My iPhone app of choice: Strava Cycling

Ever since my friend introduced this app to me, besides the segments of road where you compete with other Strava users you see your progress each time you ride. How fast you was the ride today?

You get to see simulated Power calculations based on your bike's weight, and track your mileage... Which seems like a lot since I always reset my meter each ride and never actually know how much I cover each week/month.

New hoots : Aero Bars from DealsExtreme.com

 

Ever since embarking on my time trial bike, I am loving the aerodynamic advantage aero-bars provide. So since I have been commuting daily why not install them on my commuter?

Besides the less drag created, it also enables for more positions on the bike, increasing comfort levels on long distance rides.

Just one thing, Aero-bars are really hard to fit on curving, winding MTB riser bars... I tried and failed.

Time to look for a cheap flat MTB handlebar...

Prague, Czeck Republic: Petrol Station

Check out the strobe pattern!

[vimeo=26098060]

Looks like Prague is very much encouraging it citizens to cycle, either that or its citizens love to cycle. I can't think of a more apt place to encourage cycling! A petrol station!

Imagine that you always drive maybe 2 km to the supermarket or coffee shop just to grab something small necessity or a cup of coffee, than you pull into the petrol station and get a rude shock at how much the price of fuel has gone up. As you pay for the gas, the counter staff notifies you that you have enough points to redeem a bicycle! How cool is that. Than you go on the redeem it and try it out! Bingo! You are addicted to cycling, it cuts cost, makes  you fitter, etc!

And everything you need to start out is at easily redeemable, no need to spend! Woo hoo!

tags: Bike Shops, Cycling Accessories, Czeck Rebulic, loyalty points for bicycle, overseas, petrol station, prague

Chain seizure

As I was away for something like 7 months, when I came back to my market bike parked at the void deck it was still there! Awesome, it seems my lock strategy is working fine...

But when I wanted to use it, i noticed the front tire was punctured... So Yesterday I went to fix the puncture, only to see that the chain was heavily rusted and that it has seized! Some parts of the chain wouldn't move anymore, I tried just putting some lubricant and using my hands to try to force the chain to move... Much like how I have seen others do when they break a chain and put it back together...

It didn't work. I went back home to get WD40 and two pliers. First attempt it didn't work still. Well the thing about WD40 is that it takes some time to do its magic, its been many time proven! Just spray WD40 and wait, and get back to what you were doing! Problem solved!


Tags: How to solve a stuck chain, bicycle chain stuck repair

New hoot! OEM Lightning

 



At an unbeatable price of $75 and a ridiculous light output of a claimed 900 lumen, hopefully it won't go wrong... Can't wait to start using it.

First bike I took a picture of in Tokyo.

What you are look at is a basket. Not your typical market bike metal wire basket... But a hand woven, hand engraved leather pouch that engulfs the frame to become a designer carrier for your groceries. I didn't bother to check the price, since I wouldn't be a able to afford such luxuries! Looks extremely exquisite!

tags: Bike Spotted, custom leather basket for bicycle., Japan, tokyo

New hoot!

I have been on the search for an Iphone tripod for a long time now. Even in Japan it was difficult to find, and when I finally did. It cost 3 times as much as the above combo. Not to mention the one sold here had a normal tripod which was something that i didn't want, although it did also come with a zooming lens attachment!

Now I can film myself riding! wahahaha

WOHO Firefly bags/light

In case anyone is interested. Click here for details.



Seems like a novel idea... Let's see if I can get one of those bags this weekend.

tags: Commuting, Cycling Accessories, ride with style, woho classic roll, woho firefly right with style, woho night flux led light, WOHO Product, woho saddle bag

The Transparent Umbrella, it is clear now.

I have been in Hiroshima City for some time now, probably like a month. And I keep seeing these Transparent Umbrellas attached to bicycles. Whether the bicycles themselves were being ridden or simply parked.

Today I became a proud owner of a transparent umbrella too, because it was raining. Once it started raining it became clear(yes clear, as in transparent). Besides the obvious reason that the umbrella is to shelter you from the rain, when riding your bike in the rain with a little bit of speed or head wind, you will have to lower down your umbrella to keep the water out and when you do that with a normal umbrella visibility drops!

Not with the Transparent Umbrella! Simple yet effective. And when Japan's most popular thrift store sells them(Daiso), you could be sure they will be snapped up.

Mystery solved.

tags: daiso clear umbrella, mystery of the clear transparent umbrella, transparent umbrella

New lock!

This thing huge! It is one chunky piece of metal, if Ah-longs were to lock people's gates with this it would have sealed the people in. Cutting down the door itself would probably be faster.

I wonder if I'm the only one with this lock. Will do a review of it once I start using it, since its in Singapore and I'm in Japan.

Nothing but the best for my commuting bike, to let my mind rest easy.

Tag: Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit U-lock in Singapore (Is it the only one?), bought from Chain Reaction Cycling, Best Kyptonite Lock