Messages

1

Bike Gallery / Re: Fixed gear bikes/ Post your big bikes V2

« on: April 07, 2016, 04:40:24 PM »

Upgraded my surly cross check. Went with an 11-36 cassette, mavic open elites laced to Shimano 105 hubs with schwalbe marathon 35c tires,  ultegra 50-34 crankset and some origin8 moustache bars. This thing is sweet now and more suitable for touring.

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The Lounge / Re: Light bike touring in southern Ontario

« on: March 20, 2016, 01:49:47 AM »

http://www.greenbelt.ca/route

This will be your best route for the most part.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ca/toronto-ontario/ride-to-conquer-cancer-2012-ontario-200k-route-90222339

Try to follow the Conquer Cancer routes from Niagra Falls to Toronto. (Though you'll have a bit of a divergence going through Toronto). Once you hit around Mississauga you can pretty well just waterfront trail the whole thing.

Conquer Cancer's route went through some pretty nice spots, but the stops in between food/water are a little sparse so just make sure you're good to do around 50-75km self-supported before being able to stop for something.

Aside from that, Strava Heatmaps is probably your best source for the most popular routes.

http://labs.strava.com/heatmap

The strava heat maps definitely helps. I'm not biking through the gta. I'm going to take the go train to Hamilton and then bike from there. Strava heat maps suggests to definitely not take highway 6 but to take the l.e and n rail trail instead. Slightly out of the way but it seems much safer and more relaxed.

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The Lounge / Light bike touring in southern Ontario

« on: March 06, 2016, 10:34:00 PM »

Planning a bike trip to Long Point, Ontario from Toronto. Probably going to take the train to Hamilton and bike from there. I was thinking we could just take highway 6 the whole way but I'm not sure. Could be a little dicey. Has anyone on here done any cycling in this area? Any suggestions? We should be able to reach our destination in a day so we won't have to camp along the way.

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Bike Gallery / Re: Fixed gear bikes/ Post your big bikes V2

« on: February 17, 2016, 08:51:23 PM »

Bit of a technical question here. I currently have a 10 speed shimano 105 medium cage rear dérailleur on my cross check. It's set up with a 12-28 cassette. I'd like to put a larger range on there, for touring and whatnot. I assumed an 13-36 cassette would be too large for the medium cage derailleur. However, this video shows otherwise. I have the exact same derailleur as this guy.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NSxQhd1sL6w

Seems pretty straight forward. Should work right?

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The Lounge / Re: Woodworking as a job

« on: October 19, 2015, 12:11:13 AM »

Well it's quite annoying because I know those ideal jobs are out there. And working as a cabinet maker making minimum wage doesn't sound appealing. Union carpentry sites seem hard as fuck and very intimidating. I feel like you're pretty much working in a coal mine/oil rig or something and it's not what I want to do at all!

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The Lounge / Woodworking as a job

« on: October 16, 2015, 12:15:20 PM »

I need some advice! I know some of you are into woodworking and carpentry so I hope you can assist me! I recently completed a carpentry/woodworking program at a local college and I totally loved it. With this course that I took, the draw to it was that they said I was guaranteed a spot in the Carpenter's Union (Local 27), which seems like an awesome opportunity.

During the program our classes took place in a woodworking shop and we completed a number of cabinetry, furniture and general woodworking projects. We touched upon basic construction (forming, framing, etc). I knew Local 27 was mainly focused on the construction side of carpentry but I thought there must be some woodworking companies out there that are unionized. However, once I completed the course, got into the union and attended some orientations and union meetings, it became evident that if I wanted to continue woodworking, it would have to be as a hobby. Local 27 told me that if I wanted to work at a woodworking company, my hours wouldn't go towards my apprenticeship and therefor I wouldn't get the benefits of being in the union.

I've worked construction over the past few winters when there is no work at the bike shop. It is definitely a good steady job and the work is not bad at all. However, I don't see it as a career. I can do it, but it isn't for me. I will do it for the time being (although the union has nothing available for at least a year here in Toronto for first year apprentices).

So does anyone know how to get into working in a wood shop? Because the course I took was awesome but misleading. Better yet, does anyone in the GTA know of any places I can apply to or where to go from here?

7

Bike Gallery / Re: Fixed gear bikes/ Post your big bikes V2

« on: September 01, 2015, 05:26:40 PM »

Bought cheap from a coworker.  Rebuilt to my liking.

before.

after.

seat looks a little low man. Either that or the frame is much to large for you

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Bike Gallery / Re: Fixed gear bikes/ Post your big bikes V2

« on: August 15, 2015, 08:33:40 AM »

You might want a slightly bigger cassette on the back depending on how much stuff you want to carry and how many hills you want to ride up (and how hard you are). Drop bars are good for spending days in the saddle because of the different position options you have, not absolutely necessary though if you really don't want them. Other than that it looks all set.

So since I have a 12 - 28 spread on the cassette, could I achieve the same thing you are saying by changing the crankset? I want to upgrade it anyway. If I were to put on a mtb crankset with 38 and 26 tooth rings, or something like that, would that also be a good idea?

An 11-32 cassette with your current front chainrings would probably be better. 38-12 would leave you wanting more on the downhill I think.

Yeah, I agree there. I have a short cage 105 rear deraileur though. Would it be compatible with 11-32 cassette?

9

Bike Gallery / Re: Fixed gear bikes/ Post your big bikes V2

« on: August 14, 2015, 08:40:32 PM »

You might want a slightly bigger cassette on the back depending on how much stuff you want to carry and how many hills you want to ride up (and how hard you are). Drop bars are good for spending days in the saddle because of the different position options you have, not absolutely necessary though if you really don't want them. Other than that it looks all set.

So since I have a 12 - 28 spread on the cassette, could I achieve the same thing you are saying by changing the crankset? I want to upgrade it anyway. If I were to put on a mtb crankset with 38 and 26 tooth rings, or something like that, would that also be a good idea?

10

Bike Gallery / Re: Fixed gear bikes/ Post your big bikes V2

« on: July 27, 2015, 11:37:11 PM »

are those really large randonneurs?

Yeah, 40c

11

Bike Gallery / Re: Fixed gear bikes/ Post your big bikes V2

« on: July 27, 2015, 03:13:33 PM »

Just built up my Surly Cross Check. Mostly built with parts bin stuff and hand-me-downs but this thing feels solid.



I want to eventually take this thing on 3 day tour but I'm not sure how to set it up for that. I'm definitely not putting drop bars on it. My gearing is 46-36 up front and then 12-28 on the rear cassette. Is that gearing suitable for light touring?

12

The Bike Shop / Re: Surly Cross Check Build

« on: May 13, 2015, 07:30:40 PM »

This may serve as inspiration for your build.
http://theradavist.com/2014/11/jonathans-surly-disc-trucker-light-tourer/#23

That looks great. I'm probably going to go with a similar build actually. XT with a double crankset. Simple and sturdy

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The Bike Shop / Surly Cross Check Build

« on: May 10, 2015, 05:44:59 PM »

Hey guys!

So I just ordered a cross check frameset through the shop I work at and I'm soooo exited to build it up but I'm just unsure on how I should go about doing that.

The bike is going to be used for general use/exploration/touring so I want this bike to be able to handle everything. I am not a fan of drop bars so that's not going to happen. I'm probably gonna go with some flat bars that have some backsweep to them.

Should I go Shimano or Sram? I was kinda thinking of just goin full xt/xtr.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

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Canada and Alaska / Re: Complete bike. Sunday Ian Schwartz

« on: February 26, 2015, 05:04:02 PM »

400 OBO.

Open to trades for 26" XC parts (i.e Rigid fork, wheels, tires, etc.)

15

The Bike Shop / Surly Cross Check and Front Hub

« on: December 07, 2014, 05:47:32 PM »

So I'm building up a Surly Cross Check (2 x 10 touring/adventure bike) and I have come across a good deal on a front wheel for the build. It's an H plus Sons TB14 laced to a Surly bolt on hub. I know obviously it will work no problem. However, I am new to road bikes or anything with gears basically and all of the Cross Check builds I have seen have quick release hubs. Would it be silly to use this front wheel for my setup?