Jestream: Resurrection

A year in hypersleep...

The bike in its "tomb"...

I last rode my Dahon Jetstream EX in Cambodia.
That was more than a year ago. Ever since I packed the bike in a suitcase, it never saw the light of day.
Until the time came for the bike to be revived for its task. I have a ride in the North next month and the Jetstream fits the bill for a bikepacking adventure.

Unpacked: the Jetstream had laid dormant for a year...

The trouble with lock nuts...

I must have done things wrong in Siem Reap. Seems that I didn't fit the rear hub properly, causing the wheel to be misaligned with the disk brake calipers. This caused brake drag and it was truly unpleasant.
Such - is the perils of packing a bike in a suitcase. But it was also a good learning experience.
I later realised that there is a notch for the hub to be fitted before the lock nut can be tightened.

2016 maiden ride

The Jet at Nissan's service centre

At KTM Subang station

Never seem to get tired of this bike...

After assembling the Jet, I packed it into my car. I brought it along to the car service centre and I rode off to Subang Jaya while the vehicle was being attended to. 
The idea was to get back on the 20" bike and whizz around the township. When I reached my destination in SS15, I noticed a sharp snapping sound.
A truck carrying eggs was too close to me. I jammed the brakes and that was when I realised that I have snapped a spoke.

Built to survive...

The broken spoke

Fixing the wheel...

I trust my Jet and it has taken me to places that are considered extreme in many ways. The last time I busted a spoke, it was in Indonesia. Despite having a missing piece, the bike continued without any further damage to the wheel.
I rode back to the service centre, packed in the bike and headed off to Johnny Ng's shop to have the broken spoke replaced.
The Jet's kinetic pro wheelset is as tough as the bike itself. The rim wasn't warped and I was lucky to have it back on the road.
Way I see it, the Jet has a lot of saddle time ahead as it is still in a good shape!

Taipei Intl Cycle Show - Part 2

Day two...

I caught up with my much-needed sleep and wandered around Ximending for some breakfast. 
Found a decent makan place and ordered a bowl of oyster mee-suah. Which was very decent and the gravy was blasted with garlic.
Made my way to the Nangang exhibition hall and took as many photos as I could.
The mandatory stops were at the Schwalbe booth.
This year, the tire company launched their Durano plus tire and I saw a 20" tire on display at their booth.
Later, I made my way to the Pacific Cycle booth and met Fei Lee of GW Cycles.
We chat a bit and I learned that he has been in Taipei since last Friday.
He will be leaving tomorrow afternoon for KL.
Lee also showed me a prototype Pacific Reach. 
Then, some bigwig from the company said the bike cannot be shown in postings and blogs as its not a production model.
Its also strange to learn that Lee has yet to sell any Pacific Reach in KL.
Another exciting new product was the Birdy Classic. 
This is based on its original Riese & Muller design and it's already catching up fast in KL.

GW Cycle's Lee at the Taipei Cycle show

At the Pacific Cycles booth

A Pacific Reach rigged for touring

While I was doing my rounds, I bumped into Mr Khoo from Funsportz, the guy in charge of GoPro cameras.

He was with his own entourage, we chat a bit, but the people whom he was leading seemed pretty stuck-up.

From the main exhibition area, I moved to the sixth floor where Dahon had launched their new product: the Dahon Clinch.

This is their flagship bike using a 10-speed SRAM Red drivetrain and is incorporated with some new technology for better handling.

The Clinch is previewed for the first time at the Taipei Cycle show.

I think this is an exciting new bike and it's got all the bells and whistles to flaunt.

At the reception, I also bumped into Henry Hon, one of the brothers who founded Dahon Bicycles. 

The Dahon Clinch

A sporty looking Dahon Visc

An orange Dahon Speed

A black/green Dahon Jetstream P8

Tern's trolley rack wins award..

The trolley rack that came standard with Tern Link D7i has won a design award at the Taipei Cycle show! 

Congrats to Josh and team Tern on this well-deserved award.

Well, that's all the time I have.. I am getting ready for the Tern social ride that is taking place later today at 5:30pm. 

More to come..

2009 Speed P8 - An update...

Fate
After scrapping my Raleigh road bike, well, back in late '97 - I began researching about effective ways to get around.
One of the methods was having a folding bike.
Back in the days, internet was slow. We had to share terminals at the office and I remember talking to my co-workers about it.
Fast-forward to 2006, I made a trip to Melbourne, Australia with my wife.
During the holiday, we made a trip to St Kilda's pier, a recreational area.
There was a bike shop there and the first thing I saw, was  a selection of Dahon Folding Bikes.
That's where the love affair began.
Back in mid-2009, I was window-shopping in Taipan USJ and came across an Obsidian Black Dahon Speed P8.
I don't have a clue what big chainrings, multiple cogwheels meant.
What drew me to the bike, was its colour, frame design and simplicity.
So, with that said, my journey to the world of folding bikes began...

Three years and still running: Samo's 2009 Dahon Speed P8

Got it right the first time...
I am not a competitive person.
Don't see the need in modifications to make the bike 'faster'.
Not interested in track races or smoking other bicyclists on the road.
The Dahon Speed P8 helped me to appreciate my journey.
In short, it was an experience.
From a simple 'bare-minimal' frame and the fittings, I added a pair of SKS fenders.
Later, an Arclite rack (now serving my 2009 Curve SL), and following that, a set of front and rear traveler's rack.
These became essential on my tours to parts of the country.
Initially, I'd outfitted my bike and Michelle's Speed TR with a set of Topeak panniers.
These were crappy, so, I got them replaced with a set of Ortlieb front and backrollers including a rackpack.
For night-riding, a Cateye Reflex rear light was added.
And for the long-haul, I changed the Biologic saddle to a Selle Royal Ergo Gel insert seat.
Other bells and whistles on the Speed P8 included a Cateye Commuter Cyclometer, a Garmin EDGE800 basic bundle GPS including a GSC Speed and Cadence sensor.
In short, after slowly building the bike, its now touring-ready...

The bike's cockpit

Long-term upgrades
I don't see a need for parts and components upgrade as everything is working fine.
Maybe a tire change as the Schwalbe Big Apple 2.0 wheels are superb in terms of puncture protection.
To date, the Speed P8 has clocked-in more than 3,000km and is one of my highly used folding bike.
I see more adventures with the Speed in the adventures to come.
This bike would be even better if I can replace its stem with a VRO stem. But whether it impairs folding or not remains to be seen.
Till something better comes along, the Dahon Speed P8 will see a lot of action.

The happy tourer: This is one of the best bikes from Dahon

All-round visibility: The Cateye rear mirrors are a life-saver!

It couldn't get any better!
Hahah! Yes, its true.
Of all the four versions of the Speed - D7, P8, TR and Pro TT (replaced by the Vector X27h), the Speed P8 is one of the best Dahon has ever produced.
I really dig the Chromoly steel frame (now, mostly aluminium on the present models) that can take so much punishment.
When fully rigged, the bike continued to haul and with an extra 30kg load, speed is no longer an issue.
I did express my interest in the past to add a Rholoff-14 internal hub gear. But this is reserved for my Bike Friday Pocket Llama project.
Right now, I am happy with what I have and I don't think I would want to change anything on this awesome bike till its parts begin to breakdown...

Building a touring foldie Part 2

All that gadget jibba-jabba...
I am not one of those that would stinge on outfitting my bike.
On the road, anything can happen.
So, be prepared to outfit your bike with a recovery kit. All you need, are spare inner tubes, a patch kit, tire levers, bicycle tools and a CO2 emergency inflator.

Standby, lights, action!
I have yet to find a set of bicycle light that is effective and bright enough to illuminate my path.
Right now, I had to settle for a pair of Cateye HL-EL520s on the cockpit.
I fitted them as twin lights on a Minoura Space Bar. This maximises space usage on the handlebar without compromising handling.
When you tour, I think its wise to invest on a set of good lights.
What would be ideal: are the rechargeable lights. I found a Niterider light Damansara Uptown. But their prices are ridiculous.
The best option in phase two of my lighting quest, is the Sigma pro series. We'll have to wait and see how things develop as new stuff are going to come in at their agent: KH Cycles.

Satellite navigation - the early years...
I've upgraded my Garmin GPS76csx to an Oregon 300.
For its size and ease of use, its the best handheld GPS system to date.
The Oregon can be mounted on a bike.
All you need, is a piece of plastic foot. And believe me, the retailers here are taking full advantage of the rarity of the item.
They charge a bomb for the gadget. I paid about RM100 a piece for the Oregon mount.
In the early days, I took out the Oregon out for my training rides in Hulu Langat.
Later, this GPS became an essential tool in my first Century ride.
As a follow-up, I later settled for a Garmin EDGE800 bicycle GPS.
The investment was hefty, but well-worth it as the EDGE is able to provide ride datas and also record your route.
Information from your rides can be uploaded via Garminconnect.com.
The heart-rate monitor, speed and cadence sensors became an indispensable tool. It allows you to keep track of your health, and at the same time, measure your speed and cadence.
And speaking about element protection, the EDGE800 had lived up to my expectations...

Solar power
To power up devices, I have a Power Monkey battery pack.
This came with a Solar charger and in my earlier review, I mentioned it as a piece of crap.
Yes, when it comes to harnessing the power of the sun, this gadget is next to hopeless.
But, I have a 'Plan B'.
To get the job done, I have two Sanyo Eneloop powerpacks. This ought to re-charge the EDGE800 and my LG Optimus 2X smartphone...

Staying in touch
I nearly mothballed my HP Mini 5013 netbook.
This is an indispensible tool if you want to stay in touch with your family and friends.
Initially, I toyed with the idea of having a prepaid broadband account. I bought it, but it didn't work.
Tried to apply for a data package from Celcom and was told that I was 'blacklisted' under the MCMC act. 
So, having studied the options, it was a no-go.
But lucky for me, I was able to add a data package onto my cellphone's existing line. This is roughly about RM60 more.
Now, best of all, my LG Optimus 2X smartphone can be turned into a Wi-Fi hotspot.
I tested this during a tour of Malacca and it worked.
As far as the Mini 5013 is concerned, it became a top-billing communication tool.
I also use it to upload photos.
Since this is a really crude laptop, I can't expect much out of it...


Points to ponder...
So, let's say you've got your folding bike, planning a trip and want to rig it up to haul long-distance, you might want to consider some good quality stuff.
No point getting cheap-ass low-quality stuff that you would regret later.
Stuff like racks are not cheap. And there's no substitute for such equipment.
If you are purely looking for a touring foldie, weight and speed is not the main criteria.
You must keep a lookout for bikes that can accept a rack system as well as capable of bearing every kilogramme you are going to strap on it.
On the bikes alone, any foldie with a disk braking system would be a bonus! 
I found this on the Bike Friday Pocket Llama select edition. 
There was also a guy from Singapore who rides a Flamingo with disk brakes.
As for the drivetrain, I said earlier that an 8-speed bike is able to take on any terrain. If the gradient is too much, you might as well get down and push.
Another aspect of health and well-being is lugging your own First Aid Kit. I told people that this may add on to the bulk, but you'll never know when you need it.
My motto here is: "Be Prepared".

NOTE: On my next touring foldie series, I will elaborate a bit on camping and all that cooking gear. So, please stay tuned!
 

A Terning point?

The endearing couple

I am pretty much done with folding bikes.
The last three years, I spent a lot of time soul-searching.
We love our Dahons and will never part with them. There's no reason at all for me to ditch my Dahon Curve SL, Speed P8 and Jetstream EX.
I love ALL of them and I am having a helluva time riding them.

A matter of luck and timing
There's a lot of hoolabaloo and jibba-jabba about Dahon's current QC standards.
 Most of their bikes are now made in China and with a higher number of claims, I don't think I would be getting any new Dahons.
But I must say this: We were very lucky to get bikes that are trouble-free.
The Curves, Speeds and Jetstreams have held up.

Short-distance utility and performance
Our Dahon Curves hardly gave any problems.
We used them as short-distance bikes and with a modded rear rack, the bikes are also able to haul a set of Ortlieb frontrollers.

The long-distance machine
My Dahon Speed P8, is with no doubts, a long-distance hauler. This bike had proven itself and will be the centrestage for next year's adventures.
I don't want to waste time talking about places I want to go, but rather - going there.
This is one of the best touring foldies I've ever rode.
There is no issue about 'image' problems and handling.
The Speed P8 is there to do the job no matter how tough the situation can get...

The proud and the few
Getting a full-suspension folding bike was the pinnacle of my quest.
Now, I know how comfortable it can get - gliding through potholes.
Like I said earlier and I will say it again: The Jetstream EX is built to survive. It will take you there and back in one piece.


Terning over
Some folks have speculated that Michelle and I would jump at the first opportunity to snag a Tern bike.
We love the Dahons and will spend some quality time with them. We don't need anymore 20" and 16" foldies. All our bikes have met our expectations.
Now, with Tern bikes in horizon, I must say that things are getting really exciting.
I am looking at the Verge series. 
But at the moment, our Dahons are holding up.
I don't really need a new bike.
But I certainly am looking at getting something larger than a 20" wheeler for a sense of variety. 
And I found that on the Tern Eclipse S11i.
This bike fits the bill and since its a 24" ride, the experience will be different.
So, will I be Terned? 
Not yet. Not this very moment. 

2012 Dahon Jifo

A new breed: the 16" Dahon Jifo

While three 16" Dahons have been taken out from its 2012 line-up, a new bike is set to enter the scene.
It debuted at the 2011 Eurobike show in Germany, featuring a completely new folding system.
Called 'Jifo', the new Dahon folding bike is aimed at commuters cycling the last mile in their daily commute.
Introduction of the Jifo sparked plenty of discussion in bicycling-related forums. 
I don't know if the bikes would be able to make it to Malaysia with a price tag of RM2.7K (estimated), nor it would make an impact with the local crowd here.
So, its a matter of 'wait and see' as Dahon re-packages their global marketing campaign for 2012.

2011 Dahon Vector X10: First impressions

Last of the Vectors: the X10 is value for money

The new latch design on the bike's hinge

High performance: Schwalbe Durano tires are fitted on most high-end road bikes

The first batch of Dahon's 2011 Vector X-10 arrived here in Malaysia sometime in late-January.
Prior to that, there were a lot of hoo-haas about the bike.
Some folding bike guru even talked about getting it. But when the day came, it was all talk.
Other seasoned foldies scoff at how the VRO handlebar folds.
They don't like it at all.
When you produce a high-performance folding bike, some details are sacrificed.
The Vector won't be a Eurobike 2010 award winner if its a piece of crap.
And when you expect things like that to be cheap, well, I guess you are looking at the wrong places.
My contact in Dahon told me that a batch of 10 Vector X10s are their last order from Taiwan.
They arrived in early July and are now in the stores.
It took a while for the crowd here to warm up to the Vectors and once people are aware of its performance, they were gone.
And 2011 is the best year to get hold of any Dahon bikes.
This is still under the purvue of the old international team and the factory guys who gave folding bike owners around the world their mark of quality.
I must say that I didn't really pay much attention to the X10 when it first came to Malaysia.
Seeing it gather dust at the showroom was painful.
But gradually, the bike found its way to two owners.
They were the first of the Vector owners and I hope they enjoy riding it.
The Vector X10 is a fast bike worthy enough to be called an instant classic.
It replaced the Dahon Mu EX and has a real solid and rigid frame. Thanks to the hydroforming frame technology.
Since the X10 is factory bike with extreme components, you can expect the best.
And with a price tag below RM6k, its worth considering if you are moving up a couple of notches.
Very few folding road bikes can match up with the quality thrown in.
Well, seriously, those who know what they are looking for would go for the Vector X10.

Bentong - Hutan Lipur Lentang Ride 080711

Mr Uncle chugging uphill on his Dahon Dash P18

The Bentong riders at Hutan Lipur Lintang

Giving chase to Mrs Samo

Ah Pan, my farmhand friend told me that he and a group of cyclists would take on the road from Bentong to Hutan Lipur Lentang every weekend.
I jumped on this offer and wasted no time in heading towards this small town in Pahang, which is about an hour's drive from our home in Subang Jaya.
Michelle had warned me about being late and well, we were 10 minutes off the mark. 
The plan was to meet at Kedai Basikal Bentong at 07:30am and ride towards the Bentong-Genting Sempah road.
This is a familiar route to me as we rode here two weeks earlier.
By the time we got to the bicycle shop, about a dozen people were already waiting. 
They took off to the hotsprings while Michelle and I went on to set up.
Coincidentally, another group were riding from Bentong to Genting Sempah.
We caught a glimpse of them on the way to town.
By the time we reached the hotsprings, which is about 35-minutes later (about 16km from town) the cyclists were waiting.
We didn't stop and proceeded towards Lentang.
Since the Bentong riders knew the way, they led us to a left turn. 
This happens to be the Forestry Department's quarters and nursery.
And during our trip to the East Coast with our Huskies, this was their pee and poo break area.
I am familiar with Lentang and having been there on a macro photography excursion, the landscape was familiar.
The only thing that caught me by surprise is the last 50 meters to the grouping area.
It was a short and steep climb.
So, with the gears crunching, I managed to get all the way to the crowd.
Later, we set up a group photo and adjourned shortly.
The ride to Bentong was a smooth one.
At the time, I was riding with a 70-year-old dude. He was obviously not the strongest of the lot, but he showed some true grit.
I took the position of sweeper as this dude was left very far behind.
We rode slowly at 15km/h and as we reached Bentong town after crawling for 12km, I broke away.
Michelle's voice cracked over the radio, trying to get my position. I was at a Hainanese coffeeshop and made my way back to the bicycle shop where everyone was waiting. They wanted to say goodbye before leaving. 
We had an early lunch with Ah Pan, Farmer Wong and Ah Loy, the workshop dude before driving back to KL.
The journey home was agonizing and I felt some pain on my left knee. Felt like the joints were really sore.
Back at home, my fix was a glass of Hammer Recoverite and tomorrow, well, its back to work..

Team Jetstream: The Few and The Proud

The front fork

My new ride, rock included

Ashima Pan Cake Brakes system

Suntour rear suspension

The test-ride route

I know for a fact that when the 2011 Jetstream EX goes down in bicycling history as one of the most advanced folding bike ever made, demands for whatever remaining stocks would soar globally.
We are pretty lucky to have scored at least a few units of the 2011 Jetstream EX as production was delayed by the split in the Hon family.
I must praise Joshua Hon for coming up with such an awesome bike featuring a lightweight frame and some extreme components.
And for this, I also pride myself for saving up every ringgit and sen for it instead of shamelessly asking the country's distributor for a free bike. Hahah!
Okay, getting to the lowdown, I've installed a set of MKS EXIM superior pedals yesterday.
The FSA cranks took it like duck on water and these quick-release pedals are the best there is for folding bikes.
Later, I've also adjusted the VRO handlebar to suite my riding style. I love it upright and on a relaxed mode.
Filling up the tires up to 65psi was no sweat with my Topeak Joeblow sports pump and I must say that the distinct 'clicking' sound made by the American classic hubs gave the Jetstream EX character.
This morning, I fitted my EDGE800 performance bundled GSC10 speed and cadence sensor and this worked well with exception for the speed sensor because the fork position was awkward.
Like the Speed TR that came with a SRAM Dual-drive 3x8, it took some getting used to when it comes to riding the Jetstream EX.
But I must say that the shifting was smooth and the Dual-drive internal hub does it job to give enough torque for cycling up slopes. 
The true test for this is in Hulu Langat's 10km uphill ride to the Selangor-Negeri Sembilan border.
Compared to my Dahon Speed P8, the handling on the Jetstream's VRO handlebar is rock solid. 
No lateral swaying and wobble at all.
Initially I thought I had to hunch down to ride the bike, but I was wrong. The riding position was very comfortable. 
What about the suspension? Well, this is one part that I haven't figured out.
All my life, I have been riding bikes with rigid frames.
The Jetstream EX is my first soft tail ride. 
So, it would take some adjustments to get a smooth ride on the Jetstream.
I'll have to say that with a short front and rear shock, the ride is not as bumpy on my Speed P8 and Curve SL.
Since this bike is just two days old, there's plenty of riding to be done, so, stay tuned for more updates..
 

Dahon Curve SL dropped from 2012 line-up

Sayonara Curve SL: This lil bike has been dropped from the 2012 line-up

Dahon has taken out the Curve SL and Curve XL from its 16" line-up next year.
I managed to catch a glimpse of the 2012 Dahon sales kit from a dealers conference held in Croatia in May.
A new model called the 'Jifo' would be introduced into the 2012 catalog.
So, if you love the Curve and want something high-end, better grab the 2011 Curve SL which comes in the sexy obsidian black frame.
This is one of the best 16" Dahon folding bike I've ridden so far.

Betong, Thailand - part 4

Michelle at the Thai border checkpoint

Cycling back into Malaysia

The last chapter in our folding bicycle tour of Betong was easy to pen down.

We have arranged for a truck to transfer us from Winter Flower Garden Resort  to the CIC complex at the border.

There was a slight pricing change for the ride which I had agreed with the driver. He wanted a little bit extra from the charter rate we had agreed a day earlier.

With a good night's rest, we departed from the resort at 09:00am local time. 

I had the opportunity to wish the rest of the team farewell before shooting off to the border.

By the time we got there, the sun was already up and for us, there's a short ride to complete before reaching the Malaysian side.

We spent about 20-minutes at the Thai CIC complex to clear our travel papers and rode back to the carpark where we stowed our vehicles. 

Parking for three days was RM24, which nobody had complained as the cars were there as we left it.

We drove to Kuala Kangsar for lunch and Ipoh for tea.

The drive back to KL proved to be a slow drag as vehicles converging into the Klang Valley were literally crawling from Simpang Pulai to Slim River.

Traffic was nearly at a standstill along the stretch.

We reached our home at 20:00hrs and was relieved to see to dogs wagging their tails.

Its good to be home after a short break.

The trip organizer Siang and Angela had done a great job by setting up the accommodation and   planning the riding route.

Cyclists Uncle Meng and Mr Keong were also great hosts as they provided some really great hospitality at a family-owned farm.

Also, a special thank you to Patrick Lim who hosted dinner on our last day in Betong.

Way I see it, there are potential for a return trip sometime in July during the fruiting season.

Betong, Thailand - part 3

Michelle at the hot springs

Enjoying our happy hour beers!

A group photo at Patrick Lim's grand uncle's place near the WF Garden resort in Betong...

Our last day in Betong had dawned. 
Time to part ways with Wei Ling and Debbie who had to head back to KL because they had to work on Monday.
Before we split, we had breakfast again at the same makan area near the hotel.
After chatting with some coffee and Chinese crullers, we made our way back to the hotel, checked-out and rigged up the bikes for a ride to the hot springs.
The other duo was headed towards the border checkpoint.
We started early with the advantage of a cooler day. Riding under the hot sun is no joke,
From Betong town, it took us about 20 minutes to reach a police checkpoint. The gradual climb had proved to be tiring, but our Hulu Langat fitness and strength training actually helped a lot.
We rested for a few minutes and rode to the hot springs. At this point, even a simple 8km ride would be a test as our Dahon Speed P8 and TR were laden with panniers.
Cycling uphill on a gradual slope proved to be a test of our strength and endurance.
Nevertheless, we made it all the way to the hot springs where we rested.
The day before, Wey and I met up with Patrick Lim, another cyclists who also hosted dinner at his grand uncle's farm near WF Garden resort, where we were headed to.
Our plan was to meet up in the hot springs and take a ride uphill to the resort.
While we were at the springs we bumped into a family who owns 'Tukang Basikal Fook Sang' in Sungai Way, Selangor.
I met one of the brothers during my pre-departure preparation and was told that the entire family would be in Betong.
We chatted a bit before heading off to a restaurant there for lunch. And based on recommendations, the pak chum kai (steamed chicken) was amazing!
Our ride to WF resort came in at about 2pm local time and the drive up the dusty trail was something that caught me beyond my wildest imagination.
We reached the resort around mid-day, chilled out at the canteen where Michelle and I had loads and loads of beers.
During our stay, I negotiated with a driver on getting all four of us to the border checkpoint the following day and had agreed on a price.
The rest of the day, we chilled out at the resort, took a short ride to the hills.
Later, we had dinner at Patrick Lim's grand uncle's place - which was a simple night ride and retired after a bloated tummy full of good food..