Bicycle Touring is more fun!

Bicycle Touring allows you to be yourself. In fact, you can be a fashionista by wearing any kind of shirts and pants instead of those body-tight Lycra jerseys and tights. Also, you can wear any type of shoes or sandals (people wearing high heels can be seen in Denmark) instead of those racing shoes. And finally, you can wear caps or no helmets instead of those colourful cycling helmets. It's simply more fun!

Furthermore, bicycle touring allows you be more relax, funny and more interactive with your fellow cyclist. Hence the ride will be more enjoyable!

Let's travel on bikes.

Source : Pic from travellingtwo.com

Welcome to the wonderful world of Bicycle Touring!

Recently, I was told that a local bicycle shop, Bike Pro is stocking & selling Surly Long Haul Trucker frames. This development with the number of inquiry that I received from visitors to my Blog, indicated that more and more people are interested in Bike Touring. Hooray!!

I started to be interested in Bike Touring about 10 years ago when I visited New Zealand South Island in Summer 2002. It was in Picton that I saw a guy loaded his bicycle onto the train heading to Christchurch. Then, on the way to Greymouth via Arthur's Pass, I saw a lone rider with a trailer. She was struggling climbing some steep section of Arthur's Pass. Then I met an old lady who looked like a seasoned triathlete, camping near our cabin in Te Anau. That was the first time that I saw a folding bike that she was touring with. And  her age, lean physique & folding bike really amazed me.

Came back from New Zealand, I decided to embark on a bike tour. But it took me about 1 year before I started my new venture of bike touring to Scotland in Jan/Feb! And it was still winter. There were still snow in some places. The towns were empty but I still can see sheep on the empty grounds and the Highlands.

So I brought my road bike converted to touring bike of striking yellow with rear racks along.

It was my first experience of bike touring as well as winter riding. It was a bit cold for some one who came from a country with 32C average temperature. But I did all my research from internet, on how to ride through snow, winter clothing, winter ride equipments etc. It was cold but I really enjoy my ride. And I learned that it rains everyday in Scotland.

So, when I came back to Malaysia, I start planning to tour Malaysia for 5 days. Therefore, we choose to ride from Alor Star to my house in PJ. About 500km in 5 days. Being young and active at that time, riding 100km a day is fine with us. We successfully finished the tour by stopping at Sg Petani, Taiping, Ipoh, Teluk Intan. It was an amazing experience. I got hooked.

Since then, we have met a local group of 'seasoned' riders who were into Bicycle Touring. And then joined their group riding and touring. Over the years, we have tours around the roads of Malaysia, Sarawak, South Thailand. Riding in a group is always fun and give you a sense of security especially if your tire got punctured, bicycle parts failed, if you meet an accident, or too exhausted to continue, etc. you can always rely on someone to assist you.

I personally love riding in group for above reason. But prefer to ride alone or with another rider because I love to manage my own time on what time to wake up, where to stop for lunch, ride at my own pace, etc..

But riding alone, you will have to carry everything by yourself- tools, spares, cooking utensils etc. Which in group these can be shared among the tour members.

Bicycle touring is exciting. I love stopping at the roadside stall and have my ice lemon tea and pisang goreng.I remember being surrounded by people who got stuck by traffic jam on the way to Maarhi, India. They start asking question about my handheld GPS, camelback and my bicycle. In fact a newlywed did took picture with my bicycle at Manali! Majority of the people thought that my handheld GPS was a satellite phone and even 1 guy thought my Camelbak hose is for oxygen when we were at 12,000ft near Rohtang Pass.

Bike touring allows us to meet various types of people. Majority of them are friendly. Maybe because we shared the same interest.

In Thailand, I met a German lady who allows me to try her KTM bicycle with Rohloff Speedhub which she was very proud of for being made by the German. In India, I meet a couple from France who were teachers, a couple from Australia who work as doctors on 1-year sabbatical leave touring The Himalayas, an Indian Ironman who traveled with his backpack, notebook & DSLR hanging on his neck, a group of fun-loving British guys, and nice old couple from Scotland who were embarking on a very long tour! What I like about these people is their down-to-earth attitude and never trying to show off like some Lance Armstrong wannabes. Some of them even ride on normal bikes with cheap parts.

What I like about Bicycle Touring is that it is for everyone regardless their physical condition but willing to take some time to prepare. It is not for macho men or women with perfect bodies or fancy carbon bikes, it is for anyone who with sense of adventure, humor (cause we like to joke around when travel in group) and those who drawn to explore the back roads, countrysides, the highlands, cruising the coastal roads etc. It is for people who would like to travel with few barriers as possible. Whether you are young or old, male or female, you don't have to be all that athletic, gearing & patience are more important than raw strength.

I personally love it because I can manage my own time to travel i.e., ride at my own pace, take lots of photographs, enjoy the local delicacies and as well as enjoying the beautiful scenery. Also, I don't have to wear those colorful jerseys and tight pants (ha! ha!). And if I happen to come back last from a ride, I can always say that at least, I did enjoy the scenery longer.... HAPPY RIDING FOLKS!

Building your own Touring bike.

I have been asked many times what is the best touring bike. Where to buy a touring bike? And so on.
The answer is your bike is the best touring bike.
It doesn't has to be specific brand e.g. SURLY, KOGA MIYATA, RODRIGUEZ, DAWES, etc.
The most important is that your bike is comfortable to ride on, durable for long distance ride whether it is on or off road and it is equipped with accessories that are essential for bicycle touring.
My favourite is a folding bike. Because it is lighter, easy to pack, easy to maneuver in busy places and most important of all, its upright sitting position.
My Dahon Speed P8 is fully modified for bicycle touring. I choose P8 because it is a workhorse. Tough and cheap. Cost me about RM2K. And I modified it to be fully touring-ready.

P8 uses Schawalbe Big Apple tires. This is one of the best fat-tires because it is comfortable & puncture proof. I fixed the fenders to both front & rear wheel. Rack to both front and rear as well.
I changes the seat post to Kore I-Beam (with adapter) because it is lighter.Then I fixed my favourite saddle, At 800g, the BROOKS B17 FLYER. It is quite heavy but very comfortable especially for long distance ride.
The handlebar is fixed with bar ends, side mirror and handlebar bag. but for my future upgrade, I will install the butterfly bar and new sets of gear shifter, just like putting icing on the cake.
But this is my touring bike, my baby.
How to build you own touring bike?
Ok..let's build an affordable touring bike.

FRAME
Let me start with the frame.
I have a frame, a chromoly, trekking, hard tail bike that cost about RM60. This frame was given by a friend to replace my SILVER BULLET which I was forced to gave away in Lato, India. Just go to any Bicycle Shop (not fancy/pro one) and ask for bike frame. They might have it and will sell to you at reasonable price.

A hybrid can be a nice touring bike. Same goes with MTB Hard Tail.

Try to find a frame with at least 2 sets of bottle cages eyelets, with eyelets for rear rack as well as fenders.
Touring bike is slightly different with 'normal' bike because they have longer wheelbase and their stays have larger clearance for bigger tires. Its geometry also allows you to sit more upright that will make you feel comfortable in the long run.

Chromoly will make a better touring bike than aluminiumm or carbon. Despite its heavier weight, it is more durable and allows for on-site repairs/weldings especially when you tour in country like India or China.

WHEEL & TIRES
My favourite tires are Schwalbe Marathon because it is puncture-proof.
Invest in good tires with some puncture guard/protection because it's so cumbersome to exchnage tubes during a bike tour.

Get a good wheel like MAVIC with at least 32 spokes. Make sure that you get the right wheel set either for using with V-brake or disc-brake.

DRIVE TRAIN
Invest in a good parts that will be last longer and lighter. I'm not talking about XTR or DURACE level. That are for professionals who were sponsored. I'm mean Shimano Deore, Alivio, etc
MTB crankset with granny gear is a must. A 12-34T cassette is favourable.
And I would prefer using the v-brake because they are easy to adjust/repair on site.

HANDLEBAR & SADDLE
Straight or riser handlebar. My favourite it butterfly handlebar as they have more place to hold on. Fix the bar ends for both straight or riser handlebar. The handlebar shall be as per your shoulder width.
Get a good saddle that suits you. remember that saddle sore is not caused by what brand yr saddle is but caused by ill fitting. Your sitting position could be wrong that cause lots of uncecessary movement on the saddle, thus pain.

Make sure you measure yourself with the position of your saddle, its height. If you feel pain on the above of your knee cap, it means that your saddle is too low. And when you feel pain at the behind of your knee, it means your saddle i too high. And just & tweak it untill you find your best position.

OTHERS
My favourite accessories are handlebar mirror and fenders.
Mirror e.g. ZEFAL allows me to look at the incoming traffc from behind with ease. I always feel safer when I dont have to turn my body and risk imbalance.

The fenders allows me to ride through puddle of water without worrying it will dirty my clothes. I believe fenders are the most under-rated accessories in touring bike.

Aluminium rack with bigger diameter shall be the best option. Because we need a reliable and durable rack to carry our bags & stuff on tour.

And finally, use the dual-platform/SPD pedal. e.g. SHIMANO. It is so convenient to ride wearing my touring shoes with SPD cleats but sometimes I would ride my bike wearing sandals. This dual-platform will cater for both!

Touring Bike

Despite the fact that Steel Bike is more suitable for a touring bike compared to Titanium because steel is stiffer & easier to repair, we should not look at the material of the frame when looking for a comfortable ride.

Remember, Comfort & Durability is more important than Speed & Weight.

Therefore, we should focus on:

1. Frame Geometry- the more upright, the less aerodynamic but the more comfortable. Consider frame with longer wheelbase like my specialized sequoia or Surly LHT.

2. A good saddle give you comfort. Im happy with my brooks saddle. Other 'high-tech' saddle like Topeak also give you comfortable ride but less comfort when paying $$$ for it.

3. Fat tires like the Big Apple give you more smooth & comfortable ride. Make sure the air inflation is right by considering the load that you are carrying.

4. The right bike like LHT or my folding bike, allows me to fix the fenders. this give me comfort when riding on wet roads

5. Proper gears like the granny allows you to climb with heavy load with ease. Butterfly handlebar also give your more space to hold on during long rides.

6. Correct Riding position especially when the bike fits you, will prevent body pain. Comfort = No Pain.

So, there you go. In order to get a comfortable touring bike, make sure the bike and its equipment is suitable for touring. Enjoy your ride!

Source: Sheldon Brown

Cycling shows slow beauty of nature

These times require "green life innovation," and reinventing carbon-free bicycles as a main means of transportation is our given task, President Lee Myung-bak said in his bi-weekly radio address on Monday (Apr. 20).

Bicycles fall down when they move too slowly, and likewise we should prepare for a "bicycle era" before it gets too late, the President said.

"By 2012 when the restoration of four rivers – the Han, Geum, Yeongsan and Nakdong Rivers - is complete, bike paths totaling a length of 2,000 kilometers will be set up. Somebody living in Mokpo [in South Jeolla Province] will be able to reach Seoul by bicycle, running along the Yeongsan and Geum Rivers. Another person living in Seoul can reach Busan [South Gyeongsang Province] via the Han and Nakdong Rivers," he said.

He also said that major bike arteries connecting all major provinces will also be connected to the feeder roads of every town and village.

Bicycle tours will show people "the beauty of slowness," which cannot possibly be sensed from inside rushing cars, Lee said. When comparatively less developed towns utilize their resources and provide bicycle riders with attractive spots to rest or stay, it will contribute a great deal to the development of the regional economy, he added.

He regretted that Korea currently imports over 2 million bicycles from China, the Netherlands and Canada, and suggested the country develop core technologies for bicycle manufacturing.

Instead of falling down, bicycles go straight ahead when their riders pedal fast, Lee said. "I hope everyone will have a great start to the week with hope-filled pedaling," he added.

Source: korea.net

See the world on a bicycle

AFTER 11 years, 78 tyre changes and travelling across 144,000 km on the same bicycle, intrepid Daisuke Nakanishi has criss-crossed 123 countries, with Singapore being his 124th stop.

The 39-year-old cyclist enthusiast from Osaka, Japan, decided to embark on this trip when he was just 20 as he had a great desire to explore the world and meet new people.

The economics graduate worked for six years and saved up about S$75,000 before starting on his world tour.

During his experience, he has encountered hyenas in South Africa, thieves in Brazil and even a biking accident in India. South America is his favourite place so far.

He said: 'The people there are very friendly and open. During my time in Chile, a family even let me put up at their place.' He eventually picked up Spanish during his stay there and even had the privilege of being given honorary citizenships in countries such as Venezuela and Peru.

During his trip, he also had the opportunity to meet famous figures like football star Pele, former US President Jimmy Carter and the current Nepalese President.

Daisuke prefers to travel alone as it gives him more freedom and control over his journey. He let on that he has only felt lonely once in the 11 years. He keeps in constant contact with his parents and his older brother via email whenever he is able to gain access to the internet.

His journey will come to an end this year as he has decided to go home by then.

Daisuke left Singapore on Tuesday afternoon for Indonesia.

To find out more about his travel experiences, you can visit Daisuke's website at www.daisukebike.be

Source: The Straits Times

Tour de Ben II (October 2008)

Last October 2008, cycling buddies of mine- Steve, Ben & Azmar (in support car as photographer) embarked on a bicycle tour known as Tour de Ben (named after our friend 'Biriani' Ben). I did the 1st one back in Dec 2006 as a farewell tour for Ben who was returning to UK for good but this time it was specially arranged for him during his short visit to Malaysia by Steve. Unfortunately, I have to miss this one because it was done during the month of Ramadan (Fasting Month). And the tour was covering KL~Ipoh~Penang (approx. 400km++) riding through some beautiful and less busy roads of Perak.

Here are some photos from the tour:

steve & ben

ben trying to catch up with steve

lata kinjang waterfall near gua tempurung, perak

bridge at kuala kangsar, perak

ben, steve & azmar

Photos courtesy of steve

Folding Bike Touring Anyone?

I think touring on folding bike must be more convenient & comfortable. And we can carry more stuff if use it together with the Lightweight Bike Trailer! Anyone?

Source: YouTube

Cycling New Zealand's South Island

Wow.. this is really inspiring! If only I have the luxury of time and money to tour like this guy..

Source: YouTube

Six bicycle touring tips from Willie Weir

1. Touring bicyclists must first decide the type of trip they're planning -- either physical or cultural. He explains that you won't be able to soak up much local color if you're trying to knock out 100 miles a day.
2. Resist the temptation to buy the newest technology for your touring bike. Go for the tried and true. "The latest and greatest is going to have problems," he says. And repairs will be difficult because those hi-tech advances won't have made it to remote places you might travel.
3. Consider versatility when choosing a touring bike. Weir rides a mountain bike frame with 26-inch wheels. He says that because of the worldwide mountain bike craze, wherever you go on this planet you'll find 26-inch tires.
4. Don't bring every tool in the shop; they're heavy. Weir says to make sure you bike is in good working condition before you leave, then just carry the essentials.
5. Pack ahead of time and take all that stuff on a bike ride. Weir says that you'll often decide that you're carrying too much stuff, and you'll decide to lighten your load before leaving home.
6. Give before you take; establish a rapport with people before invading their space by taking their pictures. He says too often he sees tourists causing resentment by starting to shoot pictures in villages without really getting to know people.
   

Source : Biking Bis / photo from willieweir.com

Carrying Soap on a Bicycle Tour

Soap can end up having a considerable weight penalty on a trip if one carries 1) hand soap, 2) shampoo, 3) dishwashing detergent, 4) soap for washing clothes, and 5) a degreaser. To save weight and yet have all the soap I need, I carry a single bottle of concentrated dish detergent. It is an excellent hand soap and has anti-bacterial properties and seems to clean my hair just fine and of course works on dishes. A small amount washes my clothes without being harsh on them, and I will explain how to use it as a degreaser in the next tip.

One environmental note of warning: never discard soapy water into or use soap in a stream or lake. Instead, wash yourself and your pots away from the water and rinse away from the water too. I have found that a good swim in a creek or lake will clean the body fairly well without the use of soap. All that soap does, anyway, is to dissolve grease, and there is only a small amount of skin oil on our bodies.

Source : Ken Kifer's Bike Page : Tips and Tricks for Bicycle Touring / Photo from Bike Nerd.

Hubs, Spokes & Rims

Folks devote a lot of attention to frames and gears but if you are going to suffer a tour-ending mechanical failure, the overwhelming odds are it will be a wheel problem that turns you into a pedestrian. From a simple flat tire, to a broken spoke, to a potato-chipped rim, your wheels are the most vulnerable parts of your bike.

To read more, please download the article here.

Source: The Adventure Cyclist – by Sheldon Brown.

Classic Bikes

To view more vintage bicycles, click here.

Source: Bicycle Quarterly.

Aotearoa

Fancy touring the the South Island, New Zealand?
Well, this is how it looks like when biking on one of its busy road! With the currency exchange of 2.6 Ringgit Malaysia against 1 NZ Dollar (as todate), it looks like touring NZ will be much cheaper than the Australia or Europe Tour if only you could get a cheaper flight ticket, of course.

NZ is one of the safest place to tour, so-cyclist-friendly and so clean as if as pollution is non-exist. Many interesting places to visit from Fox Glacier to Queenstown, and from Kaikora to Otago Peninsula. It's a heaven for outdoor sports enthusiasts. And check out the Southern Alps on the backround of the photo... fyi, that will be the background view throughout the South Island tour. Amazing huh?!

Source: Photo courtesy of Independent Cycle Tours NZ website.

Tour of SWA- Alternative route

This is an interesting trail- The Munda Biddi Trail. There is a possibility of mixing both ON and OFF roads during the tour.

There are some Cycle Friendly chalets, lodges or B&Bs along the routes especially in the southwest area near Denmark, Walpole & Pemberton that can be considered.

However, based on the map, only Stage 1 trail from Collie to Dwenllingup is completed. Therefore, half of the trip from Albany to Burnbury shall be on-road via the coastal road and enter the trail from Collie till Dwenllingup exit before heading to Rockingham or straight to Fremantle and Scarborough.

Tentatively scheduled in Summer 2007.

Source: Map courtesy of Munda Biddi Trail Foundation.

Beijing2Paris

Cheers to our friend...Ming who is having the best time of his 'bike touring' life by riding a recumbent from Beijing to Paris.

Do visit his blog to check out his interesting stories & photos at http://beijing2paris.blogspot.com/.

Malaysia Boleh!!!

Something to think about....

Tour of Southwestern Australia

• Albany - Perth/ Scarborough (via Southwestern coastal roads)
• Flat/ Tarmac roads- watch out for the roadkills!
  
• Bus/Train ride- Perth-Albany on Day 2. (400km++ long rides)
  
• Duration- 11 days/ 10 nights (including flight days)
• Mileage- approx. 900km (average. 100-120km ride/ day)
• Self-supported (carry own panniers, spares & tools)
• Accommodation- Motels/Apartments/Hostels- sharing basis.
  
• Highlights- The Gap/ Natural Bridge, Treetop Walk, Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Fremantle, King's Park etc.
• Overnights stops- Albany, Walpole, Pemberton, Augusta, Burnbury, Rockingham, Scarborough.

The World Bicycle Tour- Tim & Cindie Travis

source: YouTube- DownTheRoad

Well..who doesn't???

ONE of the top cyclists of the past 15 years, Erik Zabel of Germany, admitted that he had taken the banned blood-boosting drug EPO while competing for German team Telekom in 1996.

"I took EPO in 1996 but I stopped taking it after a week because of secondary effects," a visibly emotional Zabel told a press conference.

Another top cyclist admitted taking performance-enhancing drugs...Hmmmm. After Patani, Virenque, Hamilton, Ullrich, Basso, Landis, Riis....God knows who else has been cheating to win a bicycle race!!

What do you expect when the going gets tough...the race has become longer. ..faster...tougher. It seems that everyone is trying to outperform each other even they are team mates. It's their bread & butter. For some of us, we take Powergels in order to have that 'extra' energy to push us going....but for the pros, it just not enough. They need that extra O2 in their blood...!!!

So, quit racing and let's do ..BIKE TOURING! You don't have to cheat by taking EPO..steroids or some kind of hormones...not even Powerbars. Just have your favourite breakfast...fill up your water bottles...& you are good to go! ...But bring some cash for the refill when you do your pit stop along the way.

ENJOY CYCLING!!!

Neck Problem?

Neck problems are most often due to poor cycling posture.

An occasional source of neck trouble is poor adjustment of a helmet, specifically, a helmet which is too far forward on the head. If the helmet is too low in front, the rider is forced to tilt the head upward to keep the helmet from blocking the view forward. Sharp backward bends in the neck can cause severe problems, so make sure that your helmet is properly fitted for your riding style.

Riders with a more aggressive riding position need to wear their helmets farther back than those who sit more upright.

Poorly fitted eyeglasses can also cause this problem. If your glasses slide down your nose you may have to tilt your head up higher to be able to be looking through, not over, the glasses.

Source: Harris Cyclery: Bycling & Pain by Sheldon Bown.