Love the Fold

Hatches anytime!

2012-01-06T18:12:00.000-08:00

I'm not a fan of sedan style cars as they are very limited when it comes to carrying bicycles to the airport. Come Tuesday, we leave for our Northern Thailand ride and I have to carry one full size bike box and my Pocket Sport. Originally, I wanted to just pack my Pocket Sport into a regular size bike box so there will be minimum dis-assembly. But the normally spacious 2.4L car in my home cannot take 2 full size bike boxes and 3 passengers!

Therefore, it is fortunate that with a foldy, the option to pack it into a more manageable size box is always there. I decided to use the original Bike Friday packing box, and it took all of 10 mins to put everything in. With that, the full size box goes into the rear seat foot area and the BF smaller box fits into the boot with all the panners etc comfortably. The only small inconvenience is my friend has to sit length-wise in the rear but this is only for 20 mins.

Give me a hatchback/wagon style car anytime!

East Coasting on a Brommie

2012-01-04T05:41:00.000-08:00

I am very blessed to enjoy riding with a regular group of cyclists in Australia that meets every Wed morning and it seems, I have found a regular Wed group here in Singapore as well. It was great to ride this morning with old time friends Keong, Rich and new friend Ricky today.

The route is the East Coast Park, from National Sailing Centre to Changi Village, a flat and scenic 18km ride that hugs the coast and skirts around the busy Changi International Airport.

As I needed to put it into Keong's car (thanks so much for the ride there) and return by train, the natural choice was my first foldie - my trusty 9 year old Brompton.

Its supposed to be a 6 speeder but my RD is a bit sticky, hence it is limited to 3 speeds only. Nevertheless, I had no problems cruising with the 2 roadies who were moving at leisurely pace as well as Keong's well used Dahon Vitesse.

It was interesting to ride past a hovercraft which was beached. I'm told that this is used for any aircraft emergencies at sea and there are actually 2 hovercrafts on constant standby. Most impressive indeed.

As usual, we enjoyed a lovely breakfast at Guru's Indian Restaurant and I had my usual prata with egg and onion, washed down with Teh Tarik. Unfortunately and unexpectedly, my glass of tea exploded after one sip. I must be radiating heaps of energy!!!

Oblivious to that explosion and any other noise, there was this cat near us with a major hangover and slept like there was no tomorrow. That amused Keong highly and he could not wake her up. What a difference to the state we were in, all bright and chirpy thanks to our cycling.

East coasting on a Brommie, you can bet I will do it again!

Back to Front?

2012-01-04T01:44:00.000-08:00

I've been experimenting with mounting front panniers for my upcoming Thailand trip instead of using a rear rack like I've always done. The impetus for this came from researching the wisdom of experience tourers such as John Schubert who writes:

"It is somewhat counterintuitive that putting weight on the bike’s steering would improve the bike’s handling, but it most certainly does. For proving this, we owe thanks to Jim Blackburn, the since-retired founder of Blackburn Designs."

He adds that ideally, the load should be spread between front and rear of the bike but my touring load is light, max 7-8kg. Therefore, just the need for 2 Orbs is sufficient for me.

Pic fm javageno.blogspot.com

I discovered the following advantages with front panniers:

1. Handling of the bike is more sturdy and I feel confident to ride hands free. This is more apparent for foldies which uses smaller 20" wheels. Because it is carried lower than a rear rack, the centre of gravity is lowered.

2. Stability seems better especially during downhill descents. One tourer used the analogy of an arrow - where the head and weight of the arrow is placed in front not the rear. It tracks better that way. Same when making a paper aeroplane where you need a weight in front to fly better.

3. Small advantage when climbing hills as the front is more planted. I've climbed very steep gradients with a heavy rear load and the bike have tended to do an unexpected wheelie.

4. Easier packing. Standard rear racks especially when packed with foldies into Samsonites can be a real pain to squeeze into those super tight confines. Not packed properly, they can cause deep scratches on the frame. Front racks on the other hand, are very easy to pack as they are flattish, and also easy to fit onto the bike.

5. Zero heel strike. Point added by Pat. Noticed too often on our recent ride down to Margaret River in late Oct last year by a few riders. Thanks Pat!

The main disadvantages I sense seems to be:

1. It is less aerodynamic with 2 squarish bags in front punching through the air. Not so much a problem riding slowly but for those fast descends, it does have a negative effect.

2. A heavier steering feel. Your foldie won't be so nimble and takes getting used to.

The verdict is still not out yet, and I will be able to give a more comprehensive and conclusive report after my Northern Thailand ride next week. Stay tune!

My ideal bathroom

2012-01-01T15:18:00.000-08:00

Was cruising through http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/ and this caught my eye. Trust the Europeans to come up with such creativity. I want one!

An intentional 2012

2011-12-31T17:47:00.000-08:00

I missed the first ride for 2012 today organised by LCSG. I did not get home till 3am as I was attending a Watchnight Service and there was no way I could make it for the 730am ride. Seems there is a limit on how much we can do given our limited time each day.

Which challenges me to think about what really is important for this brand new year, this fresh block of time given to us. We can choose to drift aimlessly through this year or perhaps be a little more intentional.

If time is an investable commodity, how and what would we invest it in? For me, I can think of no better way than to invest into the lives of people. To add, to build, to brighten, to teach, to share, to help another person - brings immense joy somehow, not just to him or her but for us too. Undergirding this must be a strong sense of love, not just for ourselves, but for one another.

With that in mind, CW and I will be bringing 10 folks on a Winter Ride to Northern Thailand 10 days from now. It promises to be a great time to enjoy the scenic beauty, culture, food and fun of cycling from Chiang Mai, to Chiang Dao and then to Thaton, at the tip of the Burmese border. More than half of us will be on Bike Fridays! It took a lot of planning and research but sharing the joys of adventure touring is highly satisfying. Check out the pics by CW!

Thai massage, not for the faint hearted.

May I wish you and your love ones, a very happy, fruitful and intentional 2012 with many many delightful moments on the saddle!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. John 13:34

Poodling around Kampot on clunkers

2011-12-27T15:48:00.000-08:00

Discovering new places is always such a delight and this time after our usual work at COSI Orphanage, we headed 150km south east from Phnom Penh to the French Provincial town of Kampot. This is an idyllic town set alongside a beautiful river, and where time stands still.

Its not far from the Vietnamese border crossing of Ha Tien (opened only 2 years ago) and is only 25km from Kep, the coastal town famous for craps. It is also near to the Bokor Mountain ranges where the French aristocrats used to have a lovely casino there in the mid 1900s. It is now in ruins along with an old but grandiose Catholic church still standing.
.

Pic courtesy of rontravel.com

Works have started to restore the glory of the resort and the Khmer Rouge were holding out their positions from the Bokor range as recent as 2001. For cyclists, it is a challenge to climb the 40km from town but the downhill reward promises to be sweet. That will be on my must do list on my next visit.

Kampot is famous for its pepper thanks to its fertile soil and we had a chance to sample that with crab, beef and veggies. Its aroma and taste is truly second to none. This town is also famous for its durians which explains the city's choice of fruit in its logo. Unfortunately, it was off season but we had a chance to try one fruit and were not disappointed.

Our 2 night stay was at Ganesha Riverside Eco Resort where we had the most amazing time. Situated 4km out of town along a small estuary and amidst rice fields, Ganesha enjoys a special uniqueness among the many typical ordinary style guesthouses in Kampot. It has no aircon, no TV and no hot water but it has plenty of fresh air, simple but comfortable rooms (mosquito nets FOC) and a glorious view of the Elephant Mountain ranges.

What added to the enjoyment was the excellent and warm service from Sok Pheara and the German owner Dirk who is also a fellow touring cyclist.

We chose to stay at The Tower which is a 3 storey building that offers a 360' view 11m high. It swallowed 7 of us comfortably and it is liken to staying in Rapunzel's Tower! What I enjoyed about it is that we all felt so cosy and yet, it offered sufficient privacy.

The 2 mornings I was there I used the complimentary bicycles to ride to town and that was a true highlight for me. Riding in the cool morning air, being greeted by friendly villagers, with awesome scenery surrounding me as I bounce along the dirt track is as good as anything can get. My 2 young friends enjoyed themselves thoroughly.
.

One of the must-do here in Kampot is a sunset cruise along the wide river and at US$15 for an hour, it is decent value especially when the boat can pile in as many as 15 folks. Bookings are taken at the Tourist Centre just by the old bridge and one day advance notice is preferable.

On our way up river, we saw many birds flying low in formation passing us so gracefully. That was priceless! As our money was running low, we searched for the cheapest eats in town for dinner and came across the Lazy Fish. At US$2 for rice and curry, it was pretty unbelievable though we had to endure 2 blackouts and an hour's wait for our food. As they say, you get what you pay for!

Somehow, the charm of Kampot has escaped the Lonely Planet hordes for now. Its perhaps one of the last vestiges of old town Cambodia still ticking at its own time. Go before its too late.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is a hilarious newsletter put up by an American living in Kampot that got me in stitches. His take on Occupational Therapists in Cambodia ... don't think he will win any friends among the OT community!

Carry Me to Angkor Wat

2011-12-27T02:43:00.000-08:00

I never get tired of visiting Angkor Wat, the 1200 year old temple ruins near Siem Reap, Cambodia. This is my 7th visit there and still, the charm and beauty of these temples always give me the greatest awe.

For the photographer, Angkor Wat in the morning and evening presents stupendous opportunities to play with lightning and shadows especially inside the temples. I had fun taking portraits of my friends and was thrilled with the results.

What a pleasure it was that I had the use of my micro foldie, the Carry Me. While my friends were dropped off at the usual temples, I could go for a little wander thanks to my folding wheels.

I have always wanted to cross the magnificent gate of Angkor Thom by bicycle again, and the last time I did this was in 2006 on a Brompton during a charity race. This time, I caught it on video and felt very satisfied.

It was nice to know that the little CM was actually faster than the elephant "tourist bus". The kids in my group could not wait to get their butts on the CM saddle. They took joy rides aplenty which brought relief to us adults, as they were starting to get all templed out. Bored kids can mean big trouble! The CM also drew many admirers and questions from curious folks.

Even a group of Buddhist monks on vacation could not resist the allure of the CM which resulted in a most fitting picture.

So it looks like the only 2 non-polluting ways to travel around the magnificent Angkor Wat is either the elephant or the bike. The former costs a small piece of trunk and leg literally (US$15 for a short ride), while the latter is free.

I know which I prefer.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interesting Cambodia cuisine I sampled...

Small ones

Bigger ones. Spiders anyone? Some say tastes like soft shell crabs.

Fried frog legs, would you believe its like chicken?

A saturday surprise with a Friday

2011-12-10T03:35:00.001-08:00

I'm really blessed to know the Koelnspergers these few years. We meet all sorts of friends in our life time but there are those few that somehow become really good friends. Christoph and his family are such. I met his wife 2 months ago and she wanted to get him a really nice birthday present. Chris and I suggested a brand new Bike Friday NWT since he is such an avid tourer and his last new bike was more than 15 years ago.

So began the tedious process of ordering one from the Green Gear Company in Eugene Oregon, and getting it shipped to New York where Cil, who was going there on a biz trip, could bring it back.

The bike arrived in Singapore safely and we had fun opening the beautiful package and assembling it in the aircon comfort of Life Cycle Punggol a week ago. Some tweaks needed to be done but it was not a big fuss for bike genius Chris Wee to come up with brilliant solutions.

The big day finally arrived today and we brought the sparkling black BF into Christoph's apartment. Of course, he was not at home then and the bike was decorated by his wife and daughter - a big ribbon and a German flag.

When he walked in all wet and sweaty from his roller blading session, his eyes lighted up at the new set of wheels staring at him. We of course pounce out of our hiding place and achieved yet another successful birthday surprise!

So my dear buddy Christoph, may I wish you many safe and happy kms on your new Bike Friday. Just be sure to slow down for us every now and then. Nobody could keep up with you on your simple Dahon Curve D3 at Mekong, what hope do we have now with this black steed?

Happy and blessed birthday my dear BFF!

A Brompton Sunrise

2011-12-08T03:33:00.000-08:00

You see the most beautiful things on a foldie! This morning while cycling to meet bicycle advocate Francis, I saw a sunrise that stopped me dead on my tracks at Clementi Road. I had had to dismount and savour the beauty before my eyes. That caused me to be a bit late but there are some things in life that demands us to drop everything.

Worth it don't you think?

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised! Psalm 113:3

Prepping for Cambodia

2011-12-07T02:08:00.000-08:00

First time I brought a foldie into the Men's...

Today was a day of errands for me in preparation for my upcoming Cambodia trip. I decided to test the public transport system in Singapore with the aid of the ever versatile Carry Me micro bike. First stop was at the Canon Centre via bus and MRT to Harbourfront to collect my brand new Ixus 220HS - one of the smallest point and shoot cameras. My old Ixus gave me 3 years of wonderful use until some black spot developed in the lens. Replacing that costs $200, a new one with trade-in special Canon scheme only S$238. A no brainer really!

Then, it was back on the train to North Central Singapore at Serangoon to meet my buddies Mike, TW, Chris, Angkana for lunch. It started to rain but this was no issue in the comfort of the train. 20 mins was all it took and the 1km walk/10 mins was a mere 3 mins whizz on the CM. Lunch with Mike is always a sinful indulgence not that I am complaining and the good Doctor ordered me to try the stewed pork knuckles with rice. It was a lip smacking calorie laden delight and beats sandwiches anytime.

On top of that, he kindly gave me a Bar of Plenty Cadbury Chocolate from NZ! I'm so glad I'm riding bicycles and able to burn off such heavenly food.

The Carry Me needed a special box to be able to fly safely to Cambodia and the nice people at Life Cycles (thanks Simon, Boo and Minzi) arranged for me to have one, and even helped me packed it! They are one of the few bike shops that believe in delighting their customers and I would recommend them highly.

Returning home, I decided to take the bus. Once again, it was no drama as the CM packed weighs only 10.6kg and is compact enough to carry around at bus stops etc

I think I'm all ready to go, bike wise at least! Cambodia, here I come...

Freewheeling down Kintamani volcano, Bali

2011-11-29T05:25:00.000-08:00

Can't get any better than this!

Snake skin fruit - taste between a cross of pineapple and apple but looks like garlic.

Students excused from PE. Can you spot why?

Roast Pork marinated in spices. A Baliness must eat! Some would disagree...

Kintamani Lake

The name Bali evokes all sorts of mystical and exotic impressions and rightly so. Hindu in religion, it has its unique blend of culture and traditions. Some call it the Island of the gods. Its people are easy going, friendly and relax and the food though is Indonesian, is spiced up differently.

Throw in great surf beaches, green terraced rice fields, skilled traditional artisans mix with world class hotels, spas and a plethora of superb restaurants and pubs, no wonder it attracts tourists from all over the world.

For Perth folks, this paradise is but a 3 hour hop and no wonder it is easily the no. 1 destination for West Australians. I had the privilege of having some father and son bonding time these few days in this beautiful island and we decided to stay in Ubud, the heart of art and culture.

Exams are over and tonnes of "schoolies" (High School graduates) make their annual pilgrimage to Kuta Beach for some fun in the surf and sand. Throw in hormones, alcohol and drugs, we were not keen to join the party.

I wanted a homestay and ended up at Ubud Dreams, right in the heart of Ubud town on Monkey Forest Rd but yet off a quiet street.

Ms Titik is a jolly young lady boss who is very friendly and helpful. No wonder her place earned top reviews in Tripadvisor.

Planned to stay for 2, but ended up 3 nights because I felt like it was home. The only bug bear was we could only have the aircon room for the first night, and spent 2 other nights in the fan room. It took a while to get used to the tropical heat once again but at A$22 a night for the 2 of us with breakfast, we can't complain.

This morning we signed up for a 30km bike ride with Bali Eco Cycling Company. They picked us up promptly and Made, our guide, welcomed us warmly. We were driven in a comfortable bus to see some fantastic rice terraces.

We then were taken to the top of Kintamani where we had breakfast over the spectacular view of the volcano and the crater lake. It was breathtaking! 1600m also meant cool weather which was absolutely delightful.

Next stop was a tour of the coffee plantation and we were given a thorough explanation of the various coffees and plants grown in this cooler part of Bali. Luak Coffee, made from the droppings of the Civet Cat, is cultivated here and is the world's most expensive coffee.

No wonder the unique coffee made it in the Bucket List of Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. Not being a coffee person, I tried it and sadly couldn't appreciate it but I enjoyed particularly the choc coffee. I was getting restless and fortunately, no more detours and we were taken to the starting point of our ride.

The field had about 50 bicycles and we had to select a suitable one. The company provided helmets as well and we took some time to adjust the bikes to make sure all was ok. Made gave us a thorough safety briefing which was important.

I chose a shining bright yellow MTB with disk brakes for Jem and I. It proved a good choice as it was relatively new and had great stopping power.

Made led the pack of 10 and there was a sweeper as well. It was fantastic gliding down at 25kmh, zipping past villages, temples, friendly school kids, lush green rice fields along the quiet back roads. We stopped at a Baliness home and saw how the family of 19 lived.

They had a bamboo based business and it was interesting to see how they made it into all sorts of things. Continuing on, two young Ozzie teens in my group were having a lot of fun racing each other and doing all sorts of theatrics on their bikes. They were pretty skilled but I hung back a safe distance. Crashing at 30kmh + downhill can truly spoil a great holiday.

The highlight for me was riding through the padi fields and a MTB proved itself through the muddy paths. Serene, breezy and a sense of freedom were felt as we admired the priceless view and I understood why the Bali people, though seemingly lacking in material things, were so rich in community and spirit.

We were privileged to see a team of rice harvesters and learned that they are only paid US$4 a day plus some rice for their back breaking efforts. Yet, they were all so gentle and never fail to break out in smiles for us pesky tourists, interrupting their day's work.

We ended our ride by crossing a small river and our team took the bridge while another team rode across it on their bikes. I felt a tinge of jealousy as it looked so much fun. There was an optional 8km ride to our lunch spot and it was not for the faint-hearted as it was mostly uphills. Of course, I put my hand up and despite being the oldest of 5 (3 strapping teens + 2 men in their 30s), I joined the testoterone charged brigade. This proved quite fun but demanding especially after 20km + of easy downhills and one middle-age American guy dropped out after 10 mins, so technically, I wasn't last! Jem reckoned this was the most fun bit.

The tour concluded with the much appreciated ice cold towel and a most fitting hot lunch of delicious Baliness food. Satay, tempe, veggies, duck, chicken all cooked with exotic spices eaten with rice and noodles, washed down with ice tea and a lovely fruit dessert.

The bus took us back to our respective hotels and this is probably the best thing to do here in Bali for us cyclists - freewheeling down Kintamani! Certainly a must do in this beautiful island paradise.

²³ For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

²⁴ “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. ²⁵ And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. Acts 17:23-25

4 & hopefully more!

2011-11-25T05:03:00.001-08:00

Another birthday for Lovethefold has arrived! It was 4 years ago that I wrote my first post on 26 Nov 2007. Time really flies. Its always good to take stock on an occasion like this to do some reflection.

This blog is largely a personal journal of my cycling journey and it has been great fun sharing with you what I am up to. I am humbled that LTF has attracted a greater readership since last year, from 3000 a month to 6000 hits average. It takes discipline and hard work (and I lack both of these, help!) to churn out an average of 2 postings a week but if doing so inspires you in a small way to get on your bike, meet new people and explore undiscovered and unfamiliar places, then its my delight to press on.

Pic fm Google Images

The major rides I did for the year include:

Dec/Jan - Laos, Bolaven Plateau ride with Celia, Wei and Mike.

July - Thailand, Mekong ride with Rod, Ken, Kenneth, Christoph, Joshua, Taiwoon and Mike.

Pic fm TW

Sep - Malaysia, Malacca with Chris and KC.

Pic fm KC

Oct - Australia, Margaret River ride with Patrick, Kenneth and Christoph.

I continue to have my weekly Wed rides in Perth with 3 to 4 great friends, and in Singapore when I return for holidays, I do ride quite frequently too. One highlight that has happened is meeting up with the Love Cycling Spore Group led by Taiwoon and cycling advocate, Francis Chu. A real joy to make new friends like Matt Chia, a talented photographer/Go Pro-er!

Pic fm LCSG

They have a membership of over 700 folks and ride almost every Sunday! They are a bunch of wonderful people and I am very honoured to be a small part of this special group, though I'm pretty much a newbie there.

Pic fm LCSG

I have been a good boy and added only one bike to my already crowded stable - the Bike Friday Pocket Sport.

Pic fm CW

I have not ridden it much as it still sits in the box stored snugly in my store room in Singapore. That certainly must change and I will use this drop bar beauty in future adventures. I am also researching e-bikes as I believe this is the future, especially when one gets a bit older and a bit of help is appreciated.

First half of 2012 has 2 trips lined up already. My faithful buddy Chris and I have teamed up for our first organised tour. We are both ardent tourers (he more so than I) and know many great rides around Asia and what better way than to pool our resources and share this with others.

Pic fm TW

In Jan 2012, we are leading a Northern Thailand winter ride to Chiang Mai and its surroundings with a total of 12 folks in this most scenic part of the Land of Smiles, near the Burma border.

Pic fm CW

Then in March, I will be joining a ride organise by George Lim from LCSG to Taiwan, the Mecca of folding bicycles. I have never been there so the chance to savour Taiwan's beauty is something I really look forward to.

Pic fm - taiwanincycles.blogspot.com

We will also be attending the International Bicycle Show in Taipei so that should be heaps of fun. It will be exciting to see whats the latest and bestest offerings.

There is another trip in early July either to Bali, Indonesia or Vietnam but lets see how that pans out and Mike is pining to go to Yunnan in China come Oct.

So it looks like a full year ahead in terms of cycling and I cannot but be grateful to God and my family to be given these wonderful opportunities to enjoy and share my passion. I am humbly reminded that life is short with the passing away of my good friend and ride buddy Paul in April. Then, there are those who have moved on too for one reason or another... Treasure and enjoy the people we have around now while we can!

I trust that you will continue to enjoy following my adventures and do write to me if I can be of any assistance to you (lovethefold at gmail dot com). It will be a delight to get to know you and read of your adventures too.

Pic fm TW

May I wish you the time of your life as you head out on the saddle with your friends and make special memories together as life unfolds before us, with God paving ahead for us. Deo Volente, perhaps we will meet on the road soon?

You have done many miraculous things, O LORD my God. You have made many wonderful plans for us. No one compares to you! Psalm 40:5

Welcome back Uncle Ken!

2011-11-23T03:16:00.000-08:00

It was really great to have Uncle Ken join us once again. He has been taking too long a hiatus due to an illness in the family and we thank God that the worse is behind them. We have missed Ken's infectious laughter, classic one-liner jokes and his sunshine personality and its wonderful to ride with him this morning.

It was scorching today - hitting a high of 35c but starting really early at 7am meant we enjoyed the cooler and better part of the day. I have not taken the train down to Mandurah for ages and its an easy 50 min ride. Although it was 6am plus, there was a magician practising his tricks in our carriage and that provided some early morning entertainment.

From Mandurah Train Station to Ken's home is only about 4km and we arrived on time. We could feel a bit of the heat even so early in the morning but that does not deter Rod and Ken.

They cycle in all weather, 5c or 40c, rain or shine, almost nothing will stop them. One thing I noticed on this ride is the many For Sale signs. The real estate market is sliding and many are getting out.

This is my first Mandurah trip on my Bike Friday Tikit and it was a real hoot to ride. It climbed the hills on the coastal paths with aplomb and cornered like it was on rails. Ken who rode it came away impressed.

The other 16" bike I have did not feel so planted as the Tikit and this route really makes small differences come alive. The better gearing too on my Tikit meant I could tackle the steepest climbs without too much of a struggle.

Whoever says the B bike rides better than the Tikit need to cycle this challenging seaside route to appreciate the edge this little Bike Friday delivers. Sharp curves, fast descents, rolling hills, one or two ultra steep climbs, and even some wooden and sandy sections.

I was enjoying myself too much and felt like a race track driver on the Tikit!

Returning back from our morning tea spot proved tough because of strong headwinds. Nevertheless, it gave us a really good work out and we were glad when we arrived back at Ken's home 52km later. There, Ken proudly showed us a Singapore Tourist Guide where he was featured!

We were then lavished with the much appreciated cold water, apple juice, home made banana cake and tea. A most fitting end to a glorious morning indeed.

Welcome back Uncle Ken!

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases … Psalms 103:2

Looping the Loop

2011-11-21T17:09:00.000-08:00

Discovering new routes and new places has always excited me. My most recent ride saw Ken and I cycle to the city, then to Fremantle via the northern part of the Canning River passing through UWA, Claremont and Cottesloe and then onwards to Pt Walter and Applecross. A nice and easy flattish 50km jaunt.

Leaving from Bullcreek at 745am, traffic on the bike path was busy but nothing compared to the crawling motorway. We felt so sorry for the cars! Perhaps one of the most scenic bit is the ride from the Friendship Bridge near the city to UWA where the bike path is right at the edge of the beautiful Swan River.

Riding through the flash suburbs of Dalkeith/Peppermint Grove, arguably the richest suburbs in the whole of Australia, we were blown away at the many riverside monumental mansions. Unfortunately, we didn't bring a map and had to continue a short part of the way on Stirling Highway which is not bike friendly.

We enjoyed a lovely morning tea of coffee and muffin at Maid Marion's Bakery in Cottesloe. Very reasonable prices but the highlight was not so much what we ate, but what we saw.

Ken is an avid e-bike enthusiast (he built one himself) and his sharp eye caught a spanking new A2B Metro e-bike parked on the rack. This is a top shelf bike commanding a price of about A$3k! Fat wheels, disc brakes, quality finish, avant garde design, the Metro looks more like a motorbike than a bicycle. Alas, we waited for the owner to show up to have a chat, but waited in vain.

Decided to veer a short skip to the breath-taking coast via Eric Street. Very few cities in this world can offer a change from an awesome river to sea experience in a matter of minutes. Made Ken and I feel so blessed to be living here.

I was so glad that the fresh sea breezes cleared up my hay fever allergy and could finally breathe properly. Sometimes, we take so much forgranted. Gliding along the coast is magic!

Fremantle appeared quickly and for the first time, we were cycling to Point Walter from the other side. Doing things differently and breaking routines is highly recommended from time to time.While refuelling at Pt Walter with ham and cheese sandwiches, a one legged seagull showed up. So we fed her real well and did our good deed for the day.

Our ride home was done in a record time after that. Ken remarked that this was the best local ride he has done so far and I agree wholeheartedly with him.

We did it, we looped the loop!

Wheelosopher

2011-11-18T06:59:00.001-08:00

One of the joys about sharing the cycling passion is meeting like-minded folks. Mike Khor, Slave and Founder of Wheelosopher is truly an inspirational guy. I've never met him personally as he lives in Malaysia but somehow, I feel a kindred spirit between us. We have communicated several times and its always a joy. We have also ridden the same roads, though at different times. Taken pics of same places too!

I confess to being a lurker on his blog and drawing inspiration from his exciting stories and adventures. He has been to the top of the world in Shangrila, China and across the plains of Sapa, transversing Vietnam into Laos. Mt Bromo also checked! Europe, he has it under his belt too. Mike does bike races and enjoys mucking around in the mud with 4WDs. Quite a guy indeed! The Indiana Jones of Malaysia. O yes, I forgot Tibet too.

It is actually in reading his account of Borneo that led me to organise a similar trip some years back. He prefers full size bikes and is a roadie/tourer. We both do have Surly LHT with Orbs and that obligatory Brooks.

Do have a peep into his excellent blog but be warned, you may get stuck there for hours. And whenever I need my "caffeine" fix of the cycling kind, I drink deeply from his downhill video. The cornering is far better and more exciting than that at Sepang race track and makes you want to go out and ride!

Thanks Mike for being the inspiration that you are! We must ride together one day soon.

*All pics and video "borrowed" without permission from Wheelsopher.

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another - Proverbs 27:17

Our Augusta to Bunbury ride on Go Pro video

2011-11-14T03:31:00.000-08:00

Enjoy!

Life is short

2011-11-13T05:44:00.001-08:00

I was very moved to see this 2 min video on one of my fav bike blogs, Smallwheelsbigsmile. We have 7 weeks before the year ends and time really flies so quickly. This year, I have lost 2 mates. Both cyclists. A stark reminder that indeed life is short and we must not take things forgranted.

While the video is largely a motivational one, it has some salient points that reverberates with me. Yes, it helps that everyone there is on their bicycles having fun!

1. Life is short

2. Open your mind and your heart to new things and new people

3. Travel often, getting lost will help you to find yourself

4. Life is about the people you meet, and creating things with them

5. Live your dream and share your passion

To that, I like to add that its important to know why we are given life and how to live it to the fullest. While everyone will have their own answers, or are still searching, mine centres around the virtue of love. Not so much the romantic or erotic love the movies often portray but love that is deeply rooted and connected to the source of love.

Knowing that I am love unconditionally by the One who created me, gives me a sense of quiet assurance and strength to live and celebrate each day, the good as well as not so good days. Because I am loved and accepted, I in turn am able to love other people, to accept and appreciate them for who they are. And given a chance, perhaps even to add and build their lives in a small but hopefully significant way.

So even though life is short, living the way of love as He intended is long on meaning and purpose!

"I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly" - Jesus Christ, John 10:10

Discovering Burns Beach

2011-11-12T15:58:00.000-08:00

Just yakking with Pat on the phone about new places to ride here in Perth saw me training up to Warwick Station on Friday. The destination was Burns Beach, a very northern location about 35km from the city. A 30 min train ride on the very efficient Transperth train with my Tikit folded up saw us arrive 5 mins before 8am. Pat was waiting for me, all ready to go on his BF Pocket Pro.

It took us 5km riding west before we hit the beautiful coastline of North Beach. This must be the most beautiful part of Perth and my dream to stay here one day. As we stopped to savour the great views, an elderly cyclist came up to us and pointed out some dolphins cruising just off the beach.

We were so thrilled to see that. Such magnificent and graceful creatures they are. Unfortunately, I couldn't capture them on camera.

Hillary's Boat Harbour came too soon and I was surprised at how easy it was to cover distances on bicycles here with its excellent bike paths.

We enjoyed good conversations as always and marvelled at the good life people in Perth enjoy especially in these beach suburbs. The weather was sunny but not hot at 23c and this meant many people were out walking or riding.

We stopped at a lookout at Northpoint for morning tea and saw a lone jet scooter having fun tearing up the waves.

The last 5km before Burns Beach proved to be a bit hilly with some curves thrown in. This meant exhilarating downhills with steep cornering and this was where the Kojak tires came to its element. I banked in too steeply at one corner and grinded my Orb panniers. Ouch!

Burns Beach is a popular haunt and even on a weekday, it was fairly crowded. There was a cafe but it looked like it didn't need our business. Its a fairly decent beach but I prefer Cottesloe.

We made our way out east towards the Mitchell Freeway and passed through some very impressive new houses. I was pleased to know that the entire Mitchell Freeway has a bike path build alongside and it just shows the commitment of the local government to promote cycling as a way of life.

I haven't been to the town of Joondalup for a long time and wanted to see it. This has been recently voted as one of the best cities in the world to live in. Considering that this town started just 18 years ago, that is quite a feat. We dropped in at Pat's fav bakery, Patisserie Cafe, which boasts the best Polish donuts, where Pat treated me to a nice apple Danish and had our drinks.

After such indulgence, it was hard to ride again and I was tempted to hop on the train home. But we don't allow our mates to ride alone and so, it was another 11km back to Warwick station south along the Mitchell again.

I got back at 1145am, feeling very pleased at a morning well spent discovering a new cycling route.

A Tikit with Rod

2011-11-12T15:30:00.000-08:00

I have not seen Rod for over 2 months and it was great to ride with him once again on our usual Wed morning jaunts. We rode the Mekong in Thailand a few months back and have put many kms together. I believe the more we ride with someone, the closer we become.

This was also the first time I took the Tikit out on the route to Pt Walter. The contrast in riding a 16" wheel with a 700c one was visually starking but there was no issue in keeping up with one another.

The baldy Kojak tires I had were extremely grippy and a real blast to ride. My only peeve was riding through a rough-ish wooden bridge where the high pressure 16" wheel was sending vibrations a plenty and I had to slow down.

But apart from that which means 99% of the time, the Tikit put a big smile on my face. It is now my favourite bike here in Perth. It has done 450km in the last 3 weeks so far!

A lazy Sunday in Bunbury

2011-11-12T06:05:00.000-08:00

Because all accommodations were full at Busselton due to the Queen's birthday, we ended up spending 2 nights in Bunbury. It was a good thing Ken drove us there as the 50km route is not very pleasant to cycle. Just another highway. Amazing how well looked after we are by our Heavenly Father!

We checked into the Dolphin YHA and it proved to be the best hostel among the 3 we experienced. Free coffee and tea, free bikes (not that we needed them), free BBQ and the list goes on.

Very friendly staff and folks. I was also impressed with the cleanliness and organisation. Great location, a mere 5 mins walk to the sandy beaches and we enjoyed our swims there very much. Interestingly, they gave each of us our own set of plates, cup and cutlery. Our room had a queen bed and a double decker and was spotless. Dinner was at a lovely Chinese restaurant and it was nice to eat rice again.

While the boys went for a Sunday morning swim, I cycled to church and it was a most enjoyable 5km ride through the quiet city. At Bunbury Baptist, they were very kind and allowed me to park my folded Tikit inside where it was safe inside God's house.

I was so pleasantly surprised to meet my good friend Annelise at the service. Talk about a small world!

We spend the afternoon touring Bunbury and its surroundings - enjoyed priceless views from the lookout, cycled to the train/bus station some 5km away just to check it out, rode around Big Swarm Parkland and just cruised up the coast. An enticing cafe called Hungry Hole beckon us to enter and it looked like a perfect place for a nice cold beer and hot chips. We enjoyed our drinks with the sea in front of us.

Our do-it-yourself dinner was fresh Sirlion steak, English pork sausages with Italian bread and salad, courtesy of Coles Supermart, washed down with more beer and wine. It smelled so good that the those around us were all begging us for a taste! Pat really is a BBQ master as he grilled our steaks to perfection.

We had had to go for a last walk along the beach after dinner and enjoyed some great conversations. It was certainly a very lazy day but it was an ideal way to end our Augusta to Bunbury adventure.

Note: We caught the TransWA bus back to Perth the next morning and this is certainly the best way to travel interstate. Supremely comfortable, punctual and professional.

Day 3 - The final push to Busselton

2011-11-11T17:47:00.000-08:00

It was going to be a long ride today. Ken and Pat kindly woke up earlier to make us a great breakfast of spam & egg bagel. Really spoilt by these wonderful brothers!

As much as we were ready to leave by 8am, the YHA office did not open till 830am. We needed to return the beddings so it was fun waiting and reading the notice boards. Apparently, there is a need for farm/fruit workers and they pay A$18 per hour for a 40 hour week. Best labourer pay in the world I reckon, and we were tempted.

We finally set off and chose the path less travelled towards Cave Road. After getting a bit lost, this led us into a most beautiful walking/cycle trail in the lush and cool forest. Crossing a wooden bridge and riding on dirt trails was a new experience for us and the foldies could handle it with surprising ease. We somehow managed to pop out onto Carter Road and a quick downhill saw us flying 45km/h until we hit Caves Road. Unfortunately from there onwards, the undulating hills began.

Though it was a very scenic and shady ride, the hills were taking its toll on us and after 20km of that, I was drained. My mates blamed it on me giving half my breakfast away to a Japanese guy at the YHA and they were probably right.

It was not so fun playing "sweeper" but I plodded on eating whatever food I had in my pannier to get energy. After 35km of climbs and descends, we stopped at Yallingup Maze to refuel. Being a major tourist attraction, it was like a kids' circus there with many families and their dogs all hanging around. Bouncy castle, face painting, fairies, playground etc but we just wanted food and drink! I was so happy to enjoy my Korean Shin Ramen cup noodles and that got me going again. Christoph as usual had his cake being the cake lover that he is.

This was the break I badly needed and it did me wonders. We saddled up once again and this time headed for Canal Rocks. Ken swears this was the most amazing place he has ever seen and we were not disappointed. Traffic was building up here and in the midst of intense riding, Patrick missed the turn off to Canal Rocks. I shouted at him and rang the bell but Pat just disappeared out of sight. Good thing for mobile phones and he text to say he will be waiting at Dunsborough.

Meanwhile, Chris, Ken and I did the 2.5 km detour to Canal Rocks. The arduous climb was tough but the descend took our breath away as the ocean appeared before us as we glided in complete silence.

We were blown away by the majesty of emerald green waters, crashing waves and the fresh smell of the sea. We parked our bikes and scampered to the rocks. Sitting there watching the waves and feeling the wind in our face was a spiritual moment the 3 of us will share forever.

The ride to Dunsborough was a mere 15km but it was hair raising as the Queen's Birthday holiday traffic was thick. Although most cars were courteous, there were some idiots that made our blood boil. Well, the good part of that was that we were flying at 28-30km/h and arrived at the Shell Station where good ole Patrick was waiting patiently for us. Dunsborough on a busy and crowded weekend lost its glimmer with so many cars and people around. Lunch was a simple pie in the park affair. Some of us had 2. We couldn't wait to get out.

The last 23km from Dunsborough to Busselton was our fastest ride ever. Averaging 25km/h, Ken was amazed at his ability. What helped was the technique of drafting that we used. I was behind "BMW" Christoph and it was easy following him. We took a break at the Baptist Churches Holiday Camp and met a kind elderly couple holidaying who offered us some lovely cashews.

We reached Busselton at 4pm still feeling surprisingly energetic. My bike computer showed 80km. I rewarded myself with a nice tall icy cold Sprite at Mackers and enjoyed the refreshing aircon. Our bike ride has ended all too soon. We did a total 230km and what a trip it has been. It is over and we couldn't believe we conquered the South Western part of WA on small wheels.

Day 2 - Northward Ho to Margaret River

2011-11-04T19:26:00.000-07:00

I love getting up to the sound of pelting rain on the windows except this morning was the first day of our ride. A cool 12c with dark clouds kept me in bed for a while until my roommate Patrick was all packed and ready to roll. The gang met at 8am and fortunately, the rain slowed down. We walked in the drizzle to Augusta Bakery and enjoyed a million dollar view with a great hearty breakie.

Though the clouds were still overcast, we loaded up our steeds and began our ride feeling extremely exhilarated. It was a bit cold and wet but our hearts were burning with anticipation and excitement. It was nice to know that in this part of the world, the cars gave us a wide berth and were courteous.

We turned off the busy Bussell Highway and took the scenic Caves Road where it was nice and quiet. Jewel Cave came up all too soon and it was a good reason for a short break. At A$20 for the entrance fee, inflation has really caught up here. My last visit was over 10 years ago and I don't remember paying so much. But it is beautiful and worth a view inside the caves.

Despite being warned that Caves Road can be a bit hairy, we found it not to be so. Shady, quiet traffic and amazing scenery. Its like cycling through the woods and its as good as it gets. Add in some gentle rolling hills, it made for a most pleasant ride. We passed paddocks of sheep and cows, vineyards, saw some horses and the air was just so fresh.

Being Spring time and pollen filled, I suffered a bit with Hay Fever but I was not going to let that spoil my fun. We also took the opportunity to do some bike swapping and learned to appreciate the strength and weaknesses of each bike.

We took morning tea at a most delightful Boranup Gallery Cafe. At a cool 20c, sitting outside under the shade was most pleasant. Add in great coffees, pastries and cake, I reckon this is how a cycling trip should be.

Of course we had to visit some wineries and the first one we went to was the Leeuwin Estate. This is a most beautiful place but unfortunately because of its fame, tourists filled its grounds, service standards were compromised and we moved on to its neighbour, Voyager Wineries. This proved a great blessing as it had the most inviting Tea Room I have ever seen.

Christoph had a glass of Chadonnay while Kenneth tucked into a beautiful carrot cake. My hot chocolate was huge, almost like a soup bowl.

We made sure we rang the bell 4 times before leaving the estate to celebrate our ride and friendship. Patrick didn't join us as he scooted to confirm our room at YHA Margaret River and that was very magnanimous of him to do so.

Our accommodations were not as good as Augusta even though we paid a bit more but got squeezed into one room of 2 double decker beds. Nevertheless, it had a spacious kitchen, a pool and some young adults who drank too much. Dinner was ridiculously expensive at Margaret River, it being a tourist hub and a bowl of Singapore Laksa that goes for S$3 or A$9 in Perth, was going for A$28 here! We settled for Subway sandwiches. They were satisfying.

It was another early night for us but sleep was fleeting with the beer induced racket but fortunately, it didn't go on for too late. The considerateness of people in YHAs has so far impressed me. The 70km ride made us mildly tired and ensured we all slept soundly like babies.

Day 1 - Driving, busing and cycling down to Augusta Lighthouse

2011-11-01T16:27:00.000-07:00

Patrick and Ken came really early to my home at 0745, reflecting all the enthusiasm and excitement of a good start to our SW adventure. Poor Christoph has just flown in from Singapore at midnight and caught only a couple hours of sleep but we were all bright and chirpy nevertheless.

Ken's huge Commodore swallowed 2 foldies in the boot with panniers and hung another 2 on his sturdy "tow-ball" rack. We are grateful to him for the use of this Oz limo!

The 3.6 litre engine made the drive to Busselton a real breeze and we arrived there a comfortable 2 hours before our 1245pm bus.

We popped into the excellent and helpful Tourist Info Office which got us sorted out and we went to Jester's Pies for morning tea.

Busselton is famous for its 2km long jetty and we drove there to take a quick peep. Its a nice small holiday town by the sea and is certainly worth an extended visit. We unloaded our foldies and gear at the bus pick up point and found a safe place to park the car. We had two steering locks for maximum deterrence.

I was keeping my fingers cross as we were not sure about Trans WA Coach policy on foldies except that they charged $10 for full size bikes. When the magnificient blue bus came, the kind driver didn't bat an eyelid and told us to load our foldies into the spacious cargo hold which could easily take 10 foldies. Travelling with foldies, once again, proved amazingly easy!

The bus ride to Augusta took about 2 hours and we enjoyed great conversations. It was excellent that our Youth Hostel was just 300m from our drop off point. I'm usually quite skeptical about youth hostels but the YHA Augusta was superb. It is an old refurbished house that is spacious, clean and welcoming. Kudos to John the owner. Great value at A$30 per person! But we did feel our age with all those nubile youngsters around...

We wasted no time and went straight for tea at the renown Augusta Bakery before proceeding for an evening ride to the Lighthouse.

It was so nice to ride on quiet paths just by the sea. The ride was an easy 7km with some rolling hills to keep things interesting.

Just recovering from a bout of mycoplasma, I was struggling to keep up with the group but I could not resist the downhills and managed 51km/h on the Speed Pro!

The lighthouse keeper told us not to swim in the inviting emerald clear waters as there are seals and that means sharks lurk around. He claims to have seen a big one and we gave him the benefit of the doubt. This year, 3 or 4 people have tragically been attacked.

We then rode back to town and dropped into the IGA supermarket to pick up some dinner. It was amazing that with all of us chipping in, our spagetti, salad, roast chicken, Turkish bread dinner was prepared in a record 20 mins flat! Washed down with a lovely Amberly Cabernet Merlot, we retired early at 8pm feeling very excited and grateful for a lovely first day of our adventure.

Augusta to Bunbury Ride - its happening...

2011-10-26T07:42:00.000-07:00

Its funny how time creeps up so quickly. I was just talking about doing this ride a few months back and now, I'm packing to go. Pat, Ken,Christoph (who I will picking up in an hour's time from the airport) and I will drive down south to Busselton, leave the car there and catch the bus to Augusta. Here, the Indian Ocean meets the Southern Ocean and this little town has a nice lighthouse plus superb bakery.

Then, its a ride to Margaret River for an overnight stay, an easy 50km. Great vineyards, superb surf beaches and a very artsy culture await us. Off then to Busselton via Dunsborough to enjoy the scenic coast of WA. Ken leaves us via car and the 3 of us continue our exploration at Bunbury.

Thats the game plan, lets see what happens. We will be riding all foldies, namely Bike Friday Tikit, Pocket Pro, Dahon Speed Pro and a Ventura Touring. At least the weather forecast is promising and our sojourn down south co-incides with Queen's Elizabeth's visit to Perth for the CHOGM. I hope the whole of Perth won't be down there with us!!!

A Sunday ride with Love Cycling Singapore Group

2011-10-24T18:23:00.000-07:00

Pic fm Francis Chu

I had the privilege to squeeze in one more ride before I left for Perth with the LCSG. This is a group started by my friends TW and Francis with the objective of doing easy Sunday morning rides to discover Singapore, enjoy gliding on whatever wheels be it folding, mountain, racing, commuters etc augmented with good food, friendships and great photo opportunities.

Its very alive on Facebook where views and opinions are freely shared, the older birds helping the younger ones in the world of cycling and it was so touching to know that even a marriage proposal was made a few weeks ago. Every 10pm Facebook discussions come alive!

The group has grown to over 600 strong in membership in just over a year and this excellent video done by Matt Chia , a most gifted lensman, captures the essence and spirit of this wonderful easy going bike group. May I invite you to join them if you are in Spore. Barrels of fun!

3 to Malacca

2011-10-18T18:45:00.000-07:00

It was really great to be riding again with Chris and a new friend KC when I got back to Singapore. Our destination this time was the historical town of Malacca. Using the coastal route, it took us 260 easy km and we did it with stopovers in Pontian Kechil (75km), Batu Pahat (80km) and thereafter to Malacca.

KC was riding the only foldy, an Eminence while Chris rode his Titanium bike and I the Surly LHT. Despite his smaller wheels, KC was the fastest rider and his idea of an ideal touring speed is 30km/h, much much higher than ours at 23-25km/h. It didn't help my ego that KC is nearly a decade older than I! Its a good thing we had the excuse of stopping a lot because there were so many pictures to take...

The 3 of us had a wonderful time exploring the quiet Malaysian small towns and over eating as usual. The food in Malaysia is absolutely a delightful gastronomical adventure.

I cannot express adequately the joy we feel just pedalling from one town to another on our own strength and discovering and experiencing so many new sights, smells and sounds.

Despite the heat, I think Malaysia is very promising as a bicycle destination with great food, and low prices. We spend a total of US$130 for 4 nights including our bus fare back from Malacca to Singapore. Friendly people, considerate drivers, yummy food, value for money hotels (Our best deal was a US$24 room for 3 of us, plus aircon at Tang's guest house at Jonkers), it is certainly a trip worth doing again.

Thanks KC and Chris for a beautiful trip!

*pics courtesy of CW & KC.

Lighting up my life

2011-10-06T17:09:00.001-07:00

Steve Jobs, Founder and CEO of the famous Apple Computer Company died 2 days ago and left his mark in the lives of the millions of satisfied Apple users. iPhone, iMac, iBook, iTouch, iPad etc and I count myself as having benefited by his passion and products.

It reminds me that a life well-lived is one that adds to the life of others. It doesn't matter if its done in big or small ways. In this regard, I received a precious gift from a dear friend TW for a special occasion.

This antique bicycle-dynamo lamp has been with him for 20 years and TW modified it skillfully to become an LED modern bike lamp, housed in its classic form. I am so thrilled and honoured to have this ingenious and super-thoughtful gift. It even comes in its original box with instruction manual plus the dynamo too! The "TW Lamp" will be carefully brought to Perth and will add to the classic look of my nearly 20 year old Bridgestone XO5 bicycle.

Thanks TW for adding and lighting up my life!

God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That's why he sent Christ to make us what we are. Ephesians 2:10

Riding to work - Sydney Australia

2011-10-03T17:05:00.000-07:00

Lets be honest. Many of us city folks find little time to exercise and it shows. Just look around at the growing number of out of shape people around us, and heh, we may even be one of them. This ad by Sydney Cycleways is inspirational. The words of the guy in the ad says it all, "In a car, you just get in and get out. In a way, you are missing out on the whole journey!"

I hope you give riding to work a try!

Adjustable handlebar for long rides?

2011-10-01T09:31:00.001-07:00

On my recent ride of 260km to Malacca, I used the Mary On One riser bar. This is slightly swept back and gives a most comfortable position for most rides. However, being on the bike for nearly the whole day, I'm beginning to realise the importance of switching hand position every now and then to prevent aches and pains on shoulders and palms. No matter how good your handlebar position is, staying in the same place continously is not how our maker designed our bodies. A quick check with Dr C Tan illumined me to this condition called Handlebar Palsy. It can happen even within an one hour of being in a fixed position.

No wonder Heinz Stuck , renown world traveller came out with the concept of attaching 2 handlebars on his bike. Having traverse the world for nearly 600,000 kms, I think his experience and advice merit serious consideration.

It is therefore with great excitement that I stumbled upon the latest Dahon Speed TR with this feature - adjustable Andros handlebar stem. I looked at its goofy design and didn't quite appreciate it at first but after studying at it carefully, function must take preference over form. This feature alone can make or break a tourer's comfort after a long hard day on the saddle. So easy to get a myraid of new positions with one simple adjustment.

With full respect to Heinz, it sure beats his solution of having the "bi-plane" style handlebars on his bike!

Surely the Surly?

2011-09-23T04:53:00.000-07:00

Come Monday I will be riding northwards into Malaysia. Our destination is the Unesco Heritage City of Malacca, some 230km away. I've been there many times and in 2002, I rode back from Malacca to Singapore. This will be my first time riding up and I look forward to doing this with my trusty buddy CW and a new friend, KC.

Like many of you with too many bicycles, choosing which one to ride can be a real headache. I was initially thinking of using my brand new Bike Friday Pocket Sport as its a really fast bike with drop bars. Or for supreme comfort, the Expedition with its multi-position touring handlebar cannot be beaten. Then, there is my much neglected Surly Long Haul Trucker, arguably the best bang for your buck touring bicycle on this planet. My Surly is kitted with the commuter style, laid back, hang loose, M-swept riser Mary On One bar.

I took the Surly out of the box after a 3 year hiatus and was surprised at how well it kept. It was so easy to assemble it together - fixing on handlebar, seat post, pedals and front wheel. A bit of cleaning up and some air in the tires, it was good to go.

Being on a long wheel base touring bike is a different experience altogether from my usual foldies. Its a bit porky off the line but once at cruising speed, it seems to have a momentum on its own. Managed a very respectable 44km/h as well with a bit of a downslope.

The ride is also very plush and the LHT can be ridden for hours on end. It also tracks very steadily which is important on long fast declines. Here is how it performed in Sumatra a few years back. Yes, I was young and maybe a bit foolish then... and still am!

With XT/LX components, the gear system is butter smooth and a joy to use. I met up with CW for lunch and proceeded for ice cream and coffee. When it was cooler, I went for a nice long ride, and ended with a refreshing swim at the club.

I'm still undecided on which bike to use, but I'm leaning towards the LHT. I just hope that the coach we are taking back to Singapore will be able to fit 3 full size bikes in its belly. Surely the Surly cannot be wrong?

My new "Fixie"

2011-09-22T04:18:00.000-07:00

Fixed gear bikes seem to be the new rage in cycling recently, trickling down even to foldies. My fellow Tikiteer Vik has finally succumbed! Therefore, it was with great delight and surprise for me today to know that my good friends gave me a brand new "fixie" from Japan. Tommi and Chi Ota are in their 60s and know my passion for bikes. They took the trouble to buy this fixie for me and I'm overjoyed!

Typical of Japanese quality, the intricate features include working brakes, side stand, gear shifters and even rotating pedals that operate the rear wheel fixie style.

In addition to the bike, they even thoughtfully included the latest Japanese bike magazine, The Bicycle Book.

More than getting such wonderful surprise gifts, I'm so grateful to God for giving me such dear friends that add so much to my life and bless me time and time again.

Arigato Gozaimas Tommi and Chi san! And special thanks to Kitty san for the courier service :)

Comeback Kid!

2011-09-16T20:31:00.000-07:00

There are two gospels I preach. One is that God loves us so deeply. The second one is that cycling is fun and good for your body and soul.

Israel hails from India, Zambia and New Zealand and I have known him since I came to live in Perth few years ago. Recently, he has expressed the desire to exercise and keep fit again. Needless to say, there is no better way than cycling.

Dr Ian Charlton, an Australian GP was on video "Doctor on a Bike" and instead of prescribing drugs to tackle the many diseases of sedentary modern lifestyle, he prefers to prescribe the bicycle. Doing so will reduce obesity, the cause of many illnesses we face today.

Israel picking himself up after a fall... note wet patch on left knee.

I can't help but admire Israel because he is approaching 70 and still full of life and vigor. He has not ridden a bicycle since 1964 and therefore it was a challenge to get him back on a bike. Despite a shaky start and a few mishaps, Israel got the hang on it and we went off cycling to Mt Henry Bridge.

It was a glorious Spring morning and a wonderful way to start the weekend. We even had some fun flying my kite at the jetty.

Check out this light-hearted video I made for Uncle Israel. If he can do it, so can many of your more senior friends out there. Get them out on a bike!

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

So you think a Brompton is a strict commuter?

2011-09-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

Think again...

Merry in Bunbury

2011-09-12T05:22:00.000-07:00

Our wonderful abode in Roelands. TU J & L!

I took the opportunity to pack along my nifty Brompton together with my overnight essentials for a weekend holiday in Bunbury. My friends Israel and Ravi know me all too well and made room for my foldie in their brand new Aurion 3.5V6 for the 150km drive down south.

Such thoughtfulness is truly appreciated and its wonderful to be blessed with such great friends who are so accepting of my quirks.

In 7 weeks time I would be cycling along this part of WA so it would be prudent to do a short test ride along the highway roads. Early Sunday morning when my friends were still having breakkie, I unfolded Brommie for a ride and explored the Australind area. Riding along Highway 1 from Raymond Road to Paris Road, I could sense that the rough shoulder of the Oz Highway was making me numb as the smallish Brompton wheels were not happy. 6 hours of this and I will loose all my teeth fillings but thankfully, once I got onto the side roads, things were fine.

It was great to finally see the Leschenault Estuary where I turned left and headed south at the Old Coast Road. Traffic was very light and the weather was a perfect sunny 14c. It was really special to see the world waking up on this lazy Sunday morning. I arrived at the Dolphin Discovery Centre where I met up with my friends and chucked the Brompton into the Aurion's huge boot.

This place was established for the purpose of education, research and conservation of the 100+ wild dolphins that set up camp in this very sheltered part of Bunbury. What fascinates is the passion of the staff there in helping visitors like us know as much as possible about the wonderful undersea world. I learned that Octopus can change color according to their mood and surroundings, and feeding time for her was most entertaining.

A short drive 20km away to the Ferguson Valley opened my eyes to the beauty of this wine growing region.

We visited Wild Bull Brewery and enjoyed the best Apple Cider ever. Coupled with live saxophone music and tasty food, it was an experience to savour.

Bunbury is fast becoming a retirement paradise and it is easy to see why. Nice beaches, easy going lifestyle, temperate climate and friendly folks. It was fascinating to watch the surfers having fun with the waves. That is something I must do one day.

I was excited at seeing a bicycle tourer too. Somehow, the thought of someone on a journey never fails to inspire.

I can't wait to ride through this area again in late Oct, probably on my Long Haul Trucker or my Bike Friday Expedition. The ride will be a long one from Augusta back to Bunbury and it should be barrels of fun with warmer days and with good mates. Christoph, are you ready?

Adventures with Lovethefold - movie trailer

2011-09-09T03:33:00.000-07:00

My very own movie trailer thanks to iMovie!

A visit of sorts at Fremantle Hospital

2011-09-08T07:56:00.000-07:00

Our dear buddy Uncle Ken has not been joining us these past few weeks as his dear wife has been warded at Freo Hospital. It has been a very trying time understandably and we decided to bring some cheer to them this week.

Of course, there is no better way than to cycle there the long way and we enjoyed a beautiful Spring morning ride along the Canning River. The weather is getting a bit warmer, from 6 to 11C mornings and it was glorious with the shining sun and deep blue skies. Moments like these remind me of God's goodness and love to us. It was great to have my nephew Nick join us for the first time too.

The ride to Fremantle is about 24km from my home and rather flat except after Point Walter where we have to ride through some undulating paths. This proved to be quite fun tearing down the slopes and I had fun playing with my Go Pro video camera.

It is heartening to know that B has been moved to the Rehab Ward and she is definitely on the mend. Her worse days are behind her and we are grateful to God for his healing and mercies. B was in bright spirits and we enjoyed our morning chat immensely. The nurse that came to attend to her was a very nice lady and I learned that she became one because she was a perfectionist. Her passion was dressing wounds perfectly!

The 2nd best news apart from B's recovery was that Ken is given the visa by B to cycle with us once again and he is going to try join us next week. We hope that he can and wish B a speedy recovery.

ps: We saw these beautiful shoes left at the park bench where we had our morning tea. A divine sign that B would perhaps be on her feet again soon?

Car servicing made fun!

2011-09-07T07:19:00.000-07:00

One of life's dreaded chores is laundry. The other is to take the car for its routine service. I had to do that recently and this normally entails 2 trips - dropping off the car at the dealer, and then picking it up later. It usually is a painless job if you have someone to send and pick you but I don't have that luxury unfortunately.

My trip involved jumping on the train and then walking or bus-sing back to my home and vice versa. So in a way, its a bit worse than laundry especially if it involves lots of walking unless one has a folding bike.

It was easy to chuck the ever compact Brompton into the hatch of my Corolla for the drive to Scarboro Toyota some 15km away and then coming home via train/bike. 35 easy mins. When the car was ready in the late afternoon, I did the reverse. However, this time it was peak period and the train was filled with people going home from work. When space is at a premium inside the carriage, the tiny package of the folded Brompton comes into its element. I took up no unnecessarily space as it fitted snugly between the seats.

Of course, the Brompton is always a conversational piece and I could not help overhearing a nearby passenger talking about it with her friend. Upon arrival at my station, I unfurled her and rode to the dealership. It was a matter of paying the bill, putting the Brompton into the hatch, and driving home.

With a foldy, what was to be a boring routine chore turned out to be quite fun!

The art of foldy

2011-09-05T21:16:00.001-07:00

My young 11 yo friend Ronny drew this for me recently. I was of course delighted! Ronny is a gifted artist and has won a scholarship to John Curtin School of the Arts. Can you guess which foldy this is?

Sprung on REVERSE

2011-09-03T02:20:00.000-07:00

I'm not one who naturally like to view things from a reverse perspective but today's new experiment on the Go Pro proved to be quite successful. Being able to see the cyclist following you in detail is quite nice for a change. This angle could be very interesting to observe riding style and skill.

This is also the first time I notice the rear suspension of the Brompton in action. I applaud it because it is sufficiently stiff and doesn't bounce too much. Rear suspensions tend to bob during climbs or hard pedalling but I found this set up actually is very acceptable.

I had fun today with KC as we flew down the hill from King's Park, and we hit about 40km/h. It was exhilarating to say the least. Notice at 1.00 min where the Brompton accelerated and the Ventura got left behind due to it being in the wrong gear, and started to spin out.

Looks like I'm sprung on reverse for now and sometimes, one must look at life from a different perspective. New things to learn!

SPRING in reverse!

2011-09-01T05:45:00.000-07:00

Unlike many other countries, Australia being in the Southern Hemisphere, gets its seasons "reversed". Today marks the first day of Autumn for most countries but its the first day of Spring here in Perth. We celebrated that with a nice bike ride to the beautiful King's Park, and it was special as they had an opening of a grand Spring Festival.

I rode my Brompton which had been out of action for a while due to a broken seat shim. As usual, my wonderful buddy CW sprung into action and got one posted to me, thanks to his private bike parts store that never fail to disappoint. This would have cost me 17 pounds if I had to order it from the UK for just a piece of plastic!

King's Park is one of the largest park within any city and offers magnificent views from its high location. The impressive war memorial is here and the Garden of Contemplation to honour the fallen is a good place to reflect on the sacrifices that were made yesteryears so that we can enjoy peace today.

Of course, the park is also famous for all sorts of West Australian native flowers and fauna. It takes a lot to keep this place so pristine and a chat with the landscapers revealed that they mow the lawn 3 times a week! We enjoyed a very moorish morning tea with a priceless view, and that made for a very delightful moment.

I was particularly impressed with the board walk section of the park where a bridge path at tree top level was build. Spectacular views were offered and the chance to ride through it was absolutely heavenly.

I hope these short Go Pro videos, shot from a reverse angle, will give you a sense of the amazing beauty of King's Park especially this first day of Spring.

The real heroes of cycling

2011-08-30T22:02:00.000-07:00

This ad by Giant bicycles Australia truly strikes a chord in me. The media and sponsorships are focused too much on the Lance Armstrong et al types. In my books, the real heroes are ordinary people who use their bikes daily for enhancing their life. Students commuting daily, the milk delivery man on his bicycle, the NYC Messenger, the postman, moms on a school run and so many more examples.

Don't you think?

Go Pro-ing Mandurah

2011-08-27T16:27:00.000-07:00

It is always a real treat to ride the beautiful paths of Mandurah. We do this 50km cycle every alternate week in winter, spring, summer or fall and it never fails to take my breath away. Our route takes us southwards pass Dawsville Cut for another 6-7km, stopping for our morning tea before heading back.

If a picture paints a thousand words, a Go Pro video expresses a little bit more than that.

The ride is hilly at times and can be hard work but you can always count on the downhills for some adrenaline pumping fun.

The Dawsville Bridge is the highest bridge in WA and the views from it are indeed stunning.

You need to come ride this part of the world and experience it for yourself!

Sure sign cycling is picking up world-wide

2011-08-26T17:44:00.000-07:00

The marketing research folks at MNCs are really sharp at spotting the latest trends and developing innovative products for new segments constantly. Innovation is the key for their survival and success. Levis Straus, the jeans company is an excellent example.

When they start making cycling specific jeans, its the surest sign that cycling as a form of transport is growing globally.

Now where can I buy this?

Getting that cycling "visa"

2011-08-25T17:55:00.000-07:00

This is an absolutely hilarious video shared in my cycling community on FB. For those of us family guys and gals, getting time off for our cycling can sometimes be a real challenge. Its about balancing our home responsibilities and maintaining strong relationships with our spouses.

One way that works is to get your spouse and kids involved in your cycling tours somehow, even though they may not want to cycle. They could even meet you at the end of the tour for a family holiday.

All said and done, its about trust and love in our relationships. Whatever it is, don't follow this couple in exchanging insults with one another. Vulgarities are not helpful as well. That is a sure way to get a permanent visa for cycling!

Can I go riding?
by: marcusocall

Winded in Phuket

2011-08-23T23:35:00.000-07:00

Our flight from Udon Thani to Phuket was an easy 1.5 hrs as we travelled from the Mekong River of NE Thailand to the Andaman Sea, SW of the country. It was wonderful to meet Cil at Phuket airport. Our luggage now comprised of 8 bags with 16 wheels altogether, and we needed the extra large trolley to move our stuff out of the airport.

It was another miracle for our chartered van to swallow all of us in it. No doubt the latest model of Toyota's Hiace van is bigger but we had one more person plus BF Tikit in a case. Travelling with foldies is truly the way to go.

Instead of hanging around the beach areas, we booked ourselves into the heart of Chinatown in old Phuket Town at the newish Chinotel.

They were quite bike friendly and didn't mind us. To be precise, they didn't know what were in those cases! We enjoyed a lavish dinner at a fancy Seafood restaurant which came to double the price of what we were used to in Isaan. It was interesting to be served very well and delicately by a "waitress", who was more feminine than usual.

We spend the first morning free and easy. KC and TW took a bus to Patong Beach while I went for a walk to check out the wonderful old quarters of Phuket. This part of town share many similarities with Penang and Malacca, and to my surprise, had a Peranakan or Straits Born population.

Think old-style bungalows of the rich Chinese Towkays of yesteryear, British style five foot way shophouses, antique and curios shops, Chinese temples and you get the feel of the rich history of this most "un-Thai" town.

We started our ride proper after lunch and wanted to cycle to Cape Panwa via Patong Beach to see the sunset. Little did we know how steep and impossible the hills were. Mid way to Patong, the road started to really get serious. A truck which overtook us stalled in the middle of an incline, and its load of bricks fell all over the centre of the road. It was a good thing we were on the left side! It was like an ominous sign of what was to come.

Almost all of us started pushing our bikes up what felt like Everest, and it was only with the help of my BF Expedition very low granny gear that I just managed to ride up. It nearly burst my lungs doing so.

While catching my breath and waiting for others, I noticed Uncle Ken and TW missing. Dr Mike and I quickly walked down the steep hill only to find Ken sitting at the side of the road breathless and face red as a watermelon. He had severe over-heating and immediately, we cooled him down and gave him lots of drinks. It was a blessing that nothing else went wrong but we didn't risk it and flagged a tuk tuk to take him to Patong Beach. The rest of us finished the gruelling 16km and decided to watch the sunset there.

Patong is always a hive of activity especially at night when the bars, massage parlours and all sorts of night creatures come alive. But in the evening, it was surprisingly quite pleasant with cool breezy winds.

Celia got a surprise treat from Rod and Ken in the form of a Para-sailing flight. It was very generous of them and she enjoyed a wonderful bird's eye view, 100m in the air!

Dinner that night was probably the most enjoyable one we had in our entire trip. We walked past the trendy SeaU restaurant at Ranong Road and the elegant maitre d' invited us in saying, "If you don't like our food, we won't charge!" It helped too that Tacha had the brightest smile. Her food and especially service was better than flying Singapore Airlines First Class! Needless to say, we went back again.

We spend the whole of next day doing something very different - from land to water. We went kayaking with John Gray Adventures. It was the most expensive event we spent on our whole Mekong trip at US$120 per person but it really was worth it.

Transported door to door, served great meals and unlimited drinks, given professional guides and experienced breath-taking views that money cannot buy.

The guides spoke good english and steered our kayaks skillfully. I had one that was extremely knowledgeable about the eco-system of the amazing limestone caves and the rich wildlife. It helped that he was a joker as well!

We also had opportunities to swim in the warm sea and that was so good. It was a little scary going through the caves as we had to lie down and the top of the cave barely cleared our noses. Kudos to our guides.

This was a wonderful way to end our Mekong adventure. The 8 of us began the journey 8 days ago as strangers but ended up the trip as firm friends. We had slept together, ate together, got drenched together, suffered together, flew together and most of all, laughed and enjoyed priceless time on our foldies together.

As we said a sad goodbye upon arriving at Changi Airport in Singapore, we knew somehow this would be the start of many more delightful trips in the future.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*My special thanks and deepest appreciation go out to Brother Taiwoon for taking most of the lovely photos here and for being the best sweeper ever. He made sure no one was left behind and did a brilliant job on his Brommie!

Poodling NK in the morning

2011-08-23T07:44:00.000-07:00

Our flight to Phuket was not till the evening so we had the whole morning and a bit to enjoy the wonderful gateway city of Nong Khai. Mike and Ken welcomed the morning practising Tai Chi with full views of the Mekong.

Tiger prepared a local Isaan noodle breakfast and we appreciated the usual first class personalised service.

We were determined to make full use of the time we had left and raced off immediately along the beautiful riverside esplanade that was developed a few years ago. It makes for a scenic and refreshing walk and attracts many tourists.

Being on our bikes, it was much easier than walking, covering the 2-3km easily. Lots of photographs were taken and everyone was jovial and cracking jokes.

Our first destination was the White Pagoda, which marked the end of the riverside ride. While making our way there, I was overtaken by an elderly man riding an old Raleigh-style bicycle and that got me most curious and I tailed him. This Thai gentleman must have been cycling all his life which explains his incredible fitness and gumption. (Apologies for the shakes in the video.)

After the obligatory photo shoot at the White Pagoda, we continued on to Sala Keoku or Buddha Park.

Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a straight forward 3km ride ended up me leading my sheep astray. It was a combination of using a map in English to deciper Thai road signs, and that obviously didn't work. Trying to get directions from the local Tuk Tuk was also not easy with language barriers.

Once again, my fellow riders were so gracious to me and I felt thoroughly embarrassed. This short excursion however led us to see the beautiful country roads and we even passed through a peaceful fishing pond before finally reaching Sala Keoku.

The Buddha Park was developed in 1978 by a religious leader who was born in Nong Khai. He had build a similar park across the Mekong in Laos earlier in 1958. It consists of huge statures and sculptures from the Buddhist and Hindu beliefs. Too may tourists were there and we went to a quiet spot to feed the fishes.

Lunch was at the Danish Bakery before we headed back to Sofa Gallery. It was to be a welcome change from Thai fare which we had for the last few days. However, the food was very average and we should gone Thai!

Putting the foldies back into their suitcases and boxes seemed easier than assembling them and this was done in no time. TW's Brompton proved fastest here as it was merely a case of folding and putting it into the suitcase.

A quick shower and we were ready to be whisked to the airport by two Isuzu pick-ups for our next destination, Phuket. But not before saying goodbye to our new friend Tiger and his able assistant Max, who took excellent care of us at Sofa Gallery. This is certainly the best place to stay if you are ever in Nong Khai, and we cannot recommend it enough.

It was hard to say goodbye to this beautiful part of Thailand and I think all of us left our hearts here!

Van-ning back to Nong Khai

2011-08-22T08:37:00.000-07:00

Miracle Van contact, "Bird" - CK to NK

When the old Toyota van showed up at 8am punctually at our bungalow, I was still in prayer mode. Can 7 folding bikes, luggage and 8 adults actually fit inside the smallish 11 seater van? It had too, by hook or Brooks. It was great that the rear most seat was removed as instructed. We piled the foldies gingerly on top of each other, making sure scratches were minimised.

Everyone held their breath and we rejoiced gratefully when everything managed to magically squeeze into the Hiace! On that morning, our respect for our foldies went up several notches and TW blogged about this too.

It was sad to bid farewell to Christoph and family and we had our last meal together at a local Thai eatery. They were driving back to Bangkok. By this time, Milli their young daughter, had warmed up to Uncle Mike and insisted that she sat with him. I could not help but feel a tinge of jealousy at the attention he gets from girls of all ages!

The ride back was like watching a video in play back mode where we recognised all the hills and curves we overcome a few days ago.

The beauty of the Mekong River was also mesmerising as we drove alongside for 210 beautiful km.

I was told not to miss a most interesting temple 25km out of town, where two rocks "uniquely shaped" are worshipped and we had had to stop there for pictures. Rod was highly amused at his namesake; displayed prominently for all to see.

Dr Mike insisted that we did our lunch stop at Sri Chiang Mai once more for the delicious Pad Thai and when it comes to food, no one dare argue with this purveyor of delectable delights.

Our driver Bird, a young man in his 20s, drove us safely to Sofa Gallery at Nong Khai in record time. All that time in the van got everyone restless. We unloaded our gear, checked in and then we gathered again for a ride into town.

It was nice to be back on the saddle again, and we rode to the riverside near Mut Mee Guesthouse, hoping to take the evening cruise. Unfortunately, the engine of the boat had some trouble and we were left wondering what we to do. Suddenly out of nowhere, dark clouds rolled in and we could see a huge storm approaching. It was every man for himself as we jumped on our bikes lightning quick to ride for shelter. We ended up outside a Thai massage place and all hell broke loose. It was the fiercest storm ever! If we were to be out on the river, things would be rather wet and dangerous even. Thank God for engine trouble! His grace exhibited clearly to us again.

Dinner that night was at a local eatery highly recommended by our friend Chris Wee, and it did not disappoint. As usual, we over ordered! The sumptous meal of 10 dishes including stewed duck only costs 950B (US$30) for 7 of us.

No wonder Thailand remains a favourite cycling destination for so many as the food is simply "marvel-licious" and priced out of this world! We walked out of the restaurant feeling rather bloated and our bikes groaned and creaked as we cycled slowly back 3km to Sofa Gallery in the darkness of the night.

Chiang Khan

2011-08-11T05:25:00.000-07:00

Upon arriving at Chiang Khan, my greatest concern was how to get back to Nong Khai. Literally the plan to return was on a wing and a prayer. Somehow, the public transport system was such that we had to do a long winded rectangle loop via Loei, Udon Thani and then Nong Khai. There were no direct buses. And we had a plane to catch!

AngK and I drove to the Tuk Tuk station to make some enquiries about getting a hired van.

We were told to find the most beautiful gate on Soi 5. I thought this was becoming a bit "Lord of the Ring-ish" but off we went obediently. After a short drive, we spotted an ornately decorated wooden gate and walked in, only to be told by the owner that it is his neighbour who holds has the "key" we were looking for.

True enough, braving barking dogs, we entered the grounds of a huge, old house when a kindly mid-age lady greeted us and pointed us to a worn out Hiace van. She said for 1000B excluding petrol, her son would be happy to take us to Nong Khai and I was overcome with relief and joy! But what was more amazing was that she forced 2 bags of juicy Dragonfruits upon us as we said goodbye. Such kindness will never be forgotten!

With that out of the way, we could focus on enjoying lovely Chiang Khan. 11 of us squeezed into AngK's Toyota Wish wagon and had a superb dinner at a restaurant just by the riverside. The streets were closed to traffic and bustling with all sorts of vendors.

The night market resembled Pai and the hordes of holiday makers turned this peaceful town into Bangkok for this night. It had a very nice carnival atmosphere with buskers at every corner belting out all sorts of music, interesting foods (I ate a wrapped leaf with all sorts of goodies inside) and the cool weather made it a most enjoyable evening.

All the research I read about Chiang Khan being a sleepy hollow was thrown out of the window that night. Looks like we have to come back again another day to explore the quaint town as it should be, with old wooden houses and all. Somehow, Chiang Khan deserves that.

Mekong Day 3

2011-08-05T18:39:00.000-07:00

We got up with great anticipation as it was our final leg of 40km to Chiang Khan. It turned out to be the right decision to break camp here at Pak Chom as we all needed the rest after riding in the wet the whole of yesterday. Somehow being in wet undies for prolong period is not good for one's health! Trust me.

The posse got together bright and early at 8am and our first task was to search for breakfast. The roads were wet but the clouds held up nicely thanks to His mercies. Riding past the small hamlet of Pak Chom took all of 2 minutes and just at the end of town, we spotted a very nice eatery with a most distinguished owner.

20B or US70c for piping hot noodles or chicken rice got us clamouring in. Englishman Rod was totally enjoying this kind of breakfasts, and commented, "How am I ever going back to bake beans on toast?" With all of us satisfactorily refuelled, we rode on in the highest spirits, determined to enjoy every km ahead of us.

The scenery once again took our breath away. Riding along the the fertile Mekong meant passing through the greenest of green rice fields and other crops.

For photographers, the purest greens we saw, lighted up by the morning sun, forced us to stop, admire and shoot. TW had a field day!

There were a few hills but nothing to complain about. The roads here were generally good save for some pot holes and muddy stretches.

We were grateful that Joshua had recovered sufficiently to enjoy the ride and can't help but admire his determination and tough-ness.

We pulled in for a drink stop a little after Ban Huay Suak and were greeted with more warmth that anyone could expect. The owner's wife was intrigued to see Dr M and started to give his prosperous tummy a big rub. I warned Dr M whatever it is, not to reciprocate as her husband was watching all too closely! We laughed to no end. Perhaps it was like rubbing the tummy of the Big Buddha for blessings.

As we approached Chiang Khan, we could feel the traffic build up. After passing through the many hamlets, Chiang Khan felt like New York City and it didn't help that all the bustle was due to an exodus of Bangkok-rians no thanks to a long weekend.

Trust me to pick this weekend to enjoy what was supposed to be a quiet riverside town! Well, I supposed one positive way of looking at it is the whole of Thailand came down to congratulate us for finishing our ride...

This meant that all the guesthouses in town were full and the prices were sky high. Fortunately, AngK came to our rescue again and she remembered driving past some places 4km before town. We did a recce and finally decided on a very suitable bungalow and took 5 rooms at 550B each.

Once again, I felt very grateful to the patience and long suffering of my fellow riders as we took almost 2 hours to find accommodation. It was great to have our bikes as 4km to town is not a very far distance to ride. We were also very blessed that our bungalow was located near a very scenic location along the Mekong and all the tourists came here to soak in the views. It was here that we discovered the best snack ever - deep fried small shrimps in batter, eaten with sweet chilli sauce! We ate lots.

Our biggest challenge now was how to get back to Nong Khai where we left our bags and boxes. However for the moment, we just felt happy that our Mekong 210km adventure had been, as Rod described, "a life changing one" but sad that it had ended all too soon.

Mekong Day 2

2011-07-31T21:55:00.000-07:00

I woke up in the middle of the night to the sounds of heavy rain plummeting mercilessly on the roof. I am one of those who love sleeping to the rhythm of rain. My bliss was broken when the alarm clock rang and Christoph and I jumped out of bed. We peeped through the frosty window to the splendor of the brown, fast moving Mekong River and hoped the rain would ease a little.

Fat chance! It was wet as wet can be. The boys grouped at 8am for breakfast and Angkana drove out to buy us some sumptous local Thai fare of noodles and snacks. It was the start of many acts of kindness from her family.

All of us ate quietly feeling anxious about the thought of riding 110km in the rain to Chiang Khan. It was about 9am and we decided to "Tally Ho" as everyone was getting restless. Ensuring everything was water-proofed, we braved the rain and rode with hope, in our sandals.

I actually enjoyed the gentle rain drops landing on my face as I pedalled out of Sangkom. The cooler weather helped us to ride a bit faster. We had all our lights blinking for better visibility and felt like the top of the world.

I wore a cap inside my helmet to manage the rain from blurring up my vision and it somewhat did the job. TW as usual, took "tail-end Charlie" and we rode tightly as a pack of all-weather bombers on an important mission.

Riding in the wet was interesting. It was like the world was divided into those haves and the have nots - fenders that is. The latter group had their bicycles completely dirty and when grime started to seep into the cables, all sorts of technical problems developed.

Ken C's was both. First, his RD got jammed. Then, his pannier cover started collecting water and soon, he was wondering why his bike was getting heavier and heavier. Dr Mike wanted to do immediate surgery to release the fluids in the huge tumour! Truly, we also discovered once again, the importance of having fenders for touring.

It happened to be the celebration of Buddha's enlightenment and every village we rode past had some kind of dance celebration done by school kids all dressed up in golden costumes and heavily made up. It encouraged us no end to know that we were not the only ones unperturbed by the rain. We stopped to watch and some friendly locals came to explain excitedly about what the hoo ha was all about. It was a pity that we could not snap any pics as it was pouring. Our morning tea was taken at some obscure Ban (village) where we took shelter from the heavy rain. Hot noodle soup never tasted so nice!

Once again, we were overwhelmed by the generousity of the shop owner who gave us complimentary fruits and topped up our water bottles. It is moments like these that really makes our adventures so heartening. There was also a wedding going on, once again, oblivious to the rain.

We arrived at Pak Chom at about 2pm some 65km away looking like drowned rats. But our spirits were still high and Ken C, who in a previous life, taught Physics at Uni, decided to conduct a live experiment on downhill momentum. 3 of us, all differering weights, should coast down the hill at the same speed, according to Newton's theory but it wasnt so. Our simple experiment led us to conclude that the heaviest goes downhill the fastest!

I got the boys to wait for me just outside the local school while Christoph and I went to recce food places. We discovered a small eatery with an elderly lady and hot wok. This was God-sent as our stomachs were rumbling. However, some communication problems got the shepherds seperated from the flock and poor Christoph had to go find the boys. Fortunately, Pak Chom is a small 2 street town and it was not too difficult to spot 6 foldies in psychedelic colours.

A meal of Khao Pad and Pad Thai washed down with bottles of soft drinks refuelled us very nicely. It was then we needed to decide to continue or break here for the night. Angkana's car came very handy in the rain as we went to check out prospective accommodations. We saw 3 all were not suitable save for the last one. At 500B, with clean sheets and a spacious room, it was a done deal.

However, Christoph and I went back to the restaurant to report that we had to press on to Chiang Khan and that got everyone flying to their bikes as we only had 3 hours of daylight left. It was a cruel joke and when we told them the good news, I really copped it! Truly, these guys are the best.

We retired comfortably into our individual bungalows by the Mekong and took the opportunity to wash our bikes so that they can sleep with us, all fresh and clean.

It was also wonderful that the guesthouse could arrange for 3 elderly massuers to come perform the traditional art of Thai massage on us. It was TW's first time and he protested in vain when the strong lady folded him like his Brompton.

Dinner was another lavish affair and we enjoyed great Singa Beer with special Thai dishes ordered by Angkana.

We slept early once again to the sounds of rain. It may be the wettest day many of us have ever experienced but it didnt do one bit to dampen our spirits. Today was another very special and memorable day, rain or no rain!

Mekong Day 1

2011-07-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

Breakfast was 745am and everyone was up way before that. Tiger prepared a special breakfast - a hybrid of Vietnamese roll with egg, pork and veggies which was the perfect start of the day.

It was still raining a little but that provided for a very cool 9am start. Christoph aka BMW don his special wet weather footwear, all ready to pedal away. Having done countless tours before, this ride was literally a ride in the park for him thus his choice of a simple 3 Speed Dahon Curve!

Our route was to Sri Chiang Mai, some 45km away and then to Sangkom about 90km. The first few kms saw us made a lot of stops as we had to adjust our bicycles - panniers, handlebars, seat height etc but once all that got sorted out, we were making good pace. Following Route 211 was easy as we glided past the magnificent Friendship Bridge to Laos.

We rode in 2 groups for safety reasons as traffic was still apparent. Riding with the great Mekong river on our right, our task was to follow it 200km northwards. As simple as that. TW had the role of sweeper cum lensman and he was excellent!

69 yo Uncle Ken was by far the friskiest rider and we had to put a leash on the "young" man.

The scenery improved slowly as we left the town of Nong Khai and entered the agricultural centre of Issan. Rich green rice fields, fruit trees and small Bans (villages) where friendly people waved us on.

Our morning tea break was at Ban Tha Bo, where routes 211 and 2020 intersected. We sheltered under huge umbrellas, slurping away hot noodle soups and provided lots of entertainment to the locals.

The weather couldn't be more perfect - dark clouds but no rain resulting in very cool weather.

We continued our journey and took the quieter backroads, led by Christoph who did this few years ago. It was serene and tranquil as we moved quietly, stopping from time to time to soak in the sights.

We made Sri Chiang Mai just pass noon and stumbled upon a small eatery that served the best Pad Thai (fried noodles) ever. That was supplemented with more food from Christoph as he wandered out to return with grilled chicken, fish and the famous papaya salad. We gorged ourselves silly and that made it hard to get back on the saddle.

It didn't help that the sun was starting to blaze down on us but we persevered. Riding under lush green trees gave us a much needed relief and we enjoyed being in the canopy of leaves.

We took the backroads as far as possible until the roads became too broken and rough. Here, I was very glad I had fattish 2.1 touring tires that made it a breeze compared to those using skinny road tires.

Back to the main road, it started to go inland a bit and hills started appearing. I was told that it was a flattish ride but it was not something that was too much of a problem. What goes up must come down eventually so we enjoyed whizzing downhill at top speed to gain momentum for the next hill. I managed to hold on to a farm tractor up one hill and enjoyed the unexpected assistance. That was great fun talking to the farmer's kids and dog!

Unfortunately at 25km before Sangkom, poor Joshua lost control when he was flying downhill and crashed. I was coming downhill and saw a couple of foldies parked at the side of the road. His front wheel has somehow wobbled and he went down hard. Joshua took a beating on his helmet which cracked and the left part of his face was bruised. Mike gave him immediate first aid but the crash shocked him and we had to get him to the next town.

A tuk tuk stopped but tried to profit from the accident by asking a princely sum. Fortunately, a kind pickup truck stopped and ferried both Joshua and Mike to the hospital. The rest of us continued the ride feeling a little solemn and worried. But we had lots of hills to overcome and that was energy sapping. One particular hill saw us pushing our bikes but I barely struggled up on my BF Expedition with the help of granny.

Sangkom finally appeared and it was a beautiful town. We met with the two doctors at a riverside restaurant, relieved that Joshua's injury was not too bad. Mike and Joshua were raving at how pretty the Thai nurses were and Joshua wished he could be warded. We drank buckets and ate like a horse to replenish our bodies.

We were pretty spent with the heat and the hills. Christoph's family joined us in their wagon and we checked into a beautiful hotel 2km south of town. The Poo Pae Resort is highly recommended with newish buildings and priceless riverside location. It helped too that the staff were quite friendly and that they had bicycles hung on the ceiling as decoration pieces.

It was wonderful to enjoy a nice warm shower and get into fresh clothes. Both Rod and I immediately had a therapeutic massage which invigorated us to no end.

Dinner was a grand affair and we slept like babies, with wonderful views of the Mekong River flowing lazily by. It couldn't have been a better start to our adventure, especially knowing that Joshua was well enough to continue the next day.

Mekong Day 0

2011-07-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

Pic by TW

We met at Budget Terminal Changi precisely 1015 in the highest spirits. It was wonderful to see everyone finally, some for the first time after months of planning. We weighed each bag carefully to make sure we all made the 20kg weight limit and we did.

The flight to Bangkok was smooth and it was so exciting to meet up with our 8th member, Christoph to catch our connecting flight to Udon Thani. The gang was complete! Udon Thani used to be a US Airforce base during the Vietnam war and we felt like soldiers on a mission when we landed.

Pic by TW

2 Isuzu pick-ups came to take us and our bagged foldies to a boutique hotel in Nong Khai.

The heavens opened and we wondered if this was one wet ride awaiting us in the coming days. Our cowboy drivers cruised at 120kmh in the rain, and my driver was not wearing his seat belt. Welcome to rural Thailand!

The reception team at Sofa Gallery of Tiger and Max went beyond our expectations. They welcomed us with drinks and whisked all our luggage from the pouring monsoon. Max started to wipe dry all our bags and we knew we were going to enjoy our time here. Dinner was lavish with delectable Isaan fare and although we were supposed to fix up our bikes after dinner, all of us couldn't wait. It was real team work when everyone just gave each other a hand and the task was done in no time.

Pic by TW

We retired early into our beautifully decorated rooms, tired but excited about tomorrow morning's first ride. Hopefully, the weather would clear.

Pic by TW

Anticipation

2011-07-07T23:56:00.000-07:00

Definition of ANTICIPATION

a : a prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later actionb : the act of looking forward; especially : pleasurable expectation

Its always exciting to go for a ride adventure. I feel the best part of it is actually the planning and preparation. Our trip to Mekong next week was initiated as early as 6 months ago after much research about where is the best place to ride, given limited time. They say that the wise folks learn from experience, but the wiser folks learn from the experience of others.

One fountain of great information is Crazyguyonabike. It is a journal where thousands of adventure cyclists pen their journeys across the world and this was where I discovered the Chiang Khan to Nong Khai part of the Mekong River. Of course it helped that my ride buddy CW has done it before as well as Christoph, who will be joining us on this trip.

It means pouring over many hours of reading on the net but I get to learn so much. Once the destination is decided, then getting there is the other issue.

In Asia, we are blessed with so many budget airlines and our trip involves taking 4 different flights on Tiger, Air Asia and Jetstar starting from Singapore. With early booking, it came out to only US$260 in total. Its truly a case of the early bird catches the worm when it comes to budget air.

That settled, next is to find out where to stay. Trip Advisor and Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree forum are good places to start. With email and internet payments, bookings are relatively easy. However, I do like to allow some flexibility and usually book just the first and last night. We are confirmed at a beautiful boutique 5 room hotel, The Sofa Gallery. Our nights in between will be touch and go as the guesthouses along the small towns of the Mekong have not yet caught up with technology, which is not a bad thing.

Where to eat is also important and being a foodie, I love to know the great eating places of each destination. Trip Advisor once again is helpful. Then, there are other things - the must do and must see of that area. It is also good to read up about the history and culture of the area and learning some of the local language can also be very helpful.

I think I have this trip all stitched up but one never knows what lies ahead. That makes it fun! We have part one where we ride the Mekong from Nong Khai, Sang Khom, Chiang Khan and return by public transport to NK. Then, part two where we fly to the sunny island of Phuket to enjoy some cycling and sea sports. We are planning to do some night kayaking this time.

So it will be 8 of us foldies (from 5 different countries), spending 8 days together on the saddle. I can't wait! Anticipation, the best part ya?

Carly Simon's song captures the exciting wait for her lover but you get the point.

Hillarys calling

2011-07-05T05:36:00.000-07:00

Variety is the spice of life and indeed, this applies for bike rides as well. Today, we decided to go beyond our usual Point Walter towards Fremantle, and head northwards all the way to Hillarys Boat Harbour.

It was 7am when I got an unexpected knock on my kitchen window while I was preparing breakfast. Lo and behold, it was Uncle Ken. His bright smile lighted up the gloomy and dark morning. Temperature check - 4c! I gobbled my food and we scampered towards our usual rendezvous point, just in time to see Rod sailing in. After last week's 70km long ride to Mandurah, we all were getting fitter. We arrived at PW in a record time of 50 mins. It was Kenneth C's first foray beyond PW and its great that he always has a marvellous sense for adventure. The bright sun did help warm things up just a little, but as soon as we went under the shade of trees, the bitter cold laid siege on us again.

Passing through Fremantle was not pleasant with all the big container trucks roaring rudely but once we hit the coast, we entered a brand new world. There is something special about the smell of fresh sea breezes, the rhythmatic sound of waves crashing and the unobstructed view of beautiful blue skies meeting the sea far out in yonder. We stopped at the grounds of the famous Indiana Tea House, Cottesloe for our morning tea. Although the debate for the best beach in Australia has been going on ad nauseam, Cottesloe is always in the running and its easy to see why.

Uncle Ken shared his birthday present with us, caramel macadamias from MacNuts WA, and we greedily savoured every sweet piece of his generousity.

As expected, the pesky seagulls hovered around waiting for a quick snack and we disappointed them. Going to the beach has a magical effect on us oldies and it turned Grandpa Rod into a little boy once again - doing a cheeky seagull stance (check out last part of video)!

We had to mosey along as Patrick was going to meet us at City Beach, 8km northwards at 1030. Sure enough, a muscular guy in black on a red Bike Friday showed up.

We have not seen Pat for several months and it was so nice to shake his hand. He is always up to something new and his latest interest is barefoot running. Pat knows this area like the back of his hand. We stopped at the famous Peter's-by-the-sea at Scarborough and enjoyed their magnificent kebabs.

When Alan Bond was buying up every shop for his multi-mega development, good old Peter stood his ground and that earned him a bit of a hero status.

After such a satisfying meal with priceless view and even more priceless conversations, it was hard to muster up the saddle. But we had to. Passing Trigg, we stopped at the Life Saving Club where Pat and his family are volunteer life savers there.

The stretch between Trigg and Marmion must surely be one of the prettiest beach views in the whole of Australia and I was very glad we could soak all that in this morning. For some reason, my legs started to get soft and I was tail-end Charlie till we finally reached Hillarys Boat Harbour, some 50km away from my home.

We have answered the call of Hillarys and felt very satisfied indeed. We headed inland and rode another 5km to catch the train back home from Greenwood Station. It was certainly one of our best rides ever, spent in the company of great friends. A bit of variety can certainly greatly spice up our riding days here in beautiful Perth.

Friendship - “knowing the heart of another and sharing one’s heart with another”

Going Pro

2011-07-03T08:34:00.000-07:00

One of the joys of going on an adventure is getting new toys to enhance the trip. CW just helped me to get the latest GoPro video camera that can be mounted from all sorts of interesting positions on a bike. Its even more joyful when this is an early birthday present from the wonderful missus!

I've seen it mounted on surfboards, radio control planes and boats, cars, motorbikes and of course, on bicycles. The video is super high quality and an absolute hoot to watch. Check out CW's spin on the Bike Friday Tikit and the beautiful Maserati at the end of the video.

Can't wait to use it in our epic Mekong trip next week!

A puncture in the wilderness

2011-07-01T04:14:00.000-07:00

As part of our training for the upcoming Mekong ride in 2 weeks, we needed to push the envelope. The route this time was from Bull Creek Train Station to Mandurah. I cannot believe the WA Government would invest in such an infrastructure, 75km of pure bike path, linking Perth to the beautiful coastal town.

At 705am, the regular 4 showed up plus a new big and burly friend Colin, on a Giant MTB.

The station inspector kept an eagle eye for bikers who failed to dismount and it was entertaining watching her lie in wait for her next prey. The weather unfortunately was cold (10c) and wet but heh, small things like that don't deter the all weather birds (does not apply to me as I'm a bird of the Kentucky kind when it gets too cold).

We were in high spirits as we battled the early morning drizzle. It was fun whizzing in total freedom compared to the bumper to bumper traffic crawling its way into the city. I learned my lesson on my last wet ride and rode my trusty Brompton, not because it was ideal for long distance riding, but because it had the very necessary fenders. A wet bottom is a cyclist worse nightmare in my books.

We only had to cross 2 intersections. It was a hassle to cross these!

After that, it was an easy straight south all the way. The route is clearly marked and the various distances sign posted were welcome bits of encouragement.

It was great to see so many bicycle commuters all decked out in their rain gear going to work, panniers and all. Riding through every tunnel, we rang our bells like little boys, enjoying the echo of different sounds bouncing off the dark surroundings.

While the 3 of us were going along on a nice clip, poor Colin was suffering. Being new to cycling, his bike was not properly set up and his seat needed to be badly adjusted. Lets just say the future of his offsprings-to-be were at great risk. At the midway break of 35km, a quick surgical procedure with my Topeak multi-tool brought instant relief. But by that time, Colin had had enough and called it a day. He rode to nearby Warnbro Train station and headed home. I hope he won't be too discouraged and trust we would see him again.

With the cold and wet weather, I was ravenous. As I had a 130pm appointment I was in a bit of a hurry and had to rush through my rice with curry.

Curry in a hurry!

Washed down with hot tea, and finishing off with some rum and raisin chocs, I was all revved up and ready to go. While Rod and I were busy peddling and drafting, I got an unexpected phone call. It was to tell me that Ken had a puncture so we back track to find him fiddling with his rear wheel.

The most unfortunate news of all was that Ken forgot to pack a spare tube! And we were about 40km from his house. This was truly a case of being stranded in the middle of nowhere! He was kicking himself in the butt and so was I for not bringing along at least a patch kit! I had a 16" tube while Rod had a 700c tube, both were useless in this situation. The other Ken, a newbie, grinned naively as he too had not bring along any spare tube. Ignorance is bliss until something happens!

In Australia and the UK, bicycles are also known as push bikes. The name must have come from someone who had to push his bike because of a puncture! So poor Ken did just that while the 3 of us rode on to Mandurah where Rod had to pick up his car to rescue him, with an estimated wait time of 2 hours.

It took us just over 4 hrs to complete the nearly 70km ride, with stops and all. The train ride home took all of 40 mins but it was a great sense of satisfaction to have made it. This was the furthest I've ridden on my Brompton.

Getting caught without a spare tube is a lesson which all of us will certainly not forget. I will say that bringing one along is as necessary as wearing a helmet! If not, a puncture in the wilderness can certainly mean an unexpected "game over".

Creative marketing for Bromptons

2011-06-23T19:20:00.000-07:00

Recently, I've been very impressed with 2 videos about the British Brompton bicycle. The first one is done by a Japanese Brompton owner on 3D animation.

Another one is a feature video about niche bicycle companies in the UK by the BBC, "Made in Britain". It shows the commuting Brompton flying around BMX style ridden by stunt riders. Very entertaining indeed. I was delighted to see many of the Bromptons waiting to be exported had the Diginexx label on it, headed for Singapore. Kudos to Steven for his role in helping many people to discover the joy of being Bromptonites in the Lion City.

It fits!

2011-06-22T00:09:00.000-07:00

After our regular ride today to Pt Walter, K came over to my house to see what is the best way to pack his folder for our upcoming Thai Mekong ride in 3 weeks time.

I remembered an old suitcase with airline approved dimensions I had in the shed. Removing the seat post and the 2 wheels, we were pleasantly surprised that the Ventura fitted straight into the suitcase with no worries. However to be extra safe, I suggested dismantling the RD and wrapping it up in bubble wrap, just to be sure. It took all of 5 mins to put everything together again.

Looks like K is all set to go because it fits!

ps: Those of you going for the trip, I hope you have practised packing your folder. Mine is all set and ready to go!

Police cracking down on Melbourne cyclists

2011-06-20T18:04:00.001-07:00

The good news in Melbourne is that more people are turning to bicycles as their form of transport. Ranked consistently as the world's top 10 liveable cities, you can imagine the traffic jams. I have been to beautiful Melbourne several times and the last time, I took my Bike Friday Tikit to roam around the city. Beats taking expensive public transport and much, much faster. They have great bike paths there. However, even then I encountered a bit of a bicycle jam while crossing a traffic light intersection at peak hour!

The bad news is that as more people take to cycling, more rules are being flouted and today I read an article about the police targeting errant cyclists. My first reaction was oh no, police bullying the small fish once again but I realised that it is for the safety of the cyclists and fellow road users. It is heartening to know however, that compared to other road users where 80% flout the rules, only 5% of cyclists do. The fines are not cheap here in Australia:

Bike-related laws to be enforced include failing to wear a helmet (a $146 fine), not having lights ($146), failing to obey a traffic light ($292) and riding in a tram safety zone ($292).

One particular law that I support is the use of helmets as I'm beginning to see many cyclists especially school kids here in Perth who dangle the helmet on the handlebars, and wear them only if the authorities are around. Yes, my wife who is presently in Amsterdam tells me that no one wears helmets there but I'm a firm believer in the safety of a helmet. I have experienced how a helmet saved my life first hand, and seeing it protect a friend's head too. More about helmet protection here by TreeHugger.

Another area of concern is motorists opening their door carelessly and causing cyclists to crash into them, resulting in serious injuries. I hope the Police look into this aspect of safety as well.

So for those cyclists who ride safely and obey the laws, I think we have nothing to worry about as far as the Police is concern.

Disclaimer: Just in case I give the impression that I'm always the perfect law-abiding cyclist, I have to confess that I'm not.

The most stylish folder?

2011-06-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

I owned the Strida 3.3, some years ago. It is a brilliant design by Mark Sanders, a renown UK bicycle designer and it appeals with its simplicity. 3 poles put together in a triangle. Slap on 2 wheels and a greaseless belt-drive system and voila, presenting the ultimate lifestyle commuter. Never before has a bicycle look so pleasing to the eye. There is remarkable beauty in its uber stylish design but is it just looks and no go?

First, the bad news. The main reason why I no longer own it was because it used a plastic crank and BB then and its squeaking drove me nuts. Truly a design flaw but the good news is that it has now evolved into the Strida LT which promises to put "squeaky" to rest.

Its weaknesses are probably the handling which takes getting used to, mounting on and off the bike is not the easiest and its limited luggage capacity.

That out of the way, all things considered, they are a small price to pay for the most stylish design folder available now and for its ease of handling when folded. The Strida for all its quirkiness begs to be ridden, is certainly high on the fun factor and user friendliness. You just want to be on this bike somehow! It is geared to cruise a leisurely 18-22km/h which in all fairness, is a decent clip. What is the hurry anyway?

And opps, did I forget cleanliness too, with its greaseless belt that takes the yuck out of cycling. Goodbye greased stained pants! You can now wear your expensive designer jeans for the ride to get your Expresso fix, looking as cool as can be with no worries. Gee-Jay in this video did a comprehensive analysis of the Strida that is worth 6 mins of your time.

The best news is it retails for a very reasonable US$590 in Singapore and though it understandably won't be everyone's cup of tea, I think its certainly one stylish stick-folder that deserves to be in my already crowded fold once again.

Pedalling to "Korea"

2011-06-12T07:10:00.000-07:00

A good friend who runs the Phill Bean Korean Restaurant in Shelley Hub needed some urgent help tonight as she was short of staff. It was the perfect reason to go out for a bike ride and capture the beauty of the setting sun. Winter can be deary as the sun sets at a very early 540pm. A quick skip across Leach Highway and I was along the Shelly Foreshore bike path.

This ride never disappoints with its delightful river charm. I rode past two men fly fishing, a couple of kayakers, saw someone water sking and many joggers with their dogs in tow. It was also therapeutic to see a Pelican glide along the river and I have even seen dolphins here before. Such is the rich wildlife of this place and I cannot believe its at least 15km from the sea as the crow flies.

The 5km ride ended too soon. I performed the Brommy magic and placed the package at a corner of the restaurant, totally invisible.

One of the kitchen hand rides a bicycle too and she has to park it outside, at the risk of it getting nicked. No such problems with a foldie!

One of the perks in helping a friend out in a restaurant is that she always let me try all the wonderful dishes Phill Bean serves. Its great that at least I had a mini-work out to ease the guilt. I was wanting to ride back but being blessed with food to take home and no panniers, the kind boss drove me home with Brommy in the boot. She remarked, "Wow, your bike is so small".

Getting to eat delectable Korean food and riding along awesome scenery is life as good as it gets. I hope she calls me again to "Korea".

Brompton Gallery

2011-06-10T04:31:00.001-07:00

The passion and love Brompton owners have for their foldies are well known. This is expressed in many ways but none better than a photo gallery in the Brompton UK's own website.

Though the photos published are no way near the professional standards of EcoVelo (their pics are ALL brilliant), it is interesting to see the many different places and events Brompton owners have travelled with their beloved steeds around the world.

Worth a peep if you have some time.

See if you can spot the ones I've submitted!

Bike Lanes - safe at all times?

2011-06-09T00:16:00.001-07:00

Police Officers are generally a nice bunch of folks but this particular one from NYC is one of a kind. He booked this cyclist for not riding in a bike lane although bike lanes at times are blocked with parked vehicles etc.

As a cyclist, I think its important we use our brains and not follow the law blindly. Doing so may cause injury and even death...

Thanks Matt for pointing me to this very informative video. The guy who is making his point is truly a great entertaining stuntman. Does he conduct classes on how to fall off our bikes?