You do need to use a little caution on that little loop. I've rolled past some "interesting" characters a couple times last year and it made me wanna ride pretty quick to get outta there. It's definitely off the usual path so if something did happen it would take a while for people to find you.

since I've never really done any Don riding. Are there maps anywhere?

TJ- yes to the Ani reference. Good eye/ear!

I saw it too, I just didn't want to brag! ;)

Mr. Christie may make good cookies, But I make f-ing wicked dumplings.

And I put the knobbies back on the mtb, time for some trails. Later this week anyone?

Hey iherald, did you get my email? I'm so sorry for my bumbling interwebz use.

Everyone else, get off your computers and get outside! I'm stuck here marking papers so everyone else has to soak in the sunshine for me.

I was just looking at the Ride for Heart website. To do the 75km route, you have to pay the $50 registration fee, plus get $60 in donations. That's a lot of money.

Yeah thats kind of what discourages me, plus riding with that many people. Last year me and my girlfriend just snuck in to the course and met up with rob who was volunteering. I felt kind of bad but I didn't even like the ride that much...

Not particularly.. it's sort of a locals only deal, especially since the City seems to get all antsy if there is too much activity. If you are willing to explore you can find a lot of interesting bits that people have spent alot of time creating and maintaining... The dudes over on the DropMachine.com forums tend to be the Don hardcore guys.

yeah.. the main "technical" mtn bike trails along the ridge start at around where Pottery Road meets Bayview. Just look for the little gravel parking lot and head up to the top of the ridge along one of the 2 routes that leads up there. Or you can start up around Thorncliffe, but I don't know how to direct you there as I always start at Pottery Road and usually come back along the river.

Yes, please.

I'm in for mtb later in the week.

Fuzz- I've heard plenty of stories about the Don but never had any troubles in the years I've been riding there. I do worry I'm going off the trail to be left for dead at some point though- especially riding alone on new stuff

I did, thanks!

I'm making pork and turky dumplings, can't ride while they are steaming.


In an hour though...

32 flavours if you need a home for a 50cm benotto my small small body would be happy to give it a nice home

it's funny 'cause he's little.

For those who were wondering, Paul Poppy our track instructor is not a professor but a keyboard technician at UWO.

The more you know!

You can do a ninja entry at a few spots. Though I've never done it, it's the kind of thing a friend of mine who died from a stroke would have done, so I wouldn't feel too bad about doing it. I think $50 is kind of steep for someone who wants to support a cause or ride in memory of someone. Though I won't get started on charities that have the trappings of a business, I've never found the $60 to be too hard to round up. The entry fee has been one of my critiques every year. That and the imbecilic "prizes" for sponsorship.

No probs on the tip...my pleasure. Ted..one of the aces on our Mtn team goes in there every time he is down from Kearney and cuts and manicures trails in the Don. He is a anti-erosion and trail flow master. Next time he is down I will let you know. Going for a ride in the Don with him is an eye-opening experience. He has his own map of the east and west Don...I will get a copy from him on Friday.

I came across this crazy wallet made out of bike tires.. very shweet!

http://fuzzz.gaulin.ca/2007/04/30/mtb-tire-wallet/

Now I like him even more! That guy was awesome.

i can't believe they want $50 to ride in that thing. the first few times i did it it was $15 i think which is still accesable.

on another note i found a bike by the curb on the way to work today. it was at the curb in front of my neighbour's house missing a front wheel, badly tacoed rear, flat tire, rusty chain etc. so i took it. i'm assuming it was destined for the trash. anyway, the decal says it's a "KHS alite 3000" (MTB). looks like it has xt rear mech and deore shifters. i think i'm going to fix it up, maybe make it into a single speed. it's a 19" frame which may be a tad small on me but anyway. i'll be bugging y'all for parts to trade real soon. anyone here ride a KHS mountain bike?

I have Wednesday/Thursday off this week. All I've got for wheels right now is the cx bike, but I'm more than willing to get myself into some trouble on that if anyone wants to do an (off)road ride. Shout me a holla, as it were.

Fitting people, I've been sorting out a schedule that will include you along with participants of a charity ride I'm volunteering some time for (doing fitting sessions). I'll get back to you this week, but the days will likely be a Monday or Tuesday between 1pm and 3pm.

damn! fedex is threatening to send a collection agency after me! looks like I'll have to pay these crooked charges after all. I still don't understand why they didn't do COD...

Good morning. Just cleaned the neighborhood stray off of ossington. Sad day.

I am all for charity etc. But I hate the fact that the proliferation of all these rides/walks/bobbing for apples, is all being done while the public health stm is being quietly dismantled under everyones (sweaty) noses. All these charities are pitted against each other in competition and there are going to be winners and losers. Sick Kids gets millions, while local hospitals in the burbs or rural areas for that matter are seen as underperforming and substandard... (sorry i'm sad)

Onto other challenges, where can I get XL chrome toe clips in this town. Urbane, nope, and it seems that the lady on the phone is going to go postal if another person asks her for them.

Thanks,

do you need just the clips? I am looking to sell my MKS Sylvans/Soma Double gate toe clips/ale yellow laminated straps. I suppose I could remove the clips, but the strap is in there pretty tight right now. I don't know where to find XL toe clips in a store though...

Anyone need 50 bikes?
http://toronto.craigslist.org/bik/322086601.html

I don't think anyone NEEDS 50 bikes, but I'd love to see what he's got.

I was thinking the same thing... although it seems like he wants to get someone to take them all. Might be interesting to see if we might be able to get a handful of people together for a "go see" and maybe take a decent number off him if they are even good...

On the other hand I really don't NEED more bikes in the house... they already have their own bedroom :)

Its worth a look if there could be some nice old road bikes. Bike pirates would certainly be interested in the rest

I'm liking going into the Don tomorrow after work.. </open invite>

edit: I need coffee.. I *think* "liking" was supposed to be "likely"