KEMBAS: Teluk Intan aku datang

Lokasi: Bandar Baru Selayang

30 November 2013 - Perjalanan aku ke Teluk Intan bermula dari rumah pada pukul 7:30am. Keluarga aku akan menyusul kemudian, melalui Lebuhraya PLUS. Walaupun dengan pelan kecemasan sekiranya aku tidak dapat menghabiskan, boleh aku mendapatkan bantuan mereka. Hati ini degil agar aku dapat menghabiskan perjalanan ini tanpa bantuan. Err.. sedikit bantuan daripada Si Isteri dengan membawa persalinan aku.  Yang aku bawa alatan pertukangan, tiub gantian, pam, t-shirt, tuala kecil, selipar dan kain pelikat.

Cuaca sungguh redup hinggalah ke Kuala Kubu Bahru. Selebihnya, hujan rintik-rintik menjadikan perjalanan sejuk dan lembab. Handlebar rama-rama (butterfly) yang aku baru beli dari Billy Bike Shop agak membantu dalam mendapatkan berbagai variasi mengemudikan basikalku bagi mengurangkan kekebasan.  Sungguhpun begitu, masalah yang aku jangka ternyata terjadi. Kedudukan handlebar yang rendah dari seatpost menyebabkan berat lebih condong kehadapan ternyata memberi kesan kurang selesa untuk kayuhan mod berkembara.

Jalan Pilihan

Menyusuri Route 1 (melalui Rawang) untuk perjalanan ke Teluk Intan ini dipilih oleh kerana ianya lebih pendek berbanding dengan Route 5 (Kuala Selangor).

Cabaran, Masalah dan Penambahbaikan
Berikut adalah antara cabaran dan masalah yang aku alami : -

1. Kedudukan beg pannier perlu dianjakkan ke belakang kerana kedudukan sekarang menyebabkan tumit kasutku bergesel dengannya.
2. Kedudukan fender hadapan perlu direndahkan lagi dan ditambah dengan mud flap oleh kerana percikan air dari jalan menyebabkan kasut cepat basah dan berpasir. 
3. Seluar dalam biasa agak kurang sesuai oleh kerana getah dicelah kelangkang boleh menyebabkan lecetan.  Penggunaan boxer brief nampaknya lebih sesuai.
4. Elakkan penggunaan earphone pada kedua-dua belah telinga.  Ianya mengganggu pendengaran pada alam sekeliling kita.
5. Di tempat-tempat yang jalan selorong dan agak sempit, bersedia untuk menghalakan basikal ke bahu jalan dengan segera sekiranya deria dengar anda mengatakan "aku rasa macam dekat je lori/bas ni kat belakang aku".

Statistik

Jarak perjalanan: 158km

Jumlah masa perjalanan: 9jam 30minit

Jumlah masa berkayuh: 7jam 30minit

Kelajuan purata: 20.9km/h

Kelajuan maksima: 50km/h

Berkembara ke Sungai Sendat

Gambar oleh BC Kelolo. Diubahsuai sendiri.

Lama sudah tidak berkembas (istilah baru: kembas, kembara berbasikal).  Sejak kegagalan aku menghabiskan perjalanan ke Teluk Intan pada kembas yang lalu.  Berbasikal sejauh hingga 100km sehari bukanlah asing bagi aku, cuba sejak akhir-akhir ini masa kian kurang memihak pada aku.  Sementelah kemalangan kecil yang aku alami pada bulan Ramadhan membuat aku berehat dari berbasikal (dengan agresif) selama hampir 2 bulan.

Kembas yang telah dipersetujui bersama Saudara Subki ke Melaka pun terpaksa aku batalkan kerana keadaan kesihatan yang tidak mengizinkan.  Sungguhpun begitu, Saudara Subki meneruskan kembas solonya ke bandar bersejarah tersebut.

Kembas ke Sungai Sendat yang jarak keseluruhannya sekitar 80 kilometer di hari cuti umum Maal Hijrah ini bukanlah sesuatu yang besar bagi mereka yang biasa berkembas.  Cuma aku berharap ianya akan menjadi suatu titik tolak untuk perjalanan yang lebih jauh dah lebih mencabar di masa hadapan.  Terdengar bisik-bisikan dari BC Kelolo rancangan seterusnya pada hujung tahun ini dengan jarak yang lebih jauh.  Terus sahaja aku mencadangkan Pengkalan Balak, Melaka menjadi agenda kembas seterus kami.  Jauhnya sekadar-kadar boleh untuk dilakukan tanpa perlu bermalam dipertengahan dan destinasinya yang semakin popular dengan tarikan pelancong.  

Pengkalan Balak, insyaAllah kami datang!

Gambar-gambar

BC Kelolo

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/100224456191284305811/albums/5942817138929673873
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/100224456191284305811/albums/5942808156435568913

Norizzuddin
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/105372317387593713383/albums/5942978582194202289

New-look Oldie

Shogun was green and pretty much in original form here.  I was like lalang, within 2 years from the day I bought this frame, it had been single speed with MTB wheelset, single speed with 27" wheelset, and 9 speed touring.

At one point of time, I even was contemplating to sell this frame for merely RM100.  Thanks for an insulting offer of RM50 from a bidder made me change my mind and keep it for a little bit longer.  After I sold my Specialized, surplus parts from it goes to Shogun.  Not long after that, hard-to-refuse offer from a dear friend to paint my frame with color of my choice.  Next thing I know, I handed him the frame and a week after that it came up in orange.

I collected the frame yesterday afternoon, and apparently.. headset was faced, BB was tapped and faced by Kelolo, all parts get fitted by themselves, really, for real!  However, I wonder why I feel so sleepy now... ZZzzzzzz

Cycling is expensive hobby?

Celebrating 2 years in cycling, I try to summarize my spending in cycling, for your consumption & judgment.
In the keen interest of cycling, I'm indulged and being happy about it.

How does it start
Prior July 2007, a number of time, I been approached by Jazlan to take up mountainbiking. I had a keen interest but forking RM2000 for a bike wasn't that easy at that point of time. An angel came down in a form of human and gave me RM2,500 soft loan for a kick start.

Initial "investment"
I bought myself Scott Scale 70 for RM2.3k from BikePro (thanks to Big Mac for his time and consultancy). Immediately I went to KHS for a Limar 911 helmet at RM280, the only helmet that fits my big head at that point of time. The list go on an on. Glove, bladder, allenkey toolset, spare tube, shoes, cycling jersey, lycra pants, and more tools. After spending a total of RM3k, I may become insane keeping the record of my spending list.

More spending
Soon enough, I endo during first night ride in RRI, bent my saddle (body injury will recover, parts injury won't). So I replaced with Velo Carbon (new, RM120).
Weekend ride dosage seems insufficient, bought blinker and light in order to ride at nite.
Cassette and chain worn, replaced.
Straight handlebar caused numb wrist, replaced.
Running shoe double as cycling shoe caused slippery pedal grip, bought HiTech trail shoe (new, RM240).

Even more spending
V-Brake failed on me, bought Avid BB7 (new, RM350).
Joined the clipless bandwagon, bought SPD pedal and shoe (used, RM250).
SPD design flaw caused numerous stupid falls, changed to Crank Brothers pedal (used, RM100).
Another clipless shoe, Shimano MT41 (new, RM240).
Bought Spesh frame from Big Mac to inflict others in the family (used, RM250).
Bought bundle parts from Jazlan to assemble Spesh (used, RM100).

Recent years..
Before I blow a candle celebrating 2 years in cycling this August, I have 2 full fledged MTB for trail ride, and 2 rigid fork MTB with slick tires for tarmac ride. Now, contemplating to sell off my Spesh for my bed space. Obviously, I need space to sleep.
Proper sleep prior to next morning rides is important!

First and forth wives live happily ever after.

p.s:

• Angel, knowing your preferences to be below the radar, I shall not mention your name you here but you know who you are.
• LHDN, I had received your additional deduction to my salary. Nothing left here, move on!
• Thief, you took my son's BMX, please return it to him. He's not tall enough for my MTB. Thank you in advance.
• Potential thief, you may be electrocuted if you try something nasty. BTW, alloy is a good conductor.

Ride of Silence

I read on Ride of Silence from Fakawi Tribe a day earlier.

The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph and remain silent during the ride. There is no brochure, no sponsors and no registration fees. The ride, which is held during Bike Safety month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for those who have been killed or injured.

excerpt from Ride of Silence

Pre-ride briefing by the organizer

Back here in Malaysia, this ride is organised by Massa Kritikal on 20th May 2009. 30 cyclists turned up last night at Central Market Annexe as early as 6:00pm. Ijam, cyclist buddy who I bumped into him recently at S.N. Samy was co-organizer of the event. Some familiar faces were Sufino, Toyol Pemalu and Azizan Fixie. Noted 3 female cyclists, 1 of them was on fixie (single speed, fixed gear).

Fixie cycle chick from PJ

The ride finally rolled at 8:00pm. It was slow and quiet ride heading Jalan Pudu, Jalan Imbi, Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Ampang (KLCC), Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan TAR, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Dang Wangi, Jalan Ampang, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Pudu, Jalan Imbi, Jalan Tun Razak and a stopover for liquid break at 10:30pm. I splitted from there at 11:15pm heading home.

Checkout photos of the ride from my camera here

Addendum
27/5 - Write up on Ride of Silence at Massa Kritikal

The man who can't get enough

Apparently, my Shogun is back, hitting the road. I put it to rest for a month after I sold it's 27" wheelset due to issue with "chain line" on single speed.

Long story short, an offer made by Mr Beskal on his XT shifter and RD left me with surplus Deore RD and shifter from Spesh. Fitted Shogun with read shifter & Deore RD, with a little tweak on Hi & Lo settings on the RD, I run it on 5 speeds only. This is due to maintaining the "chain line" within tolerable limit since I run on single chain ring (without FD); a potential disaster shall the chain derail from the chain ring.

Deore RD, 9 speed cassette and a pannier rack

I decided to set the record straight; Shogun for commuting, Scott for the trail, and Spesh for my version of road bike. Clearly, each bike has it very own setting that suit most for its intended purpose.

Riding Spesh to work is fast, however with a back pack on my back, thing gets a little warmer and steamy under the wind breaker. Thus Shogun is an ideal bike since it fitted with pannier rack that will easily take 20kg on it. My first encounter riding Shogun with back pack on the pannier rack was a pleasant one. Less steamy and better body movement to observe the traffic. Downside, a little awkward light feels on my front wheel as most weight is being shifted to the rear wheel.

My official commuting bike :)

My previous post on Denda
Someone peeled off the warning sign this morning and I swear it wasn't me.. Seriously :D

The usual parking spot. Now without the warning sign ;)

Update on Shogun

Fitted an alloy pannier. This pannier can take my 6yo son.


Modded an RD to become chain tensioner. Finally relief my tension :)

Putrajaya Critical Mass #10

Went to this critical mass ride for the first time. On second thought, it was the second time shall being kat RV of critical mass conducted in KL downtown back in 2007 (fasting month) without actually riding it because the organizer wasn't keen to keep their watch sync to atomic clock.

Photo by Kelolo. The rest are here

I would categorized this event as socializing event; means socializing taking much of the time than the cycling itself. Hey, I'm not complaining, in fact I enjoyed meeting people as much as cycling. But don't expect a nice conversation while I am halfway climbing up the hill. You would be lucky if I can finish a word. It was nice meeting new people. For some, it was an avenue where you put faces to those nicks you been in communication over BBS (bicyclebuysell.com, it's like car boot sales where traders open their trunks and sell their unwanted items).

More information on this ride and their future event..
Putrajaya Critical Mass

Cycle to work

I always looking forward for an assignment where I will "have" to spend a day at HQ. A trip about 18km in 40 minutes (moderate pace), I beat my travelling time by car, anytime. I opt for a route via Chow Kit since traffic is a bit low comparatively to Jalan Mahameru.

After preparing Shogun the night before, I left about 7:20am this morning and reached HQ slightly before 8:00am. Thanks to my luck on each traffic light junctions, it was green all the way. Secured my Shogun near the cafe and had mihun goreng breakfast while waiting my body temperature settling down. 8:15am, headed to Surau to wash myself and put on my office attire. By 8:25am, I clocked into the office.

I have a good start this morning :)

Note on photo above: Couldn't get proper place to dry up jersey, towel and helmet thus all cramping under visitor table. Merempat, nak buat cemana :)

Shogun SS the break down

After all parts have been finalised and I am quite happy with it (huh, do I sounds like difficult to please?) here's the break down of the setup...

MTB Chromoly Frame - RM90

Wheelset (27" ol'skol) - RM120
Tyre (27x1.25) - RM36 (RM18 each)
Tube - RM20 (RM10 each)

Handlebar - RM15
Handle grip - RM5
Stem - RM30

Crankset (road, 42T) - RM50
Pedal - parts surplus
7sp chain - RM10
Freewheel (BMX, 16T) - RM8
Chain Tensioner - parts surplus

Brake caliper - RM20
Brake lever - parts surplus

Saddle - parts surplus
Seatpost - son'n mtb (still looking for 26.2mm)

Total - RM404

Dino Fakalot berposing dgn basikal aku
Photo by Toyol Pemalu

Shogun the return!

I changed the wheelset and 27X1.25 tyres on my Shogun recently (spend money). Bigger wheelset means I no longer can use the existing V-brake, thus front set of road bike brake caliper (spend more money). I already had a test run Sunday where mishaps came to my doorstep (on my earlier post).

Last night, GLC changed their regular nite ride from Thursday to Tuesday and I took Shogun out for the ride. Lesson learn from previous derailed chain, I strengthen the tensioner with 2 cable ties, and took some spares in case I need to replace the puncture tube. Stupid enough, with no spare tube of that size and pump that only works on Presta valve, I just crossed my fingers.

This Shogun is fast despite stuck with only 1 speed due to its slim, low-resistant tyre. Its high profile survived abundant potholes in our beloved city making it a perfect tyre for commuting.

Why helmet is important...

6:00pm
About 30 minutes ago, I felt on tarmac. Least expected due to derailed chain (I was on my single speed Shogun) under hard crank (left side) up a bridge. I remember vividly, felt on my left and banged my head pretty hard on tarmac. Lucky enough I was on emergency lane and the traffic is slow.

Addendum (10:00pm)
Upon close scrutiny on the helmet, the inner part which made of styrofoam splitted into two. There goes my RM280 helmet. Well, better a cracked on helmet than a cracked on my skull!

DIY chain tensioner

Finally the tensioner!
I was looking for metal plate to implement solution I found on mtbr.com. I bumped into metal plate found on my Bike Hand pocket toolset that might deliver the function. After 2 hours fitting, fixing and adjusting, I came into satisfying result (that yet to be tested) :-)

Mounting on RD act as a hinge, cable tie just did a fine job as tensioner and RD's jockey wheel deliver the task as chain guide.


44T chainring in the middle position. Added spacer from vandalised 32T chainring to correct the chainline.



A satisfying straight chainline :)

Ramadhan rides continue….

We (as in me & Shaq) finished all 4 Friday night ride this Ramadhan successfully. First Friday, Jazlany joined us despite the drizzle a few minutes before the ride. The following Friday, swelled to 30 cyclists. Namely those from Taman Keramat, Taman Melawati and Ampang after an invitation posted by Shaq at jomkayuh.com (not really).

The third Friday, dropped to 20 cyclists. Probably due “unbearable” series of climbing route designed by Shaq. New faces turned up among roadies. The route gets tougher with climbing section from Mahameru to Bukit Tunku. As for myself, Shogun was running 2 speed i.e. 44/15 & 32/15 wasn’t survived that section too. The final stopover was at Middle East restaurant somewhere in Bukit Bintang introduced by Dr Mariam.

Cyclists of the night

Rekindle my memories during my short work trip in Riyadh with Foul and Humus dishes

More photos here!

I decided to take my Scott for a ride on forth Friday. I suffered tremendously for trying to keep the gear ratio as if I am riding my Spesh (Scott on knobbie while Spesh on semi-slick and 3 kg lighter). The crowd on that night were mostly roadies with bling-bling road bike. New faces emerged, old faces faded away. My shallow mind making conclusion.. “when the going gets tough, only the tough gets going”. Report from Shaq on the next day, those roadies ask for a rerun of the route that very night. I guess a stopover at Doraisamy was the biggest attraction.

Small matter for Shaq

When men turn their heads in 1 direction....

Ramadhan al-mubarak rides

As usual, ride must go on.. with some minor adjustment during this fasting month. Been 2 weeks fasting and 2 city centre rides on Friday in a row. Last nite, me, Shark, Zali, Pak Abas and 2 other roadie went downtown for mild ride. Mild due to my request since I took Shogun for a test ride. Shogun was running on 44T chainring and 15T cog, quite a huge ratio. Lucky enough, uncut handlebar helps to leverage "rock the bike" cranking up short steep hills.
Tunnel under Jalan Ampang/Jalan Tun Razak intersection

First Friday of Ramadhan, we (Shark and Jazlany) went for a ride. Started of from Sri Gombak flowing to Sentul then to Hentian Duta. Turning of to Masjid Wilayah and climbing up Hartamas heading to Pusat Sains and take a turn of to Damansara Height. Slowly climbing up Damansara Height and fast descent to Pusat Bandar Damansara and proceed to Parlimen via Jalan Duta. From there, Tasik Perdana and exit at Dayabumi and pay a visit to memorable Pasar Seni (me and wife's RV before we get married, back then cellphone wasn't born yet). Added to that sweat, we loop to Bukit Bintang before taking a break at Dataran Merdeka. We met a bunch of cyclist from AU3, Keramat who invited us for a drink at Selangor Mansion. Over Teh Tarik, we discussed on combining for a larger group for the following Friday nite ride.
A view by the riverbank near Central Market

Jazlany admiring graffiti near Central Market

Sahur break with Kelolo


The following weekdays, me and Shark started discussing on how to entice others to join us for Friday nite ride. An invitation in one of local cycling forum didn't catch any response from forum's member. It doesn't really matter bcoz to me, rides must go on, no matter what number of cyclist we have. To our surprise, our proposed RV swamped by nearly 30 cyclists around the vicinity, Shark was saying "this is like Critical Mass". I can say that all of them cycled from home.

Great! Now we have a large number, how do we handle this?

Typically, any number below 10 is easy enuff to handle. 30 cyclists can be a different ball game. Though everyone is aware that they have to take care themselves out there, being sort of "organizer", we have a responsibility to ensure the route is safe enuff, doable, and spread out some sweepers within the crowd to avoid ppl loosing direction.

RV at Tasik Titiwangsa

So the game plan was, Shark taking the lead, me sweeping in between to ensure ppl taking the right route, and Pak Abas as final sweeper. Alhamdulillah, everything went smooth and safe. The route was the same we did the previous week minus Bukit Bintang due to high traffic area.

In front of Masjid Wilayah

Mejar Anuar at Dataran Merdeka

Golden boys group

Youngsters group

Shogun the SS

For better look, I swapped for uncut raised handlebar.

Further damages: -
Handlebar - RM15 (changed to rised bar)
Handle grip - RM5 (changed to polka dot)

Next, looking for ring washer for chainring spacer.

Commuter bicycle

First Scott, then Specialized. Then come the third "S" in my cycling life.. SHOGUN!

While the first 2 I don't dare to leave it out there while running errands, this bike I built with ease of mind concept. Meaning I can confidently leave it out there and that it won't attract much attention. Worst case if it's stolen, it doesn't burn big hole on my pocket. Having said that, I still keep the bicycle lock out there.

Here's the objective in importance order: -
1. Dirt cheap
2. Simple setup
3. Can ride town elevation

As a result, this was the plan..
1. Single front v-brake
2. Single speed
3. Upright riding posture

I had my hands on the frame, fork & headset for sub RM100. Others: -
Saddle - RM15
Stem - RM30
Handlebar - RM15
Handle grip - RM8
Front wheelset - RM20
QR seatpost clamp - RM10
V-brake - RM15
Crankset, pedal, cassette, chain, rear wheel, tyres, brake lever - parts surplus

That's meeting all the objective and plan except riding town elevation on which I can't determine at this current moment. Why?

Running single speed is a delicate matter of striking a balance of speed and strength. Secondly, chainline.

Striking a balance
The gear ratio is the key element on determining what fit you best for most of terrain you ride. Running it high, you can speed up on flat, suffer on climb. Running it low, you may take any climb, but can't go fast on flat.

Previous setup, 32T:14T (2.28 ratio)

I'm trying on 44T:14T (3.14) ( meaning 1 revolution pedal drives 3.14 turn of rear wheel). On flat and short climb seems not that difficult. I am yet to take it to work where elevation varies.

Chainline
The chainring is ideally to be aligned to rear sprocket, as nearly straight line adjustment as possible. Sheldon Brown has a lengthy explanation on this subject.

Adjusting the chain line was pain in the ass

If running on cassette type hub, this means stacking a number of spacer to achieve this and probably fitting large chainring in the middle chainring position.

Stacking spacers, scavenge from old cassette

Final pose on 6th September

Foot note: Initially I was using "commuting bicycle" on which refer to a "bicycle as mode of transport that we use to commute". It's similar to "jogging shoe" and "running shoe" if we look from the same context. However, commuter in some part of the world means "a piece of transportation equipment used for the transportation of such persons" thus our "KTM Komuter".