Hamster wheel

Keeps of spinning
Did you receive that special gift that you wanted for Christmas from your better half, GF, or mom? If the answer is YES then lucky you. If instead you got something else then...be thankful and sell that thing for bike parts. Hey such is the life of bike junkie!

Santa already made A list and he already delivered the goods to the nice kids all over the world now for those who received coal (like yours truly) then make a list, save up, or work hard, and purchase that freaking shiny new part for 2015 you do not need no handouts from some dude with flying reindeer.

Hamster list

• Shimano XT or Zee brakes - they are both priced close to each other, both are compatible with shimano ICE TECH system, the XT a bit lighter and little prettier hanging from your cockpit. While the ZEE sports four piston calipers versus two from XT probably overkill for my riding. More is better perhaps?
• Rockshox Reba - finally seeing reasonably price brand new reba's on local bike market. With non remote models going for 18k srp the price difference from the Manitou and Suntour air fork offering pretty close. It also comes with 1 1/8 steer tube, and 9mm QR perfect for my bike.
• Shimano Zee 1x specific crank set - probably the least likely upgrade. But when the right deal comes I might pull the trigger.
• Flat pedals -  replaceable pins, thin profile, light and a wide foot print for my size 12 teva's. Spank, point 1, Xpedo? Price usually dictates the purchase but a good pedal will last for years without much fuss on maintenance so I am putting that into consideration.
• Tires - Schwalbe tires present on my bike been nothing but trouble lately. Rocket ron a nice tire to use both on and off road but the darn thing just pinches tubes like crazy when the air pressure drops. Will try the more road oriented racing ralph at the back and maintain the less worn roro at the front for training duties. While a more aggressive set of tires going on for the trail (yet to be determined).
• One-up 42t sprocket and Radr cage - this one really depends if I can pedal 11-36 XT cassette on ANY climb I encounter. If I fail with initial setup of xt back-end with 32T chain ring then I still have the option to buy a smaller 30T at the front before springing for the One-up goodies.
• Stanton Sherpa - probable replacement for my near expiring Commencal 29 er frame. Sherpa delivers with 853 reynolds steel tubing, 68.75 HA, 435 CS length all the right "numbers" that make a nimble, fun bike. Plus I won't have to worry about transferring parts, since the sherpa and the camino shares the same components numbers like head tube, seat post, BB.
• Surly krampus almost has the same geo as the camino (69 HA, 445mm CS) with option of running either regular 29' rim, tire or the 29+ rims and 3' inch tires. Along with that feature the surly bike made of magic cush material known as steel. It is like getting two bikes for one 29+ for trail, rowdy riding. While normal 29 inch more subtle usage like touring, road training.

Pics from the net

Ernest "naughty boy" Hamster

Bike ride: Manila with Tito rom

Whatever crap you are going through a Bike ride is just what you need. This time I am assisting my Tito rom to get his legs back, since his bike still not around I let him use the El camino and yours truly rode the SS Beater. Got to say once you ride a bike you never lose that ability, oriented him briefly and we were of.

Route simple Manila fair passing through United nations, kalaw, roxas, baywalk where we entered the fair grounds, pasay CCP area, MOA. Trip back instead of Kalaw we entered remedios malate area until we reached singalong and home base to Paco.

Got to commend tito rom for his effort he did the initial route without much rest keep it up!

Ernest Hamster

Bike ride

Night ride
Last week ride was short but that did not stop my left knee to explode could barely get over the pain. After that ride I felt hopeless, troubled on possibility of my affliction being permanent. So I asked Doc Arvin what possible solution I could try he told me to adjust my saddle height and rail position. It worked! My right knee last night was back to it's usual not painful self even after 50+ km of doing the hamster on mid ring. Plus I tried something different, lessened the standing-mashing on acceleration, wore the proper footwear my flat pedal shoes along with compression socks instead of usual hiking sandal, and not tail or chase any of Siglo dudes present.

Manila to QC, cubao, san juan, sta.mesa, pandacan, paco, malate, pasay, makati, manila. 50+km of fun, couple of moments of pain with Siglo Siklistas.

Steak dinner on makati before going home. Too bad no bikers juice last night.

Strava it happened duh...

Ernest "1x10" Hamster

Hamster wheel

Keeps on spinning...

Had it with all the complications in my life. That is why I choose to go "single" for 2015, no longer I will be burdened by triple crank, front derailleur, and shifter...what were you thinking?

Logically going 1x10 route barrel of compromise with minimal payoff. Instead of having wide selection of gears you are now at the mercy of your chosen chain ring ratio. No more roadie gear, good bye granny, say hello to pain and lots of grunting on long climbs but what the hell...let's do it!

Already posted a topic earlier this year about One-by setup HERE.

People has spoken
Last quarter of 2013 ushered in slew of innovations trickled down from SRAM "million dollar baby" 11 speed group the XX1, namely X-SYNC chain ring tooth profile, and wider range on a cassette (42t). 
Companies like Race face, wolf tooth, etc. jump at the opportunity to bring sram tech to a price range suitable for the masses with none of propriety stuff that comes with the territory. 

Perfect timing
For 2015 my bike will finally go from 9 to 10 speed with 1x10 configuration.

Zee and XT 10 speed

Goodies
Already acquired most of the parts, only the narrow wide chain ring, chain left to purchase along with the crank that I have yet to pick up from Siglo Siklistas group mate.

Shimano Zee Shifter M640 - 1x specific, shares the same guts as bigger brother SAINT, tough, super cheap.

Baby bro of SAINT for 800 pesos HELL YEAH!

Shimano Zee RD M640 FR version - short cage, 1x specific, shadow plus tech, tough, cheap, best option going 1x.

Burly, gold clutched goodness

Shimano XT CS M771 11x36 - triple spider assembly will not dig much on hub freewheel, compatible with almost all 42t cog conversion kits.

11x36 for poor climber hamster

Shimano Deore M610 crankset 42-32-24 - Super deal from Aaron thanks dude!

Chain ring will be 32T NW chain ring from Race Face.

Shimano XT  HG92 chain - XT where it matters.

Full assembly details and  initial road, trail impression coming SOON.

Ernest Hamster

Bike ride: urban fun

Back with the boys of Siglo Siklista's for fun filled night of riding, food, and bikers juice.

Started at Dapitan where I got to gawk at pretty girls attending the event at nearby college while waiting for the group. Instead of the usual route through quiapo we proceeded to inner parts of binondo until we reached lucky chinatown mall then jones bridge, inside intramuros, roxas, baywalk, moa, vito cruz, kamagong, jupiter to El chupa cabra for grilled mexican food, I had a tasty burrito!

Shout out to the dude on a motorcycle who saw us leaving dapitan and later saw us (me) on makati en-route to mexican place. Got to chat with him while snaking through traffic along jupiter he told me that his a mountain biker himself a member of Comembo (?) bike group.

Ernest "blown knee" Hamster