Rides and Races - Toronto Fixed

Uhmm maybe I'll drive my bike down to KensingtonMarket and see if I can ride up to the top of the garage :)

They are one and the same ....... especially when it comes to mature students.
I think higher education here in canada needs to be turned on it's ear. Why should someone go into such insane debt to get some secondary schooling?

The only thing i've learned in school so far is that i'm not learning anything in school. UT is the most research oriented piece of **** school ever. If I had to do this all over again, i'd be halfway to a commercial piloting job by now and picking up lots of chickx.

My tuition is toppin 9k a year atm.

What do you see in your future as a coder?
Comp-sci right? So not a complete coder freak?

Honestly, there wasn't really anything good to choose from graduating hs (absolutely no idea what I wanted to do). I had a really good teacher for com sci in h.s and thought that Uni classes would be similarily enjoyable (mistake #1) so I applied for that.

Realized fairly quickly that the core of the program was the theoretical foundation to com sci, all the complexity analysis, correctness proofs and the god awful math courses of which I have absolutely no interest in. There was also the small bit of familial pressure to go into a technical field that would lead into a job that would generate lots of $ or you're considered a failure (engineering ranks up there as well as business).

Sounds like a big long whiny rant, but I hope to hell I won't need to be doing com sci/IT work for the next 40 years to make a living.

What's the average, three job changes before most people finally settle on a career (read: find something they enjoy)? I'm at about 3.5 now. ;)

Holy 4 pages of posts today i was not even able to sit to eat my lunch run run run.

So i have to chime in on the time atac alum's 3 bike's 3 sets of them love them they all still have that crisp snap with the in & out.
Had a set of the crank bros candy’s a little to soft squishy (but did work fine) sold them same way i got them shortly after.
Cheers

Honestly, there wasn't really anything good to choose from graduating hs (absolutely no idea what I wanted to do). I had a really good teacher for com sci in h.s and thought that Uni classes would be similarily enjoyable (mistake #1) so I applied for that.

Realized fairly quickly that the core of the program was the theoretical foundation to com sci, all the complexity analysis, correctness proofs and the god awful math courses of which I have absolutely no interest in. There was also the small bit of familial pressure to go into a technical field that would lead into a job that would generate lots of $ or you're considered a failure (engineering ranks up there as well as business).

Sounds like a big long whiny rant, but I hope to hell I won't need to be doing com sci/IT work for the next 40 years to make a living.

Take a year off (at least), travel the world on your parents nickel (or I have some good listings of travel/volunteer jobs. Come back. Go to law school. Go into corporate law. Article at $60 000/year, start at $90 000, 5 years later become a junior partner at $250k /year. Buy a huge house in Forest Hill. Develop an ulcer. Marry a trophy wife who can go to charity events you care nothing about. Refer to your liver in the third person. Lie flat on your back with a tube up your nose thinking "I didn't do it right". Die.

I don't think anyone should even think about starting a career until they're thirty. But that's me.

First attempt at a commute to UTM from the Annex tomorrow morning. Here's hoping I don't get lost, or get mowed down by a truck.

I cut some woman (on a bike) off today and blocked her way because she was about to pull up beside a huge truck (jumbo moving van ... basically a semi) that was signaling right at a red. It was a weird moment of "this is exactly how people die." She didn't say anything to me but I think she got the hint after the truck turned (and overlapped the sidewalk while it did it).

The Campi QR is GREAT I rode along the lake to KensingtonMarket and I just had to take the picture but it was fun flying back down again to the street and the chain was still super tight when I got home http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=138788478&size=l

Good for you eyefloater maybe she learned something

Bwahahahahaha - le pwnage:

http://www.nealenews.com/Graphics/StephenHarperBabies.jpg

I see that stuff every day. At Donlands and O'Connor, there's always a long lane of cars turning right. This morning me and another guy shifted left to the through lane. There was a couple of folks, though, stuck on the curb.

I'm utterly convinced this is because of the "curb lane" mentality of all the bike fairs, media and such that cyclists should always keep right. It reminds me of the fuzz at CM who was yelling "use the curb lane".
a) there is no "curb lane". There's a right lane of which cyclists use about a third
b) if you're moving as fast or faster than traffic, you can take the lane.

It's that kind of attitude that gets folks killed. They're just doing what they've always been taught to do "ride" their bikes. This little gem for people who drive their bikes is so buried it's almost impossible to find http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/cycling/cyclingskills.htm. A great little source. How many times have you seen buses passed on the right, while riding your fixed gear.

How's that for a rant operator. Oh, by the way, http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2005/3/19/133129/548

More CM pictures from Vic http://vic.gedris.org/drupal/

Yeah seriously, some people need to learn REAL riding skills not this b.s that is ingrained in peoples mind. On a TBN ride I got scolded for being a bit too much to the left of the curb at a red. Subsequently the car behind me honked at me to get me to move (move where? you gotta be ****ting me). of course about 10 m after the intersection is a parked car disabling use of the entire lane. Like what the ****.

And no, the car didn't turn right at the intersection (nor did it signal right), it went straight. God.

Edit: Didn't realize my UTW bag was so oddly positioned on my back.

Bwahahahahaha - le pwnage

Gold!

How's that for a rant operator. Oh, by the way, http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2005/3/19/133129/548

I had a street car driver start asking me about being a messenger on Sunday. I was downtown riding around and Queen St was shut down at Nathan Phillips Square due to this crazy large punjabi parade of some sort. So, the streetcars were just sitting there and the drivers were out chatting. I roll up near them, and one of them starts talking with me.. After asking if I was a messenger, and me saying no, he continues to ask me about the details. Pretty funny. He said he wants to start messing on his 2 days off every week.

I honestly don't think I ever talked to so many strangers before I started riding fixed. So many people talk to me about it, it's hilarious. And I've had my timbuk2 bag for years, so I don't think that's it.

For example, I also had a roadie on a training ride Saturday morning (see sig :P) tell me he thought my bike was very "svelte" looking. Then he realized it was fixed and said that was the "way of the future", which totally killed me. He asked if I was doing the whole rally fixed, and I said "yes, but I can't always wuss out and ride geared... I mean.. uhh.. not 'wuss out' I guess.. but.. uhh.. change my mind?" My special power is putting my foot in my mouth. :)

That's all.

I don't think anyone should even think about starting a career until they're thirty. But that's me.


Hear hear..... I didn't even think of it until 25. I wasn't planning on living past 30 anyway. :lol:
I think with the way the world has changed that the straight and narrow from HS to post is a BIG mistake. It might have had it's place in time when companies actually took care of it's employees.

Those days are gone. You'll be lucky to get benefits now. Hell, you'll be lucky to get full time. When I was hired where I am now I treated myself like a corporation, I told the interviewer that I didn't expect any loyalty from them vis-a-vis downsizing etc. (all the reasons a whole bunch of people get let go at once).
BUT at the same time I told them that if someone offered me more money to do the same amount of work then I'd be gone. I wasn't going to kill myself through effort for anyone in business, EVER. I called it Bashudo (sp?) economics, I don't know where I got that from. Now almost 40 I see there is practiaclly no carreer path for anyone as the entire structure has been turned on it's ass by the boomers. Change the laws so they don;t need to retire they will now die in their cushy management jobs, and everyone else will remain in their cubicales in a holding pattern. Douglas Copeland wrote that the boomers has taken the biggest and best piece of pie for themselves and had put up razor wire and an electric fence around the rest of it.

Go on the adventures of your lifetimes, kids. Biking backpacking climbing diving whatever. Do it while your younger so you can enjoy it more. Do it so you can bring more worldy knowledge to school when you find that intangible whats-its that sparks your desire to learn. The cost of school is ******** if you don't know what it is you want to study. I won't buy a car not knowing if I like it. As a parent these days I'll be pissed if I spend 40-70k on an education that doesn't get used. Maybe they should pay for it themselves if it's simply to be in school. Our whole structure is based on mid century ideals when money was falling from the sky and the heady days of post war north america were still there.

And no, the car didn't turn right at the intersection (nor did it signal right), it went straight. God.

That's when I pull over to the line separating the two lanes going my direction, drivers can go right no problem and cars going straight must follw me through the intersection. As it is it's illegal to change lanes in the actual intersection. I take the mindset of 'hey, I'm in front, you follow.' Remember if there are two lanes going your direction you are under no legal or moral obigation to move over to the stripe of death to accomidate them. Escepically if there is parked cars on the far side of the intersection, he just wants to drag. I ride slow in front of those guys. :lol:

I'm just gonna say a big "damn fscking right" to both of Traffic Jammer's previous posts. :)

Also: don't forget about the show opening Friday night at Jet Fuel, kids. I'm definitely gonna go.

Our whole structure is based on mid century ideals when money was falling from the sky and the heady days of post war north america were still there.

M'seh dat. Freedom 55 is one of the creepiest buzzline's I've ever heard.

Like the Clash said: 'It's the best years of your life they want to steal'

Uhmm maybe I'll drive my bike down to KensingtonMarket and see if I can ride up to the top of the garage :)

you may want to watch this (http://www.eleventooth.com/vids/skidmore.wmv) first for inspiration.

How much play do you have on your chain?
Looked at the pic. I don't see why a QR wouldn't work.

seconded. but get a good one made of steel. nothing lightweight. a dura ace or older model campy would work well. stay away from those exposed cam things...

like the specials said, "enjoy yourself, it's later than you think."

hey op, go work in a different country. take any job. wow. trafficjammer, where the heck were you in my grade 9 guidance class?!?!? cam had some nice points too. who says old men are worthless??

on a side note, is anyone else getting massacred by their allergies.

that video was cool the first part of the circle up ramp looked like the one that use to be at Vicpark and Eglington , I did the garage and took the picture to tease somnambulant;) , I did use the old Campi QR and hit the lake trails out to the core then did the garage and Gerrard street back east home and the chain is still super tight hardly any play in it so it worked just fine:D

[QUOTE=operator]Honestly, there wasn't really anything good to choose from graduating hs (absolutely no idea what I wanted to do). I had a really good teacher for com sci in h.s and thought that Uni classes would be similarily enjoyable (mistake #1) so I applied for that.QUOTE]

Yup, that's how i ended up with an english degree. and now after 5 years of university and five years of full time office work, i'm headed back to college.

my real gripe with the education system (at least when i was in highschool) is that there in little to no emphasis on students learning useful trades. at least where i came from the trades were looked at as something you followed if you didn't have the grades to get into university. if you ask me, every student should learn a skilled trade (tailoring, masonry, mechanics, whatever) in high school. i spend five years in secondary education and left essentially unskilled. i don't regret it but i can't saythat it prepared me for any sort of useful employment. most liberal arts degrees are only useful if they are paired with practical training, or if you enter the world of academia (which only breeds more of the same).
yes things are getting better with combined university/college degrees from ryerson, seneca, etc. but yes TJ, you're right about getting education later in life. work as a dishwasher or whatever when your out of high school, screw around and figure out what you like then spend the money on higher education.

on a side note, is anyone else getting massacred by their allergies.

holy **ck yes. every spring like clockwork.

on a side note, is anyone else getting massacred by their allergies.
Yuppers almost time to blow those giant GREEN globs out my nose I can feel it :( P.S was out side smoking and a big red tailed hawk nailed a squirril out of the tree

I'm just gonna say a big "damn fscking right" to both of Traffic Jammer's previous posts. :)

Also: don't forget about the show opening Friday night at Jet Fuel, kids. I'm definitely gonna go.

I'm there. That's when i'm done exams. You bet i'll be there.

I'm there. That's when i'm done exams. You bet i'll be there.

Sweet. And if anyone knows the UTW folks there, I want to grill them on custom bag questions since they won't answer my email. ;)

sam houston is the man you need to talk to

Sweet. And if anyone knows the UTW folks there, I want to grill them on custom bag questions since they won't answer my email. ;)

keep bugging them; they were mighty helpful when i had questions about some of their products.

yes, Shiz is right, Sam is the man from UTW. i believe i've seen him post to this thread before, no?

was out side smoking and a big red tailed hawk nailed a squirril out of the tree

cool.. any pics!?!?!? was it feasting on it's entrails?? the hawk on the squirrel i mean.

steeker, if you're blowing green gobs from your nose, i don't think it's allergy-related. you might wanna get dat checked out. :eek:

cool.. any pics!?!?!? was it feasting on it's entrails?? the hawk on the squirrel i mean.

oh man, i'm trying to eat my peanut butter sandwich here!

they are nesting in the area and it happens so fast when they nail a squirrel they swoop up from below and take the squirrel from the top of the branch ( pretty amazing to watch) and my camera can't zoom in at that distance :(

When my gf was at George Brown there was a smoking area out on a 2nd floor patio. It was about the same height as the electrical poles running down the street. One day a squirrel managed to die up on one of them and everyone spent the next few months watching it decay slowly whenever they were outside. Mmm.

actually squirels make a good stew

The same thing happened to a squirrel when I was in residence on Charles Street. They even did a special edition of the victoria college newsletter in memory of the squirrel hanging from the power line.

Lol!

yum.

How's the new job, btw?

yum.
So Mr somnambulant where is your next bike picture gonna be from
around town ?

Remember when the shop kids were looked down on? I've taken wood, stamp making, metal work all in Jr. High. In my high school we had an amazing auto area, teachers were constantly getting their cars done there. Apprenticing, trades-work, only from a carpenter can an artisan grow. All outdated ideas it seems, working for someone and learning from them. To turn our backs on the trades is to set your society up for a vacuum, say in construction where, oh , a newly elected conservative gov't can deport an entire industry we can't do ourselves.

I'm up for getting a degree or a layman's understanding in Electrical engineering.

Remember when the shop kids were looked down on? I've taken wood, stamp making, metal work all in Jr. High. In my high school we had an amazing auto area, teachers were constantly getting their cars done there. Apprenticing, trades-work, only from a carpenter can an artisan grow. All outdated ideas it seems, working for someone and learning from them. To turn our backs on the trades is to set your society up for a vacuum, say in construction where, oh , a newly elected conservative gov't can deport an entire industry we can't do ourselves.

I'm up for getting a degree or a layman's understanding in Electrical engineering.

agreed. as for the deportations, well, it stinks. i wish they would have immigrated legally, then we wouldn't have a problem but people always take the path of least resistance and it was proably easier for them to just show up and work. if the government can fast track strippers through the immigration process, there's no reason why they can't do the same thing for skilled tradesmen. i've got to say that the one thing McGuinty (sp) has done right has made an effort to sustain training in skilled trades. my wife teaches grade 7 and they recently took a field trip to a trades fair where students can meet carpenters, welders, etc and find out more about the jobs. hopefully they will take advantage of the education initiatives that are now in place. if we create sustainable workforce private companies will just outsource these jobs to other countries (ie. call centres now routes through india). and yes, i remember taking shop in grade 9, but not as well as i remember taking home ec, which is why i ended up training as a chef. rant mode off.

tis true if we don't train or generate interest in the skills we set ourselves up for this kind of debacle we've just witnessed. For me it was either computers or chef school.

who among you guys wears "casual" (for lack of a better term) spd-compatible shoes? i'm tired of clip-clopping around in my sidis and frankly clips and straps scare me so i'm looking for something that doesn't have and disco colours, no velcro/ratcheting buckles, simple design etc. so i'm looking for suggestions. what's out there that won't make me look like i'm an off duty bike cop or someone who just stepped ot of spin class?

who among you guys wears "casual" (for lack of a better term) spd-compatible shoes? i'm tired of clip-clopping around in my sidis and frankly clips and straps scare me so i'm looking for something that doesn't have and disco colours, no velcro/ratcheting buckles, simple design etc. so i'm looking for suggestions. what's out there that won't make me look like i'm an off duty bike cop or someone who just stepped ot of spin class?

I've been wearing Shimano MP66DX shoes for the past two years that I picked up at Urbane Cyclist. Good year-round shoe, but not waterproof.

http://www.bmxpro.com/shimanoshoe.jpg

those look like about right. what did you pay for em' if you don't mind my asking....