Relaxed geometry for riding.

This is how I like my riding, slow and steady. Like my mascot on my TSR:) 

I like steel bikes 

After riding and writing about cycling for over 5 years, I have an idea of what my personal riding style and the bikes I like.
To be frank, it wasn't really a deliberate scientific rational planning but an organic free flow way of things just happening. And also ...ahemmm a very supportive wife:) 
I like Velo Orange and Rivendell approach. They are simply old skool bike geometry. Much more upright cycling with long wheel base. Key is relaxed, non-competitive and low/non tech. Recycle if possible.  We have a Chinese term for this. Its called 慢慢骑 

These are thumbies or thumb shifters. They work irregardless of whatever speeds cluster (7-10speed) as they use friction rather then SIS(index shifting)

They are almost extinct but u can still find it here 

Not a glam thing but it really helps to know whats coming from the rear. I think they are more important then helmets 

Usually the bicycles are made of  Steel or Chromoly which is heavy compared to carbon. But their defense, they dampen road vibrations pretty very well. Also they are quite robust. Some times we would experience a bike drop on the floor due to careless positioning when leaning on a curb or wall. 
Steel bikes also wear well with age and develop a patina with regular use. I am a product designer by training and this is something which I feel that most modern products have failed miserably. Modern products just don't wear well.
Now, this entry is not about dissing off the folks who want to go fast or love carbon. It's different strokes for different folks. I am just sharing what works with me. Here goes... 

My fleet of steel horses

As with all cyclists, it start with one bike and then the "fleet" will slowly grow. I don't know why but they do...else, you are not trying hard enough" ha ha. 
There are subtle ride differences in the ride quality and yet some how they feel also similar. So I took out 4 bikes in random and try to do some quantitative study. The bikes are 
1) 1990s Trek 930 with a surly LHT fork

Looking ready for a tour. Rigged up with Top Peak rear, Carradice Pendle and Tubus Tara front. 

Really nice Nitto front rack which u can put a safety kit or rain jacket

Wide bars by Velo orange  

2) Late 80s Old Road bike NOB 

My first bike I bought using my holiday work as a book shop assistant. Its being Singled speed-ed by Lynten 

You sure can touch this!

3) Tokyo Bike 

Birthday present by Wife and the basket helps me "tar bao" dinner. The front pouch holds my wallet and phone. 

Rattan basket is from some hamper which I recycled 

4) Alex Moulton TSR

Propriety front rack and Beach road canvas bag with DIY Beeswax waterproofing. 

Road bars installed by Rebound Centre, previously was a mustache bar 

As scientific as it can get from me

measure and check....

I took 3 basic measurements to understand my bikes. 
A) Reach- from Seat tip to steering stem
B)  Handle height 
C) Seat height 
What I found out is they are very similar with I measured! 
No wonder I felt Tokyo bike felt abit too short. The seat was lower compared with the rest of my bikes.
This measurements would be also very useful when u bring ur bike overseas and u need to dismantle them for easier packing. 

I also love the quote by Velo Orange which sums up what I feel on cycling.  

Chill and ride. Learning from the best of the best how to drink kopi ( uncle KC) 

"Most cyclists don't race, yet they ride uncomfortable racing bikes and try to go too fast and so miss much of the world around them. Our emphasis is on a more relaxed and comfortable style of riding, and on refined bikes that are comfortable on a century ride, an inn-to-inn tour, or even on a ramble down your favorite dirt road.
Chris Founder-President Velo Orange"
I know this kind of riding will never be main stream as say road riding. There is simply no commercial intent big enough to do do. This is why I share my opinion on my blog and hight light this small sub-cycling culture. 
Hope one day you could also try out this relaxed type of riding someday. See yah! 

Slow Biking Singapore

Cycling is like cakes. There are Pandan cake, cheese cake and chocolate cake. All cake but different taste. This is one genre of cycling "cake" which I like too. Slow slow relak type. I was very glad that Bing Cheng agreed to share more on what he and his friends does "slowly" .....  Read on! 

Slowing Biking Singapore (SBSG) rolling down a quiet alley - Photo Credits SBSG 

SBSG folks - Photo Credits SBSG

Slow Biking Singapore, or SBSg, was established in late 2011. Our group name is directly inspired by the Slow Bicycle Movement.

Snooping around - Photo Credits SBSG

Slow Biking Singapore was borne out of a desire to meet fellow cyclists here who share the same outlook towards bicycling - as a simple, casual yet elegant and dignified way of getting around our city. Bicycles, to us, are tools to help us 'take it slow and easy' in our daily lives, an enjoyable way of getting around.

slow roll - Photo Credits SBSG

Slow down, feel the breeze and chat- Photo credits SBSG 

We believe cycling should be regarded as a "normal" thing to do. A "normal" way of getting to work, to meet friends, to have errands done, to get to the places we want to go, to do the things we want to do; a viable form of personal transportation - and not only regarded as purely a sport or leisure activity.

Sari of SBSG - Photo credits SBSG 

As a group, we aspire to encourage non-biking friends to join us in "slow biking" as well. To the best of our ability, we show to skeptics that, by our own examples, "No, it isn't too hot, it isn't too hard" to cycle in Singapore - we can all do it within our own pace and effort. As such, we are not restricted by how fast we have to ride, or any special 'equipment' we have to use. Actually, we already have some real-life examples here of "slow biking" we can observe daily - aunties and uncles on their way to the market n coffee-shops with their 'market-bikes', mothers ferrying their children to schools on their 'mama-charis'. People going around to places "normally" and with little fuss on their bikes. That is what we set out to emulate.

Our group meets are also a great way to show friends how we can all have a good time together - and we all got there on two wheels! Our unofficial motto is "We ride to meet!" (as opposed to cycling-dedicated groups who "meet to ride together" instead.)

If you share and embrace the same philosophy as we do for bicycling, or would like to find more, we welcome you to join us! We can be found on Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/slowbikingsingapore/

Thank you, Ride Safe and Have Fun!

Foot note on the  Bing Cheng(Founder of SBSG) 

Hi all, I am Bing Cheng, author of the above article, and a photographer by profession. Taiwoon da-ge has insisted I should also talk a little about myself as a cyclist (and my bikes), so here I am!

My primary use of the bicycle is as a personal transportation tool - be it to get to the studio for work, to meet friends for chilling-out, or to run personal errands. As such, I have a preference for 'workhorse' do-it-all bikes that demands little fuss, something I can put away after using without losing sleep over. Some of the bikes I have owned (and let go) over the past 1 1/2 years include 2 fixed gear bicycles, a vintage touring steel bike that I converted into a commuter, a foldable bicycle, and now a '90s vintage hard-tail/rigid fork mountain-bike. I have two other bicycles at home belonging to my wife and dad - a ladies step-through city bike, and a cruiser. I have enjoyed riding them all, they are beautiful and unique in their own ways.

I enjoy cycling as a way of getting around. The basic principles behind the bicycle have remained largely the same for decades, even century. I believe a time-traveller from early last century would have little problem learning how to ride the bikes of today (and vice versa). There is satisfaction behind the knowledge that, not only do I have a connection to history and tradition whenever I get on a bike, I have gotten to where I want to go purely by my own effort. The freedom, beauty and joy in the simplicity of riding a bicycle is something one has to experience it for him/herself to truly understand and appreciate. So if you are a non-cyclist who is thinking of starting….don't hesitate anymore, and come join us!

7th Oct 2012 LCSG City ride

LCSG @ Flyer

The City ride is one of the first route we did back in 2010. Then it was just afew folks and now it is more carnival like. Still enjoyable but a little bit different.  Now it is getting really tough to remember the names.....  good problem I think.
We started off from Lavender and rolled slowly along the Kallang river to where F1 pitstop was.
Mini race LCSG style.. the memorable part....
We did a mini race with a twist. Riders had to surrender their shoes and have it spread around. The bicycles were parked at the side. When the start whistle blew, they have to retrieve their shoe and get on their bicycles and sprint 200 metres to the finish line. It generated heaps of laughter and was quite fun.

Dash for it

take out ur shoes.. 

Find the shoe first... 

Chiong ahhh

After the "fun nonsense" , we rolled merrily towards Esplanade, historical sites to Singapore river and ended at Zion Road Food market. Lots of chat and over simple food, new friends are made.... nice way to spend a sunday morning!  More Photos here 

Miss Sunshine prepping for group photo

@ the war memorial 

having a meal and know each other as friends 

Good food must wait... 

Ride with MBS folks and servicing demo 17th Sept Sat

David and me @ Pandan Reservoir 

Located near Clementi area is Mybikeshop. They specialised on Foldies and what is cool about the place is the easy going, knowledgeble and friendly staff.  Usually u will see some of our kakis there ogling at the latest bicycles and parts. Then u will see the agony of decision making..... then europhia.... when the rider "submits" and hand over his credit card.  It is funny to see grown ups coming into the shop and becoming like kids in a candy store. So...we are going to bring more folks there!!! 
It is about time we do a refresher on bike servicing (good for newer riders and those totally clueless) and I am glad to have MBS team (Kian Lin, Joseph and Jai) who will share with us the tips on general bike maintaince.  Stuff covered will be general bike check, brake adjustments, gear shifting adjustment, Chain Cleaning, oiling ur chain, Correct tyre pressure/inspection. But before that we do a group ride around Pandan loop area and return to MBS for the Servicing Demo.  
Date: 17th Sept, Sat
Time:10 am for ride, 1150 for the servicing demo
Oh, MBS will be giving some discount on the day... More details @ lovecyclingsg forum below

http://lovecyclingsg.niceboard.com/t338-17th-sept-2011-sat-pandan-reservoir-loop-area-and-servicing-demo-mbs-update

Poison alley                                photo credits Mybikeshop

Pandan reservoir

Jai when he is not wrenching bicycles... 

looks familar... 

Ride and enjoy the sights by Pathlesspedaled

I like to ride, but I don't like to kill myself riding super long distances and be so tired that I can't chat with people on the ride and places...  Call me soft, wussy... whatever... I think riding should be fun and be what ever u want to be ... and floats your boat.  My "boat" happens to be the relaxed version...:)  Bicycle touring doesn't need to be "ass" breaking...  See how Russ and Laura of pathlesspedaled.com combines regional bus travel with bromptons to explore the sights from Portland to Tillamook.  Oh... I can even taste the bubblegum icecream!  Check out the wonderful intro and video by Russ and Laura...:)
Do visit their website @  http://pathlesspedaled.com/ and support them in what ever means possible! I think what they are doing is super cool!

Riding around office area...nice time out

Pandan reservoir, nearest MRT Jurong East 

Just a short zip around the lake enjoying the evening breeze...  nice and quiet.

Relaxing day by the beach picnic with friends

got to do this, even if it is a picnic...haha.. 

Kim's lovely spicy curry chicken...just like old times

Life can be simple and fun. Today 27 friends, families, children met at Pasir ris park to have a picnic. Each brought something.. and goosh it was like a buffet spread. We got Curry chicken, Curry puff(thanks Adi who came by to drop off the curry puffs even though he couldnt make it!), Jelly, baked marcoroni, muffins and lots more.  To make things more interesting, Seh shuan demonstrated his outdoorsy cooking skills... and it tastes not bad!

check out the buffet spread!     Photo credits Stewart Ong

"Steady, mai kang chong:... look pro, they will believe" Seh Shuan thought bubbles 

chill and relax

Diane, Angel and Tiger with choco... 

Not much riding today but more of a get together, relaxed and chat. The children had a field day zipping their bikes around the park while the parents rode closely with them. For many, I think this is a much appreciated bonding time between child and parents. I remember when I was young and my parents brought me to the beach where we just run around and played with sand. Food was just curry and meehoon..but still we enjoyed it alot.  When I looked today, I was really happy because I see the kids playing, smiling and running around. Kids being kids...  And the folks chatting away... :) In a modern day context where everything is so busy and fast...it is really nice to just enjoy a simple day with friends.  Try it some day.What are other more memorable experiences u have? Pls share with me so I can come up with more cool rides..

More photos

From Simon 

From Stewart

off to the play ground!     Photo credits Simon Siah

Potluck picnic at Pasir ris park 15th May 2011

Pinic time! Photo credits : http://leaveittorandomness.wordpress.com/

 Got some time? Join me and my friends tomorrow morning 8.30 am at Pasir ris park for a nice picnic potluck. Oh, bring ur bikes too... this would be a good time to try out other bikes :)  And u can try my wife's super solid curry chicken..:)

Details here

http://lovecyclingsg.niceboard.com/t223-15th-may-family-day-potluck-picnic-ride-at-pasir-ris-park

Kranji ride - 27th March 2011- This coming Sunday

Missed the last ride to Kranji?  I got alot of feedback that many want to ride this route...so I am bringing them there again.. More details and register here!
http://lovecyclingsg.niceboard.com/t180-kranji-we-are-back-wowowow27th-march-2011-sunday