RTW - Oppss.. I did it again!

This is my third day RTW (Rides To Work, a term coined by Akmal or maybe BC. Damn, am I that old to recall this?) for this week. I locked my bike to a pole only to realize that it was securely locked but not to a pole! This wasn't the first time and in 1 different occasions, I left the key on the bike.

Sigh... I am getting older and become more forgetful.

Raya rides

Rides that took place during long raya holiday...

All photos are from Raya rides.

Langkap-Teluk Intan

Distance:40km

Singlespeed Spesh first timer

Mastan Ghani's new outlet

In front of Mastan Ghani at Taman Ros, Teluk Intan

The famous Mastan Ghani's mee kari

Langkap-Bidor-Tapah loop

Distance:70km

Teh tarik break at Tapah town

Changing flat tire at Tapah Road

Langkap-Chenderung Balai recovery

Distance:20km

Spesh on the floodgate at Chenderung Balai

Common sight at Sungai Batang Padang

Spesh SingleSpeed

From SS Spesh photoshoot

After selling many Spesh's parts to a friend for building her bike, Spesh was left idle and collecting dust. My initial intention was to sell it off, but after much consideration I decided to make a second attempt to SingleSpeed it. There was another attempt on singlespeed Shogun which ended me with hard fall and a broken helmet. There are 2 most important element of singlespeeding your bike; 1. chain line, 2. chain tension.

First attempt about a year ago.

Cog taken from Deore cassette, sandwiched between 2 larger cogs. Make use old Tourney Rear Derailer as chain tensioner. Note the straight chain line of cog and chainring.

I found this Da Bomb 9 to 1 Pro conversion kit for freehub body (RM65,BicycleWorld, Tmn Melawati) that comes with 18t and 16t cog.

It was 2 strikes of luck when: -

1. pretty straight chain line

2. the chain tension was sufficient on 42t chainring without the need of chain tensioner.

42:16 gear ratio suits me well on flat tarmac. Come the hill, I'll do it standing.

Addendum (05 Oct 2009)

Parts for my singlespeeding project.

1. Complete MTB minus gearing system (FD, RD, Shifters)

2. 42T Shimano Exage crank (est. RM50)

3. Da Bomb 9 to 1 Pro conversion kit (RM65)

4. 7 speed chain (est. RM20)

more on singlespeeding on MTBR here