Melvin's Mission

Passion...
Sal Glesser, owner of Spyderco Knives which is based in Colorado, USA, once said: "Where's the passion?"
I spent my afternoon having lunch with this icon in the US knife manufacturing community and learned plenty about his philosphies and practices.
Till today, the word: "passion" is deeply ingrained in my soul..
So, fast-forward to late 2011.
A buddy of mine in Kota Kinabalu had asked me to check out the Strida Bicycle showroom in KL.
I traced it to an address in Bandar Puteri in Puchong through an article in BaikBike.com
It was there where I met Melvin or Toh (I am not sure who is who) and spoke to him about his products.
Compared to the big boys of the folding bicycle circuit, Strida's dealer here is a smally fry.
But I was really impressed with the way Melvin is doing his work.
He literally appears in every social ride there is around the country.
I even rode with him from Morib to Bagan Lalang where he had sincerely admitted that the single-speed Stridas were not meant for long-hauls.
I seldom meet people who are humble and sincere.
There's noting fake about this guy as his intent is purely to sell his Strida bikes.
To me, the Stridas are a novelty.

The right stuff: When it comes to Strida bikes, Melvin is there!

Spreading the word
Now, unlike some marketing people I know, Melvin had taken the initiative to cycle with his customers as well as meeting new contacts through social rides.
He is taking the right step.
I am not trying to kiss his ass and carry his balls, what I say here, is purely out of my observation and if the guy keeps it up, Strida bike are gonna make some headway here in Malaysia.
To enlighten people and raise awareness, he had engaged an ultra-long distance cyclist called 'Kamo' to ride the Strida SX in an attempt to cycle in Sabah and Sarawak.
The Trans-Borneo expedition will set Strida bikes in the national stage. I wish Kamo the best in completing his mission and fulfilling his sponsor's wishes.


Heading in the right direction...
I see a good future in Strida Bikes.
They are backed-up pretty well in terms of parts and accessories.
The least I can say is that Melvin is willing to listen to the seasoned cyclists on how to improve his products. That is a good move and a step towards securing the brand in the top placing of who's who in folding bikes here in Malaysia..

Kamo-edition Strida SX

Going places: this customized Kamo-edition Strida will travel in Borneo this year

An honour...
You don't get to see a folding bicycle that is named after an ultra long-distance cyclist everyday.
This is precisely what Strida Bike Malaysia has in mind to market their 'triangular' foldie.
The Strida SX 18" foldie was customised for Ah Kam @ Kamo who was featured by Sin Chew Jit Poh in their 'Bicycle Heroes' series last year.
Kamo, an ultra long-distance cyclist, had been touring the East coast in Peninsular Malaysia and organizes regular excursions for the touring cyclist.
It is a real big deal to get your name mentioned in the Strida roll of honour and I think that Kamo will do great in his 2,000km quest from Kuching to Tawau.
You will get a chance to see this bike at Strida's showroom in Bandar Puteri, Puchong.
And I guess that with the bike now ready and in place, Kamo will make his appearance in cycling events near you.. So, watch out for the Kamo-edition Strida!

The Seremban Experiment - Part 1

All the hoohah and hoolabaloo...
Ah Wai Kor, my numero Uno honcho had requested for an article about train commuting and bringing folding bikes into the coach.
Seems that his Brompton-riding hair-stylist/photographer/adventurer friend had a run-in with the station master about bringing a bike into the train.
He gave the task to investigate and publish an article based on this to our The Star's Star Cyclist. 
Way I see it, Ah Wai Kor is a high-profile guy.
Even his hair-stylist/photographer/adventurer friend is presumed as a high-flyer.
So, when you add the high-flying lifestyle, lots of money in the pocket, you get instant attitude.
Like I said in my piece on the RapidKL Foldie Ride: Some people are just fucking assholes. 
They could not take "NO" for an answer.
And just because they have a little bit of money, they thing the whole world owes them a fucking living.
It would be nicer if you are courteous.
And for this, credit is due to cycling and train commuting guru Mr Bil Choy who advocates sharing with other train commuters.
Choy encourages his fellow foldies to bag their bikes and lead a good example. 


But, but, butts... 
There are folding bike owners out there who thinks they know EVERYTHING.
From my earlier experience with KTMB's station masters, there's never been an issue boarding an intercity train or the KTM Komuter with a folding bicycle. 
Just as long as you bag it and make ample space for other people to share the coach, everything is good.
Some foldies got turned away when the wheel their bikes right into the station. 
They want to board with the entire bike deployed.
This is just unacceptable.. 

Waiting for my ride this morning..

I get annoyed when people give me half-assed information.
As for the cyclists, there has been run-ins where some idiots had tried to board the Komuter with their Mountain and Road bikes.
Instead, the KTM charges RM10 each on a single passage for oversized luggage.
I think this is very fair for the benefit of other Komuter passengers.


The Seremban experiment...
I wanted to dispel the hype and myth that you cannot travel on a KTM Komuter with your folding bikes, so, I embarked on a journey to Seremban from Subang Jaya with a transit in KL Sentral.
For this, I brought my trusty little Dahon Curve SL.
To me, 16" wheeled bikes are just perfect for train commuting. They don't take up a lot of space in the train.
So, I bagged my Curve SL with a Dahon carry on cover and walked into the KTM station in Subang Jaya. 
None of the KTM staff actually stopped me from entering the station to board a train to KL Sentral.
I've also made prior arrangements with Melvin Tang from Strida Bikes Malaysia to meet up in the transit hub and travel together to Seremban....


Carrying a foldie into a train ain't practical...
It was supposed to be off-peak period at 09:30am, but boy, I was wrong.
The Komuter coach arrived just in time and as I boarded, I had to stand close to the door so that I could get out easily.
Right beside me, there was this lovey-dovey couple. The guy, a fugly Ah Beng had made an unsavoury remark about my oversized bag.
Well fuck him! My focus was to get to KL Sentral without the carry on cover ripped to pieces.
Even at 09:30am, the coach was packed to the brim.
It felt like I was taking a train in Bandung, Indonesia, rather than a local electric train.
The ratio is roughly at 80% foreigners and 20% locals. Seems that the people here in the Klang Valley prefer their RapidKL LRTs rather than the Komuters.
With a large bag, I had to keep my eyes on the backpack that I was carrying.
If you move too far into the coach, you might lose the opportunity to get out at your destination.
And the people who commute would rather stay at the entrance of the train rather than filling up the entire coach. 
I learn that if you want to commute with a train and carry your bike, be prepared for the worse!

Alienation: The Komuter is a foreign worker magnet

It worked, and I am halfway there.. 
The KTM Komuter is a cheap way to get around from townships in fringe of Klang, Subang Jaya and Petaling Jaya.
My fare from Subang Jaya's Komuter station to KL Sentral costs RM1.60 one-way.
It takes about 30-minutes to get to the main station and on a day where the train is packed, pray hard for getting a decent standing room! 

With Melvin at KL Sentral

PROOF: Me and my lil Dahon in its carry on cover

The slow ride..
I met Melvin at Sentral and purchased a ticket to Seremban for RM6 one-way.
Other than paying at the vending machines (never accepts paper currency), you can either get a ticket from the sales booth or use your Toch 'n Go card.
Melvin opted to go cashless while I purchased my ticket over the counter.
We found some space at the front section of the Komuter and had a long chat while the train was hauling us down to Seremban.
I told him that if we pack our bikes properly, there won't be any issues at all about traveling around the Klang Valley and beyond with a KTM Komuter.
So far, we have not been chased out of the train or gotten ourselves in trouble by bringing our bikes into the train...

After an hour-long ride, we reached our destination...

Meet "Kamo"

Strida Malaysia's Brand Ambassador..
"Ah Kam" or better known as "Kamo" is Strida Bike's Malaysian ambassador.
I had the pleasure of meeting this young man in Morib and rode with him to Bagan Lalang.
Strida Malaysia's Melvin Tang told me that he had spotted Kamo in a write-up by Sin Chew Jit Poh on Malaysia's Bike Heroes.
Apparently, Kamo had ridden the entire length of the Peninsula on a mountain bike and a basket as his gear carrier.

The Stridamen: Melvin (L) and Kamo

Kamo's mission
I was told by Melvin that Kamo will be outfitted with a special Strida bike.
"Ah, we will get him a two-speed Strida which will also be fitted with racks and carriers for his 2,000km journey from Kuching to Tawau.."
I think the plan is simply amazing! 
To do a tour of Sarawak and Sabah is no easy feat.
Let alone, cycling a Strida bike. 
If its ever achieved, Kamo will be the first man in history to complete a grueling 2K ride in Malaysia's Borneo.


Getting started..
I think it doesn't really matter if Kamo would complete his epic ride. Just getting to the starting line is already a winner for the underdog like Strida Bikes.
For the record, Kamo is the only person I know in the entire country which is endorsed to promote a folding bike. So, here's wishing him a safe journey and success in his Borneo Expedition next year!

Morib - Bagan Lalang Ride Part 1

On the road with Mr Kamo, the Strida Ambassador

This rainy season, the weather sucks as it is unpredictable.
We planned a ride from Morib to Port Dickson (138km loop) and decided that if it rains heavily, we'll pull the plug.
Joining us for the first time was two guys from Strida Bikes Malaysia.
The lead person, Mr Money, wanted to know if the bikes he is selling can weather the distance.
He is also getting feedbacks from Kamo @ Ah Kam, a long-distance rider who was featured in Sin Chew Jit Poh's 'Bicycle Heroes', an article on the who's who in long-distance cycling.
I've never heard of Kamo and was told that he had toured Peninsular Malaysia extensively.
Michelle and I were amused by this young dude who rode the single-speed Strida with his slippers..

Warming up..
We left Morib at about 7:45am after setting up the bikes.
Mr Money provided support to his rider while Michelle took lead and I swept.
During the first 10km, I noticed that Kamo was struggling with the Strida he was riding.
I asked several times if he was okay, all he did was peddle away.
Pretty strong kid!
The distance from Morib to Tg Sepat, our first stop, is roughly about 18km.
We rode towards Batu Laut as Mr Money stopped at various stages of the ride to get some snapshots of his rider..

Arrival at Tg Sepat

 

 Breakfast and a little chat...
We arrived at Tg Sepat, some 40 minutes after leaving Morib.
It was a smooth ride, but the air quality sucked.
The smell of chicken poop permeates in the air.
I overtook the riders to get a clear shot of them arriving.
Then, led them to Wei Kei, a bak kut teh shop where we had our breakfast.
The choices were limited because there were simply too many people from KL eating there.
While indulging in a conversation with Mr Money, a motorcyclist suddenly crashed his bike.
Seems that he was spooked by the sudden moves of a patron at the shop.
We continued eating and learned more about our newfound friends and their Stridas.
Kamo, it seems, will ride for 2,000km in East Malaysia next year.
He will be supported by Strida Bikes and is the official ambassador for the brand.
We were pretty amazed by the triangular bike and the distances it could yield...

The 16" Strida and our bikes...