My bike is fixed! I took it on my lunch hour to a place around Kensington Market, called "Bikes on Wheels" and they had to replace the whole crank as I'd done some damage... plus they replaced a gear wire or something.

Anyway, $30 later, my bike rides like new. Doesn't take long to pay off that repair, I guess. But the bike is just pretty crappy anyway. At some point I should really get a comfy bike that fits me with a springy, cushy seat, high handle bars, proper road tires, a pannier for all the crap I lug around, a bell and some reflectors.

For now, however, I will make do with welfare-bike (don't say that out loud near the bike though, I don't want to hurt its feelings -- it was free afterall).