i.am.juan.d.biker: 2013

Saturday, September 21, 2013

City Riding: Aspire Bike lane with a Twist

September 06, 2013.. After two consecutive early morning Trail Rides, (Lusail Dirt Trail & Breakfast Unity Ride @ Mesaieed) Team Rest Boys (TRB) decided to do an Urban Mountainbike Ride (with a Twist)

Our Route: Al Ahli Hospital (Bin Omran) to Aspire Park (Al Waab) and back to Al Ahli Hospital (Bin Omran) with lots of Out of Way side trips.

Sports-Tracker Data (With some obvious Error - sorry, effect of heat and humidity again)

Read On!

Ride for a Cause: Breakfast Unity ride @ Mesaieed

Fun Ride For Charity

United Filipino Cyclist (Roadies, MTB's & BMX)

On the 30th of August, 2013, the combined group of Filipino Cyclist here in Doha, Qatar promoted an Early Morning Synchronized Ride for a Cause (for the benefits of the Typhoon Victims in our Home Country)
with the theme: "Bagong Umaga, Bagong Pag asa sa mga Nasalanta" (Dawn of a New Day, A New Hope for the Storm Victims) a Breakfast Unity Ride @ Mesaieed...

Event Poster (by: ME)

Organized by the Facebook groups: PMTB.ME-Qatar, PinoyRoadiesQatar, Pinoy29'ers, Al Ahli Boys & Girls & Mga Pinoy Siklista sa Qatar, Mesaieed Cockroach Riders (Trail Masters)

With the Strong Support of Mr. Farhan Al Sayed, Balitang Q and Gulf-times.

Roadies Route: From Doha Airport Bike lane to Mesaieed Industrial City Cricket Field
MTB's Route: Old Mesaieed Road Trails (Mesaieed to Wakkra Old Road)

Read On!

Video: Manila Fixed Gear x The Dirty Dozen -- Sierra in Love

Found this Video in Vimeo

The Dirty Dozen of Manila Fixed Gear conquered Sierra Madre.

Watch them on HD

Manila Fixed Gear x TheDirtyDozen -- Sierra in Love from Chuck Ronquillo on Vimeo.

"All we just want for our scene is to show that fixed gear is no joke and to be respected by other type/form of bike/bikers. I think with this, we gained it!" by: Chuck Ronquillo

Lusail Desert Trail: We Ate Dirt for Breakfast Ride

Finally, after few month of hibernation, I finally joined a trail ride and got the chance to use my Giant Escape Custom built Hybrid Single Speed Cyclocross Bike on the trails. (yep, it was already tested to endure the pains of trail riding and having to carry a 100kg biker.. it's me by the way.

18 mountain bikers braving the heat (luckily, no humidity was present at that time of the day)

Friday, August 23, 2013.

My trusted Customized Built Giant Escape Hybrid turned into Single Speed Cyclo Cross
On her maiden Long Trail ride in Qatar. (Single Speed 38T x 18T gearing; 700c x 35c Continental Cyclocross tires.)

Back to the Saddle Solo Ride - 25.9km loop

After a very long time, I am back to the saddle again.

Here is my ride last night

I started around 7:00 in the evening, with no route in mind, i had planned around 10 to 15 kms only, but finished with around 25.9~26.34 kms (some little conflict with my Cyclocomputer and GPS based tracker)

My Giant Escape 1 SS CX Commuter Hybrid bike with Qatar's Tallest tower (Khalifa "the Torch" Tower)

It registered 26.34 kms total on my Cateye Commuter.
Blurred photo showing time @ 8:30 pm with Temperature of 34 deg C

Oh crap.. I forgot to bring my Canon IXY Pocket Camera. I had used my Phone Camera instead.

Pardon me for my blurred pictures.

(tracking courtesy of sports tracker apps on my Nokia C7 smartphone)

Tracked data made by SPORTS TRACKER

Total Tracked distance for Cycling here in Qatar so far (from January 01, 2012 to Present) - 757.6 kms

Saturday, May 18, 2013

New Brake Upgrade for my Giant Escape (from TEKTRO to AVID)

Finally, I have found my spare time to change and upgrade the current brake system of my customized Giant Escape 1 Hybrid Commuter Single Speed rig just in time the day before a Major Ride.

FROM: TEKTRO 857AL / CL 530 LINEAR PULL BRAKE SYSTEM

TO: AVID SINGLE DIGIT 7 / SPEED DIAL 5 LINEAR PULL BRAKE SYSTEM

Read on to see How I managed to do it...

My Very First Customized Mountain Bike Project (circa 2010)

My first very own customized build mountain bike.

My Very First Mountain Bike

read on.......

Giant Escape 1 SS Conversion Project v2.0

This is the 2nd Revision for my Giant Escape 1 Hybrid CX Single Speed Conversion Project

I have done it in a do-it-yourself way with basic tools on my own.

I started @ 5pm, finished by 7pm...

Scroll down for more details on the Step by Step procedure.

Version 2.0 Finished (Corrected some problems in the 1st version)

Parts! Parts! Parts!

I'm on my way for the 2nd Revision of my Giant Escape SS Conversion Project...
Hopefully, this will be my last revision of this Bike....

Changes that I had made from the stock version

* Handle Bar: Giant OEM standard > Race Face Ride oversize
* Stem: Giant OEM standard > Race Face Ride oversize
* Wheelset: Giant OEM > Shimano R500 road wheelset
* Tires: Giant S-X2 700x32C > Continental Cyclocross Speed 700x35C
* Drivetrain: 3x8 speed > Single Speed (Customized)
* Crankset: Shimano M360 > Shimano Deore M590 modified for SS
* Cogs: SRAM PG-380> Fire Eye Single Speed (9 to 1) conversion kit
* Shifter: SRAM X-4 trigger > N/A (removed)
* Front Derailleur: Shimano M191 > N/A (removed)
* Rear Derailleur: SRAM X-4 8-speed > N/A (removed)
* Chain Tensioner: None > SRAM X-4 RD (temporary)

Giant Escape SS Conversion Project v1.0

My first attempt in a Do-It-Yourself Single Speed Conversion Project

FROM Stock Built Giant Escape 2012 (hybrid commuter)

2012 GIANT ESCAPE 1 - Hybrid Commuter on Stock build

TO Customized Single Speed Hybrid Cyclocross Giant Escape

Giant Escape 1 - Customized Single Speed Hybrid CX built

Giant Escape's Solo Night Ride in Aspire Zone

My Giant Escape's Conversion is not yet complete...

I'm still Halfway to my SS conversion...

But I Still Managed to do a Night Ride with It.

Night Ride @ the Aspire Zone Bikelane w/ my Unfinished SS Bike

My Next SS Conversion Project: Giant Escape 1

Due to my Recent Failed Conversion Project

Meet my 6th Bike Project....

A Pre-Loved Giant Escape 1 Hybrid Commuter Bike

courtesy of sir Vince Flores Candaruma of Padyak Qatar / PMTB.ME

stock built - Giant Escape 1

Skinny Bike's Upgrades, Tool Kits & Safety Light

Dumb me, I failed the Conversion Project....

I can't blame myself on that, but still, I need a more reliable set up...

and buying a new bike is not an option....

And this is another case of UPGRADE-ITIS

this is a kind of virus which is common with Mountain Bikers

it's the most common Wallet Killers....

it will almost empty your wallet as soon as this virus struck you...

it struck me many times before back home,

and now it struck me once again.

This Time.... the virus is more of beneficial....

I've got some More Reliable Parts for my Skinny Bike

and some parts to upgrade my experience to the next level.

my Skinny Bike's New Look with some New Parts.
(New Slick Tires, New Clipless Pedals & New Accessories)

My Skinny Bike Failed Upgrade and Conversion

The Master Plan:

To Convert my Hybrid SS / Fixie Bike into

a Hybrid SS Cyclocross Bike....

Ok... what the heck am I thinking?

I have this stock Hybrid Single Speed / Fixie Bike with a really very thin tires...

they are meant to be rode on concrete pavements only.....

My Skinny Bike's Stock Built

Imagine me as a 200 lbs. mountain biker, riding this bike on a rugged terrain...

(yep, I was on Mountain Biker back home,

I have a XC Hardtail and an AM Full Suspension bike)

My skinny bike failed me two times...

I saw this photo on one of my friend's Facebook account

It gives me an Idea to change my Skinny Bike's Configuration to make it Trail worthy

GIANT ESCAPE R1 - Customized SS Cyclocross Built
photo courtesy of: Ryan Tipay (w/o his permission LOL...)

FUTURE UPGRADE MATCH UP: SINGLE SPEED CONVERSION KITS

Since I will change my Skinny Bike's set up from Hybrid SS / Fixie Commuter into CycloCross Hybrid with SS drivetrain and I will use a Shimano WH-R500 wheelset, I need a Single Speed Conversion kit to match with the Splined-Cassette Hub...

My choices are the following

Fire Eye FE-SSK Single Speed Kit

The FireEye SSK (Single Speed Kit) converts a standard 8/9-speed shimano-splined cassette hub to a single speed hub in a snap. The SSK comes 3 different sized alloy spacers to provide proper chain line alignment, and a lock ring to keep everything locked down tight. You'll be pleasantly surprised how easy and enjoyable a single speed can be.

DMR Single Speed Converter Kit

The single speed conversion kit is the most effective and easiest way of converting your bike to single speed set up without buying a whole new wheel.

Two precision-machined anodised spacers sandwich a single 16t cog to replace your entire 8 or 9 speed cassette

Gusset 1-ER Single Speed Conversion Kit

Single Speed adaptor kit for 8/9 speed Shimano compatible cassette hubs.

Pair of CNC machined aluminium spacers offer lateral support to ‘Deep-tooth’ single sprocket.

Built-in offset optimises chainline.

Supplied with 16 & 18T 3/32” cogs* and lockring.

*Note: Cog teeth are 3/32” – 6/7/8 Speed.

Not suitable for narrow 5/64” (9 speed) chains.

12,13,14,16,18 and 20T cogs also available separately.

Note: If run with smaller than 14T - must be used with 3/32" chain - as 1/8" chain will bite into spacers.

Da Bomb 9 To 1 PRO Single Speed Kit

We have a strong acrobatic heritage. We always like to be up in the air whether on our Downhill or Street rides. For those that want to be extra secure or robust, we provide all the necessary kits or parts to make your ride a fully capable high-flying machine. From conversion kits to chain tensioners and chain guides, we got em' all!

Material: Alloy Body

Function: Converts 9-speed hubs to a single-speed system

Components: 16T & 18T, two spacers, a lockring

Weight: 130g

Surly Single Speed Kit

Set of five spacers for converting to singlespeed on Shimano freehub bodies

Includes stainless steel lockring

(Sprocket not included)

Origin-8 Single Speed Conversion Kit

Fits most road and mountain hubs

Includes: Single-Speed guide

16T and 18T Chromoly cogs

6061 alloy cog spacers (8)

New conical spacers for increased cog stiffness

~ o O o ~

And the list goes and continues.....

I have an eye on the Fire Eye FE-SSK Single Speed Conversion Kit

which is first on my list. It is not the cheapest among the listed kits

but I have many color options to choose from. plus it is readily available from my source back home.

descriptions & photos taken from

chainreactioncycles.com

surlybikes.com

fireeye-bike.com

dabombbike.com

read: my Future Upgrade: Shimano WH-R500 Wheelset

read: my Skinny Bike's Stock Bike Build

Future Upgrade Review: Shimano WH-R500 Entry Level Wheelset

Few months ago, I have planned to change my current bike set up.

Hybrid SS / Fixie Commuter bike into a Hybrid Cyclocross (CX) bike.

I want my options to be the Cheapest but still Reliable, and can take the

stresses and abuses that I put in the bike every time I (a 200 lbs rider) rode it

Shimano Road Sport WH-R500 Wheelset Review

Shimano WH-R500 wheelset (photo courtesy of wiggle.co.uk)

(taken from bikewheelsets.com)

The Shimano WH-R500 wheelset sits at the bottom of Shimano’s entry-level Road Sport series. And that’s where it belongs. This is a no-frills wheelset, designed as a stock wheel on entry-level road bikes, just to get new riders out on the road. If your bike came with the WH-R500 wheelset, that’s okay for now, but you will want to upgrade your wheelset before you change anything else on your bike.