The Training Ride

Yonge and Soudan, Walking the Dog

Still Life on Bayview

Found in a bakery/cafe on Bayview Avenue in Toronto.

Ask Me

Taken last September at Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum, the young girl is looking at a monarch caterpillar transforming itself into a chrysalis right before her eyes.

Talking to Peggy?

On the cell at TD Centre.

The Ice Bear

Since Pappy mentioned the messenger race Global Gutz yesterday (in which Critical Path racers did very well), I thought today might be a good time to show the winner, one Jim (the Ice Bear) Kuz. Here's a guy in his '40's who regularly wins races against kids half his age.

Amazing.

Here's to ya, Jim!

The Psychic

I went to see a psychic the other day. She wasn't in.

If she could really see into the future, I figure she'd have known I was coming and would have been there waiting for me.

I'm not going to see her again. I'm skeptical that she can really solve all life's problems...

Shane

The Cigarette Girl

The title's not PC to be sure, but that's what they were called, back in the 30's and 40's. I've always thought things would have been cooler back then. Smokey bars, floor shows, dancing girls...

Of course, I'm sure real life never looked so good as these places looked in the movies. Whatever the case may be, this young lady would not have looked out of place walking from table to table at places with names like Kon-Tiki Lounge, The Coconut Grove or The Cotton Club.

On an unrelated note, Passover starts tomorrow at sundown. Le-shanah ha-ba-a b'Yerushalayim!

A Moment of Shameless Self-Promotion

You've seen them both before, but when you pick up the next issue of Momentum magazine, you'll see these two photos (Tofu and Brooks, above and Kiki, below) again. Yes, Knarf has been published!

I don't know when it'll be out, but it's sold at bike shops and print media outlets across Canada and in some part of the US. The photos in question will be used in an article on CMWC.

Cool, no?

Watching the World Go By

The subway emerged from the tunnel just above Bloor, and this young man and his mother enjoyed the passing view.

Cheesecake

I know, I'm shameless. Why change now?

We were at a fundraiser for the arts (actually, a fundraiser for an artist - more on it later in the week). Lots of camp and fun - and some serious stuff, too.

In the "camp" department, this young lady was doing her best Marlene Dietrich, and doing it very well!

The Look

I don't believe he was serious when he said, "Put the camera down, or I'll break it and your face!"

I didn't stick around to find out...





PS: just joking. I know the fellow (but not by name); he's a regular at the Jet Fuel, and we laughed about his scowl as we looked at it together on the LCD screen on the back of my camera.

Spoke Cards

When messengers have a race, they get these registration cards, which are placed in the spokes as souvenirs of the race. As you can see, this bike's been in a few races...

We Don't Need No Stinking Carbon Fibre

I love cranks, spiders, rings and chains.

In another time, in another context, I could probably have been arrested for making such an utterance in public...

Hot Babes on Trackbikes

Leah

























Maija

Italian Weapons

At the CMWC photo shoot on the weekend, most people had their favourite steeds on display. Here, a Cinelli, Bianchi and (my) Fondriest rest in the late-afternoon sun, next to the Toronto Dominion Centre.

One Pretty Bike

Another photo shoot yesterday for CMWC (only two months away!). A bunch of messengers showed up for their chance at glory (or at least notoriety, or at least a bit of free publicity), including yours truly, who took a few pix, and who had a few pix taken of.

I think I have a lovely bike, but Dennis had the prettiest bike of all...

The Urban Oasis

I suppose that some thirty or thirty-five years ago, when this little resting spot was constructed, it seemed like a nice idea: a place where passing pedestrians could rest their weary feet for a few minutes.

The years haven't been kind and maintenance has been non-existant. The school that it's in front of is slated for demolition, making way for yet another high-rise condo.

Progress...

Art

It can make you think.

Or does it make you feel?

Or can it do both? Or neither?

My Bike

She needs a cleaning, but she's still lovely, no?

Sweet Sixteen

I was at the Jet Fuel for the first time in many months on the weekend. As you can see, not much has changed.

I was reminded that April 1st is the annual Jet Fuel Birthday Party. It started on the first anniversary of its opening, with a free keg of beer. Each year he adds another free keg. This year Johnny Jet Fuel (in the pic, on the only phone in the coffeeshop) will be providing 16 kegs.

In a break from tradition, the shindig will be starting at 4 in the afternoon, rather than the usual 8pm. Every year, no matter how many kegs, they always run out of beer at around midnight. I wonder what time they'll finish this year?

I won't know, as I won't be here. I was a stalwart over the years, but being older, wiser and "married", I'm just not up to this sort of stuff anymore. I'll leave it to the young kids to indulge.

I'm guessing there may be more than a few hung-over messengers on the road tomorrow morning. That, or half my crew will book off "sick"...

;-)