasting panel will decide the victor! The vanquished will commit seppuku!
Only if the ingredient is sparrow's nest.

Dude, do not make soup out of ****ing bird phlegm.

i love a cook off! let's do it more "just like mom" than "iron chef" though. the secret ingredient is.....salt.

Dude, do not make soup out of ****ing bird phlegm.
Sparrow's nest soup....THEN 200 meter fixed sprints. The nest give's me extra special keirin sprinting power. Not that I need it. *Toot's own horn*

Seeing as this is a "Bikes" forum....I suggest 200 meter fixed gear sprints....at dawn. best 2 out of 3 takes the "I will not talk trash on bike forums again" crown
NAw how about the the leslie Spit/ cheri beach loop thats a great little race

okay, here is the deal then. each combatant is issued the inside drum of a washing machine, a standard bag of charcoal, 5 gallons of hydrogenated vegetable oil and a 10kg frozen turkey. The battle will be held next to that old boat or whatever at the end of the leslie street spit where the raccoons hang out.

if only we lived in London...... :rolleyes:

NAw how about the the leslie Spit/ cheri beach loop thats a great little race

in all seriousness, there was an informal time trial there last summer put on the guys in the "toronto fixed group" and it was a lot of fun. route was on comissioners/unwin/leslie, about 6km, fixed only, we timed each other. i'd be interested in doing one of those again if there is interest.

NAw how about the the leslie Spit/ cheri beach loop thats a great little race
i just have to install my puncture proof tires and I will be good to go.
A big group of us used to do fixed sprints down on Unwin. Good place for it. Not a ton of traffic. I wonder if our distance marks are still on the road?

okay, here is the deal then. each combatant is issued the inside drum of a washing machine, a standard bag of charcoal, 5 gallons of hydrogenated vegetable oil and a 10kg frozen turkey. The battle will be held next to that old boat or whatever at the end of the leslie street spit where the raccoons hang out.
Ahhhhhh...the deep fried Turkey. I saw this news report about how there is a spike in fires in the U.S. on Thanksgiving.
Too much boiling oil+frozen turkey=big freakin fire.
Ever try that? I had one this past Christmas. I will take the oven roasted bird hands down.

so i'm generally bored and uninspired at work, etc. always looking for something to do. so i wonder what kind of interest there would be in holding a sprint / time trial thing on the spit or in that area with proper prizes / sponsors and a bit of advertising? if someone were to put the word out there how many people (exluding the fine folks here on BF) could we get to come out?

is that after repaving the entire area?

Sparrow's nest soup....THEN 200 meter fixed sprints. The nest give's me extra special keirin sprinting power. Not that I need it. *Toot's own horn*

Extra sprinting power? sounds like a video game. Do we have to collect diamonds or jewels along the way?

Im up for 200 meter sprints, but we have to ride big wheels or green machines, you know that crazy kids bike from the late 70s. Ill find a picture.

We also have to wear mickey mouse hats and sing the mickey mouse club song while we ride.

Ahhhhhh...the deep fried Turkey. I saw this news report about how there is a spike in fires in the U.S. on Thanksgiving.
Too much boiling oil+frozen turkey=big freakin fire.
Ever try that? I had one this past Christmas. I will take the oven roasted bird hands down.

it is scarry for sure. have you noticed that most of the high-end BBQs you see in hardware stores not come with a deep fryer attachment? i dunno, with a drum and all that charcoal i'd put that bad boy on a rotissarie and smoke that bird.

i just have to install my puncture proof tires and I will be good to go.
A big group of us used to do fixed sprints down on Unwin. Good place for it. Not a ton of traffic. I wonder if our distance marks are still on the road?
this was the route we used to use http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=142751

so i'm generally bored and uninspired at work, etc. always looking for something to do. so i wonder what kind of interest there would be in holding a sprint / time trial thing on the spit or in that area with proper prizes / sponsors and a bit of advertising? if someone were to put the word out there how many people (exluding the fine folks here on BF) could we get to come out?
Fixed only? Our old sprint group had about 15 guys and gals weekly. If we give enuf time...get out some flyers....I would think 20-30 would not be a problem.

I rock the Turkey in the oven.

Ahhhhhh...the deep fried Turkey. I saw this news report about how there is a spike in fires in the U.S. on Thanksgiving.
Too much boiling oil+frozen turkey=big freakin fire.
Ever try that? I had one this past Christmas. I will take the oven roasted bird hands down.

Deep frying is an american past time. Actually in the UK theres a place that serves deep fried twinkies and chocolate bars.

is that after repaving the entire area?

it's a flat route with four turns. yes, the pavement condition is generally **itty, but that's part of the challenge.

Hey Kieth what about an alley cat.. that regular folks can be in?

Maybe if I talk nicely to frank and profit they could lend use of the radios, im sure profit would have an interest in the race.

Fixed only? Our old sprint group had about 15 guys and gals weekly. If we give enuf time...get out some flyers....I would think 20-30 would not be a problem.

that would be a lot of fun. i would assume fixed only would be a good idea, or at least a fixed only category. i don't know about y'all but no matter what your gearing, keeping up with a guy on a geared road bike can be difficult. it would be interesting to see a mix of messengers and commuters and just normal people too.

Hey Kieth what about an alley cat.. that regular folks can be in?

Maybe if I talk nicely to frank and profit they could lend use of the radios, im sure profit would have an interest in the race.
The last alleycat....with proper notice and flyers....attracted a grand total of 6 racers.
I am working on an alleycat series for this year. There will be a standard style alleycat....a scavenger hunt....a time trial....Global Gutz...and a few other races thrown in for good measure. It will be a points type series with 1 thru 10 gaining points for each event. Prizes for each event plus a series grand prize of a custom frame. Looks like I might have 2 tickets to send the male/female winners to the CMWC in Australia as well. Still finalizing details with the main sponsors but when things are ready I will let yall know.

Deep frying is an american past time. Actually in the UK theres a place that serves deep fried twinkies and chocolate bars.

i didn't know there was a place in the UK that DOESN'T serve deep-fried chocolate bars. when i went to scotland in 98', i gained almost 40 pounds in 3 months. not exactly 'quisine'. i know for a fact that there is at least on fish and chip place in toronto that does deep fried mars bars. say what you will, they are **cking delicious.

The last alleycat....with proper notice and flyers....attracted a grand total of 6 racers.
I am working on an alleycat series for this year. There will be a standard style alleycat....a scavenger hunt....a time trial....Global Gutz...and a few other races thrown in for good measure. It will be a points type series with 1 thru 10 gaining points for each event. Prizes for each event plus a series grand prize of a custom frame. Looks like I might have 2 tickets to send the male/female winners to the CMWC in Australia as well. Still finalizing details with the main sponsors but when things are ready I will let yall know.


Sounds fun......
gearing for gold/diamond/platnium sprints? frnt/back?

The last alleycat....with proper notice and flyers....attracted a grand total of 6 racers.
I am working on an alleycat series for this year. There will be a standard style alleycat....a scavenger hunt....a time trial....Global Gutz...and a few other races thrown in for good measure. It will be a points type series with 1 thru 10 gaining points for each event. Prizes for each event plus a series grand prize of a custom frame. Looks like I might have 2 tickets to send the male/female winners to the CMWC in Australia as well. Still finalizing details with the main sponsors but when things are ready I will let yall know.

so you think there would be more interest in sprints or a time trial? could this be worked in as part of your series?

it's a flat route with four turns. yes, the pavement condition is generally **itty, but that's part of the challenge.
Pavement .... that's being polite. :lol:
You gonna be able to close it off to traffic? In the summer there is a bit of traffic there on week-ends with the boats and other cyclists.... how would folks go balls out racing on there?

Pavement .... that's being polite. :lol:
You gonna be able to close it off to traffic? In the summer there is a bit of traffic there on week-ends with the boats and other cyclists.... how would folks go balls out racing on there?

last one we did was in july i think on a sunday afternoon. open course with "traffic" but we set it up so it's just four right hand turns. i had no trouble going full-out in that scenario. i can imagine getting a permit to close the roads would be a nightmare. another idea is to hold it either early morning or late evening.

so you think there would be more interest in sprints or a time trial? could this be worked in as part of your series?
Why not both? Tons of people/clubs/racers train down there all the time. Sure the surface is a bit sketchy but as was already mentioned...just makes it more interesting. Out of all the places in Toronto that we could do something like this....I think that area has the least traffic. Other than a few yahoo's I can't see much going on on Saturday night down there. You thinking day or night? I think night would be better just for the traffic thing.

That bridge can be sketchy. What's the light situation like down there at night? I hate hitting cracks and holes in the dark.
There have been known to have the occasional street race down there, as well as the Docks traffic. That said I'm game...... damn need a machine.

[QUOTE=cavernmech]The last alleycat....with proper notice and flyers....attracted a grand total of 6 racers.


Well that sucks doesnt it.

What was the race that was turned into a tv show?

Not that I know what im talking about but... if you were to propose an alley cat race as something mre like
SURVIVOR or the apprentice. One could perhaps present the idea to a network.

I mean itd be only a handful of people in the show mind you. But itd be more like a real courier job, where you have to gain favour with the dispatcher and get stuck in the elevator etc.. scoop someone elses calls.

Deliver as many packages as you can in a certain time.. pick up a secretary.. etc

Having been a messer' the idea turns my tummy.
A TV show where non-messer's race a messer style setup? Ewwwwww.

OLN search for the world's fastest messengers? Isn't that the World Courier Championships?

Why not both? Tons of people/clubs/racers train down there all the time. Sure the surface is a bit sketchy but as was already mentioned...just makes it more interesting. Out of all the places in Toronto that we could do something like this....I think that area has the least traffic. Other than a few yahoo's I can't see much going on on Saturday night down there. You thinking day or night? I think night would be better just for the traffic thing.

i meant to say: based on the fact that the last toronto alley cat attracted 6 people, perhaps a sprint or time trial event would generate more interest than a traditional alley cat? at least in terms of bringing non-messengers out to race. i don't want to be disrespectful to the messenger community in terms of stepping on anyone's toes, race-wise, but my initial thought is anyone should be free to organise a race where all are welcome.
to answer your question i think an evening thing would me more appropriate. perhaps have the starting heats/timed riders going off about an hour before the sun sets then finishing up in the dark (bring your lights)? leaves enough time for a few beers and a trackstand comp.

Having been a messer' the idea turns my tummy.
A TV show where non-messer's race a messer style setup? Ewwwwww.

OLN search for the world's fastest messengers? Isn't that the World Courier Championships?


No dude it would be real messengers... but it would be set up with other variables.

It might make for an interesting bit of tv watching.

Is this the Irish Race you are speaking of? I think that also might have been factional something or other within the messer community that had the low turnout. Could be fun, there are gobs of folks there. Bugger I've been runnin' out of gears on my MTB recently, where's my sponsor? :lol:

I've been wanting.... once I become an eccentric billionaire, to find the world's fastest messers. Train 'em in classical road racing then place the team in the pro ranks and see what happens. Team Chaos in TDF....woooohooooo parting til 2....keepin' all the other teams awake all night. Raising hell, pro cylcing needs a team like that. Full on black everything.....lol.

Sounds cool Polly, from a network perspective the insurance liability would be evil. Just sayin'