#239 - Raining ...

It's raining outside and I can't go out to ride on the trails

today. Well, I can always go and catch on some sleep.

But then I remembered that rear brake mod I did a couple

of months back.

I put on a 180mm disk on my rear wheel and liked it.

However, what I did was just to screw the calipers

on with some not-quite-long enough screws and used

lots of spacers so that the calipers would clear the top

of the disk. I showed this to a mechanic in Tay Junction

and he was not impressed. He painted a very bleak picture

involving a spoiled frame and a void warranty.

After that I put back the normal 160mm disk and did 

further research. I found out that the front post would also

fit the rear and so I ordered that from CRC together with

 some proper screws long enough to do the job. All these

hardware are from Avid. 

So after getting a headache from sleeping too much,

I went and did the change to 180mm rear disk brakes

from the original 160mm. Result is posted above.

Looks handsome :-) I'll test this tomorrow during our

group ride.

.... after all that, I went and watched this 1960s (?)

Japanese black and white film titled 'HaraKiri'.

Ahhhhhh a nice and slow day for a change .....

#238 - KIP Mart MTB Jamboree 2012



Twas the day before race day ...
pics from our group's FB page

     

Saturday, the day before the 'race' and I struggled

to do ... nothing! I was expecting to suffer tomorrow
and so I made sure I conserved each and every calorie
that I could. I slept early the night before and I
slept 2 hours in the afternoon.

Some of my friends cycled 60km to their hotel in Masai.
From their pictures in FB, it looked like they had fun.
But it also looked like they all have sworn an oath to let
things that 'happened in Masai, stay in Masai'.

... and so, while my other friends were enjoying their
overnight stay in Masai, Deck, Efren and I stayed wide
awake at night partly due to race jitters and partly
because we were scared that we can't wake up in time for
our ride (thanks to Enrico) to the Cause Way.

4AM finally came and so the four of us went to Woodlands,
crossed to JB and waited at Shell for our ride to the
race site. It was there at JB Shell that Roadie Rio
joined us. Also, waiting at JB Shell was an eye opener.
There were sooo many racers from Singapore who made
their 'pit stop' there and it made me wonder if half
of Singapore's mountain bikers will be racing today.

The starting line at around 8:10AM. Race start is 8:30AM.

Hehehe Roadie Rio is missing in this pic. He said he
has learned his lesson and he went to the front.

The race catered to every one. I saw a few kids in the trail.

met some guys from Attitude Bikes

Our journey to the race site was quite smooth. There were

already a lot of people when we showed up and a few of

the eager ones were already staking out their place at

the starting line! We on the other hand were waiting for

our 'Team Captain' Fast Paolo as we don't have our race

numbers yet. Fast Paolo showed up with 15 minutes to spare

and everything was sorted quickly. However, the rest of

our friends haven't showed up yet. I told them to get a

massage and drink a bottle of beer to help them relax so

that they could sleep soundly instead of lying wide awake

on unfamiliar hotel beds but the one bottle of beer must

have turned out into a party ! But finally they showed

while the Malaysian National Anthem was being played.

After the National Anthem, the announcer told all racers

NOT to overtake the pace car (apparently, there were very

eager and fast cyclists who have done that in the past)

and after that announcement, the race was on!



Despair !
pic from Ronald's FB page



Rico on his way to #57th in the race
pic courtesy of An Sun-gard (KiP MOUNTAIN BIKE JAMBOREE 2012)



There was plenty of ice cold water, 100+ and bananas in the CheckPoints
pic courtesy of An Sun-gard (KiP MOUNTAIN BIKE JAMBOREE 2012)



Me!
pic courtesy of An Sun-gard (KiP MOUNTAIN BIKE JAMBOREE 2012)



 Roadie Rio pulled a veteran move on us as he didn't line up

at the end of the peloton. He was somewhere in front. All

of us led by Fast Pao, IronMan Randy, Ryan, Deck, Efren and

Enrico were weaving in and out of the peloton. It was 2km

from the start to the trail head and so the strategy was get

as near to the front as possible before we entered the trails.

When we entered the trail, the peloton was greeted by TWO CARS

going the opposite direction, one at the right of the trail

and the other on the left. There was no choice but to slow down

and it was here that we all got separated. Once we cleared

those cars, we went to a very fast and surprisingly slippery

downhill section (later on our friends said it rained hard the

day before). Braking was tricky because I thought we will be

racing on dry, hardpacked dirt and so my tires were pumped up

quite hard. Whenever I pull my brakes, the rear of my bike

fish-tailed. ... and while I was contemplating how difficult

these conditions will be, I saw one cyclist lying on the middle

of the track. He was unconscious and he had blood on his face.

He was being attended to by another cyclist (NoLights Louie

told me that she later saw the cyclist seating at the side of

the trail, he regained consciousness but he looked dazed).

I hope that guy is ok.

Well, when I saw that accident, I slowed down a bit and told

myself to just complete the race. I don't want to end up with

an accident and judging from my past endo record,

I do need to be careful.

But all caution went out of the window when I saw my
friend Bal's jersey going very fast away from me! I gave

chase but I couldn't catch up with him.

One of my ride buddies, Ronald announced his presence

behind me by showing the front end of his Yeti 575 to

me a few times. Beside me was a rider from Attitude Bikes

(I think) who was on a Specialized Enduro (I think. I'm sure

he wasn't on a Nicolai). It was like this up to the

first checkpoint.

After the first checkpoint, I rode alone for a while and then

I saw Bal's jersey again. I tried to go beside him but the

race route took us into a singletrack... and this singletrack

is really just for one bike at a time. You couldn't go at

the edges because there are trees on both sides of the trail

... and so I had to patiently follow the pace of the leading

guy. Once out of the singletrack, I finally caught up with Bal.

I caught up with him at a hike-a-bike section and the first

thing that we both did after clearing the section was to pee

at the side of the trail LOL.

I rode with Bal up to the seemingly never-ending rollercoaster

road ride. This is the stage where I saw the first walkers.

After the road ride, we turned right into the trail again.

Once I went into the trail I started riding with a guy who

is using my dream frame : Titanium Helix frame by Lysnkey.

I asked him where he got his frame. He told me he got it from

Singapore. I asked if he is from Singapore. He said yes and

whether I am from Singapore also. Hehehehe funny making these

light conversations while racing inside a jungle in Malaysia.

I rode with him for quite some time because it seemed

to me that since he and I were alone and both were from the

same place and it looks like we're on the same pace then

maybe we should 'help' to 'pull' each other.

All this, however, changed when I saw this green jersey in front

of me. The green jersey looked like the jersey worn by my other

friend IronMan Randy! So I said 'Aha! My friends are all very

near now!' and so with renewed strength I tried to get near

Randy ... then I noticed something... This guy seemed to be

struggling ... Is this Randy? Sigh when I finally got to the guy,

it was not my friend. I rode from that point to CheckPoint 4

alone.

From the race blogspot, I know that after checkpoint #4, it should

only be 3Km to the finish. Since it was just 3Km I told myself to

just go all out hehehehe but after 3Km on my Cateye there was still

no finish line (Later on NoLights Louie told me there was a sign

at CP4 that that is the 40Km mark and NOT 42Km)... The thing is

I can feel my right leg starting to cramp ! ... and then I saw it!

We all had to cross a muddy field before we get to the finish line.

I started spinning slowly, trying but miserably failing to make my

bike go on a straigth line.

After what must have been the longest muddy route that I have

cycled on, we went by road again back to Kip Mart. The organizers

were all signalling for us to sloowww down as the race should be

over for us. I went to the finish line (finish queue?) where only

one cyclist can go one at a time. I think I was 5th or 6th on that

line and I saw the first guy was being handed a gold medal. Oh,

Goody! I'll get a gold medal! So I drank the rest of my water

and poured some on my head and got off my bike. I waved to all

my friends who were already there and when it was finally my

turn to be handed a medal ... the organizers gave me a silver one!!!

Huh?! But the front guy was given a gold?! I was given the lunch

voucher and sent on my way to have lunch ... I wanted to ask

'have you really ran out of gold medals?! I just slowed down a bit

because I was gonna cramp, you know? can I exchange the

lunch voucher for a gold medal instead? '

NYAHAHAHAHAHA



Me with IronMan Randy showing the gold medal
he got for coming in #66.
Background is Fast Pao who was #93.



NoLights Louie came in as #3 in the Women's Cat.
Too bad the price money was cancelled by the organizers.

We were wondering how we are going to take this bike home
if ever we won in the lucky draw.

Roadie Rio didn't ride a MountainBike for 6 months and took
#76. Ryan (in red) took #60.

You can get your bike cleaned after the race for just 2RM.

The 2012 version of KIP Mart MTB Jamboree is
my first race/jamboree in Malaysia. Actually, I raced once in
Singapore in 2009 but it was stopped due to rain/lightning.
So I think it wouldn't be wrong if I say this was my
first race.

As a participant all I was expecting was that the trail
should at least be well marked so that I wouldn't get
lost. However, the organizers didn't just post arrow
signs on the trees, they also scattered confetti on the
trails. So when you can't see confettis, most probably
you are lost.

The CheckPoint was also well stocked with ice
cold water, 100+ and bananas. You don't even have to
pick up the nourishment you need. The officials hand
the water bottle to you unopened. You just need to
drink. If you give them your water bottle they refill
it for you while you drink from another container.

There were race officials directing traffic when you
cross a road. You literally really just need to pedal.
The organizers have taken care of everything for the
participants.

Not just that! In the end when my friends approached
the organizers because they had a change of plans
and don't have a return ride to the SG/JB Border,
the organizers brought my friends there in 2 vehicles
and they were refused to accept payment!

I think I will make this race a yearly pilgrimage.
As for my friends ... there are already talks about
a race coming up in May again in Malaysia.

#237 - A Week To Go ...

Mechanic John of MTB Brothers 'caught' me and riding
buddy Tabs yesterday at Zheng Hwa Park. 

A week to go ... before the KIP MTB Jamboree and

I am nursing my second bout of flu in a month. I think

that should already be a good sign that I have overtrained.

So yesterday and last Saturday I didn't have any choice

but to do a sloowww plodding ride in T15.

The rest of my friends sneaked to JB on Saturday to

go and recce the race site. Hehehehe from what I heard

they got hopelessly lost and didn't find the trail. They

did find the 'happening' places near the race site though

*wink *wink. There were a few of them who attended

last year's Jamboree but apparently, the race start site

will be in another KIP Mart site at Masai ...

If you take a look at the map below, it is approximately

opposite Pulau Punggol Barat. Actually, if there is

a ferry there, it would be perfect.

Anyway, at this time some of my friends have already

done their hotel reservations. That's right, hotel !

Our transport arrangements have also been done.

... and since last week, the talk around the office

is that if we will be doing this racing thing even

just once every two months, a nice little carbon

hardtail is beginning to look nice ;-)

#236 - Frog !

Long ago when I pretended to understand Duran Duran's

song lyrics and I was trying to glean some hidden words

of wisdom in Tears for Fears songs ... Tamiya released

the Frog !

... and so the younger version of me saw the Tamiya Frog

in the then hip VirraMall at GreenHills. It was a sight to

behold! I would rather ogle at the Tamiya Frog than watch

an episode of Weird Science ... and you know how hot Kelly

LeBrock was back then! The Tamiya Frog was in a glass

case container much like the glass case container of the

Crown Jewels in the movie Johnny English. I assume

the security was just as tight and there was no bumbling

Mr. Bean to save me with his funny antics should I

decide to approach said glass case within

a ten feet radius LOL.

Anyway! Fast forward to the year 2005 and Duran Duran

is now relegated to the Best of 80s CDs and rumor has it

that the Tears for Fears duo are now out of the nut house.

Tamiya must have been keeping tabs on me and they learned

that I can actually afford the Tamiya Frog now ... and so

they re-released it :-)

Once the re-released Tamiya Frog landed in Singapore,

I went to the hobby shop, purchased the kit and locked

myself in my house for two days.

I assembled the kit with tender loving care ... I applied

all the little tricks I have learned through ten years of

playing RC. When it came to painting the figure ... I didn't

just paint it. I painted it meticulously. I used the paint

normally used for those little WarHammer figures. I even

made the folds of the driver's clothes darker... then I

painted flames in the car body .... arrggghhh this is taking

so long! So I just painted the rest of the body with

whatever paint I had.

Once everything is finished and my batteries were charged,

I took bus 139 and went to the direction of Toa Payoh.

I alighted at SingTel in Thomson Road and walked

towards the sand/soil area under the flyover. I made

a track using lots of plastic cones .... and drove the

Tamiya Frog for hours :-)

When I got home, I took out the radio receiver and

batteries from the Frog ... and then I placed it on it's

own little place on my RC cupboard ...

People my age collect fancy watches and big cars.

Me, I collect little things I couldn't afford when I was

younger. ... and looking at my Tamiya Frog ... I can

say life is sweet .... That is until I saw the Moots YBB

nyahahahaha!



#235 - Reboot

See the dial at the back? It's very good for one-hand fit adjustment.
... and it keeps it's setting

Ignore sweaty model and look at the nice profile of the GUB Mark helmet.

I'm back! ... and no, I didn't quit cycling to go back

to driving remote control cars :) I think I may have

fallen victim to the 'Curse of the Local Bloggers'.

I have been cycling on the same trails over and over

for the past four years. Many times in a trail ride

I slow down to take a picture only to remember that I

should not be where I am (you know those places *wink*)

or that within a split-second I decided that taking that

particular picture is not worth stopping my trail ride.

Now I understand other local bloggers (like Anvil)

when he says that we should all go to neighboring

countries where the trail riding is much more diverse

instead of taking pictures of the same places over and

over again.  

Anyway! That's it for my mini rant. I have been doing

a lot of things so that I could go on for longer rides and

hopefully join even just one of the many jamborees in

Malaysia. One thing that I did was to get this roadie

helmet GUB Mark.

CrestPursuit Owen brought three models of helmets

recently. As I mentioned above, the GUB Mark is the

roadie helmet and the other that caught my eye is an

AM helmet, the Laplace Q3. I don't have a picture of

the Laplace Q3 but everybody will find it familiar

as it resembles another AM helmet made by this

famous company whose name rhymes with BOX

*wink *wink.

I got the GUB Mark roadie helmet as I have been

looking for an airy helmet with adjustments that can

be done using one hand (e.g. by using a dial) ... and

lastly, said helmet must not require that I sell one

of my kidneys. That last requirement basically rules

out the delectable helmet selection offered by Tay

Junction Bukit Timah.

The GUB Mark helmet did not disappoint. Lots of

cooling holes in front and even lots of exhaust ports

at the back. It even has channels that divert airflow

from the front to the back of your head. It also comes

with extra pads. Lastly, the medium size fits my head

(55cm). The fit can be micro-managed using a dial

at the back of the head. The straps plus the dial cradles

your head snugly.

I have had this helmet for two or three weeks now

and I have used it for slow evening climbs at Mt. Faber

and hot twelve noon climbs in Hell Climb at Mandai.

All the holes in this helmet make sure you will be as

cool as the current environment would allow.

What would give you a maniacal grin is the coolness

in your head when you are going downhill in the 

evening at Mt. Faber. Definitely on a different level

that my other helmets (i.e. Fox Flux and Striker).

Ok, now you the question I ask myself at the end

of each review. What would I change about this

helmet? At this price level? Nothing. The helmet

serves my purposes perfectly.

... and as evidence that I am still doing my trail

rides, see pictures below  ... and hopefully

I have other stuff to update you with :-)

Lake at Hell Climb

She's come for the second straight week! Is she back
for good?

Fast riding at T15