Mount Faber Ride

We went for a late morning ride, meeting at Bishan just before noon. The OCBC mass cycle had ended when we reached the F1 Pit-stop near the Flyer but the kids race was on-going. From miniature racers to MTBs and single speed BMX bicycles, it was an interesting sight and kind of cute to see the small children trying to complete their distance.

We headed for Mount Faber, tackled the slopes and enjoyed the descent to Seah Im Food Centre where we had lunch. It was sliced fish soup with rice and a mug of sugar cane drink for me!

After the filling lunch, we headed for home. At Scott Road, the skies poured and we scrambled to waterproof our stuff. The rain did not lessen in its intensity and by the time when we were about to split up at Marymount, we were already plowing through flooded roads.

When I hit Thomson Road, the rain was so intense that visibility had been reduced to about 50 metres or so. Lightning flashed and the water level was high enough to slow me down significantly on several sections. It was the first thunderstorm I rode through in 2009, but truthfully, I kind of enjoyed it. I went quite fast on the stretch leading to Rodalink and had to slow as the lights were not in my favour at the junction ahead. Pulling my brakes, I could feel the rear brake not responding and only when the brake levers touched my handles did the bike start to slow. I think it's about time to replace the brake pads.

The rain did not stop even when I reached home. The good thing was it had washed away most of the dirt, grease and oil, which made cleaning a lot easier. I took the opportunity to clean up the drive-train and oil sensitive parts.

Job done, I wheeled it into my room =)

Total distance: 60km
Money spent: $4.30
Participants: LSH, Gordon

Time flies

Half the weekend is gone. How I wish time will slow down.

I spent my whole Saturday with various stuff, starting with the collection of a new LCD monitor for my brother's computer from the Philips Showroom at Toa Payoh. And on the way home, while lugging the load and getting lost in my thoughts, I took the wrong train and only realized it when I reached Orchard. Darn.

When I finally got to Sembawang, I placed a cake order and headed to have lunch before scouting two bike shops to have Dad's bike repaired in the next couple of weeks. I was quite irritated when one of the owners claimed that the only way the screw thread of the frame RD hanger could have been damaged was wrong and forced entry. Come on man, not every bike owner is a noob mechanic. I dare to bet my first RD was not properly assembled by the bike shop in the first place and this discovery only took place two years later.

Anyway, the bike shop owner claimed that once the RD was removed, the hanger would be goner and I had to replace it for $30 if I want my gears to function proper. Well, I took the gear system apart the moment I got home. Removed the RD from the hanger and tried to screw it into a correct position. The threads were already out of place but somehow I forced the RD into a decent position and it works; my gears are now functioning perfectly! =) I don't think the bike shop deserves that $30.

Then I realised my saddle was crooked, as if hit out of position by an impact. I was stumped. The only large impact I had taken was when I crashed down Bukit Timah a few weeks back; it was impossible that I had not noticed the damage, if any. I tried to twist it back to position but the aluminium rods were too stiff. At least it looks better now.

After cleaning up, I proceeded to aseemble the new monitor. Now properly set up and 19" of wide-screen brilliance, it looked wonderful.

I went for a run with Dad in the evening. Paced about four slower-moving bikes for about 1.4km before they made me eat their dust. I expanded most of my energy in the first 6km, did some push-ups along the way and made matters worse by doing a set of 12 pull-ups immediately after the run without resting. By the time, I got down all giddy and panting for breath, Dad came in and we continued the run home.

Distance cycled: 10km
Distance run: 7km
Participants: LSH, Dad

Desaru Loop (14 - 15 February 09)

What is the plan for Valentine's Day? Let me tell you. An overland journey via the Woodlands causeway to Desaru and Sungei Rengit, Pengerang. If we are lucky, the new Senai - Desaru Expressway ("Lehburaya" in Malay) will be ready and our travelling distance will be shortened considerably, else we will need to cover about 135km. We will spend a night over at Sungei Rengit, before heading home the next day via the Tanjung Pengelih Jetty.

That was exactly what we did.

Pulling myself out of bed at 4am, I found that Dad was already awake and making tea. We had a simple breakfast, just bread and tea before setting off just past 4.30am. The roads were obviously clear and moving through the checkpoints were not a problem. Not many motorists cross over at such an early hour!

Dad at 4.30am (left) and Dad when we pulled over a rest in M'sia (right)

5.30am. It was the usual pit stop at the petrol station outside the Iskandar Immigration Complex before we set off out journey via Jalan Tebrau which led us all the way to Kota Tinggi. The roads leading out of Johor Bahru were relatively well lit. Yet, as we closed in on Kota Tinggi, we found ourselves entering a single carriageway that was almost pitch black. I had to rely completely on my front light and if other vehicles passed, they helped to light up the path. The oncoming vehicles certainly blinded me with their glare.

Around 8am, we pulled into Kota Tinggi and we had breakfast consisting two prata and a cup of tea each. The bill amounted up to RM4.80. Do your Math! Brilliant.

We set off soon after and ran into misty weather. It was serene. Beautiful and cold. Just like up in the mountains =) Our joy didn't last as the weather turned hot at around 10am; the sun climbed higher. The road ahead comprised long, steep climbs and Dad joked that he had gotten a phobia of them just by looking. I am not sure if he was joking actually but as expected, the ride was arduous.

Several Singapore registered cars and coaches with advertisements of the Singapore Zoo passed us, all headed towards Desaru and Sungei Rengit. When we reached Desaru, we stopped for a rest and I saw several "L" plated cars with instructors/testers and the learner drivers. Looking at the wide lanes which can probably fit 2 small cars, I was immediately envious. There is not way the guys can hit the kerb man! How I wish I can take my driving test there =P

My gear (left) and a must-take picture (right)

When we pulled into Sungei Rengit, it was close to 1pm. We found a hotel (one had no vacancy, I couldn't find the person in charge for another, didn't bother to ask Millenium Hotel because they didn't allow bikes in the room the last time round and was too lazy to check out the others) so we settled for a two-man room for RM58. It was a tight squeeze with the bikes but we can survive.

Lunch was mixed vegetable rice with 100 Plus. The food tasted alright and once again, the price boosted its value. I can't remember the exact cost but after counting the drinks, the food cost less than S$1.50 per person. As a warning, the meal is nothing fantastic and people who are used to the luxuries of life won't be able to take it down =)

I must say we really walked the town. There was nothing much to do so we ate ice-cream (Cornetto at RM2.80 is expensive in the Malaysian sense when similar King's Spinner go at RM0.99) bought a Coke and retired to our room. TV and enjoyment of air-con was the order of the day =)

After watching the last episode of a Channel 8 drama starring Tay Ping Hui and Joanna Peh (Secret or something) shown some time back, it was time for dinner. This time, we followed the crowd =) Most Singaporeans were gathered in a couple of restaurants hence we chose of the more popular ones. The food was good and definitely not too pricy.

Bourne Identity was showing hence we caught the remainder after dinner and it was lights-out at 9.30pm.

I found myself stirring some time later (it was pitch black) and I realised the time was 5.30am. I tried to sleep but again I woke up and it was still pitch black. I struggled for my phone and found it was 7.05am. I just lazed until 7.30am before preparing the day ahead. Breakfast was wanton mee (RM3.50) and tea, the same order when I was last there =P

Later, we checked out the confectionary and found nothing of interest. We observed an uncle selling beancurd on his interestingly designed "motor-stall", literally half a motorcycle with a stall as its second half. We had saw him yesterday but didn't buy anything as it was already in the afternoon. Today, quite a few people bought "dou hua" from him so we just decided to give it a try. It tasted good, though slightly different from what is usually sold in Singapore.

Returning back to our room, we packed up and checked out. I wanted to explore a little but we came to a "dead-end" or rather someone told us it was, and Dad was not so keen so we headed back to the jetty. I was feeling the urge to do some off-roading.

Me at Desaru (left) and our bikes loaded on the boat (right)

The 20km to the jetty was very smooth. We saw a few Singaporean riders the day before but almost none today. Closing in to the last 5km, a group of leisure cyclists rode past (they look like students). By then, it was already past 10am and by gauging their speed, they would take some time to get to Sungei Rengit. They didn't look like they were going to spend the night over so they may not have a lot of time to spend at the small town before heading back to the jetty.

At the jetty, we handed over our passports and waited quite a while for the bumboat to arrive. Getting through customs and loading the bikes weren't much of a problem though I had to remind the uncle not to place my bike down on its right-hand side. That would damage my derailleurs. We were charged RM18 (RM15 per pax, RM3 per bike) each and I was a little surprised because I remembered the uncle charged us S$11 the last time round. I think we had been ripped off. Today, the boatman was Malaysian, whereas it was a Singaporean the last time round; that could be a possible reason.

It was nearly 45 minutes before we arrived at the Changi Ferry Terminal. We weren't that hungry, hence we headed for the hawker at Kovan. At the same time, Dad could have his broken watch strap changed. We headed for home thereafter.

Total distance: 135km (first day), 56km (second day)
Money spent: $40~
Participants: LSH, Dad

Ride to Kulai

After I returned from my last driving practice before the TP Practical Test next Wednesday, we had lunch at home before setting out for Kulai with intent of catching a seafood dinner before returning home.

The time was around half past noon when we started our journey. The weather was incredibly hot and it certainly sapped our energy at a much higher rate. The new, confusing roads linking the new Malaysian Customs Complex and strong headwind didn't either. Usually, I would just go down to Bandaraya and take the Jalan Skudai but today I decided to try the highway straight from the checkpoint. I would not even call it a highway and it seems longer too. I guess I will just take Jalan Skudai if I were to head by the West Coast in the future.

Anyway, we reached Senai and subsequently Kulai Utama at around half past three. I thought I lost Dad and he was in fact lost and couldn't me through his HP. I was actually waiting for him ahead and after quite some time, he pulled up. We were at Giant so we decided to take a look around before dinner. Time to spam yogurt and ice-cream!

Unfortunately, the seafood stalls were closed when we were done with our "shopping". Dad was unwilling to cycle up further ahead where I had my dinner when I rode solo from Malacca to Singapore. Hence, we started cycling back.

I could see that Dad was exhausted. We decided not to have dinner at Bandaraya, so we headed for the Causeway and crossed to Woodlands before having a meal at the hawker centre. Sliced fish soup with rice plus ice kachang for desert. It was simply marvellous.

Stomach filled, helmet on, lights on, we headed for home =) Yay!

We saw so many emergency vehicles in Malaysia today. At least 4 ambulances and a couple of police cars. On the way back, one of the police cruisers sped past me with lights flashing. And a while later, I ran into a fire engine with sirens wailing. But the ambulances are the best man! If SCDF drives like this, I wonder how many more lives will be saved or lost! On the way to Kulai, 2 ambulances sped past in the opposite direction, hitting more than a 100km/h with sirens at full blast. As they approached a junction with the traffic lights not in their favour and a couple of vehicles at a halt in front, the driver of the lead ambulance blasted his horn and immediate the drivers of the civilian vehicles moved across the junction against the traffic signals! Wow... the ambulances sped past, barely stopping! I guess Malaysians are not so fixated with rules.

Total distance: 90km
Money spent: $6 ~
Participants: LSH, Dad

Bike Test @ Bukit Timah

After a hectic day yesterday, I woke up only to realize that it was past 10am! I was feeling lazy and an off-road ride didn't sound very appealing. Yet, I somehow got my butt on the saddle after lunch even though the skies threatened to pour. I told myself that I would start enjoying myself once I hit the trails and it was kind of true.

I cycled to T-15 and started the off-road trip to Bukit Timah, rested at the Visitors' Centre and made another loop before heading for home. It proved to be another interesting ride which I got to test my new FD and RD =)

First, the FD. The Shimano Hone shifted smoothly. While the previous Shimano SIS did the job, the "lag" time was less noticeable on Shimano Hone. I noticed that it did not seize up even when traversing difficult terrain. However, I encountered some shifting problems after the crash, but it may have been the impact causing the FD to run out of tune.

As for the RD, the performance was just short of amazing. On very steep terrain, the rapid-rise system still shifted perfectly and I had a much easier time climbing all the steep slopes of Bukit Timah. A test at another trail with climbs will be able to further ascertain its abilities, but so far so good =)

Anyway, I counted on my luck and tackled several steep downhill sections as fast as possible. On one particular section, I didn't use the brakes and gained an incredible amount of speed as the bike bounced down the uneven terrain. Sadly, the joyride had to be interrupted by a large pothole. I lifted the front wheel but the impact on the rear was so great that it dislodged my foot of the pedals. Without proper control, the front wheel probably hit another obstacle and before I fully comprehend the situation, I was in the air. The bike flipped and landed behind me, with the saddle taking most of the impact. Not another battle scar! =(

Nonetheless, off-roading is pretty addictive and after completing the loop, I took rest at the Visitors' Centre before calling it a day and headed for home.

Total distance: 26km (off-road), 45km (on-road)
Money spent: $0
Participants: LSH

New upgrades for the New Year (31 January 2009 )

After a long wait, the new items I bought finally came in and I collected them from Kerry. They cost me a good $145.20! Here are the goodies:

1. Shimano Deore XT M760 RD
2. Shimano Hone M601 FD
3. 4 x Fibrax V-Brake Pads with refill
4. Knightlite Micro Rear Light

I spent Friday night fixing the FD and RD. It was not difficult to cut the chain, dismantle the old FD and RD, and install the new ones. Yet, there just had to be complications. I was only partially done with the tuning but it was already 2am in the morning when I retired to bed.

The following day, I rushed with the tuning. The FD was fine but the darn wire was too short and my pliers were not sharp enough hence I made a mess out of the cable housing. I managed to get it to work perfectly but I guess it has to be changed once the frayed cable starts to weaken. As for the RD, it was a headache. The tuning was perfect but I believe the problem lies with the replaceable frame hanger for the RD. The screw thread was not straight hence the RD hanger was slanted, resulting in poor shifting accuracy.

After lunch, I departed for Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall where I met up with Zi Kai, Xin Yuan, Pin Yuan and some of his friends for a squash game. It was my first time and getting a hang of it was difficult. When I was riding my bike some time later, a naughty boy threw a big piece of rock at me. It hit my spokes with a loud clank. Man! If that had been a road bike, it would be a goner and the owner will strangle the culprit! Luckily for me, a double-walled rim and reinforced spokes can take some beating.

I met Bro and 5pm and we headed to Lim's place for his CNY steamboat dinner. It was fun and it was already 10pm we started heading back via Seletar. what a day!

Total distance: 38.4km
Money spent: $3
Participants: LSH, Bro