Parts upgrade for my Dahon Speed P8

Thudbuster suspension seat post

MKS EZY pedals

Its a common thing that after a long ride, the parts on your bike are worn out.
This is wear and tear.
I checked out my Suntour pedals and parts of its plastic textured grips are coming off.
This means, a long-term solution is needed.
After researching a bit, I found that the MKS pedals are the only good choices for folding bikes like my Dahon Speed P8.
Another piece of accessory that would make the ride even comfier is the thudbuster seatpost.
This came highly recommended and one of few on-line companies that are willing to ship outside the USA is Thorusa.
Prices for the components are pretty decent, but the cane creek thudbuster seat posts are only available in silver for folding bikes...

Ego and the primadonna

Putrajaya fun ride part 2

Michelle at the lakeside

At the final lap

Cruising in Putrajaya on a 16" folding bike

We survived!

There were two stages in the ride.

First was to Taman Wawasan where there is a short incline. 

This proved to be a thigh buster as my legs couldn't take it. 

I pushed my Dahon Speed P8 while the son of a Dahon owner Zakaria was pushing his Curve D3, one of two 16-incher taking part in the ride.

Michelle rode all the way up to the staging point and her achievements were remarkable.

I managed to regroup with the GT girls and Ignatius, a fellow Dahon Speed P8 owner whom I got to know at the Dahon On-line community through the rider forums. 

He too was fit as a bull as he charged the hill with his Speed P8. Ignatius told me that the Schwalbe Big Apple tires were pretty nippy and climbing was effortless.

From Taman Wawasan, we continued towards the busier part of Putrajaya. 

Traffic was already heavy at the time but there were traffic cops in their high-powered bikes to clear a path. 

This came as an advantage for the riders as motorists are truly disrespectful of cyclists.

During the pre-ride briefing, we were told of another climb near the Deputy Prime Minister's residence.

I made it three-quarter way and when my legs gave up, I got off the bike and pushed. 

Michelle made it all the way with her three-speed foldie. She was the woman of the hour. 

The marshalls gathered all the riders at the peak of this hill and as the traffic cops had cleared a path, we rode past the Prime Minister's office and headed towards Precinct 2.

At this point, we reached the last stage of our ride and it took about two hours to reach the finish line.

The fun ride took us around certain parts of Putrajaya in a 18-km loop. 

I have plenty of praise for the ride organizers as the event was well-planned. 

There were ample space to ride, safety marshalls were always there.

Best part was this: its free and we were treated to breakfast, a dessert break and lunch including a lucky draw with some cool prizes.

Unfortunately, Michelle and I didn't win anything, but riding with the GT girls and our fellow Dahon cyclists proved to be an unforgettable experience.

Putrajaya fun ride part 1

Michelle, at a section of the ride

A good day at the starting line

My faithful Dahon Speed P8

Hakim Amir (left) and Me

I had some decent sleep before waking up at 5am this morning. 

There were much to do as we packed our Dahon folding bicycles onto my little Perodua Myvi or the Huskymobile and headed off to Putrajaya.

We've planned this for two weeks and managed to attend the Ministry of Environment's Putrajaya Fun Ride. 

Early morning means hitting an empty road on Saturday, which is a breeze. 

From our home in Subang Jaya UEP, it takes about 25-minutes to drive to Precinct 4 where the MOE is located.

When we got there, there were already a small crowd getting ready with their bicycles. 

It didn't take much effort to set up our bikes, and I found that Michelle's Schwalbe Big Apple tires nearly flat. We had a tube changed last week.

Lucky for us, we brought along our Topeak Joe Blow foot pump and inflated the balloon tire.

As we were getting ready, a Proton Exora pulled over. The driver came out and called out my name.

It was Hakim Amir, my old classmate. What a coincidence as we've not crossed path for more than three decades.

As time drew closer for the event to begin, the GT girls came in full swing. 

We met them at the KL City ride and it was Wey, their leader who told me about the Putrajaya event.

The participants, fewer than 100 riders, were flagged off at 8:15am sharp...

Our ride took us to the Putrajaya lakeside and we caught a glimpse of some really scenic sites which you could hardly see while driving.

Cycling offered a different perspective of the country's administrative capital.

Powershot G12 special function - Fish eye effect

A distorted me

My boy, shot with the fish eye effect - now, cuter than ever!

The girl

I am discovering some features in the Canon powershot G12 which is really fun.
The fish eye effect under its special functions - is something that would put a smile on people's face.

The folding bicycle



Dahon folding bicycle inventor Dr David Hon and his first creation: The Da Bike



A Da Bike rider from Thailand

I did a Google search on Birdy bicycles and came up with a website called the 'folding cyclist' where there are tonnes of information that you can obtain about folding bicycles.
Now, contrary to what I know, the folding bicycle is not new.
It has been around for ages in many incarnations.
While running through the history of the folding bicycle, I learned that Dahon Bicycles - which was founded by Taiwanese Dr David Hon - has a 60% market share and is the largest manufacturer of such bikes in the world.
Its amazing how Dr Hon's first bicycle - the Da Bike had spawned so many generations of foldies and its also interesting to know that his first bikes are still around.


Birdy

German technology: the Birdy folding bike

I came across the Birdy range of folding bicycles while shopping for a bicycling helmet at a KSH outlet near the Taman Bahagia LRT station.
Herbert, the sales guy showed me the bike and demonstrated on how it folds.
This is like a scene out of 'Transformers' and what's cool about the bike is the fact that its a full-suspension ride at a cost of RM5.5K a pop.
I wouldn't say that its expensive because its backed by Pacific Cycles who owns a sackload of brands including the famed Schwinn bikes.
What sets it apart from other folding bikes is the fact that its frame remained as one piece.
The only moving parts are the front and rear wheels.
This bike comes with a set of 18" Schwalbe Marathon tires - one of the best in its class.
The only slack is that it comes optimised with an 9-speed transmission.
Other than that, if you want something above the norm, the Birdy bikes are a good alternative.

Raleigh bicycle returns..

The Raleigh Chopper was a hit in the 70s

The Raleigh Senior - an inexpensive bicycle  

I got my first bicycle at the age of 9 and riding it was a scary experience. That same year, as I got better riding it, I began to wander even further from home, sometimes, with the neighbourhood kids.

The only thing that I never did, was to cycle on the main road.

In the mid-70s, the rave about town was a Raleigh Chopper. Almost every kid who has one was a popular person.

In my neighbourhood, there countless of thefts when it comes to the chopper.

Soon, the 70s died out. And so did the Chopper. And this year, it is 42-years-old. Even older than me!

Later, when I turned 16, my family bought me a Raleigh street bike and at RM450, the bike was something that I really treasured. 

It has a Look saddle and some really cool European components including a matching tire pump that mounts snugly on its seat post.

I rode this street bike until the age of 26 and gave up because each time the tire went flat, I had to patch it up.

Eventually, it rotted away gathering dust at my aunt's home in Setapak.

Recently, I visited a bicycle shop in USJ 4 and rekindled my contact with the owner Mr Siow. He runs the place with his son who did a damn good job manning the store's website.

Siow showed me the Raleigh Senior priced at RM450 a piece.

For a basic bike with a front suspension, its not bad.

Any kid can own one because its inexpensive.

There were also some Raleigh hybrid bicycles on sale, but none caught my eyes other than the Senior which is nicely priced.

Perhaps growing up with a Raleigh did bring back some good memories after all..

Nikon P700

The P700 is Nikon's latest high-end compact digital camera

I friend of mine told me about his Nikon P600 which went kaputt when he visited Hong Kong.

This guy is an avid shutterbug and a camera buff.

He's got plenty of good things to say about the P600 and was shown the P700 at the Hong Kong Nikon service centre.

I was a Nikon user and I must say that they make some really good cameras.

But not compact cameras. 

Their new P700 would look like a Canon powershot G10 if you pay some attention to details. But both cameras are not alike. 

I had a hands-on session with the P700 and found that the LCD display is much better than the powershot G12.

Even its user interface had improved tremendously. 

Speaking of focal length coverage, the P700 would give its user a 28mm-200mm zoom - perhaps the longest telephoto in its class. 

And if you want to enhance its wide-angle capabilities, a 21mm wide-angle adapter lens is available as an optional accessory.

Pound for pound, I bet the P700 would be a complement to the Nikon D-SLR user out there.

But the one thing that ticked me off is the fact that this pocket camera is made in Indonesia.

Nevertheless, its a solid contender to the Powershot G12 which is still manufactured in Japan.

Canon powershot G12 part 2

Twilight in Malacca

Shot with the 'low-light' mode on my G12

Another twilight shot at Malacca

I had a chance to try out my new Canon powershot G12 in Malacca on Sunday. 

Since we left early to get there, it was a perfect chance to give the low-light mode feature a try.

With all those hybrid IS and high ISO capture capabilities thrown-in, my compact camera was able to capture some shots handheld. 

Some pundits from a photography forum said pixelation occurs on this low-light feature which is apparent in the photos shown, but that didn't matter because I basically use the pictures for record.

Anyway, in the newspaper business, high-quality images are not a necessity.

What the G12 can capture compared to its predecessors is truly impressive.

But all these features including the HDR capture has a flaw. It can only be recorded on JPEG.

I got used to shooting in RAW and can only utilise the shots in JPEG.

Again, this doesn't really matter much when I publish the pictures in low-resolution images in the newspaper.

Summary

As far as controls are concerned, there is much to fiddle around with if you compare the G12 with the G10.

The swiveling LCD screen came as an advantage for low-angle shots. When I rig my tripod on the ground, I no longer need to squat down low. All I need is to place the LCD to get the right angle. If you shoot landscape, this feature has plenty of advantages.

Although the camera is not as responsive as some micro four-thirds, the G12 is well ahead of cameras within its class. Its much more affordable than the Leica D-Lux 5 and can give the Panasonic Lumix LX-5 a run for its money. Only thing that is absence is a faster lens and of course, the Leica coatings. Then again, I don't need it.

If you compare the user interface, the G-12 is much more friendlier. 

As as image quality is concerned, I am very impressed with the G12 as it is able to deliver some really good and clear shots. 

Canon powershot G12 part 1

The camera's new front dial button

On/Off controls are recessed

My G12 and the G10 in the background

Over the last 10 years, I've cycled at least 6 out of 10 Canon powershot digital cameras. 

My first was a G-1 which I bought through a friend. It was a showroom set which was taken for trade exhibitions. I paid RM1.6K for the G-1 and subsequently upgraded it to a G-3. 

Soon, the powershot G-5 and G-6 came along and it took a while until I changed it to a G-7. 

My last camera was the G-10 which served me very well. 

It was replaced by the G-11 which features a swiveling LCD screen and low-light capture capabilities.

I came very close to procuring the G-11, but after a deal to sell it went sour, I decided to keep it. 

Recently, I got a very good offer for the camera and decided that it was time to give the G-10 some rest.

First impressions 

With the G-12, Canon did away with bulky boxes and papers. 

Instructional sheets were replaced by a CD-Rom and the package was minimalistic.

I found that the controls too have changed a bit.

The On/Off button is recessed and this is good because it prevents accidental power-up when you are carrying this camera in your pocket. (most people found it to be too big for their pockets and prefer the slimmer S-95)

Anyways, feature selection and certain controls can be accessed with a front-dial. 

This is something that you would find on an EOS camera.

Even the slow-flash sync function on the flash controls were not there anymore. 

Its been replace by a slow-flash feature on the flash function itself.

The G-12 has a low-light capture ability but this is toned down to 2.5MB per image which turned out to be very pixelated when you blow it up on screen at 1040 x 800.

Its good for record purposes but if you want to present this as a large print, better forget it. 

The feature is also limited to large JPEG images. No RAW capture.

On feel, the swiveling LCD is plastic. So, when you play with the jog dial during image reviewing on playback, it feels rather 'plasticky' compared to the G-10 which is housed in a magnesium-alloy casing. 

To me, this is a slight drawback. Nothing really serious. 

As far as value is concerned, the powershot G-12 is a bang for your buck if you prefer a small point-and-shoot camera packed with advanced features. 

Malacca Ride Part 2

Michelle at a mural behind Jalan Munsyi Abdullah

At the Malacca river

Riding along the Stadhuys 

Last leg of the ride at Stadhuys

We didn't hangout that long at the Portuguese settlement. It was high tide and rather windy. 
From there, we rode back along Melaka Raya as the morning traffic was getting heavier by the hour.
We staged our ride to the Stadhuys where traffic came to a standstill. 
There was a large group of runners from the city's event and tourists were already flooding the main attractions of Malacca.
At the same time, the sun was out in its full glory and we began to feel the hit.
We rode from Stadhuys to Laksamana and made a U-turn back to Jonkers street and rode to Tengkera before turning to Jalan Ong Kim Wee and back to Jalan Kubu.
Michelle made a halt at Datuk Gan Boon Leong's gym and took some photos there. 
We proceeded to Jalan Hang Tuah and by this hour, the traffic was chaotic. 
From there, we made our way to Kampung Morten and the old bus station. 
There were some bums and prostitutes hanging around a bridge linking Jalan Tun Ali to Jalan Munsyi Abdullah.
We found the backlanes painted with a set of murals depicting the Malacca Sultanate of the 14th Century. Very nice and colourful.
From Munsyi Abdullah, we rode past a series of backlanes and back to Jalan Bendahara for a late breakfast.
I suggested a stall at Jalan Bunga Raya, but the hawkers there didn't allow us to park our bikes, so fuck it.
Then, we made our way to Jalan Temenggong and ended up at a coffee shop serving fishball noodles.
That really made our day and at RM12 to feed two people, one cannot complain.
After a hearty meal, we cycled back to the Jalan Bendahara carpark and packed up our bikes.
The journey home was breeze and we took a lunch break in Seremban before heading home in Subang Jaya.
Michelled had to head to work while I processed the photos of our ride today. 
We are looking forward to another fun ride in Putrajaya next week!

Malacca Ride Part 1

At Ujong Pasir Portuguese Settlement

A Famosa Fort ruins

The Malacca River at dawn

Michelle and I had little sleep to get an early bird advantage of a trip down to Malacca today.

Our mission was to recce a route with our folding bicycles and the two-hour drive didn't slow us down at all.

We left at 03:30am this morning and arrived in Malacca at about 05:30am. Had some breakfast at a Dim-Sum shop near Masjid Kapitan Kling and chilled out there for an hour.

At 06:30 sharp, we made our way to the Jalan Bendehara open air parking lot and set up our bicycles.

It didn't take much effort to rig up our rides. 

The only thing that took time was my Airzound horn with took a little bit of time to assemble onto my Dahon Speed P8's handlebar.

From the parking lot, we rode through the Stadhuys and made our way to the museum complex.

This is fun because only bicycles are allowed to pass through the 1km trail which led us to the St Francis High School and Equatorial Hotel. 

During our ride, we saw a bunch of school kids who were part of a city run led by the state's Chief Minister Datuk Ali Rustam.

We rode along Jalan Shahbandar towards St John's hill and the destination was Ujong Pasir Portuguese settlement.

The air quality in Malacca was rather poor as it was filled with haze. We can smell the burnt particles probably from a nearby plantation or peat swamp fire.

Camelbak hydration packs



Camelbak's hydration bladder

When you are riding around the city, there's hardly time to pull over and sip a drink from your canteen.
This is where hydration packs with an internal bladder would come in handy.
I've been fascinated with Camelbak's range of Military-grade hydration bladders and found that they are small enough to be carried without obstructing your range of movement.
These packs are not cheap and most of the packs that are sold off the shelves are quite overpriced.
I saw a Camelbak MULE in safety orange which I am rather interested in for my future rides.
Another contender is Wingnut packs. They make some real kickass packs and are very rare around this region.

Garmin Edge 800

Garmin's latest bicycle GPS: the Edge 800

Garmin's latest bicycle GPS system - the Edge 800 is a run for your money.
It features touch-screen access and can be integrated with your bike and a heart-rate monitor.
This high-tech navigational device can be loaded with maps for urban as well as wilderness rides.
What I found interesting is the user interface. Its like having a car unit on your handlebars.
This new system is available late this year in the US and has a price tag of USD499 (RM1.6K).
Hopefully, it would be available in Singapore so that I can check it out.

The laptop scheme

The Toshiba Protege R700

After a year of service, the Editorial staff in my company is eligible to purchase a laptop under their laptop scheme. 

But there is a catch. The buyer will be bonded for three years before the next upgrade. So far, some of the guys have cycled at least two laptop. 

Our photographers get to replace their worn-out camera bags.

Reporters, on the other hand, are eligible for a camera loan. I did just that by getting a Canon Powershot G10 about a year ago.

Recently, I've applied for the laptop scheme.

My intended purchase is the Toshiba Protege' R700 laptop.

This is the top-of-the line business model with features up to the Ying-Yang.

Best of all, I have to cough up 20% for the purchase and the company would take care of the rest.

My Toshiba Protege' M500 is nearing the end of its service life and the replacement is timely.

Now, recently, the company also offered an Apple ipad purchase scheme. This one, well, I'll have to weather it out..

Malacca foldie recce ride



The Stadhuys in Malacca, a historical monument during the Dutch colonisation of the state

I am trying to squeeze in a ride in Malacca on Oct 23 and  my mission there is to seek a route for the Folding Bike Club ride sometime in November.
One of the possibilities is a day tripper.
My plan is to park my car at the Mahkota Parade outdoor carpark and ride the Dahon around Banda Hilir and at the same time, scout for suitable riding routes.
I would most probably ride with my wife on this mission and is very likely to check out a few food joints in the the historical city.

Polis, oh polis..

Cops are getting some bad rap these days from citizen journalists. As consumers, we must thread carefully on what people post on the intenet..

I read a post on Facebook about one Pamela Lim's issue with police intimidation.
The said motorist is a dive instructor and adventurer and was stopped by two General Duty policemen on their rounds.
Lim recorded the scene and cited her rights.
Yes, you are entitled to your rights.
And when a cop stops you, they also have the rights and reasons to do so.
All you need to do, is cooperate.
The cops have gotten a bad rap and their image is not popular anymore these days.
People seems to have found a way to manipulate news and tell their side of the story.
Similary, another woman also did the same by recording her encounter with a traffic cop and posted her ordeal on YouTube.
Right or wrong, I don't question the victim.
As for the cops, they will have to take English lessons to deal with 'intelligent' people who 'know their rights to the Ying-Yang'.
My take on this is simple.
If you have broken the Law, cooperate. If the cop dishes you a summons, take it and settle it.
No matter how intelligent you are, the cops are they to uphold the Law.
And for the record, I know Pamela Lim.

Indomie, oh Indomie...

The Taiwanese health authorities had recently imposed a ban on noodles imported from Indonesia.
The 'Indomie mee goreng', which is a popular brand here in Malaysia, was taken off the shelves for containing harmful perservatives that are also used the manufacture of cosmetics.
Now, sadly, these are also the cheapest noodles in our market and I have consumed a sackload of them.
Since they contain preservatives that are banned, I guess my remains would be mummified if I drop dead.
Personally speaking the Indomie mee goreng is tasty, but since there's a scare, I guess people would be dumping their Indonesian import into the garbage bin.
Recent news reports stated that the manufacturer of Indomie had contacted the Taiwanese health authorities to seek further clarification on the ban.

Enter the bicycle air horn!

The Airzound compact air horn for cyclists

One thing I learned from cycling on the streets is that you must give way to pedestrians.
Manouvering around people on the street is a combination of patience and skills on two wheels.
More than often, people tend to stray onto your path and are oblivious to you and if you are unlucky, that person may wind up injured.
I have no confidence at all with bicycle bells and recently, I read about the airzound air horn.
This gadget is an innovative design that uses compressed air.
Each time you 'charge' its storage bottle, you will get 30 bursts of 115 decilble horn.
This is enough to clear you a path on the busy street and also warn incoming vehicles.
In Malaysia, car owners are totally disrepectful of cyclists.
As a cyclist, one must obey the Law by keeping left at all times. Going against traffic is a no-no!
The Airzound horn is pretty easy to install and I was impressed with its performance.
Now that my Dahon Speed P8 is equipped with the Airzound, I am more confident on my rides..

If the crown fits..

Inexpensive fit: the Limar Green-Black cycling helmet

When it comes to finding a cycling helmet that fits, money isn't everything.
You can have the most high-end protection, but if doesn't fit, its as good as a lemon.
I found this the hard way when I went searching for a proper cycling helmet.
During my quest, I found a really solid helmet for my wife and the pricing was excellent. Its made in Italy and comes with a real nice neck strap and inner padding.
Then when it comes to my turn, finding a helmet that fits was nearly impossible.
My search came to a grind when none of the pricier head protection gear can fit. Its either too tight on my cranium, or very loose.
It took a while till one popped up and it fits like Cinderella's glass slipper.
Best of all, it costs only RM90 for this cool helmet.
Compared to other places, its the cheapest find so far.
With a perfect fit and 70% protection, I did not hesitate in grabbing the offer.
Now, Michelle and I are fully outfitted to take on any path and roads.

Cycling helmet needed

Revolutionary: The Dahon Pango folding bicycle helmet

After cycling with a bunch of people who came fully equipped with their bicycling helmets, I felt like a complete idiot.
Since I don't cycle on main roads at all, the thought of having a cyclist's helmet just drifted away.
Now that we are a part of a group of cyclists, I guess having a helmet would be on my priority list.
I measured Michelle's head at 56cm in diameter and mine is just two centimetres more.
Fitting would be a problem if the helmet is small and the part that sucks is this: there aren't many bicycle shops specialising in cycling helmets.
Either they are too cheap or very expensive. There is nothing 'mid-range' here in Malaysia.
Another alternative is to find out more from the Singapore riders.
My choice would be the Dahon Pango folding helmet.
This was announced in Eurobike during Summer and it's out of stock at the moment.
I was told by a source that a limited quantity would be made available soon in Malaysia.
So, like it or not, I have to get a helmet for Michelle and settle for the Pango when it arrives.

Gorillas in a bicycle shop..

Bicycle shops aren't what they used to be these days..

I was told that best bargains for bicycling goods can be found in Taman Megah near SS2 in Petaling Jaya.

The said shop has years of experience and started out as a humble outlet catering to bicyclists in the neighbourhood.

Their owner was a guest-of-honour at my wife's best friend's wedding some years back.

When a business unit is small, the owner and staff would have time to give their customers some service and personal attention.

Now, fast-forward 15 years, the said shop had moved to a new and bigger location near its old location.

I made a trip there to find out more about cycling helmets.

During lunch, it was packed with customers and in a single glance, I realised that some of the regular clients there are from the upper class market.

At least two of the guys there were bigwigs and the rest were yuppies.

If you expect counter service at this place, well, better forget about it.

I approached this Gorilla-like retard at the counter - a Malay dude probably in his late 40s with long hair and a Quasimodo hunch.Then I asked: "Eh bang, saya nak beli helmet, bajet lebih kurang RM200.." (I want to buy a helmet with a budget of RM200).

His reaction: "Kedai kita ni bukan macam orang lain, helmet murah pun boleh dapat, RM50 dah siap. Kat sini, barang kita mahal.." (We don't sell cheap stuff here).
I was taken aback with his attitude.
The Gorilla didn't seem to bother with casual walk-in customers and I was warned about the owner's reputation of licking rich people's ass.

So, with that in mind, I have strucked off one bicycle shop on my list.

They can have the best deals in town, a variety of tools and gadgets and all the shenanigans on Earth, with their attitude, they can eat the peanut out of my shit.

Now, 10-minute's walk away from this shop, the scenario was entirely different.

I went to an outlet owned by Kean Seng Heng (KSH Bikes) and the service people there are from a different planet.

This is like comparing fire and ice.

For a posh joint, I was surprised and humbled with their courtesy and attention given.

Even for asking, I get a smile and Herbert, the guy who took my inquiry, was kind enough to show me around.

In terms of sale, this guy got my vote.

The other shop may have everything lined-up for success, but if they expect me to kiss their owner's saggy ass, they can forget about it.

If there is a business model that can be expanded, the KSH retail chain would have a lot of prospect.

At the end of the day, its how you treat people that makes the difference.

Dahon Folding Bike Club KL City Ride 101010

Michelle and I got up really early this morning to join a city ride with some members of the Dahon Folding Bike Club of Kuala Lumpur.

We folded and packed our Dahon bicycles: a Speed P8 and Curve D3 onto our car before heading out to the Bukit Aman carpark in Kuala Lumpur.

The journey took about 20-minutes and when we reached the place, it was already full with cars.

It didn't take much effort to set up the bikes and just when we were done, Uncle Wee, one of the members arrived with his spanking new Speed P8 which is a 2010 model.

There were some noticeable improvements on the bicycle especially its rear deraileur and a basked attachment on its headset.

Wee bought they bicycle after he was offered a 20% discount at Rodalink's latest outlet in Bandar Botanic, Klang.

Later, Mior Aizuddin, another rider arrived at the scene followed by his boss Ng Sek San, a renowned architect.

I also saw a group of ladies with their GT folding bikes and had a glance of  Zakaria, one of our members who rode his new Speed TRP8 (modified tourer) and his son who rode a Red Curve D3.

Pauline Lee, our ride leader took the helm and led us to KLCC via Jalan Parlimen to Jalan Raja Laut.

Traffic was heavy as we manouvered our bicycles and a lot of people on the street were actually stunned by a group of folding bike riders.

It took us about 20 minutes to reach KLCC via Jalan Ampang where a part of  the road was closed to traffic for the Nike Run event.

We made our way to Nikko Hotel and continued our journey to the KL Tower.

By the time I reached the foothill, I was running out out energy.

Michelle rode all the way to the base of the tower while I accompanied a rider who had to push her bike because she was recovering from a fractured femur.

We parted ways at 09:30am as Michelle and I rode back to Bukit Aman carpark.

On the whole, it was an interesting ride.

We had a great time and will be looking forward to some future outings with the Dahon FBC KL riders.

Weekend with the dogs

Michelle and I have been going to 1 Utama's Central Park since we had our dog six years ago.
Our female Siberian Husky Dame Queenie had literally been there since she was a puppy.
I came to know about the 2010 Cutie Pet Fair on Facebook and took the chance to take our dogs out for a morning at the Park.
This is one of few dog-friendly places in the Klang Valley.
As long as we take care of the place like scooping up after the pooch poops, there won't be pressure to ban dogs from going there.
And like the usual, we spent half the day there and made our way back by noon.
We saw plenty of toy dog owners and some usual faces from last year.
At the fair, I met a young couple who brought along a pair of Sibes.
One is a bi-eye black and white male and his companion, a 6-month-old Grey-White female.
We chatted a bit and found out that we live in the same township.
With the scorching sun and heat, I decided to call it a day by 12 noon.
The rest was left for cleaning up and doing chores at home.
Tomorrow morning, we are going for a folding bike ride in the City with a bunch of Dahon folding bike owners..

Spyderco C36ti

I picked up my first Spyderco C36 'Military' folding knife back in 1999.It was a no-frills folding knife featuring G-10 thermoplastic handles and a
'nested' steel liners.Sceptics have very bad impression of its 'flimsy' G-10 scales and its rather
'thin' liner lock.But this knife proved otherwise.Its sleek and low profile allows you to carry it around in your pants pocket and
once deployed, the blade has plenty of cutting power.I've been carrying a Spyderco Military for more than 10 years and its never
failed me.Recently, Spyderco announced its latest incarnation of the 'Millie' with Titanium
scales and a framelock.This was well-received as it puts Spyderco as a leader in knife manufacturing
technology.In a small slip, Spyderco pays acknowledgement to knifemaker Chris Reeve
for the patented framelock.To sum it up, the Titanium Military is a knife built to cater for demanding
situations and if you want the best of high technology and performance, this is
the folding knife to go for.

The week on cruise control

It felt like life has taken its course on cruise control over the past four days.My 10-day leave ended last Saturday and as I returned back to work on
Sunday, there were plenty of work to do and things to catch up.In just three days, I ploughed through with loads of stories to be filled for my
regional pages.The only thing that I am looking forward to, is a short weekend with the dogs. We plan to spend this at the Cutie Pet Fair in 1 Utama's Central Park.Its been a while since we had some time out with the dogs.On Sunday, Michelle and I are going on a ride around the City Centre with
members of the Dahon Folding Bike Club.One of the members, Mr Wee rang me up early this morning, asking for
directions to the Bukit Aman carpark.He is a Dahon Eco-5 folding bike owner and had recently purchased a Speed
P8. I guess my convincing power had influenced two riders who purchased the
2010 Speed P8.Hopefully, it will be a smooth weekend and I hope the Sunday ride is gonna be
fun!