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

well....I gathered that replacing a spoke should not be much of a difficult thing to do. Of course, one must have the correct spoke length to begin with! Well, I sent the wheel back for spoke replacement and ordered an additional 2 + 2 spokes (non-drive + drive side) for safe keeps. Got a spoke tool as well from a local LBS in Toa Payoh for 8 bucks. So I am ready in case it fails on me again. I'm starting to think now that maybe 15 gauge spokes is a little bit too thin for the rear wheel but then again, it has 32 spokes! how can it break so easily?? Hope the wheel can be done by tomorrow so that I can resume my weekend ride!

Suffered a broken spoke on my usual Sunday ride.....was doing ok tailing my buddies between 38-40km/h along Changi Coast Road but as we slowed down to about 30km/h and heading towards Changi Village I heard a faint 'twing!'. Immediately I thought about a broken spoke. As I was cycling i did a quick look at the rear wheel and it was slightly untrue so I stopped to check. Confirmed, and I think it was exactly at the spot where I thought the spoke tension was a little bit slack (rear wheel, non-drive side). As my buddies went onwards, oblivious to my predicament, I simply text them to go ahead and I will go cycle back slowly. Think I was going between 26-30km/h easily....cos they turned back from Changi village and never did caught up to me! Well on one hand I'm quite disappointed with the broken spoke only after about 250km which is very very bad in my opinion. I need the wheelbuilder to explain to me how this could happen. At this point I could think of nothing else except p...

Did this little route this weekend. It was the one that caused my knee injury earlier and understandably so, I was quite reluctant. Total ride was 35km thereabout, starting out from Macs at ECP and ending at Marine Crescent. 3 bikes : A Look carbon, Pina Banesto alu (yup confirmed not steel) and my steel ride. To my surprise at the hill, I was able to overtake the lighter bikes...but nearly punctured after the first 3 hills (they were total of 4). On the downhill, I did about 47km/h just coasting. The trick is to of course, gain as much speed as possible to tackle the next hill else you'll be caught pedalling like a mad dog. Knee feels fine so far, so that good. Except for a little soreness on the thigh muscles, nothing serious. In fact it was a really really good workout for all of us and I'm looking forward to doing it again this coming weekend! This time I will do it with the Titanium bike! (who's owner has improved by leaps and bounds since he started riding 1 month plu...

Well, after a week wait the wheels are ready. Took them out for a spin last weekend and they were really great. Built up with Mavic OP and 15g Phil Wood straight gauge spokes, laced to Ultegra hubs. Smooth rolling and reassuring. I weigh them in at about 1.8kg minus the skewers....not bad for a 32 spoked wheel. Thoughts? Well, they ride very well, better than my 16 spoked Shimano R540s (which were, honestly, not very reassuring but still rather nice looking and works just fine). They have some creaking sound still....maybe they're still new and haven't really broken in yet. Well, I'll ride them again this weekend and maybe a couple of times more to see if it goes away. The wheels really match the frame with its retro, many spoke-ed look! .

Did a non-stop solo 30km ride (usual ECP-Changi Coast Road Route) on Sunday morning. Managed to complete 29km in 1hour 4mins.....that's an average speed of 27.2km/h. I'm quite happy with this and I think I'm on my way to getting it below an hour pretty soon. Really wished I could cycle more than I am doing now. Next week I shall try the Changi Prison hills. Still have a slight phobia. Anyway, have been reading up abit regarding crank arm length.....apparently longer cranks help in climbs. I'm currently using 170mm cranks....fit wise, its shorted than recommended : 172.5mm. I did try my friend's 172.5mm cranks on his 56cm frame. It was really comfortable but I was not too keen on the pedalling motion it offerred. It seems harder to cycle with a higher cadence, which I am really trying to improve these days (and to much success, I now cycle at least 70-80rpms on average and could spin to to 100rpms on short bursts). With the longer cranks it did feel like I had to use...

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...