Unfolding to Road Bike

Last Sunday I sold my Dahon Speed P8 for a lower price by 20%. I decided that I want to start riding road bike. Sad day for me but a very huge smile for the new owner. The buyer intend to use it for touring; he definitely got the right folding bike.

Using the money from my Dahon I bought a Polygon Helios 300. I was eyeing for Helios 400 as all of its components are Tiagra with Richey stem, handle bar and seat post. However, my budget won't fit as I need to buy necessary kit for road bike. Helios 300 is a decent entry road bike unless you're brand name conscious.

I got my road bike at Rodalink Commonwealth assisted by Sammy. He did the bike fitting and made sure I got reasonable discount. He included free bottle cage and pedals. I highly recommend Rodalink as I noticed that their price on bikes, accessories and apparels are cheaper.

It was also the first time I got to touch a Colnago frame. Oh man! I also saw a full carbon Colnago and I can lift it with two fingers :D

Kit: Topeak saddle bag, Topeak multi-tool, Topeak pump and extra tire tube.

MODEL NAME	HELIOS 300
MODEL CATEGORY	ROAD RACE – TIAGRA 18SP
SIZES (CT)	46 / 48 / 50 / 52 / 54 / 56 CMS
COLOR	BLACK WHITE GLOSS
FRAME	ALX 6XXX ALLOY RACING FRAME
FORK	COLUMBUS TUSK LIGHT CARBON
REAR SHOCK	-
HANDLEBAR	POLYGON XPERT
STEM	POLYGON XPERT
BAR END	-
HEADSET	FSA ORBIT IS-2
SADDLE	POLYGON STEEL RAIL
SEATPOST	POLYGON XPERT
CRANKSET	SHIMANO FC-R450 52/39T
PEDALS	-
BOTTOM BRACKET	SHIMANO BB-ES25
CHAINGUIDE	-
CHAIN	KMC X-9
CASSETTE SPROCKET	SHIMANO TIAGRA CS-HG50-9 12-25T
FRONT DERAILLEUR	SHIMANO SORA FD-3400 BAND TYPE
REAR DERAILLEUR	SHIMANO TIAGRA RD-4600 SS
SHIFTING LEVER	SHIMANO TIAGRA ST-4501
BRAKE LEVER	INTEGRATED BRAKE LEVER
FRONT BRAKE	SHIMANO TIAGRA BR-4600
REAR BRAKE	SHIMANO TIAGRA BR-4600
ROTOR	-
TYRE	KENDA KONTENDER K-196 700X23C
RIM	-
SPOKES	-
FRONT HUB	-
REAR HUB	-
WHEELSET	SHIMANO WH-R501

Dahon Bike: Tighten those nuts

I'm not sure if this was written before. I've been searching on Dahon site and forums on what are the screws/nuts that should be tighten on a regular basis on a Dahon folding bike but I can't find one.

Hope this will help.

Unfold your bike. From the floor grab it in the middle fold then slightly lift it up and down. If you feel there's some movement in the middle then you should tighten the hinge screw. Fold the bike, there's a Phillips screw that will allow you to stiffen the locking hinge. Try to find the right amount of tightness. Making it too tight will not allow you to close the lever. Unfold it and check if there's still movement in the middle.

I hope Dahon used an allen head instead of Phillips. I feel that it's easy to mess the Phillips head since the bolt is a bit hard to turn. If you have a small spanner, i think it is better to tighten it on the other side.

Always spray WD-40, wipe it, then lubricate these hinges, bolts/nuts as they can easily corrode.

Hipster Handlebar (narrow)

Warehouse Sale: Entro Cycles - Singapore

Warehouse Sale at Entro Cycles - Singapore

Reward...later

I always see this bicycle parked near our office building and honestly I have high praise to the person who ride this. That guy ride his bike even if the handlebar is just a piece of wood. Compared to other people that buy a lot of things that are not necessary ‘yet’ when they start a hobby, sport or activity. Note, I said ‘yet’.

For example, a person that signed-up for a gym membership; starts buying sporty clothes, latest model of rubber shoes, arm straps, support belt, shoe bag, water bottle, compression shorts, supplements and the list goes on. Some of these are probably necessary but honestly you can just workout using any plain, old, comfortable clothes that you already have. Ninety-nine point nine percent of those gym members already have some old lycra shirt and rubber shoes. So why buy new ones? --- Because they think that buying new things related to their activity will make them motivated. But when they realized that they have to put extra work to this new activity, they give up. They stop.

The same thing applies with cycling. If you’re just an ordinary bicycle commuter why do you need to buy the fastest gear, expensive panniers, carbon parts etc.? Don’t get me wrong, if you have the money then go for it. But for majority of people that are average earner why bother with unnecessary upgrades and gadgets. It’s not about the gadgets that you put into your toy. The important thing is if you were able to attain your goal: TO COMMUTE by BICYCLE.

Do it. Commit to it. Then you can reward yourself...later.

2XU Sale at Takashimaya

I bought a 2XU sleeveless shirt that I can use when cycling. It's currently on sale:1 for 19 SGD or 2 for 30 SGD. I bought 2 pieces both color black. Another available color is red. 2XU performance compression top and pants are also on sale. Great fit.

Here's a write-up about 2XU - Compression Clothing for Increased Performance and Improved Recovery. It's a good read.

Front

Back

Front - fitted
Nipple patch required :D

Back - fitted

Bell Helmet Sold

I just sold my first helmet. I was thinking of keeping it in case I decided to do some wake-boarding or paragliding (yikes!). In the end I don't think I'll have the time for it as I can't even fit training jiu-jitsu for the past two months. I sold it by half of its original price since the helmet was manufactured on September 2011, which I wasn't aware when I bought it, and it has some scratches as I always put it on the floor everytime I'm at the parking lot. But I can guarantee that the helmet is still in good condition.

Bye Pong! Enjoy your new owner. :(

GIRO Savant

Finally, I got myself a new helmet: GIRO Savant. I bought it for SGD 118.75 after discount of SGD 6.25 at Hup Leong. I also bought a red bottle cage worth SGD 10.

I gave myself two days to decide between Lazer Sphere and GIRO Savant. I opted for GIRO based on the following criteria.

	GIRO Savant	Lazer Sphere
Weight	238 grams	255 grams
Price	SGD 125	SGD 150
Design	Better style, color and outside finishing material that make the helmet visually worth your money.	The glossy external finishing of the helmet make it looks like a low-quality helmet. Note: I’m just talking about the look/design here.
Tightening Technology	Roc Loc 5 system - very light material used. A great modification from their original Roc Loc system.	Rollsys Retention Fit System: This is the thing that I like. It tightens the helmet all-around your head instead of pulling it backward.

The guy who assisted me at Hup Leong fitted the GIRO Savant first on my head. After that he put on the GIRO Aeon and I was shocked on how light and well ventilated it is. You know that it is on your head but you can’t really feel that its there; it is surreal! Unfortunately, the 300+ price tag is way beyond my budget. It’s not practical for me as I’m just a simple bike commuter not a professional racer/touring.

I was able to use it on my ride home and the ventilation on this helmet is really great compared to my previous Bell helmet which is something like a skateboarder will use. I was never tempted to remove it and wipe my head dry while waiting on a red traffic light. I always do that with my enclosed Bell helmet.

Side

Back

Inside

Note: The comparison made above between GIRO and Lazer is just my personal opinion (a simple bike commuter). I believe that Lazer is a great helmet; I just based my decision on the price and weight. I'm not an expert/professional. As long as you like your helmet then it’s the best lid in the world. Buy and wear your helmet.

Fast pace = Attentiveness + Agility

After working-out in the gym I went back to the office to get my bicycle. My normal bike ride is 33 - 35 minutes. But this time I pushed the pace faster; I was able to hit 21 minutes. I don’t think I’ll always do this since speed requires more attentiveness and agility. It’s still better to ride at a normal speed which will allow you to enjoy the view.

Based on Endomondo I'm burning around 120 - 155 calories per ride. This is an estimated total of 300 calories per day by bike. I don't think it matters as I eat a lot. :D

Another lesson that I learned from riding for a short time is to buy a lighter helmet that allows more air-flow. My helmet is really hot and heavy which is like a skateboarder’s lid. I'm saving money for GIRO helmet. I read a lot of good reviews about this helmet from both road and off-road bike riders.

Giro Aeon

Brush and Lube

I drop-by at Hup Leong shop without any intention of buying anything because of my tight budget. I just wanted to check what they have in stock and to see the Crank Brothers tool that they carry. Anyway, I ended up buying cleaning brush and lube grease. The bike shop is awesome and if I’m not mistaken their price is a bit cheaper. I’m not 100% sure about this as I only compared a couple of things that I bought from other shops and noticed that the price is cheaper by 2 SGD. But don’t take my word for those major parts/items; it might be just the same with other shops. They also gave me discount without asking for it ;)

Finish Line multi-purpose brush
and
Park Tool Poly Lube 1000 Grease

the Queen of comfort

I'm hopping back on my bicycle this Thursday, excited! After nursing my perineum injury for more than one week I think I'm ready to cycle again to and from work (just a total of 16km). I did a short ride to the market last Sunday using my Rido R2 saddle and Pearl Izumi inner pants and I can totally feel the comfort on my perineum. The cushion inside the pants really help my perineum not to hit the side of the saddle which a bit hard and tend to feel sharp when you're pedaling for some time. Rido R2 also provided additional comfort by making sure that I'm well elevated.

Conclusion: Rido R2 + Pearl Izumi inner pants = COMFORT.

Anyway, I was watching videos on YouTube and suddenly bump into Queen’s bicycle race video. I grew-up listening to Queen as my daddy will buy tons of Queen’s cassette tape; I think we have atleast 10 copies of the same album. Same goes for Abba, Beegees, Beachboys, Star on 45, Jim Croce etc. I always loved Freddie Mercury; very talented musician, performer and lyrical genius. One thing I really like about him is he doesn’t care what he looks like on stage. Unlike most musicians/performers nowadays trying to hypnotize their fans that fashion or looks makes great music. Ugh!

Enjoy this R18 video. Warning! You might see your mom or grandma naked in this video. :D

Pearl Izumi Inner Pants

I just bought Pearl Izumi inner pants with padding at LifeCycle. I like the feel of the fabric which is quite breathable. I also love the design, just like those boxer briefs made in Philippines by a popular clothing store, Bench/. The padding covers my entire perineum area which is a good start. I like the fact that it is an inner pants which serve as your brief rather than the usual cycling shorts worn by other cyclist/PRO. That way I can still put on some casual shorts on top of it.

I hope this will help me avoid getting my perineum re-injured. I'm planning to hop back on my bicycle tomorrow to go to the nearest market. I'll provide update if it really helps even on a short ride.

I really like LifeCycle store; the staff are very friendly and they have cool items that you need for your bicycle. Also, i find their store elegant like those small shops in Paris (wink wink Lab-lab). Tour de France, here we come! Haha!

Pearl Izumi
(outside)
65 SGD

Pearl Izumi
(inside with front and back padding)

Pearl Izumi
(inside back padding)

Pearl Izumi
(inside front padding)

Rido R2 Saddle and Weicon

I visited My Bike House to buy the Rido R2 saddle as I'm having severe discomfort in my perineum area. The bike consultant/sales at MyBikeShop allowed me to test the saddle by riding it around the area, enough for me to test and feel if the saddle will hit my crotch & perineum area. I tried to hit as much bump and uneven pavement to check if it will be painful. The Rido R2 saddle lived up to their claim that this saddle will relieved bikers of the said discomfort. The elevated area provide minimum contact between your part and the saddle.

Once I got home, I installed it on my bike and tried it around for a couple of rounds and I felt like that the saddle is pushing my body toward the handlebar which causes too much strain/fatigue on my arms & shoulder. Adjusting the saddle a little bit forward solved the problem.

I'm excited to ride back to work on Wednesday.

Since the travel took me an hour, I decided to buy necessary things for the bike that I won't be able to find around the city area. I bought a Weicon degreaser, lube and foam spray.

Rido R2

  

Nothing else should come
between you and your bicycle

Weicon
Bike frame cleaner, degreaser & lube spray

The North Face versus Goyard

I visited Outdoor Life Pte Ltd @ Novena - Velocity and I found a perfect bag to latch onto the handlebar: The North Face - travel canister. This bag can hold your important items such as keys, wallet, phone, toiletries. I believe it's a must to have atleast a small bag to put those important items while riding and at the parking area. Knowing where to get/put things while parking will save you a lot of sweat, literally! It comes with a built-in hook so that you can hang it on a towel bar. You can also use those small handles around the bag for your toothbrush, shaver, eyewear etc. You can also hang small towel into those holes by tying a knot on one end of the towel and shoot the other end into the hole. This will give you easy access to your towel while riding on a hot day.

If you're looking for any sport or outdoor related gears, I highly recommend Outdoor Life Pte Ltd. They have tons of awesome items stock in there. Lab-lab was so bored because I was checking each item inside the store for almost an hour. Thanks Lab-lab for tolerating the little boy in me :D

I love going to these kind of stores: sports, DIY, hardware etc. You'll be surprised on what you can build by simply piecing things together.

The North Face - Travel canister
56 SGD

I used a GearTie to easily latch/remove the bag on the handle bar.

GearTie 18 SGD

On our way to Novena Velocity.
Lab-lab is still smiling and jolly.
She doesn't know that she'll be bored to death where we are going.

Awesome customized bike displayed @ Novena Velocity

Outdoor Life Pte. Ltd.

Dinner at Wee Nam Kee
One of the best chicken rice in Singapore

Now Lab-lab is happy.
She finally got her Goyard Saint Louis PM bag straight from Paris.

Sexy biker on her way to Rue St-Honoré, Paris.

New necessary accessories

I visited MyBikeShop yesterday to buy a Biologic PostRack. The place is located at Clementi which is 1 hour travel by MRT+Bus from my place. But it's worth the travel as the store is packed with all your 2-wheels needs.

I opted for the Biologic PostRack that is easily mountable as I wanted to preserve the sporty-look of the bike. It's a bit of a hassle when folding but it fits its purpose; to carry my everyday bag to work.

I promised that this will be the last thing I will buy for my bike this year. Unfortunately, I need a simple basket that I can easily latch when going to the market. It's hard put everything on the rear rack using an elastic cord which has the tendency to fall to the side.

Pink bike displayed in MyBikeShop

Biologic PostRack (easy-mount): 65 SGD
Voyager 2.0 front light: 28 SGD
Smart super flash rear light: 24 SGD
Bell color black/silver: 9 SGD

Flamingo saddle with pump - 75 SGD
Should I buy this next? :D

First ride to work

It's my first ride to work. Yehey! I already planned this two days ago but when I woke-up today it was drizzling. I waited for 40 minutes and shouted "You shall stop!!! (in Gandalf voice). Ala, the rain stopped. Now, it's time to take out "my precious".

The ride was a bit slower than I hoped due to wet & slippery road. It took me 50 minutes from Boon Keng to Lau Pa Sat. My target is 30-40 minutes. I even lost control when I tried to go faster on a downhill ramp. Anyway, it was a fun ride even there's some mud all over my ass & back because Tyrion doesn't have a mud guard. Oh, and I was sweating like a hog when I reached the parking area. Haha!

Locker and shower room keys

50 minutes from Boon Keng to Asia Square

I also bought a headlight and rear light at LifeCycle Singapore. The guys there were really helpful and knowledgeable. Awesome bike store + Travel + Cafe.

Voyager 2.0 (front)
Smart Super Flash (rear)

Sabado night and locks

I just bought a u-lock for my Dahon Speed P8 at Trek @ Tanglin road. Unfortunately, I can't find a spot where to mount it in the bike frame. The mount strap is too short to wrap around the thick frame. Thus, I'll just carry the lock in my bag.

Trek U-lock by Kryptonite
SGD 65

Chain with alarm
I'm not sure if I still need to
buy this as an additional lock.
SGD 83

Sabado night with Tyrion at YSW seafood restaurant

Tyrion and my favorite chicken curry rice worth SGD 6.50

To buy list:
Ringer (red color).
Front headlight & rear light. I found a pair in Trek for SGD 95.
Strap to wrap bag.
Bike bag (optional) - I can ride with my current backpack.
Bottle cage (silver) (optional) - I can just put my water bottle inside my bag.