Yeah ****ing rent a cops. Have nothing better to do, if they see something that sticks out they gotta get their noses in it. Set your watch to union station time by the second and walk in at the exact time you're allowed to.

If they say something, I politely tell them to **** off. It's bad enough you're not allowed to take bikes, folded or not on transit in rush hour (understandable since they make zero provisions for it) but getting hassled by ******* getting paid near minimum wage puts me over the top.

I had a guy literally grab me as I was already on the escalator going down towards the subway, and having him tell me to take the elevator. Man it would've been funny if I had slipped on my look cleats and fell all the way to the bottom and then sued their ass for 30 billion dollars.

When you have a bike, everyone treats you like a homeless meth addict. It also doesn't help that I don't look old enough to buy alochol either.

Come on... you didn't ask her if she wanted a ride with you?!!

^^^ Gets my nomination for BFSSFGRRTF segue of the year.

Something like this?

Moots used to make clamp-on canti studs back when most bikes shared similar tube dimensions. They would be the first people I would contact.

Putting on new tires before the street sweepers have rolled is just asking for it!

I paid one vittoria open corsa for that lesson a few years back.

If you need a 26.0 drop bar, I have a brand new Easton EC90 you can have free. It's not doing anything for me sitting in my basement. I live out in Rouge Hill BTW, but am in town most Sat.

Just ordered my new Dawg Deluxe. If anyone knows of anyone who might be interested in my 17" Caldera+Reba setup DM me... it's going on Craigslist shortly.

yep, lesson well learned, hooray april 14th! sweeping day is nigh, our slicks are safe again

thank go it was only a puncture, only cost me five bucks instead of 35

What a lovely day for a tromp in the woods! http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5319419

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/...86a08995e0.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3075/...038f42ba59.jpg

also: I met Steve Bauer.
also*2: easy spin tomorrow, anyone?

I had a lot of fun at today's race. My endurance and ability to pace myself is getting better, though I still need to build up a lot more strength/technical skills. Riding singlespeed this year is TERRIFYING to me right now but aside from the vomiting and fainting, etc. I think it'll help me a lot. I look forward to the slow and bloody transition from "fresh meat" to "legitimate mid-pack finisher" this fall during CX. ;)

Yo. I'm in. Meet at manic? -> spit & back?

Also: I wandered up to La Bicicletta for a saddle, and happened to ask about cyclocross bikes in the range of $2k. They had a BMC Cross machine, a Ridley, and a Redline. Aside from the Redline (a brand which I know nothing about), they didn't seem to offer the kind of value I'm finding in a Kona JTS. Is there anything significant I should note between BMC & a Kona? (aside from the $500 savings)

Donut ride, donut ride, donut ride!

Edit: Miche supertype seatpost 4tw!

It's coming, but first: I might replace the Jamis with a Capo. Depends how the bike feels. That Sputnik is a bone rattler, BTW.

Shoulder the BMC - that chainstay/top tube cluster might feel pretty uncomfortable. Kona certainly knows how to build a 'cross bike what with Trebon and Wicks giving them feedback. Ridley is the world cup 'cross brand, but if you're not down w/ the European geometry (short top tube, crazy-high bottom bracket, tall stand-over heights) then their bikes really aren't for you. I like the Ridley's because with their short top tubes and tall head tubes they seem to be a good match for my proportions. I'd prefer a bit lower bottom bracket (hence why I'm in love with the X-Fire which is Ridley's new carbon design and has a slightly lower bottom bracket - I'm taking donations if anyone's interested). One other thing to consider, depending on your uses for the bike are horizontal top tube vs. sloping. Depending on frame size and angle of slope is can give you better stand-over clearance or make throwing your elbow through the main triangle awkward. Something to take a look at if you're test-riding bikes at least.

Why Low bb?

also: I've heard lots of good things about the Redline 'cross stuff.

manic + spit sounds good. What time were you thinkin'?

lol - http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/bik/631654340.html

Not low, just not really high. The bottom bracket drop on my Tosca (same deal) is like 5.5cm, which isn't much at all. I'd prefer something more like 7cm of drop - reduces your saddle to bar drop, lowers your center of gravity, makes it easier to remount, etc. "Back in the day" you had to have clearance for clips + straps but that's not really the case anymore.

Update on the computrainer ride: Bring your own bike, doesn't matter what it is but have road tires on it. If you have put your bike on any indoor trainer then the skewer, lugs, nut, etc will work on the computrainers. If you don't have anything like that not to worry they have skewers there for use, rent or whatever.

6 people so far, let's get some more, and shoot for net Saturday 12th at 12 noon unless you want some more lead time. I'll respond directly to those who have PM'd me.

Operator... explain to the old man what the heck you are talking about! What does this seatpost have to do with donut ride.. or an edit? Do you enjoy it that much? :o Roti soon?

PS Wes went to bed at 8:45. hehe

I was thinking maybe 9-ish? (9 to 9:30) Have a cup then head out to the spit. Sorry I took so long to reply, just got in from a quick ride.

Operator: if you're referring to the BB height of the Sputnik, then I have no idea how that characteristic would affect the smoothness of the ride. However, I was thinking it might be the lack of any manipulation in the seat stays, which would make the frame feel very harsh.

Shapelike: I never thought of how the bikes should feel when I shoulder them. Thanks! Part of the difficulty I can see with buying a bike from La Bicicletta is that they haven't got many, if any built up cross bikes. So, if I wanted to test one out, they'd have to build it first, and I'd feel like crap if they went to that effort without me buying the thing.

Understandable. I guess it depends on the shop and how many bikes they can normally afford to have on display. You can also look at it this way: if they're just building up something they already have the parts for there then it's not really any big deal (if you don't buy it someone else will). However, if you ask them to bring something in for you when you're just kicking tires basically, then that sucks a bit. C.T. has had to deal with people making esoteric special orders and then backing out at the last second, leaving us hanging with product that doesn't go to someone else for ages.

The big time for cross bike sales will be mid-summer (a bit after the normal spike in sales), so if you can hold you for a few more months you should see stuff appearing. The production run for many 'cross bikes is also staggered to coincide with the season (you get next year's really early, not the current year's really late).

I'm up for a coffee ride in the am. See how I feel when I wake up(which means if my wife lets me out). I might be heading over to high park area around noon to pick up a saddle, and then off to a job 'interview'. Seems I might, god forbid, do some line work again.

Op- I had a donut tonight after midnight while riding, does that count as a donut ride?

hey now! welcome back to a cook's life! where are you trying out?

i wish i could ride tomorrow but i have to work (begrudgingly). if anyone's out and around for a ride on monday let me know...

does anyone have a spare front caliper?
my buddy got a new fuji track and needs a brake

I may be up for a ride tommorw in the pm.

With the Ridleys you have to watch that they are pure "euro" cross bikes as in short top tubes, and no water bottle bosses. We have two in the shop right now and as gorgeous as they are, not having bottles on the bike limits it so much.

Actually it was 9:30. :)

You can get the bosses drilled/riveted in though, afaik.

I dropped into Le Coquine to sat hey to the guys and Sandro asked me to work 2-3 evenings, Sun-Tues. Needs someone to come in on the slower nights so they regular guys can work 6 days aweek instead of 7.