Spend wisely!

The cycle is back. I am not talking about cycling per se, this is economics downturn. Most of us do not have an upper hand in term of spending scarce ringgit into bicycle since there are other priorities on the plate. Sometime, to keep earning an income is become a daily survival for some of us. A friend of mine told that he's not getting a salary for 2 months. Been in the situation back in 1998, I know how it feels.

I had been telling a cousin to spend within the budget as not break the bank for something "insignificantly improve". For those looking for ways to cut on spending, here's where you can start off with: -

1. Keep your punctured tube, you can patch it for a fraction of cost and make it a spare tube.

tube with 4 patches

2. Buy grease and regularly service hubs, headset and pedal rather than replace it. Preventive serviced parts last longer.

grease with gun, suit metal to metal application

3. If you are not so keen of keeping your bicycle clean and shining after every ride, at least wash your drivetrain (cassette, chain, chainring & RD jockey wheel). Leave it dry for a day and lube the chain accordingly.

Below RM20 per can at Ace hardware

4. Bargain-hunting at http://www.bicyclebuysell.com for cheaper bicycle parts. Keep phone number of LBS, it become handy for you to compare prices.

5. Cycle to trail whenever possible. I skipped last hash due to distance and yet had a nice ride somewhere nearby.

6. Worn chainring can be salvaged by flipping it. Technically can be done for some crankset model.

7. Rear tire worn faster than front. Put front tire to rear wheel and buy 1 new tire for front wheel. This tips is from the late Sheldon Brown.

8. If you are newbie and planning to get a cycling shoe but not ready for clipless, buy clipless shoe like Shimano MT41. This shoe can be worn with platform pedal. Once you are ready to go for clipless, you just need to get clipless pedal.

Source: Shimano website

2 F'nK Race (round 2)

For first time ever, I participated in a MTB race. Not kinna race that has media coverage, neither monetary return for securing top position. If you ask me "how does it feel?", well.. it's like taking an exam. Can't afford to make mistake, can't afford to lay back taking sweet time finishing the course.

A week before that, I made a test run for seeding time. Without the pressure of the race itself, I pushed myself to secure better timing. Triple terrace decent (that once took me a few moment before committing myself into a risk of hitting the tree while zig-zagging through it) has to be committed without hesitation.

Hard to imagine? Try this.. play simulation game or in specific, Gran Turismo on PlayStation trying to secure all race licenses, then you would know how crucial to have right gear ratio, picking a race line, choosing right gear, and when to brake (and how hard). 1 slight mistake may throw you out of the track and loss seconds or even minutes of your precious time.


Ian Johnston


Pat


Ashley


Derald Cook


Jai SetanBiru


Andy

The rest of the photo

I didn't secure top 10 neither top 20, it was 23 out of 26 riders! If I may use lame excuse, it will be.. "I am competing against my myself".

KL nite ride

The ride went on as planned. You may noticed that less photo posted on my picasa since I broke my Sony Ericsson K800 that has more than ordinary camera phone photo's quality. And this particular ride, no photos taken by me. Not that I do not have other camera apart from the one come with the phone, it is just as forgetful as it can get (sign of getting old?).

Photo by Kelolo. The rest are here

Some new faces popped up that night apart from usual suspects like Pak Abas, Zali, Mat Karan and Shaque (yes Mr Inspector, he was the organizer!). I was assigned as front runner to lead the pack through all the "checkpoints". Equipped with Scott as to be fair with Shaque, who only ride his road bike on broad daylight. Well, shall I failed to catch up with him on his MTB, at least it wasn't as bad as I choose to ride my semi-slick tire Spesh.

We headed for a tea break at Selangor Mansion where we met another bunch of cyclists from Taman Melawati. Cyclists merely swamped the area!