AhPek Biker - Old Dog Rides Again

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Brompton Accessories #9 -Bagging The Brompton For Air Travel

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AhPek Biker - Riding Adventures

BROMPTON ACCESSORIES #9 - BAGGING THE BROMPTON FOR AIR TRAVEL

(This blog is not a review, it's more on my foray in purchasing accessories for my 3rd Foldie - a Raw Lacquer Brompton P6R)

I have earlier written on bagging the Brompton for travelling (... see Bagging The Brompton), this touched lightly on travelling by air. I have put my bagged Brompton into the holds of buses, onto trains, etc. but so far I have not traveled by air with my bike.

I met and ask around the few friends who have taken their Bromptons onto a plane. People like Uncle Bil, Pang Wey, Chor Guan and Yong Sin gave me very good advice. All of them had opted to use just the simple IKEA Dimpa bag. With protection using cardboard from old boxes, it would be adequate. In fact, some are of the opinion that airport handlers will take more care with soft bags then a hard bags.

So now it's time for me to walk the talk. I will be going to Phnom Penh, Cambodia for a business trip and will be bringing my bike along to cycle during my free time.

Now I am facing the reality of it - how to practically bag my precious Brompton securely to prevent any damage to it by any rough handling of airport baggage handlers.

I got a couple of unfolded cardboard boxes form the nearby minI-market, these were made of 1/4" thick cardboard.

I cut the box into two L-shaped pieces, cutting the bottoms off too. But I maintained the top flaps for reasons which I will explain later.

For more clarity, I will present the bagging in a step by step procedure.

STEP 1

The first few steps involves preparing the bike even before bagging it.

Unscrew & remove the two holding hinge clamps that locks the handle tube & main horizontal tube of the Brompton when it is unfolded. This is done as any accidental knocking of these brackets may bend the screws and thus make it impossible to lock the tubes of the unfolded bike.

Wrap these up in some old newspaper and store them some where safe. Some carry this separately in their clothes luggage, I just stored them in my saddle bag which has a pvc tube to protect them. (... see Modifying The Saddle Bag).

STEP 2

Insert bubble wrap in between the handle and the rear wheel to protect the rear derailer. This is to avoid any damage to the derailer should any rough handling happen.

STEP 3

Line the bottom of the Dimpa bag with the cut off bottom flaps of the box. It was in two pieces; it would have been better in a single piece or I should have at least taped the two pieces to form one piece.

This is to protect the Eazy Wheels of the rack. At some airport check-in counters, especially for the over-sized baggage, they have pipe rollers as part of the conveyor system. Moving along this rollers, the bag will go bumpity-bump - definitely hurting the Eazy Wheels.

STEP 4

Insert the first L-cardboard at the back, slowly slotting it in until it reaches the bottom of the bag. As an added protection, I inserted some thin Styrofoam (this from fruit packaging boxes) in between fold-able pedal and the main horizontal post. This pedal sometimes can over-fold and scratch the post.

STEP 5

Insert the second L-cardboard on the outer side.

STEP 6

Pull the top of the Dimpa bag over the bicycle and insert the top cardboard (it's one of those cut off bottom flaps of the box). Bend down the cardboard over the rear of the seat to offer it some protection. I also added some bubble wrap above the seat for extra cushioning.

Bubble wrap was also wrapped around the top of the handle shaft and bag block.

To make use of the empty space at the top, I put my helmet there. Pang Wey saw this photo and advised that rough handling could crush the helmet. So out comes the helmet from this bag and in it goes to the normal baggage bag.

I also got a spare Dimpa bag and slot it in.

In place of the helmet, I put in some of my clothing, thus saving weight on my normal luggage and at the same time providing additional cushioning.

STEP 7

Zip up the bag and stick on "FRAGILE" & "THIS SIDE UP" stickers and we are ready to check in the Brompton at the airport.... well, almost ready ...

... don't forget to put in a combination lock to lock up the zip! Don't want trespassing hands to tamper with our precious bikes do we? I would recommend the type of lock that can be opened with the Customs master key.

Oh yes... why use a box with top flaps instead of just a solid cardboard.

This is in case customs wants to see what's inside. Just unzip partly and flip the flap down - "See. It's a bicycle".

Then there is no need to take out the whole front cardboard.

In front of my hotel - Diamond Hotel, Monivong Blvd, Phnom Penh

Here I am, all smiles as my bike is safely back in my hands.

I am ready and eager to start my exploration of new places on my trusty Brompton.

Update: November 2014

In lieu of using old cardboard, using corrugated Impra plastic boards (those used for temporary advertising notices and which can be bought from most stationery shops) is an improvement. These plastic sheets are stronger and unlike cardboard they do not break at the pressure points, i.e. at the folded pedals on the right and at the handle on the left.

The plastic sheets are cleaner and more hygienic with no dust or dirt residue. This hygienic packing is important especially when faced with strict customs that do not want earth and dirt brought into their countries, like those of Australia & New Zealand.

Being stronger, the plastic sheets also pack more neatly.

The Inpra Boards folded and strapped to a rear luggage bag with bungee cords; the Dimpa bag has been folded and put into the bag.

With a part-way slit down their lengths, these plastic sheets can be easily folded and carried along, see above photo.
(... click here to see updated blog on bagging the Brompton For Air Travel using plastic Impraboards)

Monday, July 15, 2013

Kuala Lumpur : Durian Treks

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AhPek Biker - Riding Adventures

Kuala Lumpur : Durian Treks

Yummy Durians!

Kuala Lumpur & Petaling Jaya : 6th July 2013

Small Group Ride : Titiwangsa Golf Club>Jalan Ipoh>Jinjang>Kepong>Sg Pencala>Taman Tun Dr Ismail>Bandar Utama>SS2>Section 17>University Malaya>Federal Highway>Brickfields>Dataran Merdeka>Titiwangsa Golf Club

Distance covered : approx. 63.06 km.
Time : 7:45 am - 3:30 pm
Time Taken : 7:45 hrs. (including stops for photos, breakfast, durian feast, rests, etc).
Route Recommendations :
1. Try the curry mee @ Ming Sing Coffee Shop, Jalan Ipoh.
2. Do be careful when riding the short stretches at the main roads in Kepong, Jinjang & Jalan Raja Laut, etc. Traffic could be heavy here.
3. This is a great route as it shows how different parts of Kuala Lumpur is connected, through some roads you will find yourselves in busy middle-class residential areas, then into elite housing gardens, rustic kampongs, etc.
4. Watch out for dogs at the Sungai Baru riverside, they are of the chasing type.
5. The durians sold in SS2 must be good, judging from the expressions of my friends while they were eating.
6. Good photo opportunity at the Titiwangsa Golf Club.

PRE-RIDE

We bikers will just find some reason to cycle - conquer some hills, go to waterfalls, visit some interesting tourist spots, find good eats, etc. Always just itching to ride.

Rivern taking a large mouthful of durian. YummY!

This time round we are riding to eat durians but it was not going to be just a direct ride to eat the durians, it was going to be a big loop around Kuala Lumpur up to Petaling Jaya and back. There is not much fun in just riding out to the nearest stall to eat durians - we have to do more than that; stretch our legs more, explore more, etc. In the end we rode 60+ km.

I am a banana (... see Jotaro's Twisty Tales), the odd Malaysian who does not eat durian; so when Rivern initiated a durians eats ride I was a bit apprehensive, but keen to join my friends to ride. Then Tailim (of the hApPy HaPpY blogs) suggested a super loop route, that got my attention, I have to GO!

THE RIDE

Durian Ride Route Map 01 (click for Map Link)

I call it a super loop as Google Maps just could not handle the detailed route that we took, and had automatically split the route map into two pages. The above is page 1, showing the route from the Titiwangsa Golf Club to the start of our return trip via Section 17 -
Small Group Ride : Titiwangsa Golf Club>Jalan Ipoh>Jinjang>Kepong>Sg Pencala>Taman Tun Dr Ismail>Bandar Utama>SS2>Section 17>University Malaya>Federal Highway>Brickfields>Dataran Merdeka>Titiwangsa Golf Club

Durian Ride Route Map 02 (click for Map Link - click on Next to go to this)

Page 2 -
Section 17>University Malaya>Federal Highway>Brickfields>Dataran Merdeka>Titiwangsa Golf Club

L-R : AhPek, Shereen, Rivern, Tailim, Dhruv (Photo by Rivern)

Five of us turned up for this ride, and took a group photo before we started.

Leaving the golf club via the quiet roads of Tasik Titiwangsa, we were soon on to the busy roads - taking the underpass that connects Jalan Pahang to Jalan Pekeliling.

... and from there onto Jalan Ipoh.

About twenty minutes into the ride, we stopped at Ming Sing Coffee Shop at Jalan Ipoh for breakfast; we have to fill up early as we have a long ride ahead.

OR rather my friends wanted to burn of breakfast before we reach the durian place; sort of clear the stomach space for more durians.

Here they serve very good Curry Laksa (curry noodles), served with crunchy boiled bean sprouts and freshly boiled cockles.

During breakfast Tailim asked whether we wanted to take the main roads or the Sungai Baru riverside route; warning us that there were dogs which chased him when he rode there last time.

Being very brave, we opted for the riverside. Dogs don't scare us, do they.....?

The riverside was shady, and almost devoid of motorized traffic - it's so nice to ride here.

We were lucky, there were dogs around but they did not chase us - perhaps Tailim had given them a pep talk earlier. "No chasing cyclists. Cats ok. Cyclists, no!"

Took a group photo here too.

Exiting back to Jalan Ipoh we are now at the Jalan Kuching interchange. On the other side is the Jinjang/Kepong area.

Across on the other side, with a couple of turns, we were riding on safer residential roads.

Riding below the electrical transmission lines.

And with a few more turns, we are in Segambut, riding pass the Taman Sri Segamut Mosque.

With some more turns, here & there, we are at the street market in Kepong Baru. For those who wants to follow this route, do take care at the Jinjang & Kepong area; one wrong turn and one may find oneself in Holland.

Soon we were up this flyover, it will lead us to Desa Park City.

Desa Park City, one of the key checkpoint of our ride, is close by!

But we only skirted Desa Park City. It would have been nice to cycle in that township. With wide landscaped five-foot ways, it's very green and cyclists friendly,

Seems like my co-riders were eager to eat their durians, so we went straight and hit the dirt road that connects Desa Park City to Kampong Sg Pencala. We discovered this dirt road connection during an earlier recce ride (... see more)

This is one of my favorite photo spots - here huge pillars holds up the Jalan Duta Link to the NKVE, it's giant pillars dwarfing us.

NOTE: The road situation here is temporary and change from time to time. Presently they have red-striped "HAZARD" tap drawn across with large boulders blocking the way. But bicycles can still pass through the gaps between the boulders.

Crossing that point, we are into Kampong Sg Pencala - a sudden transition from a up-market residential area into a rustic kampong. And the difference is not physical only, the temperature dropped too. Really, the air in the kampong is much cooler. It's like crossing over to another dimension.

A photo of us with kampong houses on a hillside.

Passed that kampong, and we are into another nice residential area - Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

And then across into Bandar Utama stopping here at the traffic light in front of the 1-Utama shopping complex.

We wanted to surprise our friend Johnny of My Bicycle Shop at his shop in the Oasis Complex in Bandar Utama but we were in for a surprise ourselves instead. Our friend had closed his shop for that day, having to attend to some personal matters. So we went to the corner coffee shop to have some drinks.

Having to cross back to Taman Tun Dr Ismail to continue our journey, we met this group of young boys. They were playing a sort of hand-ball game while wearing roller blades. See the similarities between them and us? Yes. It's the helmets.

At the other end of Taman Tun Dr Ismail in order to avoid the heavy traffic along the LDP Damansara-Puchong Highway), we used a pedestrian bridge to cross over to Damansara Kim.

Further along, it was up another ramp (leading to the Tropicana City Mall) to avoid the traffic of the SPRINT Highway below.

And then riding down the ramps through two basement car-parks of the Tropicana City Mall.

(Photo by Rivern)

Just like that, we are into SS2; the durians are near!

DURIAN TIME!!

Who did we meet there but Fenn & Ann. Both had taken the trouble to meet us here, probably waiting for us to arrive from our long cycling trek. Ann had cycled all the way from Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam.

The names of the durians (Jiu Ji, D24, Musang King, Red Prawns, etc.) sounded like Greek to me, a non-durian eater. But my friends were comfortable with the durian speak and ordered exactly what they wanted.

The durians here were huge! Ann was impatient to dig in, can't seem to take her eyes off the large thorny fruit in front of her.

The girls, trying hard to fit in the large fruit into their mouths.

Rivern was thoroughly enjoying himself; like a pro, he took small nips from the edges of the fruit.

This was the first time Dhruv was eating durians, he seems to like the fruit.

DURIAN'S TIME'S OVER!

Time to head back, but first one last destination - University Malaya.

We rode back to the SS2 Mall, using the ramp there to ride down to cut through to Section 17 and then then Section 16 ...

... and we are at University Malaya!

We rode round the grounds of the university a bit and then decided to tackle Lover's hill - it's a steep climb up to the pinnacle of the university grounds. For some it was a cinch, for a couple of others it was a struggle.

Easy or harrrrddd, we were all glad to reach the top.

We made a short detour to the adjacent University Hospital, where Tailim did a bit of play acting. "Hey... emergency, some one's in the Trauma Ward! Too much durians!"

Stopped by at Brickfields This being an Indian enclave of Kuala Lumpur, we did some Bollywood dancing here.

Back in KL City, we cut through this nice shaded pathway adjacent to the Dayabumi Complex and running beside the Klang River.

Somewhere here, Shereen developed cramps (well, it has been a long ride). I was quick to help her, from the smile of her face she must have been very satisfied with the AhPek's "service".

Perhaps I should become a part-time masseuse, could earn some money there and buy another new bicycle, Heh! heh!

At Dataran Merdeka, we took another group photo.

Riding via Jalan Raja Laut, then into Jalan Pahang ....

... and we are back at the Titiwangsa Golf Club!

A newly-addicted cyclist, Harry, joined us for a group photo.

It has been a ride that had us circling a good part of Kuala Lumpur and up to Petaling Jaya. One of contrasting areas busy townships & rustic villages; one off cutting through bridges and malls.

Many thanks to Rivern & Tailim.

Pages

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Brompton Accessories #9 -Bagging The Brompton For Air Travel

Monday, July 15, 2013

Kuala Lumpur : Durian Treks