cavit8

Not me, unfortunately, I'm busy healing. Ramming to beat a light, got cut off, hit the brake and flew with the greatest of ease... Sometimes I think riding brakeless would be a better option as I'd keep my speed down given that I seem to crash every 6 months or so. No serious damage, just a bit of road rash and sore ribs, but I think I have a date with relaxation this weekend to heal up.

Bikeophile

ah geez man!! Get some rest! Well at least the Tour is on this weekend, so you can keep entertained while you're at home resting!

cavit8

If I had a TV that would be the case

I'll probably sit in the backyard with a couple pints and contemplate the twenty I'm building up for touring.

operator

Yep, drink lots of beer cavit8 that should speed the healing process. Then we can all go for a ride
Seems to be a bad month for people, I know a couple people who've gotten hit by cars.

Bikeophile

Cav its your birthday?
No TV? come over to our place and watch some tour!

cavit8

Nope, my birthday's in January. Thanks for the offer re the tour but I have stinkloads to do around the house this weekend.

operator

Hey Bikeo what's the plan for tomorrow?

Bikeophile

Geez...page 4...where is everyone?
Hope you guys are enjoying the tour, and getting some riding in.

I am getting my baby repainted....or should I say de-paintified? Gonna get the paint blasted off, and then the aluminum polished.

Oh OPERATOR....I have a pair of those Look Cleat Covers for ya. Not too expensive either...email me when you get a chance.

Anyways, hope you guys are doing well...Had DIMSUM at Kim Moon the other day....Pork Dumplings = Good, Chicken feet = bad!

Bikeophile

Where is everyone?

operator

Nice!
I love good news.

Here's my bad news du jour, two cracks in paint near headtube lug, top tube AND down tube
I chipped a bit of the paint away but can't tell, i'm going to the cavern tomorrow. My beloved Bianchi.. nooo.!

Bikeophile

That sucks!!
Maybe you'll have to get a FIXED GEAR bike now!!!

Shiznaz

that bianchi frame was a cherry too! at least its steel so its still probably salvageable. maybe george at parts unknown has some new goodies in stock now... but don't ever get him to build you a wheel, he takes forever!

Bikeophile

Op - If it is in fact cracked...Take it to Bicycle Specialties. They are amazing, reasonably priced, and quick to do get anything done. I've had them do work for me, and have seen some of their frame repairs..excellent work!

Bikeophile

HEADING OUT FOR A RIDE AFTER THE TOUR STAGE TODAY....Anyone up for it?
Im planning on riding WEST (and grabbing a small bite to eat at some point).

orguasch

Rob,
I will ride with the Donut, be leaving shortly
oscar

Bikeophile

going....going....gone..

cavernmech

Hey all. The first "messenger" evening at the London velodrome went pretty well. All told there were 12 of us from Toronto who made the journey down to race and do the learn to ride. Although there were at least 4 in the bunch who could have been in the "A" group, we all did a program with just our Toronto group. We all did a flying lap time...cheers to Mike with a scorching...at least for us...9.16 second lap. Everyone had a pretty good time as far as timed laps with everyone putting in lower than 11 second laps....even me! WOO WHO! The second event we all did was a 20 lap scratch race with Mark of Kingz of the Road, coming over the top on the last turn to nip Dave at the line. So all those folks who tried to give Mark a hard time for his "fixie pedigree" or "track king" moniker can feel free to go down and try to beat him. The next event was a 15 lap scratch with Stephano leading the group off the line. I guess he did not realize that the first lap was a neutral lap on the low "cote d'azure" section of the track to get up to speed. Most followed him into the steeper banking at a low speed and before we knew it the whole group was falling and sliding down the track en masse. Much laughter ensued...both from the spectators and all of us. We got it together for a second start and after a fairly mellow first 10 laps Mike took a flyer and took off from everyone for the win. The last event was an unknown distance event and we were all kind of burnt out a little from riding the track all day. It was agreed that we would all stick together at a moderate pace until the bell for 3 laps to go. Apparently Chris "granola" didn't understand this and tried to go off the front on his own. This was a gutsy move for a guy who has only been riding fixed for 2 weeks. In any case he got caught by the group before the bell. The final 3 laps were hotly contested with Dave just holding off Mike at the line.
It was an awesome day of riding and racing. Our next trip down will be Saturday July 30th. Anyone who would like to join us is welcome. Let me know if you are interested and we can make arrangements to get you down there. K.

SamHouston

That sounds like a blast! I'll make the one after next, going to a 3 day hippie music festival the weekend of the 30th. Anaïs sez she'll come too so maybe we'll throw some schwag for winners? Didn't do squat this weekend but decompress from the big apple debacle. I'll be by tomorrow or tuesday with your jersey btw, hope you like it! gotcha patch too.

operator

That sounds like fun, i'd like to come with you guys. Hows it going to go down?

Bikeophile

I'll be there! Last time was a blast! I'm still bummed that I had to miss this one!

Shiznaz

The Tour went through Grenoble today. I saw all the racers and got a roll of pics. I shook Jan Ulrich's hand too. He's dreaaaaamy. Hope alls still going well with you folks!

operator

Shiznaz did you get to ride any part of the climbs?

Shiznaz

no man not yet I'm so busy at school, I had to skip class just to see the start of the race! This weekend will be all booked up too because I've got a big essay to write and a presentation to do that comprise of my whole mark... anyways, I suppose I am learning alot about national identity as it relates to european integration and such...

wasted weasel

Shiz, I'm so friggin jealous of you...

here is my routine, I wake up at 7am, turn on OLN and keep and eye on the tv while I get ready for work Usually I can catch the start of the race before I leave. Then I pretend I'm a racer as I blitz into work (Queen/university)....oh yeah you might not know it in France, but Toronto is have a heat wave (42 degrees with humidex this week). Once at work, (shedding water like a snowman in the Mojave desert) I go to this website https://www.letour.fr/2005/TDF/LIVE/us/1100/index.html
and keep hitting refresh about every 5 minutes until they get down to the last 20km of the stage (or a crash happens), at which point I run into our office boardroom [where the only TV with cable is], and watch till the end of the stage.

how has everyone else been these days?? I'm without a fixie now (hit a car), looking to go single speed me thinks..

fuzzthebee

Hi. Sorry to jump in here but, speaking of the tour, now that they're in the alps we're hearing a lot of talk about the steepness of the climbs. This has me wondering the % gradient some of our local hills here in Toronto. One of the climb's in today's stage was average 6.1% I believe. Anybody know what that translates to in Toronto terms? How steep are the hills we ride? Avenue Rd., Ellis Ave., Mt. Pleasant, Don Mills, Beech, High Park, Bayview, Pottery Rd., etc...