Ah ha ha! Shiz ftw. I went to the exhibit at the AGO when it was here. How many icons of guys rear-ending dogs and aliens do you really need to see? Quite a few, apparently.

i gave up that fetish many years ago. I think you need to check the NOW classifieds.

I always loved walking into offices...soaking wet...and got the "is it raining out?" that was usually when I bent down to put my # on the waybill while simultaneously unleashing a deluge of rain water on the desk from my goretex hat.

i dare say that is one bike that would not be ridden; i'd have to hang it on the wall...

I was taking the elevator up to my floor last month and a messenger got on and we were the only 2 on the elevator. About 5 seconds later the guy rips the most massive loud fart ever, but doesn't change his facial expression at all. It was pretty freaking funny, and we even got off at the same floor.

What's a common ratio for 'round Toronto?

I'm just putting together something for the winter, Just SS for now, but when I have more cash I'll make it fixed. I want to get a chainring today... I'm thinking 44/16. Too low? (700c wheels 170 crank)

haha

I'm finding 46x16 is a bit high for ripping up/down yonge st. because of the hills, but that's just me. The only hill that may kill me is the one just south of York Mills on Yonge. everything else is fine.

I loved that Haring exhibit, I saw it a few times while it was touring. I just find it incredible how well his art encapsulates a very interesting tipping point in society, specifically gay society as the reality of AIDS destroyed any of the happiness and grandeur that the early 80s hedonism had offered.

When he died they auctioned off all of his belongings because he had drawn on every single surface he could in his house from his toaster to his wall to the door of his fridge. Amazing stuff.

I'm on Queen and I don't go north much... if I did I could take a different bike. So, maybe I'll go with the 46/16 as well then. Last time I had this bike running I was using 53/16, which while fast was a bit of a dog getting started. (and no way I'd get past Davenport with that)

Thanks!

I run 43x17 on my commuter and its just about perfect. I could probably go up or down a little but it works for me so I stick with it. The gearing is pretty low and I had origally selected it specifically for winter a couple years ago. I go down a slight downhill all the way to work, and a slight uphill all the way home. If you are new to fixed gear/ss I'd suggest choosing a slightly lower gear than you are used to so that your knees don't start to ache as your muscles develop, and you'll have a better spin and keep your speed down ever so slightly.

Also I just finished having a conversation with the boss about how I ride into work. His choices of words were "maniac", "crazy", and "insane", and he asked if I had chains for my tires. I told him that studded tires were more appropriate, but they were too heavy at around ~1kg a peice vs my regular tires at ~250g a peice and how you want to keep rotating weight low to decrease rolling resistance and he just kind of smiled and backed away out of my office before I had a chance to finish.

44/16 rocks. I have it on one of my bikes and it is great for around town.

Shiznaz you going to buy that GPX groupset? It looks pretty sweet. Besides the freewheel.

Thanks for the tips folks.

Another question... is there any reason I can't cut the chainring nuts shorter to make up for the missing small ring?

Is that you in your avatar? I've seen you numerous times around the downtown core, mostly on the critical mass rides. Sometimes in Kensington with your gf.

May be easier just to buy the shorter chainring bolts at a place like cavern or urbane. They were $7 at urbane last time I went.

yep. I suppose I've probably seen you too then! If things go well and I can find a chainring then I'll probably have the "new" bike for CM next week :)

Ahh yes I am quite familiar with that move as well. It's a classic.

Anyone get the feeling that those dudes outlined on the Cinelli's disk wheels are ritheing in pain after attempting to ride the thing?

hahahahahahaha..............ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuch

It isnt the (male) bolts that need to be shortened but the (female) nuts. If you have access to a bench grinder you can grind em down a little to make em work.

I am running 47X12 on my SS and I am along Queen all the time without too many problems. Fixed is 47X15 and not too many problems around town although I did have to bail when I was on Dufferin going south and forgot about the Casa Loma hill.....that could have been really ugly, I must have been on glue or something to forget that hill :o

Its all yours big boy. I think my DA/ultegra/chris king 'group' may actually have it trumped.

I dremelled down a set of chainring nuts one time. Not worth it. Just buy the short stack chainring bolts (I got mine at urbane) and be happy. I had all sorts of trouble with the ones I ground down coming loose all the time. Plus the new chainring bolts you buy will probably be better quality (they were in my case). Its worth 7 dollars of your time.



In regards to gear rations, and the 43x17 on my commuter: I also run 49x16 and 49x15 on my other two fixed gear bikes, and strangely don't feel too much difference as far as the overall riding experience goes. I go faster on the higher geared bikes, but those bikes are super fancy compared to my commuter so maybe its the components. Something I have been glad of is that all my bikes (except for road bike) take 144mm chainings, so I can switch chainrings between any of my fixed gears.

i would say it varies with the rider; i use a 71" gear (42x16) most of the year and flip my hub over to 18 (63") for the winter. works for me as i'm not superbig or muscular. or fast.

Lies! 6 foot giants in our midst!

what!? i may be tall, but that doesn't count as superbig. although i am getting bigger these days...

I actually posted the same kind of thing, but I had the other jeremy (darkmother) in mind for some reason. He really is a huge guy. Probably around 210lbs, 6'4". Still jeremywhitehorns got to have some height and at least some weight on my skinny a*s. Definitely speed!

I need to move back in with my parents or get an italian wife so I can just be presented with food all the time to shove in my face. Finding and preparing it yourself is nice, but I think overall goes towards lowering the potential face shoving volume.

I wish I could gain weight. God knows I've tried but I've been stuck at 140 for years now.

I've got a few recipes that will pack the pounds on for you. They take 10 years off your life though.

it'll happen homes...wait for it.. :lol: That KH bike would never see the street if it were mine... framed and lit it would be.

I go for 42/15 and 42/13, because I have a 42 ring and am too cheap to get a 46. I find I can get up every hill (except Casa Loma and Yonge/York Mills ) on the 42/15, slowely I might add, and use the 13 when I feel like booting along the lakeshore paths. For winter I might get a 16 or 17 for the rear.

When I sailed for the national team the nutritionist had me eating over 6500 calories a day. I was working out with trainers all day every day and I still didn't gain weight, I have a scary metabolism, and I don't have the right body type for putting on bulk. I've accepted it, but man is it frustrating.

No, these don't involve carb loading, more like butter, cream, fois gras and beer. Tasty, and you can actually hear the arteries begin to clog.

Unless I stop exercising completely I 'm the same way. Until I moved to India I was around 185 for 15 years, then ate all the rice and dall cooked with pounds of butter and the weight was packed on.