on the house? awesome

I'm feeling kind of un-natural. Pyzer, that Arrack has affected my brain stem....

I think it meant 'off the heezy'.

agreed - that was definitely off the heezy. chris, can you confirm?

sizing nerds, i need help!

i'm going to a shop at lunch with my boss to look at a bike he wants, the masi speciale commuter. based on his inseam he should buy a 56 but the shop only has a 53 and a 58. he can stand over the 58 but if he's flat footed the toptube does graze the boys but he can stand over it...

my instincts are to tell him to buy the 58 if it's only just a touch too big because i feel like a 53 would be just too small. at the same time, it's easier to make a bike bigger (long stem, long seatpost, etc.) than it is to make a bike smaller... 3cm drop or 2 cm jump? any suggestions*?


*other than "buy a 56" because i'm pretty sure he's got his heart set on it and will buy it regardless...

Patience is a virtue ... so are special orders, in this case.

... I guess take a look at him while he's riding the bike. Can they put a shorter stem on so the reach is comfortable? If it has to put a foot down in a hurry is he going to bag himself? If you go with a small bike, is a +17 deg. stem even going to get the bars where they need to be given a proper saddle height? You'll have to make sure before he puts any money down.

Critical mass tonight!

Duke's I'd expect... haven't seen them in any other shops besides Sporting Life :S

So, I went to a job fair in RIM Park, Waterloo, then hung around until the evening. All I can say is wow, are there a lot of very good looking girls there. Also, the mean population age of Waterloo must be 25. Lots of cycling and lots of bike lanes; actually, I was surprised when I didn't see a bike lane painted on some roads.

I posted in the road forum, but I'll ask you all: for a grad gift, I've asked the parents for a steel road bike. Now, I was looking at Italian classics (De Rosa, Colnago, Cinelli), but I'm really leaning towards Marinoni because they're Canadian and reasonably priced. Someone also suggested True North, but I don't know much about them, other than being more money than Marinoni. Is there a substantial difference in quality between those two builders?

I have never seen a True North up close but the Marinoni that I had was pretty awesome but it was from the '80s when the Marinoni lineup was a lot smaller. Dunno about the new ones, why not get a sweet used steel Marinoni, they come up quite often on CL, especially the Montreal one.

I wish I could have made it for the drinks last night but I work with people who are insane and I couldn't get out of there before 9:45pm, ugh!


Anyone want to take a bet on how bad the financial markets do today? I am thinking the DOW will be down at least 200 by the end of day. I read yesterday that Washington Mutual ATMs stopped giving out cash yesterday afternoon. What a nightmare....

True North would build up anything you wanted, whereas Marinoni will do custom geometry from a stock design. I have dealt with Hugh at True North - class act all the way. Since he is relatively local, it couldn't hurt to pop down and speak to him and look at some of his creations.

Arrrr!

Interesting hub... SA?

I have a portfolio on updown.com ("play" trading site) - recently took a dive like the market, but picked up some AIG stock while they're low. That ought to pay off.

It's just been terrible, looking pretty bleak down in the land of the brave.

I work for welfare, my job is secure if the economy keeps bombing ;)


On a side note, anyone know if it's even legal to filter through slow moving traffic? I was going up Yonge yesterday working my way through traffic in the dividing line between the left and right lane when I came across a motorcycle cop. I wasn't sure if I should keep going or not so I thought I'd ask the guy, so I said "hey man, am I allowed to squeeze between those cars and just ride ahead?" and he tells me "I'm not gonna stop you" which worked for me but immediately after I realized that I still don't know if I have to look out for cops while doing that or not in the future...

I think filtering is illegal. I don't actually know for sure.

In practicality, I've found that even filtering past cruisers doesn't seem to cause any concern - I don't know if it's just the cops in the car or what, but I've not had issue. I also creep across lights as they're inbetween changes (to get the jump on traffic) and that never seemed to bother police either, when/if they're around.

There is also Naked Cycles on Vancouver Island. Never used any of the builders, I just like the 'look' of the Naked cycles. I really like the stainless steel lugs. That's a personal thing. Also, apparently Naked sold Lance a bike at the last handmade show, apparently the first bike he has purchased in years.

Once upon a time there were lots of Canadian builders. As far as I know Marinoni, Guru (no steel), Devinci and Steelwool (the "pure laine" frame) remain made here. Maybe some Rocky Mountains or Konas or others?

Anyway for lugged steel your choice is on the used side. Great deals to be had. On the new ones I know Cinelli has one (the Supercorsa) and I think Fuji is coming up with one too... Otherwise many large manufacturers have some TIGed steel in their line-up.

True North, Naked, Golem (Québec), Foundry Frameworks (Montréal), Jester (Welland ON), are some local smaller builders, but more $$$ (there are some others in QC I can't remember).

IMO Marinoni is awesome bang for the buck.

BTW talking of Marinoni I'm starting to think mine is too small. Anybody interested in a trade? Mine is 53x54... looking for around 56x56.

I'm a crankset closer to my single speed project being complete (thanks again Keith). Maybe I can convince the girlfriend to go for a bike ride tomorrow, lose her at a stoplight, run into Urbane to get the rest of the stuff I need and then find her again and pretend nothing happened...

I guess it is a good thing I don't invest in the markets because, clearly, I don't know what I am talking about; the DOW closed up 121 points :/

Quit hanging out on different cx forums and just come race with us. This weekend is in Guelph, week after that is in Toronto. Do it.

Can't race, I hate to lose so much it makes me ill, and yet I suck. Not a good combo! :)

the dow always rallies at week's end. investors and brokers like to go home for the weekend feeling relieved. and paid.

wamu's takeover is actually a good thing. that banks are in a financial situation to consolidate and acquire means a) they have financing to do it, so the credit markets are still able to support that, b) or that the coming bailout package will be able to offset costs, and c) that banks still see a positive outlook as far as expansion and potential for business. jp morgan mostly does investment, so for them to acquire a more consumer-oriented savings and loans type asset shows they're trying to spread their money around so that if they do get hit in either the investment or savings markets, the damage is mitigated.

as for wamu not dispensing cash, maybe operations have slowed so they can assess the situation and then make changes as necessary? or that wamu customers are freaking and taking out all their savings in cash rather than taking bank notes? either/or/both.

i love finance.

anyone got a ride to the tour de green belt?

i want in, but dont have a ride, call/msg me at 6472235781 if you gots room :D

Stuart, why don't you take the MEC van?

Thanks Mike - I was expecting a reply from you.
I went with him and he went with the 58 - it is a touch big (but not too badly and he shouldn't bag himself) but we talked the guy into throwing in the shorter stem (Really, should I have had to? Come on now!) and I think it'll be pretty comfortable - the 56 would have been ideal but the 53 was way, way, way too small.