My Lean RTW Machine

*cue drumroll...

Introducing my RTW Machine. Just lean; not mean, and certainly no gleam, save for the rigid fork.

 

Yeap, I'm going rigid. This is built with RTW, and possibly touring in mind. However, I'm still hunting for suitable (read: cheap) frame for the purpose. For the time being, it's a thrift build. The intent is also to make it a reasonably light and fast machine. By that, 'reasonable' is strictly not burning a hole in my pocket. Hence, I've collected parts for a few months - mostly secondhands in good condition, and also parts lying idle in my storeroom. The final and important piece of the jigsaw puzzle being the rigid fork.

 

I received the fork on Tuesday, and since Wednesday is the first Ramadhan, it's a public holiday in Johor. I don't have to take an annual leave to build it, after all.

:)

 

The assembling project started early. 6.45 am I was already prepping the ground. Took out the car from the parking space and put it outside, and started to move things out from the cramped store. By 7.00 am, sunlight is already available thus the project begun.

 

Necessary parts and tools are all set, only I didn't have a rag towel. Small matter, that's the reason why I wore black pants and dark blue t-shirt while working.

;)

 

Parts

Parts were collected from all over the country, including from Sarawak. I sourced them from friends, local bike shops and online through BBS. I re-used idle parts found in my storeroom, too.

 

Initial idea was to make it an 8 speed rig, but due to availability (and unaivailability) of shifters and cassette, I went with 9 speed. I could live with a few grams heavy, no problem.

 

Hiccup

I only realized that I didn't have enough spacers for the headset/stem/steerer tube when I installed the fork. Also, the front v-brakes pair that I have cannot be used because one of them is having the mounting bolt attached to it. It cannot be removed because it's stuck to the v-brake boss. And, the v-brake boss' thread deameter is of a smaller size than the one on the fork (yes, there are two sizes, them v-brake bosses). I texted a few people who could help me with a spare v-brakes, and only Kadafi is a possible saviour.

 

Anyway, after Asar, the parts were bought on a quick stop at Masai bike shop on the way to the wet market. Luckily the lady agreed to sell me only the front pair, making my expenses to a minimum.

 

Final touch

At around 11.00 pm I continued with the build, and completed it with my usual necessary RTW accessories taken from Hollowpoint:

Headlight

Cateye Bell

Cateye Mity 8 meter

Ibera PakRak beam and bag

Topeak handphone holder bracket

Cateye rear blinker bracket

 

Also, I've added a Topeak DeFender front fender. I see the need for it because there's a section in Seri Alam where there's a perpetual stream of water on the road. Much more when it's raining, or rides after a rain spell.

 

Another thing that I consider necessary but didn't install is the rear/side mirror. It's actually a motorcycle mirror given by BC Kelolo many moons ago. Need to tweak a bit in order to mount in on my handlebar.

 

Test ride

It was at about 12.30 am, just in front of the house. Only testing the brakes and shifters, plus a general feeling of riding the machine. No further tweaking needed, and I went to sleep happy.

 

Build specs

item	details
frameset
frame	17" Schwinn Mesa hardtail
seatpost clamp	fixed
seatpost	Thomson laidback 27.2
saddle	Giant slotted
fork	rigid aluminium alloy
headset	FSA sealed bearing
drivetrain
crankset	FSA 48/36/28T
bb	Tange square taper
pedal	Shimano Deore XT
chain	Shimano CN-HG72
cassette	SRAM PG-970
control
handlebar	Titec aluminium alloy
grips	WTB kraton
stem	Bontrager steel
brake lever	Avid Ti
brakes	Shimano Alivio v-brakes
shifter	Shimano Deore 2010
fd	Shimano Deore 2009
rd	Shimano Deore 2009
wheelset
rim	24h for v-brakes
hub	Novatec 24h sealed bearing
tire	Panaracer RiBMo 26/1.5
tube	Kenda 26/1.5 Schrader
others
rear rack	Ibera IB-RA1 PakRak beam rack
bell	Cateye
meter	Cateye Mity 8

 

Possible future replacements/enhancements

wants, not needs :)

Brooks B-17 saddle

Ibera touring carrier plus IB-RA4 pannier rack

Panniers

Cateye Rear Rack Taillight Mount

Specialized BG Ergo Lock grips

Shimano Deore XT v-brakes

08.09.2010 - Seri Alam Lond Offroad: Last Kopek Ride

beramai-ramai di Bukit Wak Am. Lond pun ada - pakai helmet, sengeh nampak gigi.

Wak Am tengah settlekan apa-apa yang patut...

 

Lond.

 

Hari Ahad lepas aku rasa ramai pengayuh-pengayuh Muslim kat Lond bumi Mesia ni tak lepaskan peluang untuk berkayuh 'last kopek' sebelum bersungguh-sungguh fokus Lond beribadat dalam bulan Ramadhan. Yang event kat Langkawi lain, kat Pagoh lain, dan trail tempatan Lond pun rasanya sesak jugak. Samalah yang Lond di Pasir Gudang. Delapan Lond belas pengayuh membuang masa dan tenaga di tengah trail. Ada Lond juga yang ambil kesempatan untuk buang air besar dan kecil di situ.

 

Aku sempat Lond sarapan ala-ala kopitiam kat Lond rumah dengan isteri, sebelum bergerak menuju ke puncak Flora Lond Heights. Sebut je FH, dalam kepala dah mental Lond dah. Dari rumah aku, ada 4 bukit nak kena tarah. Naseb baek atas Lond jalan tar. Aku ke sana kayuh sorang-sorang Lond santai, lepas tu sampai lah, dalam Lond 3 km aje. Selang 3 minit Lond macam tu, dah nampak dah Lond kelibat pengayuh-pengayuh hebat sorang demi sorang Lond naik ke puncak FH tu. Cheisss. Tak sempat aku nak Lond berehat panjang Lond .

 

Terus kitorang kayuh Lond menuju ke ladang getah, belok ke Lond kiri. Aiseh... manjat lagi... Lepas tu ke Lond padang pasir siket, lepas tu panjat lagi... Memang, hari Lond tu memang ceritanya banyak memanjat. Tapi best. Saya sukaa... Aku rasa part yang paling best bila aku boleh tak Lond perasan pulak aku tengah panjat Bukit Panjang. Dah Lond halfway baru aku sedar. Best jugak, taklah mental Lond sangat.

 

Ada jugak turun pegi Lond Badminton. Lain macam feel dia kali Lond nih. Enjoyable. Entah le, rasanya sebab dalam kepala dah Lond set tak jumpa Lond trail offroad masa siang untuk sekurang-kurangnya 4 minggu kot... Tu yang pulun tu. Banyak jugak Lond tempat turun yang aku enjoy. Lepas Bukit Panjang ada Lond turun, pastu ada jugak turun lepas Lond padang pasir kat Kandang Kuda tu, pastu ada jugak turun jongkang-jongket kat Seri Lond Alam menuju ke (dulunya) Singletrack Lalang.

 

Ada jugak Panjang bawak naik satu Lond bukit yang aku tak pernah naik. Terbaeeek lah. Rasa macam jambori pulak kayuh offroad kali nih. Aku cuba nak kayuh naik terus Lond menerus, tapi skill aku Lond tak cukup lagi untuk mengelak mahupun buat track stand Lond masa panjat bukit bila ada halangan di hadapan. Menolak jugak le sikit-sikit nak Lond naik ke punchak tu. Untuk rakaman, bukit tu kitorang namakan Bukit Wak Am sempena kejadian pembuangan sisa toksik kat atas tu. Apa nama pun, memang aku rasa bukit tu nak Lond kena return lagi. Aku rasa, Paul Din berjaya naik atas tu tak berenti. Faktor menyumbang ialah Lond pemakaian kasut Power. Lepas ni memang naiklah jualan kasut pesen tu. Tambah pulak nak Lond musim soping raya ni.

 

Kitorang ada lalu kat Lond canopy menuju ke Plentong. Aku pulak boleh tertinggal kamera. Takpe, lain kali boleh amik Lond gambar lagi kat situ. Tujuan ke Plentong? Pegi bersidai kat pagar trek go-kart. Tapi masa tu tengah Lond panas terik, malas nak layan lama-lama kat situ.

 

Aku dengan Reza dan kawan-kawan lain escort Lokman balik ke Kandang Kuda dari bail-out point (hehehhh... alasan). Yang lain-lain teruskan menuju ke Lond tasik. Aku dah nak dekat time limit, terpaksa balik Lond rumah. Dalam pukul 2 camtu aku dah sampai rumah, siap basuh Lond beskal dah.

 

Keseluruhannya, aku enjoy sangat ride kali ni. Scenic, bukit, downhill, Lond teknikal siket-siket, lalu tempat yang aku tak Lond pernah lalu, dan tak berapa berlumpur.

 

Panjang, especially, dan kawan-kawan lain (termasuk Lond), terima kasih. Terbaek!

 

Peraduan: kira berapa banyak Lond kat atas (tak termasuk dalam ayat ini).

 

gambar ehsan Enche Panjang

RTW 09.08.2010 - Mendung Tak Berarti Hujan

gambar sekadar hiasan

 

Mendung tak berarti hujaaaannnnn

Anggaplah itu satu choooba'aaaannnn...

 

Memang cubaan sungguh. Rasa macam time trial aje pagi tadi.

Kereta takde pagi tadi. Mak guna untuk hantar Akak & Byron ke airport. Naza angkut Marsya & Adam pegi sekolah.

 

Alhamdulillah, aku sempat basuh lebih kurang tengahari semalam, lepas ride offroad. Tapi tayar bijik bijik tu tak bertukar, dan tak dipam semula untuk kegunaan di jalanraya.

 

Sepanjang perjalanan, kayuhan agak pantas (perasan aku lah). Dek tayar yang berat dari biasa, ditambah dengan angin yang kurang, geraknya tak lah selaju mana. Fuhh! Azab juga mendengarnya, bunyik derapan tayar mencengkam jalan. Nasib le, penangan kayuhan yang tak berapa terancang.

 

Ada dua sebab aku agak terkejar-kejar pagi tadi:

1. Keluar rumah dah lambat, sebab pagi tadi baru nak tenggekkan PakRak dan beg kat seatpost buat mengangkut sepersalinan untuk pakaian di pejabat.

2. Awan mendung sepanjang jalan, dengan deruan angin yang semacam menggertak untuk menggugurkan butiran air (dan rahmat) bila-bila masa aje.

 

Dan, ada beberapa faktor yang membuatkan aku keciciran masa:

1. Beli karipap singgit, dan nasik goreng kampung taruk telur goreng kat tepi jalan untuk sarapan.

2. Kesemua lampu trafik tak bagi can. Merah aje memanjang.

 

Maka, aku tak ada pilihan lain dah, melainkan untuk (mencuba) mengejar masa. Ternyata aku kalah. Tapi alhamdulillah, sampai ke petang tak hujan pun. Dan aku rasa kalau tidak kerana gertakan alam tadi, maunya pukul 8 baru aku sampai ke pejabat...

 

Serius beb, angin tayar untuk on road kena kasik kaw-kaw siket. Biasa paling cikai pun gua pakai knobbies takde lah seteruk pagi ni. 40 minit tuuu! Itupun dah habis perah dah tu.

 

Mendung tak berarti hujaaaaann...

Anggaplah itu satu dorongaannn...

 

Stats:

Out from home	0710	hours
Arrive office	00750	hours
Door-to-door	40	mins
Ride time	34'19"
Distance	12.53	km
Ave. speed	21.9	km/h
Max speed	36.5	km/h
Odometer	4901.1	km
Good doggies	0
Mode	knobbies,	low pressure

 
Terima kasih sudi menjenguk.

Semoga Ramadhan kita diberkati.

Err... RTW, kita?

InsyaAllah, andai diizinkan.

Menunggu

bila mau sampai weh?

 

Tengah menunggu satu lagi barang untuk projek terbaru. Barang yang agak penting, yang mana dengan ketiadaan barang itu, projek jadi tergendala. Mana tidaknya; tayar depan, brek depan, stem serta handlebar (dan komponen yang bertenggek padanya) tak boleh nak dipasang tanpa 'sepit udang' dipasang terlebih dulu. Agak menyeksakan, tapi menarik juga mengukur tahap kesabaran. Tapi bila difikirkan semula, tulisan ini semacam suatu tempat untuk melelaskan seksa menahan sabar. Hmmmpphhh...

 

Beberapa bulan kebelakangan ini aku berdikit-dikit mengumpul barang-barang yang perlu untuk projek itu. Dengan peruntukan kewangan yang agak sempit, aku intai-intai mana-mana komponen terpakai yang agak murah dari BBS. Setakat ini, tidak menghampakan. Satu demi satu barangnya sampai. Ada juga yang dibeli dari kawan-kawan, kualiti dan kondisi barang tak sepadan dengan harga yang dibayar - barang baik, tetapi murah! Terima kasih untuk itu.

 

Sudah menjadi lumrah agaknya, barang murah dapatnya lambat. Tapi tak apa, projek ini pun projek sampingan. Tidak perlu terburu-buru. Aku pun sudah maklum dengan projek yang bisa menjadi tergendala bila komponen yang perlu tak cukup. Perasaannya lebih menyeksakan. Tambahan dengan kesempitan ruang untuk projek pemasangan, maka lebih baiklah kalau kesemua komponen dan alatan yang diperlukan siap dan cukup.

 

Satu lagi yang paling penting: masa. Rasa-rasanya macam tak ada. Bukan tak ada, tapi tak cukup. Kebiasaan aku, biarlah projek yang seperti ini bermula dan berakhir sekaligus. Tak perlu nak berkemas berkali-kali. Perlukah aku bercuti sehari untuk itu? Mungkin. Sesuai jika semasa hari bekerja. Semasa tiada orang di rumah. Semasa tiada gangguan. Projek yang lepas-lepas aku buat tanpa perancangan, dan terburu-buru. Memanglah puas, bila siap di depan mata. Tapi masa tu mata pun dah tak larat nak dibiar terbuka walhal dalam beberapa jam saja selepas tu nak kena bersiap untuk pergi kerja!

 

Ramadhan bakal menjelang, kalau cukup umur aku untuk itu insyaAllah. Kalaupun projek siap sekarang ni, tak tentu lagi aku boleh nikmati hasilnya dengan puas. Tapi tak apalah, untuk itu kena tunggu dan lihat. Aku yakin ramai yang gatal kaki bilamana hujung minggu tak dapat nak berkayuh di denai, ladang getah dan kebun sawit. Mungkin ada perancangan untuk berkayuh selepas tarawih. Mungkin...

 

Untuk masa sekarang ini, aku sabar menunggu semanggang dari utara. Harap-harap esok tiba, lalu aku pohon cuti dari ketua...

:)

 

Terima kasih sudi berkunjung.

Semoga selamat sentiasa.

Smashed

My office mate Rizal (a regular RTW guy on Saturdays) wrote:

 

Semalam, 29 Julai 2010, jam 6 ptg, saya dikejutkan dengan panggilan dari jiran bersebelahan rumah yang kebetulan dalam perjalanan pulang dari kerja melalui persimpangan ke MMHE Lebuhraya Pasir Gudang. Terpandang kereta saya yang diletakkan di bahu jalan persimpangan berkenaan lalu menghubungi saya untuk memaklumkan keadaan kereta saya dengan cermin pintu sebelah kiri penumpang hadapan telah pecah.

 

Saya bergegas ke lokasi di mana saya meletakkan kereta saya pagi semalam untuk meninjau. Setelah tiba, saya dapati cermin kereta saya telah dipecahkan. Setelah diperiksa, saya dapati set radio kereta saya telah dicuri. Meninjau lokasi sama, saya turut mendapati kesan serpihan kaca cermin kenderaan lain tak lebih 10 meter dari lokasi kereta saya. Ini bermakna, mana-mana kenderaan yang ditinggalkan di kawasan berkenaan menjadi sasaran utama penjenayah ini.

 

Perkara yang sering menghantui diri saya selama ini benar-benar terjadi akibat meninggalkan kenderaan di lokasi berisiko tinggi dan mengundang bahaya seperti pecah kenderaan, kecurian dan risiko dirempuh kenderaan yang dipandu laju di lebuhraya serta risiko dikenakan tindakan pihak berwajib. Sememangnya saya sedar bahawa tiada pihak lain yang akan bertanggungjawab di atas kejadian seperti ini selain pemilik kenderaan itu sendiri namun ianya masih boleh dielakkan sekiranya kenderaan saya diletakkan di tempat yang sering mendapat pengawasan seperti di parkir pekerja yang telah disediakan tapi oleh kerana parkir penuh, saya tak dapat berbuat demikian. Walaubagaimanapun, saya pasrah dan menganggap ini sudah ketentuan dan pasti ada hikmah di sebaliknya. Saya juga bersyukur kerana hanya set radio kereta saya sahaja yang hilang dan bukannya kereta saya yang dilarikan.

 

Saya juga ingin berterima kasih kepada rakan-rakan seperti Ismesali dan Ikram yang sudi menemankan saya sambil membantu mengemas dan membersihkan serpihan kaca yang bertaburan di dalam kereta. Saya juga ingin mengingatkan para pemilik kenderaan lain yang terpaksa meletakkan kenderaan di pinggir bahu lebuhraya supaya berwaspada. Berikutan keadaan saya yang masih lagi fobia, hari ini saya menunggang basikal ke tempat kerja.

 

***

 

Well, theft shouldn't be the reason for anyone to take up riding a bicycle to work. As I pointed out before, the parking lot problem at my workplace has gone bad. Currently there's a discussion on how to alleviate this problem, and hopefully good solutions would come out from it and implemented.

 

This is the second week I'm leaving my parking privilege to someone else whose circumstances are not as fortunate as I am.

 

As a note, Rizal uses the other toilet in the building adjacent to mine (our office is split into 2 areas), so there's never a case of shower booth contest between us.

:)

 

Have a great weekend, be it on the trails, on the road, or just at home.

Be safe, always.

One More Parking Space

peraduan teka bilangan kenderaan. hantarkan jawapan anda segera.

 

I have not used my privelege to park in the parking lot outside the yard last week, except for Saturday. Of recent weeks, parked cars are overflowing to the side of the Pasir Gudang Highway, to some 200 meters on the left and right of the entrance to MMHE. If you're late, you'll be penalised as such. Usually when I reach the entrance at 7.40 am, cars are already lined up parked at the roadside.

 

It's a bad state. There were numerous incidents of vehicle theft and damages when parked in the parking lot before this, what's more if they are left out in the open. Well, I believe the security guards would not cover their patrolling area to such extent, outside of the parking lot and along the highway. I don't think the security of vehicles are in their job scope, anyway.

 

My solution is to be defensive. Mak would drive me to the workplace on the days when she's using the car during the day. I would RTW on Tuesdays and Thursdays. However, if it's raining on Tue and Thu, I would have to ask Mak's help. Well, not on all rainy Tue & Thu. On Fridays, I rely on Yad's car to carpool with 2 other mates to go for solat Jumaat.

 

I asked my colleague, how far is it from MMHE flat to the yard? Well, it's only around 5km. That's less than half of my normal RTW distance. I would RTW everyday, with that distance, insyaAllah. Not a big effort comparatively to what I'm doing now.

 

But, if I'm able to convince my mates to RTW, we'll be lining up in the toilet to use the single shower booth. Naahh... I'll just let them worry about parking their cars and motors, then...

Hehehehh.

 

Be safe on the road, y'all.

Thanks for coming over.

Climbing Tips

yeap, I cleared this section on my bike

 

I shared with you Alimuddin's tips on climbing in my previous entry.

Here's another one that came in my email mailbox just before the BP ride, but I forgot to mention it.

 

Getting Through That Impossible MTB Climb by Bike198

 

My version of it, instead of counting rocks or singing an annoying song or argue with yourself, I'll put in positive thoughts. Just like Wendy and her siblings thinking of happy thoughts in order for them to be able to fly to Neverland, in that Peter Pan movie. You get my drift? No, not the self made movies from Indonesia. It's that movie adapted from the novel, you dirty minded crankers.

 

Or, I'd resort to zikrullah. Simple, repititive, and hopefully makes for a blessed ride. Also, you can pace your cadence and breathing with it.

 

One thing I found out is that when I have negative thoughts, the uphill climb doubled it's difficulty in a snap. It's a lost battle before it even started. Well, it is still difficult even when the mind is filled with positive thoughts, but it's not as tough. For some hills, they actually were not as hard as it seems, like the one above that I cleared in Batu Pahat last Sunday.

 

Another thing I employed is to sit on the nose of the saddle, especially for a steep hill. Made my butt sore a bit, but it's not for a long climb. Sitting on the saddle nose makes my body's center of gravity shifted to the front and that gives some grip on the front tire. It's a balancing act; you have to find a position that won't make your rear wheel lifted.

 

If you have a lockable fork, use it by all means when climbing. Your pushing up when pedaling will be transfered right to the ground and won't be sucked by the plush strokes of the fork.

 

Try it out yourself on the trails this weekend.

Dang, it's only Wednesday... still a few more days to go.

 

Thanks for dropping by.

Think positive thoughts.

 

photo by Suffrizal A. Karim

18.07.2010 - Batu Pahat Berani Ride

merenung nasib diri... kalau penat mengayuh ok lagi. ini penat menolak... apa cerita?

 

BP jamboree = Bike Pushers jamboree?

 

The event tagline is 'Torture is Pleasure'. Well, not for me, and many others whom I heard bawling and cursing upon seeing hills after a series of hills along the offroad adventure.

 

Bottom line, it's not great fun of an offroad ride. At least not what I expect from a 'jamboree' event. I mean, what's the need in having hills after hills to 'conquer'? Okay, simple answer would be "you're riding a mountain bike". Right? Well, we do, but not all of us are that tough to ride all 300+ hills in a series in a day. A lot of the guys have the same conviction - that the trail recce was done with a motorcross. Well, I thought that it was done with the assistance of a helicopter.

 

Anyway, I did conquer about 250 hills yesterday. I would certainly concur that mental strength played a big role. However, there were numerous times that I nearly hurled my bike. Considering that it would be my only means of getting to the finish point, and how dear it i$ to me, I managed to abstain myself from doing so. Well, to conquer the hills and to keep my composure, mental strength is vital.

 

Yes, while riding up I did stop at the middle of some of the hills, though, for a couple of reasons:

1. My heartbeat palpitated, and I just have got to stop for a while to bring it back down, and continued climbing after that.

2. Many bike pushers (BPs) took their sweet time pushing their bike on the main line, forcing me to stop.

 

About the BPs, it is imperative that they give way for riders who are riding uphill. If you're a BP, please be attentive of the riders behind you. If you're wearing earplugs, please take it off. You'd be pissed off as much as I do if you're honked with an airhorn by the uphill crankers. Please also be aware if you're trudging on the main line, or the sweetest line uphill. BPs are generally slower (about 4km/h) than those climbing on the bike (about 8 km/h), so please give ample space, and if you're kind and generous, give them moral support.

 

As much as I can I don't want to be a BP, for two reasons:

1. it taxes my strength much more than riding uphill. With pushing the bike uphill, I'll be using my upper body and my legs. Riding uphill would be utilising the quadriceps, which is of a higher muscler mass than my arms and shoulders.

2. it is much faster riding uphill. Riding would make the heart beat fast, but I noticed that it's the same too when I'm a BP. So, it's better to ride uphill.

And, the personal triumph of conquering an impossible hill - it's simply priceless.

 

Well, not to say that I'm no BP, though. I was one, at the section uphill after the steel barrier. It was slippery due to the moss, thus making it exhausting to clear that section.

 

Alhamdulillah, the weather was nice, and the trails condition were good too. Especially as it was overcast during most of my ride at the 80% open trail on the way to checkpoint 2. Also, my drivetrain was good, basically because there's no mud; no chainsuck, no ghost shifting, no big problem.

 

Okay, brickbats aside, the organisers certainly deserve a big pat on the back too. They've got many things right. I think they purposely made the small red stones trail as the downhill rather than the uphill as it is logical. I don't think you can ride up that steep section, what more being a BP on such loose terrain. The important thing: markings are good, with clear signs and lots of paper trails alongside (even stapled on the leaves, lots of them). Finally, the watermelons at checkpoint 3 are simply awesome. Well, they certainly touted the beryani after the ride as the high piont, but for me that's not comparable to the juicy watermelons.

 

Got myself a Limar 525 for the lucky draw too. I was actually expecting to bring home one of the complete bikes, and have secured a space in bro Ayub's truck for it. Anyway, the helmet fits my small head (read: me not a big headed guy), and I don't have to fork out my dough for a MET Mythos after all. Will be using it for my RTWs insyaAllah. Alhamdulillah, at least it serves as a consolation for the not-so-fun ride.

 

photo and caption credit: Suffrizal A. Karim

Alimuddin's piece, from which I got some tips for climbing (points number 1 & 6 helped the most)

Bike Lanes

While listening to Symphony 92.4 FM last week, on the radio was the news that Singapore is up for SGD26m bike lanes. It was meant for the push in making cycling as a means for commuting between towns.

 

links:

TODAYonline

Channel News Asia

 

Well, that's a lot of public money, and I'm a proponent for such move. How many would really take it, cycling? There were always walkpaths along the roads in Singapore. I used them a lot during my teen years whenever I come down to Singapore for a visit (sports shopping, more likely). Well, I use the walkpaths because they are everywhere, wide enough, mostly covered with trees, and personally my shopping in Singapore is best by foot - easier to hop into shops. However, when there are walkpaths available, we don't see many using it, but still there are some. Bikes? now that's a different story.

 

Not everyone has bikes (although it seems virtually every Bangladeshi in Pasir Gudang does), but still there are many who do; and they cycle to places. For intra-city transport, cycling is much more convenient and faster compared to walking, perhaps motorised vehicles too. That is, if the facilities are there, such as (wide enough) bike lanes, parking spaces with locking facilities, showers and lockers (okay, that's for phase 2).

 

I can assure you that right now is a high time for cycling lanes to be integrated into new roads during city planning and also introduced into existing ones. The other facilities, that can come later (perhaps just before the next national general election).

 

Bike lanes are different from walkpaths and roads, as the mode of transport is different. Bicycles are slower than most other vehicles (when there's no traffic jam), but much faster than walking. For that obvious reason, it is unsuitable for cyclists to use the walkpaths and roads, hence dedicated bike lanes are needed.

 

Basically it's a chicken and egg scenario. People who would like to use the bicycle more often are most concerned with their safety. Riding the bike on the roads is quite a gamble and this is much so when cycling alone. We can always invest in personal safety equipment and accessories, but not really defensive. There's still a big risk of being hit from the rear. Having a dedicated bike lane would make it much more safer, because there'll be no heavier and speedier vehicles except bicycles. Those who were concerned in the first place would then take up cycling as a viable transport mode.

 

On the other end, perhaps bike lanes are non-existent due to lack of numbers making it uneconomic to have them especially when space is a premium. However, if it's stipulated in the law books that housing developers and cities are to have dedicated bike lanes, there will be bike lanes.

 

In JB less than five years ago, there are only a few prominent bike shops selling decent bikes, parts and accessories. Now, I would say there are more than ten of such. Clearly, the number of cyclists (with expensive bikes) are growing. And, these people would very much like to cycle more as they have invested quite a lot of dough for the bikes, especially during the night on weekdays. These cyclists would also consider cycling as a means for commuting to work. Mind you, this phenomena is not unique to JB. It happens everywhere else in Malaysia, especially in KL. There are a number of bike boutiques now springing out. So, yes, we do have the numbers already now.

 

We don't have to wait until the statistics show a certain number of fatal accidents involving cyclists in order to have dedicated bike lanes put up in our neighbourhood and roads, do we?

 

As a side note, I've seen a dedicated bike lane along the main road in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) in KL. However, it seems as though it is under used, and looks shabby from the outset. Back to the chicken and egg scenario. Not enough cyclists? I don't think so. Well, the bike lane's already there. It should not be merely bike lanes, but well-designed and well-maintained bike lanes.

 

What do you think?

Northern Connection

I've been delaying to write about this for a couple of weeks, actually, until right now when my college friend Gjoe gave me call earlier this afternoon; right after he read about my piece on chainsuck and related his own painful (to the pocket) experience.

He's residing in Changlun, and having missed a couple of months of riding due to bad drivetrain on his Avanti, nowadays he brings along his bike in the car every day for a daily night ride opportunity. That's the same Gjoe who gave me the best bike-related present so far (hint hint).

 

Over the last few weeks, there have been quite a series of connection with riders from the north. Kedah, to be exact. Well, I met Amienze at Plaza Angsana end of June. And my blogroll (on the right panel), I've added a few of Kedahan riders' blogs links.

 

During the short chat with Gjoe, he told me that he rides with Tandope regularly. Well, well... I've said it once, and I'll say it again: what a small world it is, mountain biking community in Malaysia.

 

Hope to see ya on the trails one day, insyaAllah!

 

Thanks for dropping by.

11.07.2010 - Seri Alam Offroad

gambar lama. Panjang kat padang pasir, dan tapak UniKL Seri Alam.

 

Minggu lepas tak kayuh offroad.

Hari Sabtu, malamnya dah sediakan jentera dan kelengkapan untuk kayuh offroad pagi esoknya.

Semangat!

 

Pagi hari Ahad tu, aku kayuh on road untuk ke RV di Taman Scientex. Boleh lah, lagi sikit nak 10 km jaraknya. Masa kayuhan dalam 25 minit, kira macam-macam-dalam-1 lah. Jimat minyak, kurangkan carbon footprint sambil warm up dan tambah kilometer kat cyclocomputer aku. Tapi, dalam dah bersedia tu, ada juga benda yang terlupa. Kamera. Maka, tak adalah gambar untuk menghiasi cerita kayuhan kali ini.

 

Aku yang paling awal sampai kat Kafe Ruza. Terus telefon Panjang, confirmkan ada ke tidak berkayuh pagi tu. Betullah, memang ada. Cuma aku buat sejarah, pertama kali aku datang awal (tu yang aku taip entry nih...). Maka aku bersarapan dulu lah. Dua minit lepas tu Putut sampai. Dah lama jugak tak berjumpa adik si Panjang ni. Lepas dari tu baru lah nampak kelibat pengayuh lain seorang demi seorang. Menariknya kayuhan pagi semalam, ramai pengayuh-pengayuh lama Pasir Gudang turun. Haji Ali, Angah pun ada (dengan Spesh Epik rega 17 ribu nya), Putut, Atuk, Amat, aku (ehm ehm). Opismet aku, si Yad pun turun. Memang lah kat pejabat tiap-tiap hari tengok muka dia ni, tapi dah lama tak kayuh sama.

 

Kayuhan semalam agak menarik. Mula aje masuk ke Seri Alam, dah layan jongkang jongket, lepas tu pergi ke Simpang Brek Pad. Lepas tu layan dakian pendek dekat mata air, sebelum naik ke Pylon dengan mendaki Bukit Anjing. Turun dari Pylon tu, agak kureng sebab aku ikut belakang rider OKU*. So, takleh nak layan DH sangat. Lepas tu layan trail kat kebun getah yang aku dah lupa susunannya. Kitorang pergi satu tempat tu rasa macam kat New Zealand pun ada. Kitorang pergi Tasik Layang, susur kat gigi tasik tu. Masuk kali ini, dah kali kedua aku kayuh ke situ. Pemandangan memang cantik. Lagi lawa dari NZ. Kot...Tapi, memang hati tak berhenti memuji keindahan ciptaan Allah. Yang bagusnya, kawasan tu tak tercemar. Dan harap-harapnya para pengunjung, terutama yang berkayuh basikal, tak menjadi pencemar. Buangan organik takpe kalau ditinggalkan, yang plastik harap dibawak pulang bersama. Tak berat mana pun, kan?

 

*OKU? Iya, sebab lengan kiri brader tu tak berfungsi (baca: terima duit Perkeso setiap bulan). So, kira macam dia kayuh satu tangan aje lah. Mantap dak?

 

Ada dua benda yang buat kayuhan aku rasa berlainan kali ni.

 

Satu: Tayar.

Aku cuba lembikkan tayar aku, berbanding biasa. Entah berapa psi, sebab aku main lepaskan aje angin, sambil tekan-tekan dinding tayar sampai agak lembik. Tapi, tak terlalu lembik takut snakebite pulak nanti.

 

Dua: Lockout.

Aku rajin main lockout kali ini. Agak leceh sikit, pasal aku takde remote lockout. Tapi, dakian memang sedap diratah dengan lockout terpasang. Jalan rata, lagi lah... Rasa macam nak tukar aje Motion Control aku, pakai yang boleh guna RL tu... hmmm...

 

Perjalanan balik ikut padang pasir di kawasan pembinaan MRSM Seri Alam dan Universiti Kuala Lumpur cawangan Seri Alam. Dah nak siap dah, kedua-duanya tu. Kalau korang ada anak-anak yang nak masuk U atau MRSM, mintak la depa apply. Hujung minggu boleh lepak Seri Alam. Sabtu lawat diorang, Ahad kayuh dengan kitorang. Amacam? Kamera tak dibawa, maka tak boleh nak kongsi pemandangan. Takpe, lain kali insyaAllah. Masa tu dah panas terik dah, dalam pukul 1 jugak. Timing memang cantek, pasal aku memang nak kena ada kat rumah dalam masa tu sebab nak pergi kenduri kahwin.

 

Masa dok daki bukit kat padang pasir tu, aku belasah naik sorang-sorang, lepas tu tunggu yang lain kat kawasan datar sambil tengok-tengok bangunan sekolah dan universiti moden tu. Tunggu dalam 2 minit, Yad pun lalu. Tunggu 2 minit lagi, yang lain masih tak nampak kelibat. Hmm... awan putih tebal yang sedari tadi menyorokkan sang mentari dah mula beredar, maka aku pun turut sama. Tengah aku dok kayuh santai kat crusher run, ada sekor anjing dok usha aku. Semacam aje... Maka aku pun bersedia dengan lockout dan gear yang sesuai untuk memecut. Memang sah, dia nak bergurau dengan aku. Siut... tak pasal-pasal aku kena sprint, ada lah dalam 200 meter. Mencungap jugak. Lepas tu dah keluar ke jalan tar dan sambung kayuh terus ke rumah. Bila lalu kat sebelah gerai air tebu, aku buat-buat tak nampak sambil hirup udara bau tebu segar. Perhhh... bergoncang iman. Sepuluh minit lepas tu aku dah ada kat rumah dah, togok air kosong sambil bayangkan bau tebu tadi. Hmm... memang rasa sebijik macam air tebu.

 

Alhamdulillah, aku agak puas dengan kayuhan semalam. Tengok kat meter, jarak lebih kurang 30 km. Campur dengan atas tar masa nak ke RV masa paginya, total nak dekat 40 km. Boleh lah tu, buat pemanas kaki sebagai persediaan nak kayuh kat Batu Pahat Beryani Ride Ahad ni.

 

Terima kasih sudi berkunjung.

Have a nice ride!

RTW 08.07.2010 - relaxed, and a bit shorter

I didn't realise how leisurely it was, my Tue ride, until I looked back at the stats carefully. It was 18.9 km/h average speed. Wow... that's the second slowest that I have registered so far. The slowest being 18.0 km/h average mid December last year.

 

Well, today's another sub-20 ride too. And, a bit shorter than usual - distance of below 12 km compared to the usual 12.5 km average. That's mainly because it was starting to drizzle as I passed through the Taman Mawar traffic light. The highway was a bit packed at the yard entrance, so it was safe for me to snake through it, thus the shorter distance logged.

 

Even when it was drizzling, I kept my steady, unhurried pace. Even if it would get heavier, I would stick to it for it would be safer than to get stirred up and lose control over certain things e.g. breath, heartrate.

 

Alhamdulillah, it wasn't a pour. Arrived safely at the office, being wet largely from my sweat. 

 

Stats:

Out from home	0706	hours
Arrive office	0745	hours
Door-to-door	39	mins
Ride time	35'51"
Distance	11.94	km
Ave. speed	19.9	km/h
Max speed	37.0	km/h
Odometer	4514.7	km
Good doggies	3
Mode	knobbies	, mask

 

Thanks for dropping by.

Have a good day!

RTW 06.07.2010 - mental bliss

I got ready really early this morning, circa 6.50 am. However, after a few 'simple' chores, it ate up about 10 minutes and so I was out of the gate at about 7.00 am.

 

I felt very different this morning.

Was it because I took a bath? Heheh...

Was it because I'm relatively early?

 

Well, maybe those helped, but I think the most important factor is my mindset. I wanted to make it a relaxed and joyous ride this morning, like what it was back then when I pedaled to school. No hurry, no rush, no stats to be made a record.

 

Along the way, the pedaling was smooth. Not much perspiration. No heavy respiration. No drummy heartbeat (aiseh... couldn't find another noun that ends with 'tion'). Just a calm, relaxing pedal on my way to the office. The weather was nice, and the air was fresh and breezy. Such a blissful morning.

 

Okay, the air was not that fresh and breezy.

 

I decided to wear a mask this morning, after so many RTWs I neglected it. So, I try not to breathe heavily. With a mask, breathing heavily is never a nice experience. I found that I'll be short of breath in a matter of minutes after the start of a heavy breathe, and then it'll be not so nice.

 

Well, I guess wearing a mask also would make the RTW experience better, apart from the mindset (the most important factor, still). It directly filters the air that I'm about to breathe in, and indirectly forces me to make it a calm ride.

 

FYI, I'm wearing a Givi mask this morning. Available at a moto shop near you that carries Givi products. Got mine at a moto shop in Kota Masai for RM25. I don't remember if the package includes a spare filter or not. I asked the shop if they have spares for sale, and the answer was no.

 

I have another mask, maroon in colour. Bought at a hardware shop in Masai for RM15 with a spare filter thrown in the pack.

 

My favourite is the maroon mask. It has velcro at the back, so it is easy to put on and take out. The Givi's only having a stretch strap that you have to put over the top of your head in order to put on, and to take off.

 

My dream mask would be the Respro City Mask, but it's much more expensive, plus I don't know if there's a seller in Malaysia. If you know any, drop me a line okay. Gotta start saving for it.

 

Stats:

Out from home	0702	hours
Arrive office	0744	hours
Door-to-door	42	mins
Ride time	32'34"
Distance	12.55	km
Ave. speed	18.9	km/h
Max speed	33.5	km/h
Odometer	4487.8	km
Good doggies	5
Mode	knobbies	, masked

 

Thanks for dropping by.

Have a good day!

Chainsuck Sucks

This diagram by Jonathan Levy summarises chainsuck. Read the whole article to understand fully.

 

No, it's not a tounge-twister.

I suffered chainsuck during KLMBH Epic Bash 2010, and to some extent it partially ruined my ride.

 

Here's my quest for answers:

What actually is chainsuck; what causes it?

What's the effect on the drivetrain (and my pocket?)

How to cure it, and how to avoid it?

 

Google 'chainsuck', and the top hit is the link to Jonathan Levy's article:

http://www.fagan.co.za/Bikes/Csuck/

Apparently, his article is being referred to (and some are republished therein) in other links.

 

The in-depth explanation about chainsuck by Mr. Levy would be a comprehensive read for us to understand all we need to know about chainsuck. It is rather long and refers to a lot of links (necessary to explain relevant terms and mechanisms), but go slow with it and you'll get through at the end of it with "Owhh... so that's why...".

 

Go here for a much shorter article (with photos!).

 

Mind you, Mr. Levy's article covers all aspects pertaining to chainsuck. So, have a go about it before you suffer any chainsuck at all.

 

So, what do I understand about chainsuck?

Well, it's not caused by chain wear, rather by the chainring wear. Inche Panjang was correct, in our short discussion yesterday evening. In my case it's the granny ring, which, as pointed out by Levy, is the usual suspect.

You may experience chainsuck even if the chain is new.

The chainsuck occurs with the presence of mud and grit which adds friction to the chainring – chain interface. Well, there were copious mud and grit during the bash last Sunday, effectively stripping off the lube on my chain.

 

The mechanism of chainsuck, in the words of Mr. Levy:

When Tooth-Wear, and Low-Stretch (New) Chains, and High Friction (eg Mud) are present in various combinations, they cause the chain-ring's bottom teeth to be loaded or overloaded, and also resist disengagement of the chain. The chain does not have enough weight to disengage itself from the bottom teeth of the chain-ring in these circumstances, nor can the rear-derailleur spring provide enough tension after the chain starts being dragged up. The links are carried around and up the rear of the chain-ring under continuing load ...the chain sucks !!

 

The cure?

A cheap remedy would be to file the tooth profile of the ring so that the 'hook' is removed thus making the chain disengaged from the ring when it goes past the bottom point.

Or, the granny ring can be reversed as it is usually symmetrical  and flat (without ramps and pins for shifting).

The better remedy (of course) is to get a replacement ring, and it is recommended to change your chain when you do so.

 

Okay, then, so that's the bit where my pocket (and drivetrain) will be affected.

 

Thanks for reading.

Hope you gain as much as I do (or better).

Have a great weekend, without any chainsuck.

 

Meanwhile, have a go at my daughter's favourite tongue-twister:

how much wood would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

RTW 01.07.2010 - Naza's bike

Didn't have the opportunity yet to clean up my bike, and especially the bike shoes, since Sunday's Epic Bash at Ulu Rening.

 

Today's my first RTW for the week. Have to make it happen, hence resorted to using Naza's bike. Installed the new ultra-loud Cateye bell (had to take off the shifter's indicator) on the handlebar. It seems that it can only be installed on the left hand side. I fitted also the rear blinker and headlamp. Enough then, for RTW.

 

Out from the house at 7.09 am and reached the office at 7.45 am. Door-to-door took me 36 minutes this morning. No doggies around. No meter installed on her bike, so no stats for this morning's RTW.

 

Well, the ride was like the usual RTW, except that with Naza's bike I couldn't really push it. The frame is small, so I have to pull the seatpost up high; and it feels a bit crampy. It has platform pedals so no clipless bliss. Well, that makes for a nice leisurely ride this morning, and going back home too.

 

Have a good day, and thanks for coming by.