KC, relax rider, super duper rider, cool dude!

The legend... KC,  taken 24th Oct 2010

This is KC. I met him outside the food centre at Changi village during one of the Sunday rides. I remember that day clearly. It was 24th Oct 2010, Sunday where I brought the crew to the Giant guns and Changi chapel. Andy told me while eating his fishball noodle.."hey Taiwoon, u got to meet this guy..." So I did. Relaxing outside the hawker centre , holding a packet of teh-O (tea)was the man. He was riding his recumbent which he had for over 30 years.... So much so he couldn't find the correct rear tyre as the company which made the bike is already gone...
Now KC is a regular feature in the lovecycling Sunday rides.  Being one of the most experienced rider in the group,  KC shares his crazy ride stories... like riding to Penang!! Yes, that is riding from Singapore to Penang, my friends! Still he rides as a group, never showy but always ready to lend a hand to the newbies or anyone.  He changes tyres so fast that he can put the Ferrari mechanic to shame.
During a Sunday ride,  I once asked him how he started to ride and how he could ride so far.  His reply was... "I just started 2004 or so... then when I was the slowest riders in my group... and I told myself that I will train hard.. and with time I could keep up with others... it is not about the bike, just keep riding. Soon I was riding everywhere... " When he say anyway.... he really means anywhere
And I can go on and on and on about this amazing guy V24 engined super nice guy...  but nothing beats meeting him personally. So come on down and join us for a ride sometime! KC, it is my pleasure and honor to ride along side you! Keep on spinning and smiling!

Passing on knowledge, at Lifecycle.  Teaching other how to change/ patch up tyre...   

KC's  recumbent with ah long sticker 

Full steam ahead!

SG Indiana Jones

Steve's way of carrying stuff with Dahon Boardwalk D7

Steve cruising along...

Dahon front truss bag. Mounted low which makes it a stable ride

Steve and Bernice with their Dahons... nice!

This is Steve who rides a super duper Znged(modified) Dahon Broadway D7. The engineering knowledge inside him is very obvious when u see the bike up close and personal. The rear sprockets is specially selected to match his power output. He is the person to go to if u need technical advice on the parts setup and tuning.. What he knows and can do is amazing. 

For day trips,he uses a Dahon specific front Tour bag which he find is just right size. As the bag is mounted low near the front wheel, the ride feeling is very stable. And you can read more in detail on Steve blog too. 

No detail too small to Zng

Ultergra Rear D with Golden Anodised pulley wheels... Installed himself

How we carry our stuff - Featuring Diane on a Brommie!

Strida bag on a Brompton. Works beautifully

Diane showing her barang barang(stuff) - Extra water and shoulder sleeves

Slim profile, revealing generous cargo capacity

Pouch for camera mounted on Handlebar

This is Diane's way of carrying stuff on Sunday ride. Her gear is a Strida saddle bag which seats very nicely behind the seatpost. The cool thing about this position is that she can carry lots of stuff, yet do not affect the bike handling.  Mounted on her handlebar is a small camera pouch, for easy access when she sees a nice place.

Sunny Diane :)

Just in case anyone is looking for this bag,  you can contact Steven or Vivian of  Diginexx 

Matt and his steel horse

Matt and his beloved D7

Matt riding the nice quiet roads at Pengarang

Watching the world go by....

This is Matt, one of the lovecycling kakis, good friend and fellow photographer.  He has a dream which is to ride Taiwan countryside. I believe he is now well prepared for the ordeal. However, the toughest part awaits.. getting the "visa" from CEO(wife) :) 

His ride is a Dahon jade green D7, souped up with a 105 Crank, good bearings. For tyres, it is Big apple front and marathon supreme on the rear. This makes for a nice comfy ride. Carrying the load is done by a sturdy Dahon rear rack and lotus pannierbags.  Visit his personal blog to see more of his photos and ride acount. http://mattchia.com/blog/   Ride on brudder!

The perfect bicycle bag...is there one?

Flamingo fully loaded

Blinker on helmet 

Topeak rack and bag

Riding a bicycle is an enjoyable experience. I get to feel the wind in my face, riding slowly and observing all the surroundings.  As simple as riding ... there are stuff we will carry... I am curious to understand what do we all bring on a day ride... My "weapon of choice" is usually the Flamingo. I will use the Topeak beam rack with a Topeak MTX trunk bag loaded with all this stuff listed below

1)Wallet, coins (buy food and drinks.. and stuff in bike shop)
2)Cellphone/ Iphone (always miss called as I cant access it quickly)
3)Sunblock (no ugly tan lines)
4) Mini Tool/patch kit/tyre levers (Just in case when I get a flat)
5) point and shoot Digital Camera  or  DSLR  (Captures the ride, places and people)
6) Small face towel (I sweat buckets...so it helps to make me dry)
7) Small snacks like Museli bar 
8) First Aid kit (When sh@#@ happens... this is really very useful)
9) Small note pad and pen (jot down good ideas, inspiration)
10) Tripod (very good for group shot) --- sometimes
11) Cable lock
12) copies of map of riding routes 

Mounted on bike
1) Hand Pump 
2) Water bottle
3) Front and rear Blinkers

Others stuff
1)Helmet

Usually all the stuff goes inside my top peak pannier bag....and a friend remarked "u like machiam going on mission...so heavy..."   So, tell me what do u carry on a sunday ride?

Punggol to Changi village 10th April 2011

lovecycling crew at the newly completed Punggol PCN    (photo credit Francis)

David helping Mary to pump up her tyres, after seeing how long it took...

Punggol heading to PCN

Lovecycling group visited Punggol this time. Yes!!... no need to wake up so early as I am staying just 2 blocks away from the meeting place. But that was not the point....punggol is really very beautiful and I am glad I can share this with my friends.. We got a few new riders joining for the rides like George, Kimi, Adrian and Elynn. After the usual safety briefing, we rode along my morning cycling route which was nice and quiet, rolling to Punggol PCN

The route we took... thanks TC! 

Nice girder bridge to Lorong harlus

This is Singapore! 

      It was then a short ride crossing the girder bridge that links Punggol to Lorong Harlus.  Riding in the morning was really nice feeling, esp. when u feel the cool air and the serene waters... very hard to imagine that not too long ago, this area was a dumping ground. Well done PUB and Nparks for the sensitive landscaping and using natural methods to reduce the swellage at Lorong Harlus. It is really working!

Derek on his trusty brompton..rolling along and smiling

motivation to ride... food!

The ride pace was unusually fast this time and we zipped like a horde of deer passing pasir ris park and in no time reached Changi Village around 930am for breakfast. I like Changi village as it is kind of the cycling hub... and  we brought another cool mix to cycling. I think our motley group of folding bikes, MTB, road bike drew some envious glances from the roadies. Riding just because we enjoy it..... just ride... :)

More photos here and Lovecycling.net 

Support Japan charity ride by HP Alumni folks

HP alumni and many others - "Japan,we are with u!"

With a last minute "approval" from my CEO, I attended the Support Japan Charity ride organised by HP alumni. Talking to the main guy who made it happen - Mr Han JK, who share his thoughts. "It all started by a friend talking about the Japan earthquake and we just wanted to do our part. Then someone started big donation and said let's try to raise some money for our friends in Japan... " Well, judging from the ride response... I was very impressed and touched by their efforts. Playing the role of the photographer, I roamed and took photos of the riders and action. Overall a meaningful and fun ride. Well done HP alumni and all the friends who participated. More photos here  
shadow photos

Terence, Paul, Daniel, Gibson and Thomas(CEO)

pushoff!

 Jok Kwang, the main guy making it all happen...well done!

riding and raising funds for Japan...nice!

 

Introducing Russ and Laura of http://pathlesspedaled.com... inspiring!

Photo credits by Pathlesspedaled.com

I never met Russ and Laura but I wished I did. I have followed them on cyberspace, reading their adventures on bicycles. And today they shared on their feelings why they embarked on the "redefining road trip".  http://pathlesspedaled.com/2011/04/sometimes-the-cause-finds-you/   Yes, I know it is abit lengthy... read it... it is really good! As u should know by now I am also a bike advocate and their story is very inspiring for me. To talk about it is one thing, to do it is another. Uproot urself from the daily grind, with no real income coming in....This is real commitment and passion we are talking about. I guess it is also a dream to me and many others. Now u can live ur dreams thru them by supporting them on the roadtrips.. here http://www.indiegogo.com/big-adventure-small-wheels 
Or just send a message to them at http://pathlesspedaled.com/connect/  

Rock on Russ and Laura! If u happen to be in SG, I would love to share with u my hometown...on a bicycle of course!