Saturday, August 22, 2009
Of manholes and walls
@11:04 PM
During BMT, I had paid S$3700 for a custom made titanium bike with extremely relaxed geometry, partly with the intention of possibly utilising it as a touring bike sometime in the near future. After all, a titanium can withstand nearly everything, possibly getting out of a headlong highspeed car crash with barely any structural damage aside from paint scratches. Imagine my horror when I was finally brought down to earth by the fact that this expensive titanium frame was unsuited for the tour I had in mind.
The main problem was that it lagged the capacity to install tires of larger than 700x28c on a size 700 wheels. When I had installed 700x28c tires on for testing, there was barely a millimetre of clearance at the seat tube and brakes, which was the first sign of trouble. Moreover, for a 6 month tour, 28c tires are dangerous: simply put, it is too thin for off-road use, and to sustain the loads I needed to carry, which will include sleeping bags and cycling equipment, clothes and food. Back to the drawing board then.
So after some research, I came up with an alternative: to attempt installing 26" wheels and tires on it. I consulted the LBS (Local Bike Shop) mechanic, who promptly drowned that possibility, as brakes suitable for 26" cannot be installed on a 700-suitable frame. That means the S$3700 titanium frame is as good as useless.
Cyclogy (the LBS) offered me a Raleigh touring bike at S$1300. One problem: it is size 53, and I suspect that my ideal size is 58. That is five sizes too small, and while the mechanic kindly attempted to fix it up so that it imitated my titanium geometry inch for inch, I felt extremely uneasy about accepting the deal. I trusted that intuition, and put off the purchase.
While doing yet more research earlier this week, I discovered that Hup Leong, down at Chinatown, distributes Jamis bikes, of which the
Jamis Aurora is a classic touring frame, and at quite a cheap price too. For $1450, I get to have the size of my choice, and almost the same specs. Now only the tires are an issue, stock tires being only 32c, but that can be easily solved. I guess that is the first obstacle overcomed, or at least, I hope so... I shall have to confirm the order by next week. Sigh... The money never seems to be enough.
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Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Racial idealism
@10:01 PM
Perhaps it was an aftereffect of reading the entire transcript for the National Day Rally speech. Or maybe it was because I had been struck time and again at how violently and irrationally racial politics have been played out in the course of American history.
While I was standing in the MRT today, I just can't help but be struck by the many nationalities that were standing there amiably. Caucasian, Malays, Chinese, Indians and Filipinos stood in almost equal proportions. It is a sight that bears testimony to the idealism of racial harmony that Singapore has upheld from its creation.
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Sunday, August 16, 2009
First steps
@8:29 PM
Ok, so I decided that enough was enough: so much for attempting to stick stubbornly to the ideal of blogging ideas and only ideas. The world lacks blogs dedicated to the unique life that the cycling community (and especially, racing cyclists) engages in, and I need an outlet to vent my daily frustrations anyway, so hence.
There are several things I will like to focus on in fleshing out this fledging blog, primarily training, races, my materialising
le epique tour and many more little things that make cycling so special in contrast to other sports. However, this is not going to become the specialised blog that the other is, that is to say, this will serve as an online version of my journal as well.
Enjoy.
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