man, i thought i was a night owl. that's what being a student does to you, eh operator?

jeremy: you should come out on one of our saturday morning FFL rides. They're as fast/slow as you want them to be and the distances are building up. This Saturday is Kipling -> Oakville = 68km.

http://www.bikerally.org/trainingrides.html

then what happens in oakville? or is it a round about route back to kipling? i made an agreement with the wife when i started randonneuring that i wouldn't ride saturdays (because sundays rides last many hours) but this being a long weekend perhaps i can fanagle something...

what's group like. are they able to ride in a pack / form a paceline?

what time do you guys leave and typically what time do you make it back to T.O.? I would like to come out but Saturdays are usually busy in the shop.

It's a roundtrip. The full route map is on that site somewhere.

The pack breaks apart pretty quickly, so it's easy to find someone at the right skill level/speed/etc. Or you can just sprint off and do your own thing, which is what I often end up doing. There's all levels of riders, really. In my experience the majority have never done much group riding as I've had a few instances of someone slowing to a stop suddenly in front of me, or not pointing out a major road hazard. They DO like pointing out things like storm drains that are evenly spaced out along an entire street, but will miss something like a broken bottle. :)

But, at the same time, not everyone is quite so ********. :)

Rides start around 9am... last week we finished up around 11:45 I think. That ride was a pretty easy paced 50km ride with a 20 minute break or so at the bakery halfway through. Probably doesn't make sense for you if you're busy on Saturdays.

hahaha.. the drooling/hacking comment reminds me of why I stopped racing. I never felt like pushing myself that hard and while I enjoyed the racing, repeatedly finishing halfway back behind people who I knew I could beat (if only I pushed myself the drooling stage) got old. :P I remember my Mom came to watch a race once and she was horrified after seeing this guy (as she put it) "foaming at the mouth" after a climb. :D

ps. arseholes who claimed to be interested in going to the velodrome: please respond to my previous post about confirming June 10 as a day to head out there. Here's the list:

1) eyefloater***
2) somnambulant***
3) shiznaz***
4) cavernmech***
5) sr20det
6) qqy***
7) sweep242***
8) Offhoff***
9) operator

*** confirmed.

edit: once we get an idea for numbers I'll get in touch and confirm the cost. Traffic Jammer inquired though I believe, and I think it was $30 for the course + $10 for the bike rental. Correct me if I'm wrong, I can't find the post now. Plus then you would need to chip in for gas which would vary depending on how many of us are going (and therefore how many vehicles are needed)

June 10 is fine for me just tell me when where and how much $$ I need to bring

Take me off this time pls, I still don't have shoes and I'm not getting them in the next couple weeks, as I'm actually busy with other stuff. *bummed*

so much for those thunderstorms. i'm looking out my office window and it sunny and i didn't pack a lunch so i'm thinking of venturing out, fixie style. anyone want to grab some buns / subs / edibles?

The Hubby and I are considering doing a ride to Niagara Falls this summer, but we're having trouble finding information about the route (ie. best route to take, road condition, time frame, ride profile, etc). Any of you guys ridden this? Can you give us a bit of advice?

i've done the Toronto Niagara Toronto "Hairshirt" ride for the last couple of years. i may have a route sheet somewhere, i'll try to dig it up. the route itself is pretty flat, especially if you take a route that follows the lake. the TNT route typically goes north past hamilton through to welland then on to niagara falls then through niagara on the lake, vineland, st catherines, port dalhousie and through stony creek into hamilton, cambridge and oakville on the way back to toronto. the routes that follow the lake are more direct, and often feature a breeze off the lake which is nice on a hot day, but generally have more traffic. routes through welland, etc are more rural, less traffic, but you don't get that nice view of the lake, wine country etc. and can get hot suring peak summer months. look at the TBN site for their write up on the TNT ride; they also do a niagara ride over two days that might have some information for you.

I just might make the silent ride tonight( fingers crossed) feeling better after this --> http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne...8260688&size=o

Do I see a hotel with a heart shaped bed in yer future Mags?

Sat. June 10 can work for me, but an earlier date would be more convienent. I'll do may best to plan around it.

Some of the slower riders from teh bus but the faster guys are all strung out on the road. If we have enough people we should do our own pack/paceline.

Oh right!

Darned exams. My sleep shedule is all over the place, 2am is earliest, I slept at 7am this morning.

Whoa, is that a photoshop or did you really h4x0r the sign like some dude with the GO Train "Stephen Harper eats babies thing?"

I'll get back to you in a week. There's supposed to be a wedding or something I hope there's beer.

Here's the route i took, BAH way to crash google maps API, you suck. Anyways it's basically like Jeremy said. Lakeshore rd all the way to Hamilton and a bit past it, then North service road all the way east until you hit St. Catharines. After that I have no idea as I stopped in teh hick town.

Road condition wise. Lakeshore is alright. North service road is also fine. Lakeshore gets narrow going from kipling to Hamilton, 2 lane road only so you may want to detour north or something, I wanted a direct route so no go with that.

Also the stretch of north service road can also be replaced by climbing the escarpment to the south and then doing some funky stuff with the roads in there - I didn't do that because I needed a direct route.

Also that 60km stretch to niagara falls once you turn east on south shore of Lake O. is the most boring piece of **** you'll ever see. Ride profile is that it's all flat, and you'll be eating wind either on the way to Hamilton or on the way to Niagara. Depending on which direction (T.O -> Hamilton = 90km, Hamilton -> Niagara = 50-70km), you'll suffer, or not.

North service road has a giant wall on the south edge but otherwise it's open, meaning wind in your facez0r.

Edit: trolling downtown bike stores before the ride. Er nevermind, thunderstorm watch. GG

that's why i recommend taking the route further inland on the way there, passing through wellandport / welland and getting to NOTL by passing the falls from the south west first.

Looks good. I think I will join you guys. Any of you going to tough it out if it's raining?

Forecast is looking excellent for Sat. If it's not raining/roads are super wet when I leave for the start point on Sat morning, the ride is going to be done regardless.

Unfortunately this was issued just half an hour ago.

http://www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/wa...e.html?onrm126

And then I heard thunder.

Attention everyone:

Big ups to Jet Sanchez for all the bike karma he's been gathering the last couple of weeks. Cheers!

it's sunny here at yonge / bloor but i see dark clouds creeping in.

EDIT: pouring rain, thundering and lightening here at yonge / bloor.

I hope this clears up before the ride tonight.

*wraps himself in tinfoil"
Boom Thunder and lightning, pissin' @ the lake.

I'm likely going to tough it out. I enjoy riding in the rain.