Hamster wheel

Keeps on spinning...

Today first day of the week without any special stuff-to-do. What better way to celebrate normalcy than drooling over gadgets that I have no means to purchase...
TADA! Iphone m*thu' effin' SIX!

Tacky but you know you want one...

Euro all the way
After the dust settles around here (around 8 pm) I engage in quite drive around virtual Europe to relax and put myself to sleep.

Game is Euro truck simulator 2 hookers not included.

Truckin' fun

Cyclist problems
My XC bike good in racking-up the kilometers on almost any type of ride. It's biggest weakness is parking. The thing will surely attract wrong type of attention from shady folks. No amount of bike locks and chains will keep those nasty people at bay so...

Option 1
Right now exploring the possibility of purchasing a folding bike for convenience since I could haul the thing along with me. Looking at entry level offerings from Dahon and Tern but those babies come s with a weight limit and that really sucks!

Option 2
Planning on converting the EL Camino to 1x10 for more focused trail duties. The left-over 3x9 drive train could end up on SS beater and by doing so will remove SS moniker...street cred lost.
BUT I could still use the bike on commutes and other mundane tasks since the thing still looks shit.

Option 3
2015 FCB (fast city bike) from Commencal Looking sweet...but yet again.

No money, mo problems.

Ernest Hamster

Hamster product review: Kali Amara helmet

Amara helmet according to Kali
Borrowing from its Sanskrit name meaning Immortal, the AMARA helmet is a great all-mountain helmet. Featuring an ultra lightweight polycarbonate shell and an EPS liner bonded together with inmold technology, the AMARA helmet is sure to fill your all-mountain needs, along with a revolutionary integrated camera (or light) mount for a perfect filming position.

Kali Amara

Out of the box

Amara party piece is it's weight at (345g) it is pretty light for a XC/Trail helmet that covers the back of your head. It also has a lot of vents (17) which guarantees that your noggin' will stay cool on hottest of days and a breakaway visor to keep sun out of your eyes. Dual closure system ensures a perfect fit every time.
Sizing X-small/small, small/medium and medium/large.

Son stoked! Size Medium/Large 60-63cm

Run
Kali Amara my first Mountain bike helmet so I have nothing to compare it to. During its extended 2 year usage the helmet saved my head a number of times. Although the last crash sent it to retirement, physically Amara still looks fine but just to be safe I opted for a replacement.
The only issue I encountered with the Amara is sometimes when you don't properly adjust the dual closure strap the helmet would lift and wobble a bit on high speed runs, so before riding adjust accordingly.

Pros:
-Light weight
-AM/Enduro style covers a lot of property on back of your head.
-Plenty of vents keeps your noggin' cool at all times.
-Break away visor pretty effective.
-Took PLENTY of crashes without as much scratch on surface.
-Middle of range price P3.5k.
-Comes with multiple colors, and a action camera mount (Amara cam).

Cons:
-Dual closure system has tendency to come loose when not locked tight.
-Plenty of vents that lets water in during rain.

Lowdown
Your head protection is important so do not skimp on protection. I would have given Kali Amara 5 hamsters if the Dual closure system was better. The Amara saved me from having serious head injuries a couple of times, highly recommended for someone that is looking for Enduro style helmet on XC light package and budget.

Ninja turtle? Cowabunga!!!

Hamster point score: 4 "Excellent Product"



Ernest Hamster

Hamster preview: Iberra Top tube mini pannier

On this edition of Hamster preview we feature Iberra Top tube mini pannier provided by Ride Clyde Manila.

Convenience that's the reason I pulled the Mini pannier out of RCManila inventory. During a ride a couple of weeks ago I stuffed my spare tube, multi-tool, tire levers, a 5 inch screen smartphone plus my wallet down my poor 1 liter Deuter Escape bag. It worked barely as I could not zip-it-up due to over packing.

Man bag

So I looked for an alternative in my bike accessories inventory. Should I use my old medium sized top peak saddle bag? Which is attached to my commuter bike. Or should I just bring my Deuter 12 liter hydration bag? Which is big and without the hydration bladder being used is overkill for an hour or two road ride. The answer came in Iberra Top tube mini pannier bag which I installed on my XC bike.

Out of the box and fit
Sealed in clear plastic the bag came with Iberra tag and those carton display thing where you hang the product on shelves. As advertised it came with a rain cover.

Iberra top tube mini pannier bag

Straps are adjustable for all type of bike frames. The upper strap goes around the head tube while the strap that holds the lower portion of the bag goes around the down tube. It sports 2 pannier like compartments with the left one having a mesh; zippered inner compartment for stuff that needs to be secured, while right side only has pocket inside the compartment. The rear of the bag also has two small mesh pockets.

Stuffing young bagging
You could fit two inner tubes on one side of pannier with the rain cover. 

Other side zippered mesh compartment can accommodate a Iphone sized smartphone, your money, or keys. 

I have big smartphone so instead of shoving it inside mesh compartment (does not fit) it sits with the wired bike lock along with a patch kit. The multi-tool, tire levers, zip lock sandwich bag, zip ties and some loose peso bills sits comfortably inside the zippered compartment.

Ride
Initial ride imagined that pannier will hit my balls when I dismount but thankfully my top tube length enough to clear my jewels without hitting the bag. Riding for 40 km that day had no issues with Iberra and found all the compartments to be quite handy.

I'm rollin' you hatin'

Ernest Hamster

Hamster wheel

Ber Months
Gastos* months a coming time to prepare good ol' hiding spot for Inaanak's* hehe

Ber ber...
You can now really feel the holiday season. Traffic in manila specially on Roxas blvd been a b*tch lately. So if you know an alternate route avoiding Roxas blvd please take that and spare yourself the headache.

Ber ber ber...
Final quarter of the year also signifies the arrival of much awaited salary bonuses. Spend it wisely and spare SM's, and Robinson's pleasure of selling you items on retail. Go buy your sh*t on sale!

On sale NOW
Recently purchase a pair of cool toys for 2 player boxing fun with my son. It was released during the final quarter of last year and I think it won several awards for being the TOY to get that Christmas. With retail price of 2600 pesos it was uber expensive for what it is. Plus you need TWO to tango so no mas.
A year and holiday season later the expensive toy is on sale for 500 pesos. Could not help myself, needed to try "rock em sack em" RC robots, purchase a pair and 8 freakin' AA rechargeable batteries for epic non stop fun.

Read the preview here on Ernest and EJ hobbies

Battro borg EPIC FUN!

This is the reason I don't buy retail on toys.

Ernest and EJ hobbies
Formally announcing the Launch of my second blog co authored by my son. Featuring Happy meal toys, Hotwheels (cars), tomica (play sets and cars), Lego, Kreo (transformers), Plush toys, Tamiya Mini 4wd and other sweet toys from likes of Tomy, Nerf, Adventure time will be featured.
Plus previews, reviews, opinions, and new toys.

Thank you for your support and have a good day.

Ernest Hamster

*Gastos-expenses, Inaanak-God son or daughters.