.... the jackal rides and run....

I did this route before (maybe about 10 years ago!) on a heavy mountain bike. We made it (me and Basil) but me with some battle scars on the butt. Fairly clear roads but as I recall with some mean uphills along the way.... Anyway, I'm hoping to do this trip again with the Saronni and hopefully a couple of friends as well. I figured it would be quite relaxing and should be in time for check-in at the hotel in Desaru (I'm thinking Pulai Desaru Beach Resort, prob the best hotel there anyway) and enjoy and ice-cold beer with our bikes safely stowed (12pm-1pm). ECP Macs to Changi Village (~20km) Pengerang to Desaru (~50km) I've even a short itinerary in mind.... 7am - leave ECP Macs 7.45am - Arrive Changi Village (Light Breakfast) 8.30am - Take Bum Boat to Pengerang 9.30am - Leave from Pengerang Ferry Terminal 12pm - Arrive at Desaru hotel All this at an leisurely average pace of 25km/h. For the trip back. Same thing. 8am - Breakfast at Hotel 9.30am - Checkout from Hotel and sta

Went for the usual ride on Sat with a friend using a Titanium frame (light!). Same route from ECP Macs to the end of Changi Coast Road and back (total 30km). This was an easy ride and my friend was really improving his stamina considering its only his first month riding a road bike. We did a good 28-30km/h on Changi Coast until he pulled a hamstring. Told him not to use his calf too much while pedalling and focus more on the thighs. We swapped shoes and for the first time I rode a tTitanium frame! It is a 56cm (compared to my 54cm steel) so although its the ideal size for me based on KOPS, I feel that is not very efficient for me. Its very comfortable though but maybe the handlebar reach were a bit too high and too far for my liking. I find it more difficult to accelerate fast. Likely just be a bike-fitting issue, serving different 'purposes'. On the other hand, my friend found my '2-3kg more heavy' steel frame to be more 'eager' to accelerate and comfortable. O

For a while now, the seat post used in my current setup is actually quite close to the limit line for my usage. This has been bugging me as from my research on the net and help from guys at cyclingforums.com, I need to have sufficient post inside the seat tube in order not to risk damaging the frame. I gather I'd need something at least 250mm or more for this frame. Its not easy sourcing for a 26.8 seatpost with set-back, that I can tell you. Ebay provided the solution. After weeks of waiting, a nice Campagnolo Centaur 26.8 Vintage Seatpost surface. New Old Stock. Well I just won the bid and the item is on its way to Singapore as i write here. Its 300mm so it should be more than sufficient for my application. Below are some pictures from the Ebay site. A real beauty!