Punggol waterway with Momo 30th Dec 2015

ok daddy.... let's go.

Momo ready for a ride to the park with her new scooter.  

End of the year and its a good time to clear leave, spend time with the little rascal. Momo got a new skate scooter as the old one broke(by me when I tried to stand on it...don,t ask) and its just the time to deploy Dummy. If you are looking for more local singapore content on Dummy. Here's mine for ur "research":) 
A close up on the side bag which can also serve as a carrier for bicycles, scooter and what not. Just get creative.  More photos of the ride here. 

unbuckle the clip, put the scooter in, clip and cinch tie the strap. Very easy

rolling!

Part of the punggol waterway . Notice the buildings are up on the secondary water canal  towards direction of Coney island

Nice surrounding with a gentle breeze. And its free!

One of the reasons we moved to Punggol was to have the kids be near their cousins and also the attraction of the much talked about amenities (not built then) - The Punggol waterway PCN.
This was an entry I did on 2010 on the Punggol waterway and looking forward to the day it was ready.
5 years later, still a fair bit of construction going on. But its now a great place to ride, to skoot, to run or just a nice slow walk. 

She skoot and I just follow

strong kick!

I am really very happy to be living near to the Punggol waterway and its a great place to relax. 
We also saw a new "bird cage" playground along the PCN. It looks pretty cool. 

can also serve as lockup for naughty kids...

Interesting public playground

Tunnels to scaper around, explore...like all kids do

We also went past the almost completed Punggol Safra. The water pool area is crazy fun. I have a feeling it would be a very big hit with the folks. 

Almost ready!!

Then we just skooted and rolled along. For kids, 1/2 hr is quite enough and she wanted a ride on the Dummy. Daddy power. No problem and thats what its for. We ended up at the kids water play area. Lots of kids running around, screaming. We were prepared and packed additional set of clothes, so off she ran straight into the sprinklers.

Dummy is the ultimate family SUV bike

Lots of kids, nice one Nparks!

all the skooting makes u hot... lets cool down.

stepping on the water spouts and making a mess. Its ok, its just water!

Big kid and small kid

After goofing around, we dried ourselves and headed home. Mummy is on the way home, bringing dinner. Simple time but priceless memories.  
Goodbye 2015. Thank you for all the good, fun, bad, tough, sad times.  Come 201, lets remember to treasure whats truly important. Family, friends, good health and happiness.  

Dummy good rolling fun with kids

Just some photos of me and my princess riding with the cool folks of lovecyclingsg. This is the sunday ride which was kindly led by Eddie Lim and team Carrymes. Oh yes, we also ferried Cayla too.. .

Surly Dummy, My Family Limo!

“长尾巴”脚踏车---我家的幸福号
我家有一辆“长尾巴”脚踏车，它的车身大约有2米长，是普通脚踏车长度的1.5倍。为什么会出现“长尾巴” 脚踏车呢？90年代初期，有一个名叫罗斯·埃文斯（Ross Evans）的年轻人，美国斯坦福大学毕业后，跑到南美洲旅游开拓视野，当时，他就发现在最偏远的地区和村庄，人们都普遍使用脚踏车运送货物。他灵机一动，成立了Xtracycles公司并设计了一款脚踏车附件，它就像一截尾巴可以衔接在任何脚踏车的后面，这样一来，脚踏车的承载量就大大加强了。这脚踏车附件被称为“自由基” （Free Radical）,寓意可以自由配搭成为“长尾巴”脚踏车。为了推广“长尾巴”脚踏车的概念与使用，罗斯还特意将附件的设计图公开，让任何有兴趣的人或公司可以免费参考仿造。http://www.xtracycle.com/
后来，有一间美国小众品牌脚踏车公司Surly决定大胆采纳罗斯的设计概念，并制造出世界第一辆真正的“长尾巴”脚踏车，还给它取了个怪趣的名字：Dummy （充气假人）。我就是在本地的脚踏车店TR Bike 相中了它。那一天，我刚好到脚踏车店淘宝，发现老板C私家载货的脚踏车体型非一般的庞大，一时技痒想试一试，四岁的女儿嚷着：我也要坐！我把小人儿轻放在“长尾巴”上然后父女两人就随意绕着兜风。女儿在我身后发出快乐的呼叫，我的背向着她却可以想象她稚嫩的小脸蛋儿笑得像一朵花，那一刻的感觉真奇妙！我决定拥有自己的幸福号。
http://surlybikes.com/bikes/big_dummy
我一向好享受骑脚踏车悠哉闲哉的感觉，遗憾的是老婆的脚踏车骑术差强人意，女儿则年幼体力不济，无法一家大小在周末同游。有了“长尾巴”脚踏车， 我就可以载着她们到住家附近的榜鵝公园骑道溜达， 共享一小段美好的家庭时光。另外，“长尾巴”脚踏车也可以作为“支援车”，当我女儿骑得累时，她随时可以跳上“后座”， 我可以把她的脚踏车收纳在“长尾巴”脚踏车的侧袋里。一辆“长尾巴”脚踏车可以乘载大约180公斤的重量。常有人问，单凭一个人的力量同时载着一大一小，不会很辛苦吗？ 其实不然，只要巧妙运用脚踏车的变速器就可以了，无需使用蛮力。真正棘手的问题是如何在路途中与多位乘客配合以保持平衡。我提点老婆，要把自己想象成一大袋沉甸甸的马铃薯由骑士驮着，沉稳就是秘诀。我女儿现在已经是“长尾巴”脚踏车的贵宾，她跳上跳下后座的姿态活脱像个身经百战的牛仔，英姿焕发。Dummy有点笨重，跑不快又不炫，可是我们一家大小都爱上它，期待繁忙规律生活中每一次小小的出走，幸福号出发咯！

Translated by my dear wife Jin Feng!
English Transcript....Dummy, my family limo 

The long tail bicycle story 

This was kick started by Ross Evans who went to South America after his degree at Stanford in the early 90s. Even in the most remote of regions and villages, he noted that people are using bicycles to transport goods. From this experience, he started a company by the name of Xtracycles and also built an attachment which can be retro-fitted into almost any bicycle. This allowed more load/ pillion space to be carried by an individual. It was called the FreeRadical. To popularize the long tail concept, he made the design “open source” which people, companies can follow and fabricate for free. http://www.xtracycle.com/  

Surly Dummy

Surly, a specialist but small bicycle company took up the idea and fabricated the world’s first purpose built long tail. Which is what I bought at TR bike, a Singapore based bicycle shop.  Actually it was quite a funny first “meeting”, I just popped by the shop to look see, not really thinking of buying. There was a bikeshop “lorryish” long bike there which Chris said it was ok to try riding…  And my daughter shouted.. “I also want to sit..”. We propped her at the back and gently went for a spin. I could her squeals of joy and laughter… and we came back smiling like an idiot. We were in love….and  looking at our face.. Wifey said ok..let’s buy it!  

http://surlybikes.com/bikes/big_dummy

Why did I get the Dummy?

I enjoy cycling alot and one of my biggest regret is that I can't bring my wife and girl along for the sunday rides. With the Surly Dummy, I can spend some nice family time with them, riding along the PCNs.  I live around Punggol and it is a very nice place to be riding. 

It also serves as a “support vehicle” for my girl, just in case when she cycles and becomes tired. She can simply hop on to the “rear seat”. The side panel pocket is able to hold her bicycle, my wife and her. Many asked me if it is very tough to ride. Actually it is not so due to the gearing. Simply reduce and use the "easy gear", spin rather then mash. The tricky part is the starting off and balancing the 2 other passengers. A trick I tell my wifey is to feel like "a sack of potatoes". My little girl is already used to Dummy and she can hop and get on the bike like a season cowboy.

Last Sunday, we did the Punggol Water water ride, slow and steady pace so that the kids can also have fun. Many came, laughed and enjoyed the wonderful place. Me and my family did too... with a Surly Dummy!

Feelings with the Surly Dummy

It is a fun family bicycle and we really enjoyed it lots. I can ride for fun and also do some grocery shopping easily with it.  While it is not the fastest nor the glam-est bike to be seen with. I think it is a great family bonding”” bike….  Which will create priceless memories for my family. That point alone is really something worth the bike value. Let’s go ride a bicycle…weeeee!!!

Why the Surly Dummy?

With the Surly Dummy.... we can!                     Photo by Diane Flaviano

Rolling along with LCSG crew..                        Photo Credits Diane Flaviano

Ah mo is busy with the camera                          Photo credits Diane Flaviano

Sunday is always a happy day with Lovecyclingsg team! This is at Punggol water way ---- Photo by Diane Flaviano

I enjoy cycling and one of my biggest regret is that I can't bring my wife and girl along for the sunday rides. Not anymore! With the Surly Dummy, I can! It serves as a support vehicle for my girl, in case when she cycles and becomes tired. She can just hop on to the rear seat. The side panel pocket is able to hold her bicycle, my wife and her. Many asked me  if it is very tough to ride. Actually it is not so due to the gearing. Simply reduce and use the "easy gear", spin rather then mash. The tricky part is the starting off and balancing the 2 other passengers. A trick I tell my wifey is to feel like "a sack of potatoes". My little girl is already used to Dummy and she can hop and get on the bike like a season cowboy.
Last Sunday, we did the Punggol Water water ride, slow and steady pace so that the kids can also have fun. Many came, laughed and enjoyed the wonderful place. Me and my family did too... with a Surly Dummy!
Ps: photos are from Diane of Unfold and Cycle, please do go and visit her blog for really nice articles on the folding bicycles too! Thank you Diane!

Bonding time with the Surly Dummy

Ready to rock!

This is what I got the Surly Dummy for. Evening time, I brought Momo to the nearby Punggol Waterway. With the Dummy, it is easy to transport Momo and her strawberry bike. Effortless and comfortable. Momo did very well and rode an impressive 4km! We stopped at the sandpit and played for while. Singapore has it quirks and some policies which  I don't agree. But I love this Punggol water way PCN and judging by the human traffic, it is super well received by many folks.  Simple pleasures of life and beautiful memories with my girl. 

one crank at at time  

Sand pit! 

Surly Dummy in a HDB

Castor wheels found near Sungei Road area

Single U bolt and zip tie to hold everything in position, plus lots of used inner tube to prevent scratches

Some folks asked me how is it like to have a Surly Dummy in a HDB enviroment. The challenge is to lift the bike vertically up to fit into the lift. For me, I do this by rigging up 2 small roller wheels - ala Brompton style.. so that I can wheel it easily. A picture tells a thousand words.. so here is my implementation. Using not drilling. Just off the shelf U bolts and castor wheels. And it works!

Flip it up and roll into lift. Can even stand on its own!

with the easy main stand.. Dummy is stable for just sitting 

Dummy dummy dummy

Just a doodle on my ipad while waiting for my dentist... 

I want to ride my Dummy!

Add caption

Dummy @ Peruvian Andes

If you think Dummy / xtracycles (longbike concept) is just a family bicycle.. think again.. this is Jacob Thomson riding through some really rough terrain... amazing. More here 

Riding the Spine in the Peruvian Andes from Jacob Thompson on Vimeo.

Tailwheel concept for Dummy - Good for more compact storage

This is my reference for a tail wheel for my Dummy. Reason being I live in a built up apartment and need to wheelie the bike into the lift. It is ok but I feel that with small roller wheels behind, it can help make it easier for me.

concept - Photo credit to DIT

Rollers installed

Vertical storage 

Aqua-Dummy ....Perhaps the army might consider for their recce team

This gentleman made a inflatable pontoon using the Dummy as a main frame. Things people do on a Dummy and no, i am not thinking of doing this.

More Dummy mods for children and Dessert Storm style

This gentleman bought the Dummy frame and built up the bike himself. Check out the rear rack he build from electrical cable steel conduit. I love the children footrest he did for his 2 grandchildren.

This is a guy who asked a bag maker to custom make bags for Dummy. Pretty Dessert Storm material if u ask me!

Grocery shopping with Dummy - intial ride feedback

It is true, a cargo bike is fun.. is useful and will change ur perception of cycling and how u use bicycles. Think of it as a SUV to carry any and everything. Today I had my wife and momo riding with me to the nearby market.  It was about 3 km away, short by cycling standards but walking there will take a while.  

We tested ride with 2 behind around the void deck, learning to lean together on the turns. Momo the co-pilot was reassuring mummy" relax, mummy... and dont move...is very fun" 

Peekaboo

Momo waiting patiently for Mummy to buy veggies and breakfast

You can see Ah mo is very comfortable with Dummy seating position

Lots of room for barang barang! 

I want to shout!!! Solid lah!!! but shhssssh... not so loud...

Spurned on by Momo sunshine attitude... mummy settled in abit and we went and rolled merrily towards Punggol Plaza. Riding with additional load on the Surly Dummy means that I have to use the middle crank ring, with the rear on the bigger sprocket. The trick is to spin and not to grind on the pedals also expect that the handling will be heavier and slower. Initial feeling is that it will depend alot on the passenger, if they are relaxed and "neutral", the handling will be good. As it a motorbike, if the passenger fidgets... u will know.   

The plus point is that for the first time, we rode as a family... on one bike!!!! This is amazing and I am not by any way a strong rider. Ah mo was chirpy and singing tunes and mummy trying very hard to keep cool and not panic(she never rode on Dummy before). A short while later, we reach Punggol plaza and Kim went to buy the grocery while me and momo stood around Dummy. The grocery was a non-issue as Dummy have super deluxe load carry capabilities. unclip, place stuff. Sit on the plank, we are off. Woohoo!  The return leg was better as mummy was more relaxed and we sang as we rolled...even detoured abit to check out the neighbourhood.  I can see more family time on bikes! Yes, thats why I like Dummy so much!  Try it some day! 

Dummy first day 14th Nov 2011

A short text message by Lynten on Sat evening... "Surprise for your girl coming in on Monday, can u make it after 4 pm?" Sure, absolutely! It followed with a flurry of FB messages and the notice of a free kopi.... George, Roland, Uncle KC, Steven Tang, Boon Yeo and Chris Wee came and witness the arrival of Surly Dummy.

Giving me support and La kopi...at the kopi tiam...

Surgeon Henry and Lynten installing mud guards....boy was it useful!

Lynten makes it look so easy

Dummy is born..with all the proud daddies!

The expert hands of Lynten and Henry make the installation look simple. I opted to put on the mud guards(super lucky, later u know)  and like a expectant father....pacing here and there..... so kan cheong. haha...  While Dummy was being built... we looked at the cool bike parts and molested the bikes....wahhhh  Sure enough...if u stay long enough...  we bought stuff. Steven and Roland got the retro Torpedo lights, and Flecsher stand. George got a 451 Primo tyres as his rear wheel is squared off. Boon got a very nice rack. Only 2 survived the posion - Chris and KC...
Around 5 pm, Lytnen rolled the bike to the front of the shop to let me try... and the same time the heavens boomed... and started to drizzle slightly... Took it for a spin around the park and it felt great! Stiff and well mannered. More like a MTB with a rear rack. It is funny cuz it looks so bulky but for some reason, the bike handles very well. Anyway, the heavens decided to make it more drama and challenging for me by upping the rain levels and lighting... Ok man, bring it on... let's go. I got mud guards..and a free trash bag by Henry. :)

Raining..use trash bag.. sure water proof!

Close up of the superior trash bag... :) 

The group split off their own ways and I rolled towards Punggol. Mountbatten -Old east coast road - Still road- PIE junction- Hougang- Punggol. As I rode on the rainy and wet roads with Dummy. I was smiling from ear to ear. Oblivious to all my troubles and frustration. Ahh so shiok.... Waiting at the junction near Still road/PIE.  I stylo miloed rested my left foot on the kerb and look cooly around... yeah...... oh oh... big puddle- I was in a BIG puddle...

Dummy pilot..underwear wet but happy like kanna Toto

Just as the thought bubbles formed... 3 cars turned and gave me the biggest wash down "blessing"ever. To make it more malu... 5 FT standing opposite direction with brollies... looked and laughed! I smiled too.. hahah what an idiot... Dummy to be exact! hahah I like!
Stopped at Hougang for makan and hot soup... rolled off quickly back home.
The challenge awaits. I look at the lift and said... I can do it. Press the button, door open. Rear brake activate, wheelie abit.. roll it in. No drama. Instant KO! Yeah! Easy peasey! Thanks to expert advice by Lynten and Eugene. For those who worry about the lifts - it is NO PROBLEM. CONFIRMED!  As I reached my home...dripping wet... I patted Dummy... good to have u mate! I think we are gong to have a good time!

Reached my door step....and relief, no issue with the lift! 

Momo just wanted to sit on Dummy...and said lets go!!! it was still drizzling...

That's not all... momo was hopping with joy and excitement... I put her on the rear deck and she said "let's go pa pi" - It was still drizzling... My CEO look at me... and I just told her "momo, daddy need to fix some more thing ok... it is raining leh..." looking nervously at CEO...   Hot shower and hot milo later.. hogging the computer.. a FB msg popped out...  It was from Chris ... I got old 120mm stem with 27.2 dia... u want? Oh yes!!!! Bolted out of the door like a speeding tikit.... drove like Lewis Hamilton to his home to pick up...  Chris laughed when he saw me.... I was happy as a guy who kanna TOTO... but this prize can move. Chris even pass me a handle bar... So nice of him!  Raced back home and noticed the rain had stopped. It was around 915 pm...."hor say liao.... I can tong pang Ah mo tonite...!!"  But when I came home... my princess was already asleep... and snoring away... "Wah lau...." But I installed the passenger stem and bar.. and wrapped up some points with inner tube to avoid scratches...

passenger stem and handle, very kindly donated by Chris. Thanks!

Nice Titec stem! Old part new life!

Momo the co-pilot @ Punggol water way

Tonite, I brought Momo for the first ride! She loves it!! Singing all the way and melting everyone in her path. :) Thanks to the welcoming party, George, Steven Tang, Roland, Uncle KC, Chris and Boon for the moral support and coming for the kopi !
Thank you the TR Bike "surgeons" - Lynten, Henry who expert hands "delivered" Dummy... And Chris who's nice friendly gesture to lend me try TR Company Extracycle.
Lastly Thanks a zillion to Chris Wee who graciously gave me his extra stem and handle bar complete with foam grip. This is a beautiful....wet day which I will remember for a long long time!