So, are we done here or not?
Last Post 02/18/2015 05:22 PM by Dale Dale. 60 Replies.
Author Messages
6ix

Posts:485

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01/31/2015 09:15 AM
Cycling forums are in a sorry state. I tip my hat to Steve for keeping this forum going while the VeloNation site closed up. Looking back nearly 12 years ago when I first started using the VeloNews forums, it's extremely sad to see such a great community full of people with shared enthusiasm and knowledge fade into obscurity. It was mainly because of trolls, a couple lunatics with multiple screen-names, and a healthy serving of spam that killed it. I miss it because it was like chatting with a group of friends with common interests. We could be cycling dorks together!! We could find answers to all kinds of cycling tech issues. We could solve all of the world's problems together and provide support when one of us falters and finds themselves struggling to hang on to the proverbial fast group ride of life. The CyclingNews forum is scary because people just aren't nice. Very little respect. There are so many members that it lacks the perceived safety in opening up to complete strangers. There just isn't anywhere else to go. Not Facebook, not roadbikeforums, etc.
Master50

Posts:340

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01/31/2015 10:30 AM
6ix
pretty much my view too.
steelbikerider

Posts:66

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01/31/2015 11:40 AM
Road bike review is my go to forum now for questions. But I just don't have many any more. The last 2-3 generations of Dura Ace work too well to question much. I have a carbon, a steel and an AL bike and they all ride just fine. Ride 23's on wide rims and 25's on older narrow rims and they all ride fine.Some wool and some synthetics - I stay warm. I wave and most wave back - except tri-geeks. The only thing slowing me down is my aging body. I guess life is pretty good now.
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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01/31/2015 05:46 PM
6ix you are so right!
Useful discussions about the tech stuff like steelbikerider mentions are necessary but NOT sufficient for a good forum.
The sociopaths should have been banned years ago before they confiscated the VN forum. Before they drove Jennifer away, etc. etc.
Dale

Posts:1767

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01/31/2015 05:47 PM
Yeah, sad to see decline. It's been sort of a family-- seen some deaths (RIP sruane, RIP Goat Goaper… maybe). Several cat fights: Fuzzball, Danny, the multi-personality wack job. A few divorces, births, marriages, failed business ventures. Man, I hate seeing the drop off.
eurochien

Posts:163

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01/31/2015 08:49 PM
VeloNews dropped the ball.
zootracer

Posts:833

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02/01/2015 11:15 AM
I used to post regularly on roadbikereview.com. I then went over to VeloNews. Now I'm here. I occasionally peak at roadbikereview but it's insane. 138 replies for instance about al vs carbon handlebars. Who reads all that stuff? It would be sad for this forum to shut down.
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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02/01/2015 09:33 PM
Shout out to The Diesel aka Superfrenchie. Can he be lured back? His posts were always a good addition to the conversations.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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02/01/2015 11:05 PM
Agreed in all points, 6ix. I got shut out yesterday for awhile from here with generic ads popping up in it's place...usual crap about registering domain names, etc. thought it was the final straw for us, so was pleased to see the site up today.

I, too, miss the old VN site and lots of members never quite made the jump over here. I'll keep hanging on out of habit (and am willing to kick in a few $$ to keep this place going) but have little interest in other sites. I hang in ST a bit, but mostly for information. I try not to post much there....lots of d-bags and prima donnas (don't get me started in the swimmers!).
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
zootracer

Posts:833

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02/02/2015 12:04 AM
I have adblock plus and don't get pop ups

Of course, I'm old enough to know that nothing lasts forever, even good things...
SideBySide

Posts:444

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02/02/2015 12:29 AM
I'll Be here as long as the rest of you do. The biggest turn-off in a forum for me is lack of courtesy. Everyone here is someone I'd hang out with.
Red Tornado

Posts:159

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02/02/2015 10:07 AM
In addition to this forum I also read/occaisionally post on the Paceline.  Much larger group than here, but not too large IMO.  They seem to be a decent group.
Do like the "small town" atmosphere of this place, too.
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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02/02/2015 10:50 AM
Posted By Franck A. on 01/31/2015 08:49 PM
VeloNews dropped the ball.


I agree on Velonews dropping ball on the old site. I didn't mind the exotic multiple personality characters and conversations. No problem with pop-ups on this site using Firefox or IE explorer. Too bad not too many made it over here and it feels like its slowly fizzling. One of problems as I see it is that this site doesn't tell you who's on-line as the old site did and as FB does. That limits the feel of having conversations. Right now there's a better connection with the old crowd on FB.
THE SKINNY

Posts:506

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02/02/2015 11:03 AM
our bike club forum is fading also. must just be a sign of the times. but even though our forum is dead, the trail head is usually full of cars so at least the sport isn't declining.
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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02/02/2015 11:25 AM
Is everyone just too busy beating each other up and hanging/bragging on Strava? Maybe just a shift in emphasis; forums are going the way of email and the Dodo?
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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02/02/2015 11:31 AM
Posted By Orange Crush on 02/02/2015 11:25 AM
Is everyone just too busy beating each other up and hanging/bragging on Strava? Maybe just a shift in emphasis; forums are going the way of email and the Dodo?


I think that is some of it.....bigger forums continue to flourish (it seems), but smaller ones seem to be going away in favor of other social media options....and that includes FB, Twitter, Strava, etc.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
jacques_anquetil

Posts:245

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02/02/2015 11:50 AM
i love you guys and gals...

I'd say it's been 14-15 years since i first stated hanging out in what was then the Velonews TechTalk forum.

when the threat of the losing Velonews forum happened, Keith and I set up a Facebook group that has since morphed into "Members of the Velonation Bike Talk Forum" so, if any of youse are on FB I'd encourage you to join up, just in case this one expires https://www.facebook.com/groups/22446392901/?fref=ts

It's been really nice to get to befriend and follow a bunch of good, kindhearted folks from all around the world in that space too, but it's just not the same dynamic as an old-fashioned threaded semi-anonymous forum like this, or the Velonews forum. Makes me sad but so goes life.

Hopefully, we'll meet you out on the road someday.
Jay
THE SKINNY

Posts:506

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02/02/2015 12:39 PM
i signed up for that facebook group (if you'll have me). i'm not a fan of facebook but i joined to keep up with other groups and people. i think a good forum is better. the mtbr forum seems pretty active.
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
Keith Richards

Posts:781

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02/02/2015 12:59 PM
I think Strava and FB are the big reasons for the decline. That is where Bob is most of the time.

But as someone said, until race seasons starts, what is there to really talk about? Most of us here are very well versed in all aspects of bike technology so there is not a lot of questions to ask/answer.

And for real, without the crazies showing up, there is not a lot of lively discussion...lol!

Seriously without something to bring in new members (how is that even possible?), it was only a matter of time before it petered out.

I met some good friends through the VN forum. It was a good thing.
----- It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong.
Cranky Tom

Posts:58

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02/02/2015 02:13 PM
I go way back in the VN days (maybe as far as '99?) but I post very infrequently due to my schedule. I really do value this place though and I wish I could find the time to participate more. I've learned a lot from all of you over the years. I'll join the FB group if you guys will have me but I'd sure rather keep lurking and occasionally posting here. I'd also be willing to contribute some $ to keep this place going if it would help.
zootracer

Posts:833

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02/02/2015 04:04 PM
Not a fan of FB either, but I signed up, if you will have me. Prob is we don't know each others real names.
huckleberry

Posts:824

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02/03/2015 08:40 AM
I made a deal with myself 3 years back when I quit Facef#ck that I would never go back - I'm stubborn that way ; )

I check out RBR often but never post - this and LinkedIn are my only remaining online socializing, since I'd rather do it all in person.
Nick A

Posts:625

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02/03/2015 09:45 AM
Aw man. You guys are bumming me out. Let's just post more?! I deleted my Facebook account over a year ago. It began to feel like some milestone of the fall of civilization.

Nick
zootracer

Posts:833

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02/03/2015 10:24 AM
bring back danboo for some lively discussion (:
huckleberry

Posts:824

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02/03/2015 12:44 PM
Amen, Nick A...
Hoshie

Posts:134

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02/03/2015 08:59 PM
Well, glad you guys posted this. Yes, I was a member, although not super active, of the original forum days when I was the young guy with a whole cast of characters. Now I am the master's rider - funny how that happens.

Some fond characters I recall over the years besides the current regulars:

Later comer Gurb and that couch and that custom bike that broke! Oops. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy....
Mr Spain - Forget the handle of the guy who dealt with marriage and alcoholism all while posting ride photos from his ex pat work from Valencia Spain. Nice guy, a little mixed up
Everton FC - soccer hooligan, usually drunken posts
Goatroper - the mythical Italian / American citizen w/ a stable of high end bikes who suddenly died. A true shocker.
Terrapin / Rachel - not sure how to describe; knowledge potentially female denizen of bike culture if not somewhat fictional. I couldn't tell if he/she was real...
Bob - aging hipster w/ a penchant for fixing up wonderful bikes and selling them. He was great and always good with advice and info if we communicated directly. Hope he is well!

And so many others. Could never tell what was real, what wasn't but it was a good time.

KR - you are the man! If I slowly fade out, I just always enjoyed your participation, views, old school style, and attitude. I appreciate you keeping the flame! If I head out to DC from this left coast, would be awesome to get a ride in. Thanks for taking the lead on moving stuff over.

I know I may not have had a large or important presence over the years, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Best-

J
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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02/03/2015 09:24 PM
Habanero was the guy who went to Spain. Those were some epic rides / pics he used to post.

Hope he is doing well!
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
SideBySide

Posts:444

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02/03/2015 10:02 PM
Habanero is active on FB. He is doing well.
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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02/03/2015 10:34 PM
Posted By SideBy Side on 02/03/2015 10:02 PM
Habanero is active on FB. He is doing well.


Well right now he's snowed in.
SideBySide

Posts:444

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02/03/2015 10:41 PM
At least he has pics from his friends in Spain to keep him warm.
Hoshie

Posts:134

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02/03/2015 11:18 PM
Hab - yes. Glad he is doing well.

Keith Richards

Posts:781

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02/04/2015 12:55 PM
Posted By Hoshie S on 02/03/2015 08:59 PM

KR - you are the man! If I slowly fade out, I just always enjoyed your participation, views, old school style, and attitude. I appreciate you keeping the flame! If I head out to DC from this left coast, would be awesome to get a ride in. Thanks for taking the lead on moving stuff over.

I know I may not have had a large or important presence over the years, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Best-

J

Thanks my brother. It has been a good LONG run, I must say. I mean the Tech Talk forum was in the stone ages of the internet. We used to have some good guys here.

Don from Anvil Bikeworks.

Rich Sachs used to post.

Andy Coggan...and I am sure I am missing some other cool cats. It was a shame that a few internet heros stopped the forum from really blossoming into something that could stand the test of internet time.

I knew the place was on the way out when someone questioned Andy Coggan's training advice in a totally disrespectful manner. Guys were too dumb to even do a google search to see who they were talking to. It was only a matter of time after that, IMHO. Then the VN forum turned into a spam wasteland and that was all she wrote.
----- It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong.
THE SKINNY

Posts:506

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02/05/2015 08:22 AM
one thing i don't care about on fb is when someone you are following posts a picture it automatically shows the picture on my fb page. normally not a big deal but if it's something offensive or something i don't wish to see, it's sort of hard to un-see it. case in point; some jackass posted a picture of the hostage getting burned. i don't need a picture to know how horrible that is. but now it's stuck in my head. i can handle all the ignorant comments associated with the post and i can elect to not see that post after it's popped up. in this case i just un-followed the person.
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
zootracer

Posts:833

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02/05/2015 10:33 AM
I was researching buying a new bike back in '02. I remember Don Ferris from Anvil Bikeworks saying that the Master X Light was the best bike that Colnago made. I bought one. Lots of good advice and help on that old forum.
Nick A

Posts:625

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02/05/2015 11:09 AM
Facebook just feels a little too much like every bad thing there is to say about humanity. Maybe it's my obsessive nature, and own lack of self control. It becomes a total time suck, and I got disappointed when acquaintances would say things that revealed more about their personality than I wanted to know. I had a Twitter account. I have thought about resurrecting it. Not for quips, but for occasional tweets to semi-famous people. It's kind of cool if you have a favorite podcast and want to actually say something meaningful, you can shoot a quick note, and in some cases, know that person is actually at the other end. Actually, I've taken to sending e-mails instead. Even got to hear a few read on subsequent podcasts. That's fun.
SideBySide

Posts:444

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02/05/2015 12:42 PM
I enjoy keeping up with friends that are no longer local, or friends like from this forum. You get to see a different side of them. It has strengthened some links. There are people I know from here or autocrossing that I would like to meet up with if I am ever in their town.
You have to have a bit of a tough skin. I am quick to hide people who frequently post things I don't want to see, or post incessantly. I have also been friend denied by someone that surprised me, i.e. someone from here.
I have been surprised by posts from some people. I had a friend post a political rant, I responded with snopes and forbes links showing it wasn't true, he deleted my post. Some people just don't want to know the truth.
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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02/05/2015 03:27 PM
FB.
jacques_anquetil

Posts:245

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02/05/2015 08:52 PM
since we;re reminiscing, some VNF people updates:

Gurb is still around on FB, whacky as ever.

Hab's doing well and and interesting love life. just got a new job recently, and kids excelling in sports.

Everton FC is a real person too, and frankly, not a whole lot different than his screen persona. anyone remember Everton F.C.? kinda like Fake Steve Jobs. we still don't know who that was but it was brilliant.

Bob continues his bike-flipping activities, and posting ridiculously cool selfies from beautiful SF locations.

It was Jennifer who everyone thought was not real, but i think she was. and brilliant too. some cyberstalkers scared her away (you know who you are

Rachel is decent and down-to-earth and i miss her.

There was another guy - markmc or something. absolutely genius source for tech advice. great stories.

how the hell is Fuzzball doing these days? she LOST it talking about helmets and brain trauma.

Sam from Singular Cycles.

Old and Fat? he had the inside poop and lots of it turned out true.

KR - a confession. it was me that poached Coggan's W/KG ranking chart one time and posted it and he called me out on it. Still feel terrible about that.

so many more...
Hoshie

Posts:134

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02/05/2015 10:33 PM
Thx for the memory jog.

old and fat was certainly right about the inside story and people did not treat him nicely because they still had hero worship.

He had thick skin and never came back to gloat either. He knew the real story for sure.

J
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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02/06/2015 12:18 PM
Yes O and F was right
Keith Richards

Posts:781

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02/06/2015 01:48 PM
Posted By jacques anquetil on 02/05/2015 08:52 PM
since we;re reminiscing, some VNF people updates:

KR - a confession. it was me that poached Coggan's W/KG ranking chart one time and posted it and he called me out on it. Still feel terrible about that.

so many more...

I think it was more than that instance that caused him to go. As I remember it someone was asking about training advice for their first TT.

The usual types were saying stuff like, "if you don't feel like you're gonna vomit by the end, you didn't go hard enough," and things like that.

He came in with real stuff. Course familiarization, finding out what gears will work for you over the terrain in question, do some tests on similar terrain before the event, etc.

And people actually had the nerve to tell him he was not giving good advice. He was...offended that someone would come at him like that and stopped posting. He told me as much. I told him I understood.
----- It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong.
CarbonGecko

Posts:42

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02/06/2015 01:52 PM
I don't remember it that way at all Keith. Andy is one of the gods of power based training but he got a bee in his bonnet over Fuzzball and some Euro based bike computer she used that estimated power solely on speed and weight. He became quite a bit of a bully about it. A few people (including CycloScott, JustMe, and a maybe others) called him on how he was treating Fuzzball. He left shortly after that.

One of the things about all the forums all the way back to rec.bicycles is that it somehow always becomes a bit cliquey. The "in" crowd is often as big a problem as the crazy newcomers.

Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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02/06/2015 02:01 PM
The irony here is that he is a frequent poster over on Slowtwitch and often runs roughshod on people in disucssions re: power and power-based training.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
OlmoRider

Posts:5

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02/08/2015 12:32 PM
I am one of the posters who did quite make it here from Velonews forums. I have not checked in for ages. Meeting KidWok in person yesterday made me feel all nostalgic. I enjoyed the old forum as people like 79pmooney, superfrenchie, and others really put effort in to their writing. Sometimes creating long and well thought-out essays. FB does not really encourage into that kind of writing.
Keith Richards

Posts:781

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02/10/2015 10:02 AM
CarbonGecko, interesting.

That could be as I found Fuzzball to be annoying as hell and blocked out anything having to do with my and her interactions in the Forum.
----- It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong.
Dale

Posts:1767

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02/10/2015 12:07 PM
LOL! Fuzzball WAS an annoying know-it-all, IMO. Her claim to have owned or tested about every bike made since the invention of the wheel stretched credibility to the breaking point.

Jennifer emailed me some stuff to edit after she bailed from the forum and moved up north somewhere-- British Columbia if I remember right.

My sister works with Grateful and I was going to meet up with him when I was out there but it never worked out. Same thing with Blue Zurich/ Barry... never could get our schedules to line up but I do have his pizza crust recipe that gets frequently put to use.
jacques_anquetil

Posts:245

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02/10/2015 08:19 PM
like i said before, if i fell ass-backwards into a wad of cash i'd pay for everyone to get together somewhere and go for a ride then have beers.
Nick A

Posts:625

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02/13/2015 01:06 PM
I know that someone (but not who) is keeping this thing afloat out of the goodness of their heart (and it's super duper appreciated), but that it's "attached" to a defunct site.

Would a new site/board help? I'd be willing to put the whopping $10 for a domain name, and the time to plug in some freebee bulletin board software.

Nick
thinline

Posts:323

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02/18/2015 09:12 AM
My favorite post EVER was from Superfrenchie (n/k/a The Diesel). It was back when LA was winning and Bush was trying to put together his coalition to invade Iraq, France declined to join, Congress renamed french toast and french fries Freedom Toast and Freedom Fries in the Congressional cafeteria, and the French media was questioning LA. There were a handful of people that would give SF a hard time on the VN forum. One posted a loooooong rambling attack of Superfrenchie specifically and the French generally. It was absolutely riddled with spelling and grammatical errors. It ended with, "And if it wasn't for America, you would be speaking German." Superfrenchie replied, "And if it wasn't for France, you would know how to speak English."

KABOOM!

As an aside, all you folks that live in warm climates, please send us a little bit of warmth, just enough to keep the temps above zero. Please?
Nick A

Posts:625

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02/18/2015 09:55 AM
The English part. HA! Good one!

Although new to me, there's prolly legions of people outside of this country that know that one. LOL.

Nick
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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02/18/2015 10:31 AM
Posted By Dale Dale on 02/10/2015 12:07 PM
. Same thing with Blue Zurich/ Barry... never could get our schedules to line up but I do have his pizza crust recipe that gets frequently put to use.


Post and / or e-mail, please. I lost it and am tired of buying the Pillsbury refrigerated, pre-made crap.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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02/18/2015 10:57 AM
Posted By jacques anquetil on 02/10/2015 08:19 PM
like i said before, if i fell ass-backwards into a wad of cash i'd pay for everyone to get together somewhere and go for a ride then have beers.


There's someone's secret 50s bday "way over the hill" party in the works for early June. We'll gladly have y'all over but you'll have to make your own way. Funny, these non-cyclist types don't get it that once you're over the hill, it's a fun high-speed descend (whereto I dunno) I don't need no pizza crust recipe, the mrs being of Italian descent getting spoiled already
Dale

Posts:1767

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02/18/2015 01:08 PM
Here 'ya go...

1.75 C Warm Water
2 Packetts Yeast
1 T Molasses
1.5 T Sea Salt
2 T EVOO
3.5 C Flour
0.5 to 1 C Whole Wheat Flour
Knead 8-10 minutes
Raise 1.5 Hours
Punch down, let sit 20 minutes, roll out

Bunch of ways to fix this-- grill over hot coals, flip over, brush w/ olive oil, add toppings.
THE SKINNY

Posts:506

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02/18/2015 01:11 PM
yum.
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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02/18/2015 01:48 PM
Posted By Dale Dale on 02/18/2015 01:08 PM
Here 'ya go...

1.75 C Warm Water
2 Packetts Yeast
1 T Molasses
1.5 T Sea Salt
2 T EVOO
3.5 C Flour
0.5 to 1 C Whole Wheat Flour
Knead 8-10 minutes
Raise 1.5 Hours
Punch down, let sit 20 minutes, roll out

Bunch of ways to fix this-- grill over hot coals, flip over, brush w/ olive oil, add toppings.


Thankee, sir.... (bonus points to anyone who knows the origin of that!)
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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02/18/2015 01:58 PM
I'll suggest salmon/goat cheese/capers as a non-traditional topping combo. Yoho!
Dale

Posts:1767

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02/18/2015 03:28 PM
Posted By Cosmic Kid on 02/18/2015 01:48 PM


Thankee, sir.... (bonus points to anyone who knows the origin of that!)

The great Gurb pizza thread where boasting was as thick as the crust.
I like mine with mozzarella, fresh basil and Roma tomatoes... yummy!
THE SKINNY

Posts:506

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02/18/2015 03:44 PM
stop it. i'm starving.
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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02/18/2015 03:52 PM
Ha Dale - that's one of the other variations we're making. Take that "we're" with the pinch of salt that's to go in the crust recipe. Single dad this week - yesterday dad "cooked" Mexican.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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02/18/2015 04:59 PM
Posted By Dale Dale on 02/18/2015 03:28 PM
Posted By Cosmic Kid on 02/18/2015 01:48 PM


Thankee, sir.... (bonus points to anyone who knows the origin of that!)


The great Gurb pizza thread where boasting was as thick as the crust.
I like mine with mozzarella, fresh basil and Roma tomatoes... yummy!

LOL....I was referring to the term "thankee".
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Dale

Posts:1767

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02/18/2015 05:22 PM
No idea on the 'thankee' ...don't leave us hanging


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