Cyclemania in Trouble?

Jano, the colourful captain of Cyclemania on Bloor

Everybody who is anybody in Bloorcourt knows Cyclemania is the place to get your bicycle fixed. For years Jano, a handsome 40-something ex-racer, has delivered top-notch bike service to locals and passerbys alike. He is a character of commendable kindness and a connoisseur of cycling.

Cyclemania, located at 863 Bloor Street West, is a bike shop made up of old school mechanics. The place has zero tolerance for pretension, is very welcoming, and has unbeatable prices. It's a no frills kind shop where you will get excellent work done on your bike. Yet, quality of service doesn't equate to quantity from your wallet.

But being a neighbourhood hero has it's downsides. It stirs jealousy, and becomes the focal point for alpha-male competitors. Recently, Blossington writer, DmD, confronted some sad news. Vinnie, who is the brother of the former Blossington Bully - Luigi Xaini - and who used to run a bike shop on Harbord, has laid claim to a space across the street from Cyclemania, at 800 Bloor. His intentions: to open a bike shop.

Vinnie used to pay friendly visits to the guys at Cyclemania, they fraternized about their respective businesses. But now, it seems Vinnie's visits housed malicious intent. The old saying goes, "It's not personal, it's just business." Still, there is something seriously vermicular about his actions.

Bloor West is already filled with bike shops; we don't need or even want another. Opening a shop across the street from Cyclemania is a blatant attempt to run the business, that has claimed territory to the Blossington turf for years, into the ground.

The same way Starbucks is planning to out-do our neighbourhood heroes at Saving Gigi - the prom king and queen of Blossington - Vinnie plans to do to Jano. I, for one, will not stand for it. I know the true captains of our hood won't either. You see, what Starbucks and Vinnie don't know is that people in Blourcourt are valiant, loyal, and prefer colourful hosts to pathetic party crashers.

Calling all Blossington beaus and belles, lest we forget our origins, lest we forget that we are a community that honours our founding members, please stay commited to our neighbourhood staples. Support Cyclemania and never forget the transformational power that Saving Gigi's has had on this hood.

Sincerely yours,
DmD

(Photo by DmD)

Bye Bye Biker Choppers

Jeff-co with Choppers...only a few days ago0000

Blossington’s favourite cyclist, Jeff, a.k.a. Jeff-co, a.k.a Ferguson, a.k.a. Chubaka has shaved off his choppers. This comes as a shock to community members who've adored his adornment for years.

But, in his self declared “ripe old age of 37,” Jeff is looking to decrease years. Well Jeff-co, we can’t turn back time (Go ask Cher!) but we salute your success in taking about ten years off your appearance. Cheers buddy.

Ferguson, now shaven, talks about the differences

When we asked Ferguson about how it feels to be free from choppers, he said, "Well my hearing has increased ten-fold. It's so windy! I can hear now."

Not only does he look younger, but he feels younger too, I guess? Isn't it a common phenomenon that people lose their hearing as they age?

Neighbourhood folk wonder about the possibilities now that Jeff's reclaimed his acoustic senses. Will he return to playing drums like he did in The Spigots, the hard-core punk band of his youth? Blossington Post keeps their fingers for a "yes."

But Jeff-co says shaving his choppers has not been all goodness and yummies. "It's somewhat of a sad moment in my life," he said. "It's like cheerleading, but different. True story."

Jeff-co chose to speak off the record about the connection between cheerleading and his clean shaven face. We ask that you trust in embedded truths and apologize that we cannot clarify how the two things are, in fact, very much related. Once a good punk-scout, always a good punk-scout. Oye!

(All photos by DmD)