i dream of the taxi-hail high-five... one day...

question guys... how well does white bar tape hold up? I mean i know it's not gonna stay new; but does it just go grey real quick??
I'm thinking of puttin some white tape on my drops...
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._5949822_n.jpg

mine was pretty bad after 2 rides, i went back to black tape pretty quickly

PBK, if you get hit is always minimum $5 "brokerage" fee, then 13% tax on the items. If you get clothing, be prepared to get smacked for something on top of previously mentioned fees. It's really a bonus if it slips through customs without any charge. So yes it is random whether or not they'll tag your package to collect.

Oh and Nadir, this is an internet call out because you're such an awesome guy. Note extreme sarcasm in the last sentence. Apparently I don't know what a 26" wheel is, but neither do you.

*sigh* ... I'm thinking about switching back to Eggbeaters from my ATAC XSs. The ATACs are so much more solid in general but the non-drive one is creaking. Also, I really miss being able to clip in by sliding my foot forward onto the pedal as well as pulling my foot backward across the pedal to clip in, which I can't do with Times.

Looks like I'm riding the Times as is this Sunday and then next week I'll have to decide whether to shell out some $$$ to rebuild the Times or the Crank Bros. Boourns. Too much more of this and I'm going back to WTBs with Power Grips.

I have white bar tape on three of my bikes and yeah, it gets a bit grey but it does look pretty good. MEC sells some really great Planet Bike handlebar wrap for only $7, that is what I use and it lasts for quite some time. Just be a little extra careful and it will rock hard on that bike.

I have a Fuji Tarck that I am going to powder-coat white and have black components with white bar-wrap. A white saddle will never work for me, I am just too gross.

Whole lot of our lazier more out of shape two wheeled brethren (motorcycles) out today. Looks like everyone's out of hibernation

Off to Paris-Ancaster. Good luck to everyone who is going. 1650 registered! If you guys didn't get in the first or second wave...get there extra early...Nothing like getting to the mud bog sections after 1500 other people have trashed it.

HolyMoly that is a beautifullllll bike !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:thumb:

Paris -Ancaster! Best of luck all. Wish I was riding.

Does anyone have a spare set of SIDI Adaptor plates for LOOK cleats that they could send my way? Thanks in advance.

Do you have a picture of what you need? I have some miscellaneous hardware laying around but I'm not sure what I'm looking for... my sidi/look combo doesn't seem to have any adaptors at a glance, but it's been a long time since I put it together.

Here you go:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/...db673f.jpg?v=0

^ So guess who pulled a sub 2:40:00 ride on his first time out at P2A? That guy.

2:40? that's a good time. it was so crazy windy out there today.

thanks sanchez that's what i was wondering... i'll check out MEC... it's either that or the track push on grips for the bottom of the drop hoops... i don't know yet

or i could just break out the chopped risers again?? would that just be plain too much tarck?? lol

Full results from P2A: http://parisancaster.com/results.html

I at least beat a few people in the 60km singlespeed category. I wish there was a race similar to this in the fall as well. It would great if this sort of thing was more than a once/twice a year experience.

Thanks for the heads up - I was wondering how long it would take for those numbers to be up.

Next year I will lie about my entry information. 12 year old girl named, Michelle + enter as SS. Also - need to start blood doping.

Seriously, though - it was a ton of fun.

Pain. Wind. And lots of freshly-plowed fields we seemed to be riding right through the middle of.

We hit this one section about 20km in where the was dead in our faces across the field, uphill, and the ground was super-soft... and special guest rider Allison Sydor drop(e)s the hammer on our sorry asses and gaps up to the next group. Just like that.

Just a quick reminder of why she's the pro, and I'm the schmoe.

Sydor slider

Oh man, those field sections were the abolute worst! Riding across spongy velcro into a headwind does NOT equal good times!!! That and another looong false flat-to-roller - all in a headwind - had me dying and GRINDING that effing gear for all I was worth. Worse place EVAR to lose contact w/ a group and have to ride solo. That said, the singletrack sections were all a blast this year. Nice and tacky - comedy central at the mud slide as usual.

I've got to say though that 38:16 ended up being a pretty good singlespeed gearing to use for the day. I tried to keep an efficient balance of running/riding hills (the start of the first hill turning right off the rail trail I ran, but as soon as it flattened out a bit I hopped back on and road the slightly less steep 2nd half of the hill).

I think I'd be able to talk myself into racing SS again, especially if I had more base training in my legs (after the 2hr mark I definitely started to fade/cramp) and if the forecast called for less wind.

an alternative is to get those rubber tube keirin grips. at least when they dirty, they are pretty easy to clean and hold up to frequent cleaning. although i have read that a bottle of simple green/mr clean and a towel seems to have the dirt just wipe off. I have these on the ends of my pursuit bars and they are only slightly grey.

can't really say for saddles tho as my white turbo saddle is okay, but i can't wear jeans on that bike...

spiffy conversion, was that frame originally made for 27"s?

Jet, if you want to flip that wheel i had dibs on, feel free, as there is an ad on craigslist and im sure that guy needs it more than I do!

btw the donut was liberating sat morning. i didnt' see anyone tho, were all u ahead of me?

P-A was great. Sure the wind was a killer but that just builds character. ;) I had a good result and am very happy with my effort. My last P-A I did a 2:56:04..good for 187 in my age group. This year I did a 2:37:19...good for 90th in my age group and 269th overall. A 20 minute improvement and I had to fight with the wind. 43 year old chain smoking mechanic who doesn't ride enough and I smoked a whole bunch of people I had no business beating. No accounting for experience I guess. :)

I was surprised to see the number of Kona cyclocross bikes out there. Seems like Kona is the go-to brand for cross in our region. Also, True North was strongly represented for the size of that brand / shop.

Keith's on EPO. You heard it here first.

Pee in the cup , pee in the cup....
Good goin' guys , sounds like a blast.

Wasn't today's ride in just something special?

I forgot to unpack my shoes after the race and unwrapped the plastic bag to an absolute horror show this morning. Couldn't bring myself to wear them at that moment so I took transit. Gotta burn/wash them tonight before I can ride in them again.

</the horror>

Totally brahhh!!! I want a Kona Cross bike. also, I think I saw you ride by my house this weekend on Hallam.

wow. This is stupendously amazing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zF...layer_embedded

Okay. That was pretty neat. The flip off the tree was freaky awesome.

I've always wondered what drives a person to realize they, in face, CAN do such things.
I think I'll try a McTwist off a tree truck, cept on my bike instead of my skateboard.