Just got back from riding "Instant Gratification" in the Don ... ugh, my calves are on fire. It'll take awhile before I can ride all those switchbacks well (up or down).

Just went through a full bike fitting session including video/power tests/spin scan/etc. Cool stuff.

Hahaha.. couldn't help but go ride it after I told you about it, eh? What a crazy loop.. the trail is SO tight. Of course, the fact that the sun was burning out my retinas in there last night didn't help me.

Ya, I'd been meaning to try out P.A. and Catalyst for awhile. Little did I know that P.A. is a flat trail that I'd already ridden last season. When I came to Catalyst I saw that I.G. started there as well and figured "what the hell" and changed plans.

As for actually riding the trails, I had the complete opposite reaction to you. It was one of two times in years that I opted to not wear my riding glasses. For some reason I felt like there was zero contrast to what I was looking at and tore them off for that loop (I think I was popping in/out of direct sunlight constantly and the photochromatic glass was freaking out).

PS, view from the top:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/...2359f454a2.jpg

Yeah, I'd like to start riding up there a little more actually. It's nice now that I know IG is there and you can pretty much ride a big loop using Catalyst->IG->PA. I wouldn't say that PA is flat though, unless you were riding something different. It's got a really intense up/down switchback section, for example. I find it pretty rolling.

Ahh okay, I must have got my descriptions wrong from other people on the trail. I was under the impression that the flat trail that starts at the bridge (which connects to the river trail) and heads to the first few switchbacks below the Catalyst/I.G. sign was P.A.

speaking of loops, does anybody have any good road (training) loops? I live in the west end, and was wondering what (if any) good/popular loops people ride.

These are all pretty good: http://www.bikerally.org/index.php/t...ride-maps.html

If you just want a couple quick loops in the West end... For hills I like doing loops around High Park (downhill through the Park, uphill along Ellis Ave), for flat stuff the Ex is nice and open and the traffic is pretty light (although it gets boring).

The High Park loop sounds like fun. Is there any benefit (training wise) to doing a hilly loop as apposed to a flat one? Hopefully my nashbar order will arrive soon (it's been almost two weeks! :() and I'll get to try out my new tires/computer.

I was late to DSR by ten min with danhalen... and boy were we square. Was anyone there?

Anyone want a 56 miele frame dual colour? Dan said it is free to anyone... the only condition is that is may fall apart, you have to sign off on it.

32f Hopefully you saw Toby and Pinball at the same time. cuteness to the max!

I don't know IG, but IMO the toughest climb in there is PA so I was surprised to hear you call it flat!
Gotta get back in there soon...

+1 on Wabash for the sprints. Quiet street. Separated lanes for the return trip and a generally bike-friendly neighbourhood.

why is the front one not argyle all the way around?

i like doing the high park loop when i don't have much time. there are a couple nice switchbacks off north of the queensway that make it a nice workout too. i'll map out my route for you if you want - it's about 15km a loop...

3 posts in a row! wabash street would be shorter than you guys were used to at the Ex but it could work. the only problem i could see is if you have the finish line on the east end there is a blind corner there (albeit it becomes a one way street southbound) and if the finish line is on the west end it's near a three way stop. i'm sure it could be worked around though. plus there's a really cool abandoned warehouse on right next to it that we should explore and take pictures of when we're in there. i've always wanted to do that...

I believe that one is called 'Albator'. That's the name of the Space Pirate Captain guy I'm figuring. I only ever saw that one in French on CBLFT out of T.O. It mentioned something about 'Le corsair d'espace...' in the theme song.

There. Now you can stop wondering. ;)

Dave G.

My 5'10" friend has assigned me to keep an eye out for something decent for him, how likely is the bike to fall apart? He has a pretty good dental plan ;)

I think that warehouse now has big gates up around it as it is going to be developed soon. The little one to the west of that big one is now part of the park, I believe it has washrooms and change-rooms in it for the kids' teams. When I was a kid, that entire park was one massive massive TTC garage for their buses and electric buses. If anyone has ever driven along Sorauren, you know how tight a street it is. Imagine when TTC buses would fly up it....it was nuts.

Pyze, 15T 3/32" D-A ordered and on the way (check in on Friday).

<shot in the dark>
I need a 13" mountain bike frame or complete bike. It would be for Meghan at Cycle Therapy. So far this season she's been pulling a John Tomac on her Surly LHT but that's not exactly ideal for her. A 15" frame would be too big (she's 5'2") and she's pretty much set on riding steel. If anyone out there has something, or has a line on something, please get in touch. Right now she's pretty much given up riding offroad but would love to get back out there.
</shot in the dark>

PS. I also got some Surly Dingle Cogs in (17/19 and 17/21). Somebody do it. Come on, it'll be awesome.

What's chainline like on those things? If I have a straight setup using the inner ring of my crank right now, would dinglification be as straightforward as adding the cog and outer chainring?

I'd like to see this loop if you have a chance.

Also: brakeless with no clips / straps and no clipless setup as far as I can tell. I'm seeing more and more of this in the city - I think it's time to launch a fixed gear public education campaign.

+1 that stuff I've seen a bunch of times on Queen W, too - frightening in all honesty.

*chokes on toothpick*