Rain Charm and bikes

This was an interesting snippet which I saw on my friend FB page. Apparently its a rain charm.  He tried it and amazingly... it works!
Now that we are at the rainy season.. we all would like our bikes to be shiny and clean. Maybe be if we have this on our bikes.. it would give us a sunny day. I don't think I mind to hang it on my bike. Some one try it out and let me know if it will work on bicycle:)

Photo credit: Allen Chew

Here's more on this interesting charm history by PM Lee! 

Eddie and Family

Eddie, Sandy, with their boys Marcus and Kenneth

    A family that plays together, stays together. Eddie, Sandy, Marcus and Kenneth is a very cool example of this mantra. I first met them at the first Kranji ride in dramatic conditions. It literally poured just before the start of the ride.. "Erh, maybe u like to wait it out or do this next time" I suggested to Eddie. But the garang family followed me in the rain all through out the ride.... it was amazing to see the boys in action and mummy in tow.  Here are some shots of them in action... Keep on spinning!

Marcus on his Giant MTB,  our future SG National rider in the making

"mummy, u alright?" 

"I am ok!"

"not so fast!!!! Huff and puff... I will chase u all down.... "

Eddie zipping along ... "man man lai" = slowly but surely

Xmas day ride at ECP

Group shot before the ride

Dec is a busy month for me with Little thoughts group activities. And I haven't had much chance to ride with my cycling kakis. We met at ECP Mac donald's for a leisurely ride to Changi village. I guess, it is the people that makes the difference.  Eddie and family, Clarence with his friends, David( 2of them!), Darren, Brandon, Mary, Badrul, GL and Matt-- all chatting away on the latest bike mounted MP3 speakers. This is what riding should be about.
Also finally got to see GL bike.  looks impressive - all specced for speed-  Durano tyres,  dropbars, 60 teeth front crank, Ultrega rear derailleur.  He was fast... and in typical GL fashion, deck out fashionably in flip flops.  Here are some shots of a relaxing day at ECP. More here .......http://www.flickr.com/photos/taiwoon/sets/72157625672311124/

This is GL bikebag for his xtoor bike... we think can hold full size bike too

Clarence, GL and Andy

latest tech ware for the tropics

Mary with her Brompton M

Matt looking real comfortable at a good pace! 

GL, David, Mathhew

Mary with matching Tee and shades

David on a Brompton R 6 speed

Pitstop

Changi point Nasi lemak, the best!

U know who are friends when u need to change tyres

Clarence. Man of the ride.. who graciously carried someone's bike down the stairs 

Taking cover from rain

Glad to be out of the rain

It really poured

At least we are dry...sort of 

It rained again at ECP lagoon food center

Kranji ride with friends - 17th Oct 2010

Riding is fun, I get to meet different friends. This time man... was there many friends! 20 riders came! Hello! I have problems remembering all but it was a great pleasure to meet and ride alongside u!  Lets see if I got it correct..... Francis, Wai Thong, Gim yeow, Mac, Mr Teo, GL, Matt, Clarence, Daniel, Badul, Zul, Hamid, Eric, Tommy, Eddie, Wife, Marcus and Kenneth and of course Zul!  Special mention:  Marcus is in Pri 4 and Kenneth in Pri3 and they rode very well and took on the slopes with nary a sweat... and mummy needs more training.. still, we all made it! Well done!

To the heros who braved the rain together, well done!

Ok, write-up proper..
Meeting location was at Kranji MRT. This ride should be special, I felt...as I was driving around the locality.. and it was! As we approached the start off time, one by one came... then to make it more interesting, the heaven thundered and roar. Black skies.. oh oh.. no good.. and then it came.. first drizzle and then it poured..lots of it. As the rain slowed down some what, we left the station and headed to towards the Kranji war memorial.  The place was sombre, yet dignified.  I could feel the quiet presence and also the sadness.

Me and Chris wrote our personal comments in the visitor log. With the rain pelting down, I tried to feel how it was like under trying conditions with bullets and nasty things coming towards u. For the country, our country. Thank you all for your sacrifice, you will not be forgotten!

Kranji War memorial

Eddy, Sandy, Marcus(blue) and Kenneth - Riding as a family, in the rain! Thumbsup!

Pouring rain... I could literally take a shower..

Oh..when will it stop.. 

Next stop was the Kranji dam, by then rain stopped somewhat and it was really nice and cooling. The traffic at the Kranji junction was abit busy and please be careful if u do decide to visit this area.  Rolling pass an old army camp, it brought back memories. This was the place where we all got our uniforms and boots. Now the place has been partially torn, awaiting to be rebuilt to some fancy condo or shopping centers. A shame I cant stop and visit due to the traffic and the place being locked up...

Old Army barracks at Kranji road

Kranji road.. waiting for red light.. checkout  rider lines

Stopping by Kranji dam car park, we stopped for a break and snapped away. It was quite a scene, 20+ riders talking and taking pics of themselves, their friends, their friends bikes. Trying out other bicycles and chatting. This is nice... that's how riding should be, not by brands or what model of bike you ride, but just ride because you like it and because you do! 

taking shots, sharing thoughts

The route to Bollywood veggies was abit hilly but we got their eventually. Ivy was really gracious when she saw our group of "cham par lan" bicycles trying to find parking at the front.  Holding her coffee, she ushered us in and chatted. She even took us personally around her fabulous farm, explaining the plants and type. More interestly, was that she talked about her family, her past and made the visit very engaging. I was also very touched when I saw she was giving many of the lesser privileged folks a place to work and show their stuff.  I bought a book from Shery Oh Siew May at the stall. The first page reads like this.. "love can bring light to darkness and create a miracle." indeed, that is so! Siew May even signed my copy for me. That's very nice of u. Siew May, Rock on! 

For those who want to know about the cool Bollywood and the wonderful pple, details are here.. and pls tell Ivy I sent you!

http://www.bollywoodveggies.com/

The Author herself!

No problems for our bicycles... 

water pond at Bollywood

real good herbs!

This is baluku... 

enuff said...now fill in yours 

Nasi lemak at Bollywood veggies, nice

Ivy Singh, an inspirational lady!

Riding towards Lim chu kang jetty

Hay daries followed which some how lost its initial soul..can't describe it.. perhaps it is because u can't pet the goat or that it felt too "factory like" 

Last stop was to be a special jetty at end of Lim Chu Kang. Zul who works around there, showed the way...and it was beautiful. Further proof, there is beauty everywhere. If u look hard enough. That's all folks and have a nice day!  

More pics here... http://www.flickr.com/photos/taiwoon/sets/72157625181417874/

Not your Fair weather friends

Riding builds character... I mean what drives people to ride in the pouring rain? When they can be at home, have a nice cup of tea and watching telecast of tour de france. 

Try riding in the rain for once.. it is fun and liberating... feel like a child once again ! 

Young and Naive, thats just what the world needs! 

Raining Cats and dogs--  photos by Papa Mike 

crazy but fun ---Photos by Papa Mike

lost and found after 20 years

drippy drippy 

We were supposed to have a riding session today..  but it has been raining pretty heavily and the ride is cancelled. So sad.. looking for a ride after being sick for the past 2 weeks.
Talking about rain, a few weeks ago it rained really hard and my parents place got flooded in the basement. This time, it wasn't too bad.. just 2 inches I was told by my brother. I went down to check and somehow, I happen to find my old road bike in midst of the mess interior.
The poor bike have been standing there for a long time. It was a sad mess. The frame have a lot of scratches and rust spots..no dents and covered in dust. Rims wise, the spokes were rusty and Cheng Sin tires deflated, harden and cracked..   Anyway, I took it back home and gave it a cleaning to evaluate what 23 years can do to a bicycle.

how it looks after cleaning up the 20 years of dust and dirt

"Lacer" Steel frame with rust spots

old Shimano crankset... never heard of series.. 

my bike

seven speed

spare parts sitting in 20 years of dust

How I got my bicycle...  It was 1987...
Ok, to calibrate expectations... this isn't any "top-grade bicycle in the barn story" but this very ordinary bicycle marked a time in my life. I was in secondary 1 or 2..  and got an evening job working in a book/provision store. On the first payday, I went looking to buy a bicycle at a shop near home. Visiting the bicycle shop was quite an experience. There wasn't internet then... so I didn't have any knowledge of bicycle. I didn't have alot of money."Erhhh.. I just wanted a "racer" .. . the ones with the cool drop bars." I told the bicycle uncle.  Bicycle shop uncle looked at me and then offered this bicycle. "It is a steel frame, got Shimano parts ..very good one.." he mumbled on.. which I didn't really understand..   I looked at the shiny bicycle with the drop bar.. and I remember the silver griptape...... I tried the bike, it was a size too big..heck.. I can deal with it.. maybe I will grow up more, I thought...(nope.. still the same size after all this yr.. only heavier).  I was in a trance...anyhow... I blur blur paid him and got out of the shop..
I have wings!!!  wowweeee... having a bicycle was liberating..like having wings! I no longer have to take the bus although initially i followed the bus routes to explore neighbourhood.  Being young means u feel invincible... I rode without blinkers, no helmet...no water bottles.. nothing. Powered by youthful legs.. it is amazing how far I rode..

rolling hills of pungol... pic taken from ivyidang4blogspot.com

I remember the days/nites where i would ride from my mum place at serangoon gardens to the Punggol point end. Approaching Punggol was a real treat.. it was quite Ulu (country) then .. it was forested and the sides of the roads were old fish/pig farm. The rolling hills meant u have speed up down slope and use the momentum to ride up the slope.  Life is really funny, I never knew after 20 years, i would be living in Punggol, where the farms used to be.
Thinking back... gosh..I  even rode to Changi airport in the dead of the nite.. no lights, no blinkers and waterbottle.. using the express way!!!  It was really thirsty... :) I was later stopped by a policeman in patrol car who did a friendly horn. ...He nicely told me that bicycles are not allowed on expressways and I should get off the express way as soon as possible.. And also legally, a bicycle needs to have blinkers.. He smiled as if he had also did the the same thing as a school boy himself.. ...
I have thought about doing the restoration myself but I think I will screw it up... so after googling and talking to people. I decided to visit TR bikes and check them out. Talking to Chris, Henry and Lyten, I am convinced that they will do a good job. Currently, my old friend is in the steady hands of  TR bikes and undergoing a much needed "spa" operation to get it running again..  will post more when he comes back.. soon I hope.