Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Welcome back Uncle Ken!






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

Monday, November 21, 2011

Looping the Loop





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!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Wheelosopher


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

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Life is short


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, my 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

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Discovering Burns Beach




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


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!