I only use charcoal and I get it extremely hot and glowing using the hair dryer method described in the alton brown recipe. I put my grill top about 2" above the charcoal and allow the grill to get really really hot. I oil the steak very lightly, preferably with clarified butter or peanut oil then cook for about 2 minutes per inch for medium-rare turning once halfway through for grill marks if desired then flip and repeat. Remove from the grill and put under a tinfoil cover for 4-5minutes. Make sure the meat is at room temperature and that you buy good quality meat. Also if you don't trust your sense of touch for doneness invest in a good digital thermometer and remeber that your steak will go up 3-5 degrees while resting.

This time of year I'd recommend grilling up some asparagus thats been doused in balsamic and olive oil while you wait for the steaks to rest.

When I'm not riding fixed gear, bbqing is probably my favourite thing. Unfortunately in an apartment, I don't have that option now :(. Maybe I'll talk to the landlord about letting me keep one in the parking lot. My favourite recipe book is Grilling: where there's smoke there's flavor by Eric Treuille & Birgit Erath. A nice continental spin on BBQ.

This is a good flank steak recipe http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/fl...ee_pepper.html and these are awesome http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/to...ortobello.html

cavit8: I have The BBQ Bible as well.. another good book. :D

traffic jammer: I don't eat red meat that often either, but I get cravings occasionally, which is why I tend to get high quality stuff. I tend to go for smaller cuts as well since I don't really get any more pleasure out of giant steaks vs. smaller ones. Smaller ones are easier to cook too. Plus more surface area == more delicious crustiness (crusty on the outside, medium-rare in the middle that is).

I'm actually grilling up some portobello burgers tonight, not meat. :)

now that the meat post is done:

I think my rear hub is borked. I just took my rear wheel off while lubing my chain and trying to get rid of some slack. It's grind city! I guess it's just a matter of replacing the bearing cartridge, but that's all new to me. Time to go read up on things.

Also: I'm also probably down to about 50% sure about going on the ride tomorrow. I don't want my hub to totally die half way through the ride. I'll post when I get up (7-ish) if I'm going.

edit: guess I need to let the pro's handle the hub.

Pfft don't be a noob, it's just grinding.

I'm going unless the road is already wet or it's raining when I leave. Or get your girlfriend to drive support car, and she can hand out drinks and stuff to us while we're riding. And also get a spare bike/wheels up on the roof.

I was thinking of going on the ride but 30 subway stops holding my bike rather then riding it? I’m 99% sure of not being there. Something else? Around town? This weekend.

somnambulant sounds like you need your hub looked at soon.

jeremywhitehorn your offer sounds tempting 100k not sure i have it in me + i'm a bit slow! I’ll see closer to then.
Cheers

Re: amazing steak

If any of you don't already know about this place (and I'm sure many of you will), The Tulip on Queen East near Woodbine has the best steak in the city, and is cheap cheap cheap. They serve it with a scoop of potato salad or coleslaw, and the coffee's not bad.

Well you're going to be doing 60 once you get off the subway. And i'm taking the subway down anyways. Or you can just ride to Kipling, it's not far from downtown.

Told ya already my back is royaly F**ked again:( P.S. I bought Shadow Of The Colossus sweeeeeeeet game very cool

if you're running one of those Quando hubs that urbane sells, then you're looking at a hub with catrige bearings, best to take it to urbane as you need as special tool for pressing the bearings in. it's a job that can be done with a screwdriver or whatever but i'd rather just pay the pros to do it. if it's running a little rough you can always adjust it with a couple if cone wrenches (i thing it's a 13 or 15, can't remember), that will usually buy you some time. if you do get the wheel service done, let me know how much it costs as i have a wheel with one of those hubs and i'd like to get it up and running again as a spare.

i'm no speed demon either, believe me. don't let the 100k mark scare you, quite doable if you don't push too hard. and easier when everyone you're riding with is on a fixie.

yeah, it is that hub, which is why I updated and said it's a job best left to the pros. I think I'm going to bring it down today.

Additionally you can often buy some time by removing the axle...peeling back the rubber seals on the bearings (an exacto knife works well for this) and cram some fresh grease in the bearings. For the record as well you can use the axle and locknuts....some big washers....and the old shot bearings to press in new cartridges. I used to do this on my own hubs before I got the proper tools.

found it. single-speed foldable bike ala amazing race:
http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n36643509
http://shop.strida.co.uk/s.nl/sc.25/...5/it.A/id.4/.f

edit: hmm.. no chain. kevlar belt! and a leisurely 56 gear inches.

Wusssssssssssssssss

By the way, that Lakeshore route wasn't that great. High speed traffic the entire way there and back. Kind of lamezor. Good thing next weeks ride looks nice.

well, I finally got some Phils on my bike...

...

ok.. they're just Phil bearings. :P

Strida's have been around for a while. This one looks like they've made some improvements.

Here's a couple of reviews
http://www.moultoneers.net/notmbc.html
http://www.angelfire.com/id/nonfractal/strida.html <-- warning - hideous color choices on page

Thanks to rob and jeremy for slowing down to let me and my girlfriend catch up all those times... Still, I'm pretty impressed that she managed that well on her first long ride

anyone doing anything tonight? my plans fell through. :)

Hot date

OK. Let me rephrase, is anyone doing anything tonight that they want to invite me to? :)

yeah no worries man, I was gettin tired too. come for next sats ride

well on top of my back being out I have a hernia which has poped out .. you could help me push the hernia back in above my belly button

I'm on monster watch (kids) tonight.

Weather not looking good for Sunday but Monday can we all swing a meet up? Quick coffee, maybe a ride down to the beach?
Cheers