RIP Ben Mok

For one who truly knew why we do what we do. 

RIP Ben Mok

I get bewildered stares from my mates as they try to decipher the money and time spent on the sport. All for the pain, the risk for what seems like a futile effort at reducing emissions. For all you hippies, its not what its all about. We ride for the joy, the satisfaction after overcoming pain and lactic acid to keep up with the pack, scale a mountain, pushing when mere mortals would simply give up and fall back.

Noone will ever understand cycling except the men and women who burn rubber on the tarmac, the dirt, the mud and the pavement. Don't even try to.

I never knew Ben Mok. Nor will I pretend i heard of his name before this tragedy. I'm not a vengeful person, but for that drunk driver who mowed him down, may the rest of your life be one filled with misery and regret.

I once again sound out a plea to drivers. Give us quarter. Cause if you don't, you'll probably have our blood on your hands.

Link to the memorial website

balancing 15 books on my head, reciting pi to the 100th digit, and solving a rubik's cube.

Check out awesomely, fantablulous, rocks my world to the core, melts titanium with pure awesome-ness, melts my brains, eats candy bars, then vomits out even better candy bars, 007 coolness, sports red farrari boots, GIRL!

Woman, i am in love with you.

Scrooge Mc-Yuva's take on the Shimano 105

I bought a totally beat up 2 year old 105 complete groupset from Amreet a few months back and have clocked almost 1000km on the setup already.

Shifting wise, rear shifting is fast, smooth and precise. However i still do not enjoy the upshifting using the big throwbacks on the big levers. It jumps waaay to  many gears at once and it takes some control to shiftup one gear at a time. Downshifting is v good though.

Crankset shifting is not good. I'll be honest. My old Sora's crankset shifting was more responsive. I takes two throws to shift completely to the smaller chain ring, and even then the throwing isn't uber smooth. I'm not sure if the age of the gruppo is a factor.

Weight isn't an issue. I mean, the Trek's already sporting steel bits and pieces, so the 105 was defintely an upgrade.

I have had the pleasure of test riding an Ultegra 6700 and a Dura Ace 7800 bike and obviously they kick 105's all the way to the moon. However, DA and Ultegra? No noticeable difference, unless you count weight savings. Am not pro enough to comment on stiffness and power transfer though i feel the Ultegra crank is slightly more balanced than the 105's.

Price wise, if you're buying a complete bike, and its your first, I recommend the new Tiagra gruppo. If you want a 10 speeder, go for the 105.

If you're custom building a serious racer, do not even look at the 105. Pay a few hundred more and get the Ultegra. Better resale value too. I would not pay more than 350 for a second hand 105 groupset (not including chain and BB).

Bottom line. If you want the thrills of a 10speeder and you're not going to race, 105 all the way.

Aight, that's enough bike talk.

Full Damage Breakdown :


Gruppo : SGD280
105 pedals : SGD80
105 chain : SGD40
Buildup with new BB and bartape : SGD70
Frame and old Ultegra + Sora : SGD400
Time RXT shoes : SGD130
Misc : SGD50 
Jamis sold for : - SGD300


GRAND TOTAL INVESTED : SGD 750 for 1000km of thrills




So totally worth it




Cheers from the,


Matrix

Scrooge Mc-Yuva

S-Works Specialized Shiv. I want one so bad my tooth hurts

I've decided not to participate in next week's 36km Time Trial along Changi Coastal. Right, some background for readers not familiar with cycling.

Time Trialling is kind of like a solo race against the clock. Fastest between 2 points of about 40km wins. Quite naturally you need special equipment for it. A Time Trial or a TT bike. It differs from a tradition road bike in 2 senses. The geometry puts the rider in a lower and more forward position. Your back is almost horizontal when you ride a TT bike. And its more aerodynamic than a road bike (though now the difference is becoming increasingly blurred).

The result is , you ride about 2kph faster, more if you're a really good rider. And that's a lot of time saving. The bike is highly unstable though, try riding with your arms tucked into your shoulders at 35kph and you'll know what i'm talking about. I've only ever tried a TT bike once, and its a crap ride. Painful, scarily unstable, BUT OH MY GOD ITS FAST ON THE STRAIGHTS!

You need to go on to the drops on a roadie and come out of your saddle to sprint, and you don't last. On a TT bike, you sprint more slowly but you can maintain a higer speed for an extended period.

Aight, enough bike-talk.

The point is, the race costs 40 bucks and well i don't get much fun out of it apart from a goody bag, and a sense of accomplishment. That works for quite a number of people, but i really want more bang for my buck.

I am a scrooge what.

And so i'm going to be going for the Sprint Challenge. 500 m drag race between 2 racers. I will almost def be bombed out, but oh my, its going to be more fun than the TT race.

On an off note, life is just awesome now. True true, i have an anal boss who pretty much makes my job which is really interesting kind of stressful, but it rocks to come back and just do what you like after work. Group of solo rides, dinner outside after, movies, weekend plans, its awesome.


OH, on another note, i'm finding it really easy to talk to women now. I don't mean my friends, but random people. The formula is simple:

1) Smile and don't look like you're about to eat her

2) Confidence. Once you're at a stage where you don't care what she think about this random chap talking to her, its pretty much smooth sailing.

3) Say bye once you've run out of conversation topics even if its after a couple of seconds. If she's interested, she'll try to keep you around. No loss if you strike out, plenty more fish out there.



Cheers from the,


Matrix

OK Go - This Too Shall Pass - Rube Goldberg Machine version - Official

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!

Gorillaz - Stylo (Full Version HD Music Video Clip) - Works in All Countries

good stuff

Keane - Somewhere Only We Know (US Edition)

This song is stuck in my head. Enjoy =)

Matrix