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Bike pr0n!

Here’s some bike pornography as promised. But before that some kwento and breeze-shooting.

Cris and I were biking last saturday along her area and she stopped early 1 she had been practicing before I got there and I continued on for another hour alone and went for another 15km (I know because I bought a cyclocomputer). Then we biked in UP sunday afternoon and put in a good 18km. Then I’m going with Elaine, Paul, etc. to do a “Bisikleta Iglesia” 2 It’s funny; it took a girlfriend to get me going to attend church again… and it now takes a bike to make me do another “religious” activity.

Apart from wishing it was easier to “prepare” for such activities, 3 Literally, it takes so much time to mount/unmount the bikes to/from the car, and get my gear ready, and the rituals to go through when we’re done I’m surprised as to how I’m enjoying this new hobby. I mean given the obvious fact that everything was so sudden, I do admit the possibility of a hype/fad. But then there are a lot of other things which I hope would make this a long-term thing. Read More

Notes

Notes
⇡1 she had been practicing before I got there
⇡2 It’s funny; it took a girlfriend to get me going to attend church again… and it now takes a bike to make me do another “religious” activity.
⇡3 Literally, it takes so much time to mount/unmount the bikes to/from the car, and get my gear ready, and the rituals to go through when we’re done
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(a)musing(s)

Siyempre after I got on my soapbox in the last post, I totally didn’t “deliver the goods” during a performance in CTK. Not just “not deliver properly” my alleged part, but quite literally was nowhere in the vicinity to deliver.

I saw my [half] brother-in-law Bubi attend the thing and we got to talking. The fact that it was ridiculously cold and he was a race-car driver led us both to the most logical agreement of thawing out in parking lot so he could also check out my car. We were slated to sing in the second set, and it seemed there was so much time. I was expecting literally 10 more minutes or something… even without an intermission/break.

About 3 minutes into the conversation, I look to the church and see a group on stage wearing earth tones. Strange… only BP was wearing earth tones as far as I can recall. When I saw Ali’s unmistakable scarf, it dawned on me that the second half had already started! Read More

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Training

So, as some of you know, I got bicycles for myself and Cris – and I’ve been teaching her how to ride. The goal is to be able to get Cris’ riding up to a level where she and I (and other friends) can join the Tour of the Fireflies next month.

We started yesterday at the AHS field where she was able to ride in a few hours. 1 Of course, mostly just keeping herself from falling. But still, she’s learning from an MTB which is much more difficult for a beginner’s bike At rate she’s going; she’ll definitely make it.

Oh, nakapikit pa! Joke lang 😉

Today was another day of riding for her; trying to ride straight and turn. But it was also my first day on riding with the cycling shoes I got. So both of us were in “student/training” mode a while ago. Read More

Notes

Notes
⇡1 Of course, mostly just keeping herself from falling. But still, she’s learning from an MTB which is much more difficult for a beginner’s bike
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Last minute [bike] changes

So today was a very productive day. I’ve finally, err, finalized every component by visiting King’s Bicycle Store (Quiapo). Also got a professional bike fitting done at Bike King (Taguig) later that night 🙂

Here’s the final setup, after which, I’ll be discussing the reasons for changes/final decisions. This will also be the second to the last post about the bike in particular… the last would be a picture post with some bike porn!

  • Frame: Orbea Alma Team (carbon fiber)
  • Fork: Fox 32 F-RLC F120
  • Wheelset: Mavic Crosstrail
  • Groupset: Shimano XTR 970
    • BL / BR M975 brake set (SM-RT97 rotor)
    • CS-M970 cassettes
    • M-970 SGS (low-normal) rear derailleur
    • FD-971 Front Derailleur
    • (changed) ST-M975 DCL 1 Dual Control Lever shifters/brake levers
    • FC-M970 crankset
    • (finalized) XTR PD-M970 SPD pedals
  • Seatpost: (finalized) Bontrager Race X Lite carbon
  • Stem: (changed) Token 90mm alloy stem
  • Handlebar: (changed) FSA 2 Full Speed Ahead… I’m not kidding K-Force XC carbon w/ Lizard Skin Moab lock-on grips.
  • Saddles: (finalized) Serfas Furano
  • Tires: (finalized) Continental (tubed) Read More

Notes

Notes
⇡1 Dual Control Lever
⇡2 Full Speed Ahead… I’m not kidding
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Bicycle, Bicycle

In case you didn’t get it, the title in should be in the tune of Queen’s Bicycle Race

Now that I’m officially done with my other major project (car), time to move on to the next one: Investing in a bicycle.

The funny thing is: I’ve been planning on getting a bike since last year, but have always been putting it off since I didn’t want to be riding a bike alone. Luckily my fellow Soulsearchers seem to be getting into it 1 Everyone wants a way to get/remain fit at our age Read More

Notes

Notes
⇡1 Everyone wants a way to get/remain fit at our age