Hamster wheel

Powered by...potatoes!

Just can't stop eating them spuds. French fries are cool along with awfully addicting Piknik, Pringles chips but nothing compares to boiled potatoes, mashed with skin, a pinch of salt and spoon of butter.

Meow meow

We are finally at the home stretch of October signaling the end of the storm season. Thankfully Manila did not suffer that much in terms of getting beaten by mother nature.

November hosts a couple of races to cap 2014 season. And for the 2nd consecutive year I am in no shape to participate. This year been rough on my body and wallet here's hoping that coming year will be better.

Last night gave the EL Camino well overdue TLC. Orange scented de-greaser, toothbrush did well to remove the 4 month old drive train gunk, while my brother ex-bath towel and alcohol combo removed most of caked tar, grime on bright green frame hah!
Of course a once over is not complete without checking bolts, tire pressure, putting lube on the chain and overall integrity of bike and it's parts. Just to be prepared I used a wet lube instead of normal dry lube for the chain this week, weekend forecast leaning towards rain which usually hits late in the afternoon or evening.

Night ride anyone? Siglo Siklistas "Halloween night ride" coming tonight and ride report tomorrow with well...not that much content hehe!

Enjoy this afternoon chillin' tunes before a ride.

No doubt

Ernest "Pumpkin' flavored potato" Hamster

Bike ride

Night riding on a Thursday almost ended fast a stupid motorcycle rider crossed red light on a pedestrian crossing narrowly avoiding two ladies crossing the street and me on my bike! Word of advice for that idiot someday you will get really f*cked up by not following BASIC traffic rules and it will HURT.

Anyway back to the ride a quick run through Midtown, baywalk, pasay CCP at night, mall of asia, macapagal ave. , airport road, airport road 3, nichols, makati, home. All the walking this week and riding the SS beater really paid off my legs are in great shape.

Hoot! crappy phone night shot

Used the Camino for this ride thankfully the bike rode without any incident.

Bottle of beer and cup of coffee real revelation the combination fueled me well during the trip.

It is nice to be riding again with Siglo dudes looking forward to the next night ride.

Ernest "I love titties"

Bike ride

Used the SS beater for picking-up some stuff for EJ school activity tomorrow. Then I visited Ulyby bike shop for some part orders for the SS and EJ bike namely 20-21t sprocket because the 16t installed killing my knees, and front 12 inch plastic rim for kid bike.
Sky overcast with a hint of rain looming, light winds, ber-months riding at its best.
Trip was short but I had lots of fun. Bicycles are still the best mode of transportation in the city, instead of spending 10-15 minutes travelling by car it only took less than 8 minutes for me to arrive in my destination on Malate.

90's called

Since I installed the rear rack on the SS Beater it has been very useful, hauled boxes of shoes, car parts, gasoline container, and other light loads. SS also fun in traffic although bike ratio's leans toward heavy pedal mashing you could just do half rotation and coast besides none moving vehicles. Road oriented 1.3 inch tires are fast and the old XC ALEX rims along with fat mountain bike spokes are pretty stiff for a parts bin special. To help with sanctity of my soft knees I am increasing the rear gear to 20t-21t the 16t fine when you are all warmed up but it's a struggle when you are just starting and ending a ride. 20's are a nice compromise and I could spin and climb with less effort than smaller sprocket.

It only drives one...the simplicity striking I could just enjoy the ride, pedal, stop, pedal, coast, brake. Even when the road narrows due to traffic and you have to snake to get through the SS bike lets you focus more on what's coming and where to go efficiently. Speed is awesome and am sure that a geared bike will be much faster on almost everything but my SS bike made me smile more. Raw, unforgiving, and lots of fun, biking at its simplest form and I love it.

SS beater a rigid, 26 inch mountain bike with skinny road tires. A rigid, single speed wagon wheel bike with fat tires built for touring and trails would be sweet. And this for later...

Ernest "Hamster"

Siglo Jersey

Siglo jersey awesome! Although a bit tight on some spots nothing a good couple of weeks on the bike cant fix.

Shout out to the member who designed shirt sweet work! And for Siglo dudes that made all this possible.

Ernest Hamster 

Bike updates: Commencal EL Camino and SS beater

Commencal El Camino
Since I binned the front rim it has been replaced by its stronger, wider, heavier brother the Spank Subrosa 29er rated for AM, DH and fat dudes.

Was running 45mm Funn serial mx stem and 720mm Funn full-on handlebar. Now setup 60mm funn stryge with 7 degrees rise stem, and 810mm Funn Fat boy HB.

Renthal Kevlar grips slip-on. Just installed the grips when THE CRASH happened. Couple of scratches on end caps were the only damage sustained, the grips itself still intact and being used.

Replaced brake pads front and rear.

Iberra top tube mini panniers for added carrying capacity on short rides.

Tubes lots of em'. Been blowing through these on an almost per ride basis so I carry two spares just in case...stupid.

Touring mode 29er, Iberra mini-pannier, Energizer rear blinky light, energizer front LED light

Coming next

• Fork tuning project "EPIFOX"
• 10 speed conversion
• Brake upgrade
• Wider flat pedals

SS Beater
Has the least upgrade but I seldom use the POS.

Brand new front and rear Shimano Acera V-brakes cheap but good stopping power for the beater.

Bungee ties for strapping-in cargo.

Coming next

• Smaller chain ring
• Replace front fork
• Bottle cage

Steel Single speed 26er now with proper brakes

For both bikes
Portable knife for personal protection while riding. Since criminals are f*ck all this season a little surprise will hurt if they try something.

Concealed protection

Ernest Hamster