Thursday, July 12, 2012

Why AhPek Biker?

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Why AhPek Biker?
Why do I call myself the AhPek Biker?
I wasn't much of a sports person... so when my friend Sin encouraged me to take up biking, I really thought much and hard about it. Most of all I was worried whether I could take it physically. But finally I considered that at my age I could need the exercise. So I went ahead.
My earlier biker look. Come to think of it, I do look like an old trishaw man.
Not having done much sports activities over the past years, my ward-robe was lacking in suitable attire. So I just grab whatever I could - a pair of bermuda shorts, a white T-shirt and a pair of Timberland shoes. Off I went for my first ride, a short 6km ride.


Shoe Casualty
I rode from TTDI to Ikea to pick up some stuff for friends and then continued to 1-Utama to pick up more stuff. As I neared 1-U, I suddenly heard and felt some flapping sound, looked down and saw that my precious Timberland had split opened, gaping like a hungry dog. Ha! Seems like this old man could take more than the shoes. (I found out later that when shoes have not been used for a while this happens)


Thought I looked pretty cool, but the attire was just all wrong.
Having done that, and feeling fairly proud of myself, I posted some pix onto my FB page. Gosh! I didn't expect the odd responses from my FB friends. All were encouraging, but there were more comments on my dressing like - "Biking thumbs up, attire thumbs down.", and many "Hey you look like a Ah Pek (Hokkien for "old man)!"


Old Tinsmith Shop in George Town, Penang
A week later, I took my bike up to Penang and went on a ride from Tanjong Tokong down to the city (see Penang Ride). At Kimberley Street, I passed by an old tinsmith shop, realizing that this is a dying trade, I took some photos for keepsake. As I was snapping away, the boss-lady looked up at me & said in her Manglish "Go biking must be wear more stylo wan. Cannot dress like Ah Pek wan!" Seems my reputation as an Ah Pek has preceded me. (Sigh!)


Dwarf AhPek
Then on my TTDI-Kiara Park Ride, I asked a passer-by to take a photo of me. Oops! That didn't turn out well. Not only did I look Ah Pek, I also looked dwarfish. And my bicycle looked like one of those kiddie rides. Time to do something about it? Yeah!


Here's me..... so top half look okay, not so AhPek after all. Heh! Heh! Time to re-look at the bottom half.

But come to think of it, my AhPek gear feels comfortable to me, so probably will maintain it until someone convince me otherwise. Huh!

You are at - Jotaro's Blog / AhPek Biker / Why AhPek Biker?
If you like this, view my other blogs at Jotaro's Blog
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Accessories #1 - First Foldie Basic Accessories

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MY BIKE - ACCESSORIES #1
My bike - Out of the Bag.
With biking, one have to start buying accessories. Some for safety (like gloves, rear light), Others for convenience, i.e. bell, carrying case. And yet others, like stickers, to personalize and add a bit of vanity.

1. Carry-on Bag
My bike - Folded up and in the Carry-on Bag
I got this Dahon carry-on bag as I forsee, taking the bike onto buses or trains and going somewhere further away to enjoy biking in a different scenery. Fairly easy to use, this bag has a stringed opening at the bottom that can open up fairly large. Slip it over the folded bike, then lay the bike on it's side (i.e. the side away from the gears) and pull the string tight. There's is a small zipped pocket there to keep the long string after tightening. At the top is a zipped opening where one can reach into the bag and tie two straps (these are attached to the bag) to secure the bike properly. A large and wide adjustable belt on top allows easy carrying. Cost RM129/= from Roda Link in Sri Hartamas.

2. Carry-on Bag Pouch
Pouch for Carry-on Bag
The carry-on bag comes with a pouch for keeping it when not in use. Inside the pouch is a PVC attached smaller bag that pulls tight after storing the carry-on bag, keeping all water-proofed. The pouch can be easily attache to the bike's seat shaft and seat. When not storing the bag, it doubles up as a convenient carry all pouch. Cost FREE, comes with the carry-on bag.

3. Rear Lights
This is a must-have safety feature. The one I got from My Bicycle Shop was a Cateye Blitz Light. It is a 5-bulb LED type which runs on two AA batteries and can be set to Manual or Auto. In Auto setting, it will light up when dark AND only when moving (this is achieved by light & motion sensors inside). The lights continue blinking for 50 seconds after the bike stop moving. The LED lights themselves have several modes, single LED fixed light, 3-LED blink or 5-LED strobe. Batteries last 200hrs on full 5-light mode and 400hrs on economy mode. Buttons to set Auto and Light Mode are at the back. Cost RM70/=.

4. Biking Gloves

This is an important safety equipment, not so much for protection against accidents but more for better grip & avoiding blisters. I got this pair of nice blue Louis Garneau Mondo (half-finger) gloves from My Bicycle Shop for RM60/=. It comes with Velcro lock.

6. Ringing Bell
This is a convenience and safety equipment - lets people know you are behind them. The one I got a Cat Eye bell from My Bicycle Shop. It has a sharp and clear ringing tone.

Just less than a week after getting the bike, I was getting more accessories, most of them much needed. Will ride on and get more feel of biking and probably join some biking groups, see what accessories they have and consider whether I'll need those.

My advise to new bikers like me is not to rush into getting the accessories. Get the basics first, those that you need for safety. The rest will come as you ride along and socialize with other bikers.

So this next item is not at the top of the accessory list.

7. Riding Watch
This is not an essential item but more of an image item, heh! heh! Watches used in riding should be water-proof and shock-proof. This one from Hublot is rugged and can take on the rough riding anytime.

This blog first appeared in Jotaro's Blog / WoW! / My Bike - Buying The Accessories #1

You are at - Jotaro's Blog / AhPek Biker / Bikes & Accessories / Accessories #1
If you like this, view my other blogs at Jotaro's Blog
(comments most welcomed below. if you like this pls share via facebook or twitter)

AhPek Biker - Main Page

You are at - Jotaro's Blog / AhPek Biker
                     AhPek Biker - Riding Adventures                   
Welcome to AhPek Biker, below are my blogs, click on any one to proceed reading. Hope you will like them.

Why AhPek Biker?
Realization of a name, should I call myself this?
AhPek Biker - Reflections
AhPek's thoughts & consideration on biking - the effects & results since taking up cycling.
AhPek Biker Going Places
Photos of me & my bikes at landmarks & notable places.
Bikes, Accessories & Travel
My forays into buying bicycles, their accessories and other biking conveniences like bike-packing in planes and trains, etc.
Cycling Route Maps
Maps of cycling routes that I rode around the world and in the states of Malaysia.
AhPek Biker FB Foodie Roundup
FaceBook postings on my culinary adventures .
_______________________________________________________________________________



CAMBODIA

Morocco 2025
A 13-day non-cycling tour of Morocco, to bustling medinas, beautiful gardens, scenic deserts and even a blue city.

NEW ZEALAND

THE PHILIPPINES

SINGAPORE


SOUTH KOREA

TAIWAN

THAILAND

VIETNAM

You are at - Jotaro's Blog / AhPek Biker
If you like this, view my other blogs at Jotaro's Blog
(comments most welcomed below. if you like this pls share via facebook or twitter)

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Buying My First Foldable Bike

You are at - Jotaro's Blog / AhPek Biker / Bikes & AccessoriesBuying My First Foldable Bike
                     AhPek Biker - Riding Adventures                   
BUYING MY FIRST FOLDABLE BIKE
My First Foldable Bike - in its folded look
My friend Sin, a fairly new but avid biker has been encouraging me to take up biking. Looking at his various blogs at hApPy HaPpY, he seems to be enjoying himself - going biking, meeting up with new friends and having eats during his biking treks. Cycling trips up to 130km a day was commonplace to him. These crazy bikers, they have foldable bikes which they keep in their car boot, and pop it out to cycle whenever they have the urge. Lunancy!

But he kept on encouraging me, and there I was telling myself "Can I do it? Am I up to it physically?" No problem he said, start of with the short distances. So I made up my mind, and went out looking for a bike.


Top of the range "Bike Friday"
Through a Facebook friend, I met up with Andy at the pro-shop in the The Club @ Bukit UtamaBandar Utama, Kuala Lumpur. He introduced me to a fantastic bike, a Bike Fridaythese bikes are hand-made in the USA and custom-fitted to individual buyersI test-rode it around the complex. It has an infinity gear-drum unlike most bikes which have gear-cogs, meaning that there are unlimited gears, perhaps something like a car's clutch. Changing gears was a breeze - seamless & so quiet it's hardly noticeable. But then the price at RM9,000+ was beyond my budget. Perhaps next time, if I get to be really keen on biking - AND if I hit a jackpot.


A Doppleganger from Japan
That "Bike Friday" did me a favor, it got me really interested in bikes. But the price wasn't right for a novice like me. So Andy then introduced me to the Doppelganger, a Japanese bike. It was both beautiful and rugged at the same time - appealing to the macho in me. The price at RM1680 was very attractive. But I decided to shop around first. By the way, I posted pictures both bikes on FB and most of my friends like the Doppelganger for its looks.


I had promised Sin that I would be getting a bike within a week, so he recommended me to Johnny, the owner of My Bicycle Shop located at the Oasis Complex in BU4, Bandar Utama also. Johnny was very helpful and understood that a new biker like me had uncertainties about their biking future and may not want to spend too much on their first bike in case their interests waver.


My Bike!
He showed me the XDS-AFB260. It was a beautiful bike too, although not as rugged looking as the Doppelganger. The price at RM980 was just right too. It came in two color themes - white & red, and black & orange. I went for the latter as it fitted well with my blog color theme. So I finally got my first folding bike!


Lock-set
Water Bottle & Holder




Johnny threw in some accessories - lock-set, water-bottle and holder for free.

And I got the most important accessory, a helmet, for RM80. It was futuristic space-age looking, with reflector strips, adjustable chin-straps and tightening head band.


Helmet - Front View
From the front, wearing it, I could pass for one of Darth Vader's death-troopers. Watch out you guys - make way!


Compact when folded - fits into car boot easily.
Folding it was easy, with multiple levers to unlock the folding mechanism. First, lower the seat shaft all the way down so that it forms a leg to support the bike, then push the pedals inwards and fold towards the bike. Unlock one lever and fold the handle down, unlock another one and the bike folds into two. Presto, a compact parcel.


I am slowly learning the finer points of biking. Weight is important, so is the number of gears. Then one have to consider whether the bike is for casual on-road travelling or for speed-racing or even for off-road / mountain biking. Me? I'll just stick to the basics and take it one step at a time, that is if I until proceed to take the next step. Heh! Heh!

Note: This blog was first posted at Jotaro's Blog / WoW! / Buying My First Foldable Bike

You are at - Jotaro's Blog / AhPek Biker / Bikes & Accessories / Buying My First Foldable Bike
If you like this, view my other blogs at Jotaro's Blog
(comments most welcomed below. if you like this pls share via facebook or twitter)