Cycling In Singapore

Saturday morning, I rode the ANZA 'SteadySteady Kranji' ride preceded by the Rats Corner Warmup ride. Great ride.

A very helpful lady named Julie helped myself and a Japanese girl named Karo find our way through the ride. We rode all the way from the southern side of the country to the northern coast.

Along the way, we saw Malaysia, the Singaporean countryside and several portions of the country. We also saw monkeys out in the road. How often do you see monkeys on your road ride?

We rode approx 80km's. Lotsa hills here..... Climbed the longest road climb I think I've ever climbed before.

Cyclocross Goodness!!!

Well, even though I won't get to ride it for a while, I have gotten my cyclocross bike ready for the season.

Using some parts from the stash, as well as some parts from ebay, I made a change to the bike that will hopefully be for the better.

When I originally built the bike, I built it as a singlespeed. Unfortunately, the only guys racing SS are super strong around these parts. As I had my bike geared, I could make the climbs, but would spin out massively on any fast section.

I decided to take a Dura Ace 9sp shifter and cassette and gear the bike. I also had a chain without much use. I added a 42 tooth QBP ring and bashguard to the setup, and an NGear jumpstop to keep the chain on.

I really don't want to know how much weight I added, but on the few brief spins around the neighborhood I've gotten, it feels geared right for our races.

Hopefully it will suit me well!!!

2009 MS150 Completed!!!

Well, the 2009 MS150 bike ride is over. I feel a little like a kid at Christmas. You look forward to it all year and anticipate it like crazy. Then it happens, and its great, but you really wish it was not over.

I've done this for 7 years now. 6 times I've ridden it. During that time, my team has raised over $30k for the charity. I'm proud of that.

When I first started this, I was significantly overweight - Try over 100lbs over my racing weight when I was in college. I tried every year to complete the ride and succeeded the past couple. I also tried every year to ride 'The Wall'. This year, I did it!!! It took me too many times, but I did it this time!!!!

Day one, I really did not feel that great. I finished in a fine time, but did not really feel great as I did it. Probably too much left over pain in my legs from hiking the previous weekend.

We spent Saturday afternoon hangin out in the casino and eating overpriced cheeseburgers. (have not had a cheeseburger in a long time)

Sunday opened with rain. And that set the stage for the entire day. I elected to stick my raincoat in my pocket, but never took it out. We rolled the first 30 miles rapidly and headed for the wall. To my amazement, I went right up it!!!!!

The rest of the day, I rolled along with Patrick and Adam. They made good riding partners for as long as I could keep up with them. At the finish, the BBQ was as good as it gets!!!!

In the end, I had an awesome time, and I truly cannot wait until next year!!!!

MS150 2009

I really cannot wait. I look forward every year to this ride.

The truth is that this is a 150 mile long party on the road. This year will be my 7th year to be involved with it, and I've enjoyed it every time.

For this year, I have a new bike, and a new body to push it. Sub 200lbs for the first time this year!!!! : )

I've always hated the number plates flapping around on the front of my bike and the zip ties scratching the frame. So this year, I decided to make something a little special for the bike.

Using some sheet stock, I cut, drilled and bent up a little bracket for the back of my bike. It is a blatant copy of the number plate brackets found on the pro's bikes. Maybe it adds a little to my bike.... If nothing else, I don't have to listen to that number flapping in the wind the whole time : )