Friday, January 09, 2009

Jamis Xenith Team


Frame Jamis Xenith Team
Fork Jamis Xenith Team
Rear Shock N/A
Rims Mavic Helium
Hubs
Mavic Helium
Spokes
Mavic Helium
Tires Maxxis
Pedals Shimano Road (old model)
Crank Ultegra SL 10spd
Chain Ultegra SL 10spd
Rear Cogs Ultegra SL 10spd
Bottom Bracket Ultegra SL 10spd
Front Derailleur Ultegra SL 10spd
Rear Derailleur Ultegra SL 10spd
Shifters Ultegra SL 10spd
Handlebars Ritchey Comp
Stem Ritchey Comp
Headset Can Creek S2
Brakeset Ultegra SL 10spd
Brakelevers Ultegra SL 10spd
Saddle Fizik Arione White
Seat Post Ritchey Carbon Pro
Sizes 54cm
Extras Profile Design Carbon Strike Aerobar

Setup this bike for a team mate, Glenn. Spec-ed it with White/Red/Black Theme. Ultegra SL groupset is stripped from my CUBE bike. Glenn managed to get his own Frameset, Wheels and Aerobar. Rest were bought from Togopart Market Place.

Would prefer Ultegra SL Pedal and maybe a more matching wheelset for the bike.

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Bike Fitting 101: Part 2

Ok! after getting the bike for more than 1 month, ride with group for over 90km, climbed a few hills. These are my few observation.

Lower Back ache, which i don't have when using my old ride. Was quite disappointed. Funny thing is, only for short hard rides which i really push. Hills don't have, long distances (90km) abit. Find it quite cramp when i go to drop position (not very sure, need to verify).

Incomplete service. Find that i should go for the Powerfoot Cleat Alignment to fully undergo the full standard package from Bike Butler. Even if the benefits doesn't surface much, completing the standard package kinda earn me the right to give comments and review on the service.

Expose to more bike fitting tools. Saw them online and in Butler's place but wasn't included in the part 1 package. Seeing is believing, applying is experiencing. Had did some search online and Youtubed for bike fitting services in U.S site. So much science involved, often think that such services are only for pros. www.smartcycles.com, www.bikefitkit.com

Ok now go into the Powerfoot Cleat Alignment Package

Fore foot measurement. Picture tells a million words, so i think video can save me more time. Youtube, Bike Fit Cleat Wedge

Conclusion: Left leg shorter.. Again sound like some handicap guy.. -_-". Shown to me that the rail of my saddle is tilted to 1 side. Not very obvious but can be seen.

Action: Added 5mm of wedge on the left shoe and 10 deg wedge on both shoes. And some adjustment to the cleat position. Ever adjustment is done after a few mins of ride with the heaviest gear ratio.


This is not my pedal

Vertical Stroke Adjustment. Visualize a line cutting across the dot on the knee and shoe. We should be pedaling with the dot on knee in line with the dot on shoe.


This is also not me.

Personally i find that this got to do with the riders riding proficiency. I have problem coordinating my left leg, as i focus too much pedaling by my right. So i have to constantly remind myself to coordinate with my left leg. Need to do more single leg drill.

Rotational Adjustment of Cleat. With the use of RAD aka chopstick


This is not my shoe

RAD is a dummy jig for clipless pedal, however with more float exist. White Stick attached to the cleat while Red Stick to the Pedal. So when pedal, we can see clearly how much ankle movement is there during pedaling.

Pedaling Technique Correction
This is done concurrent with cleat alignment and vertical stroke alignment.

Ok all set! Finalised by marking the position of cleats with marker. Now is to keep riding and feel for discomfort. For more review of this package.

Review / Comments
Only rode for short distances. However now paying more emphasis on my left leg. Need to play more attention to body discomfort even for the slightest. E.g. Numbness on hand and toe, which leg first? Lower lumbar ache, which side. Any pain on knees, etc..

For anyone keen in this service, ask yourself the above mention questions before you visit Bike Butler. Also these following 2 questions

If pricing is an issue, ask yourself whether the current bike position is affecting you or bring you any discomfort. If not then stick with your old ride.
If 'looking garang' on a bike is important, ask yourself whether you are willing to change to a more upright position with handlebar brought more closely to you.

Rider should go for Bike fit follow by the Powerfoot cleat alignment. Get a fitting bike before going into pedaling efficiency.

Some websites for reference:
http://www.thebikebutler.com/
http://www.bikefit.com/
http://bikefitkit.com/
http://www.smartcycles.com/

Video Clip of bike fitting in US.
Clip 1
Clip 2

Bike Fitting 101: Part 1

Finally finish all the bike fitting services provided by the Bike Butler. Quite an experience and educational. It allow me to pay more emphasis on my bike riding.

Why i go for it?
2 year ago, before i entered Army, was recommend to visit Bike Butler for Bike Fitting Service. Price then to me is pretty steep (even now). 100+ for Bike Fit and Positioning and another 100+ for Powerfoot Cleat Alignment. Hence, didn't go for it as I'm fine with my old bike position.

2 years later, with more positive reviews from Coach and illusion of me being more wealthy with the army allowance. I went for the bike fitting. Was so decided to get a new bike that i sold off my old ride and hoping to get one from the Bike Butler.

Bike Fit Positioning
First thing Butler did was throw me on his 'Measuring Station'. Figures shows that i had short arm short leg. -_-" sound like turtle...

Next I'm introduced to this 'AFS Bike Tool' a dummy bike jig used to assess my riding posture and my custom frame measurement.

After some body alignment... Wala! My new custom made titanium frame!


Some measurement of the frame:
Top Tube: 51cm (actual), 53cm (virtual)
Seat Tube: 44cm (CTC), 48cm (CTT)
Seat Tube Angle: 72 deg
Head Tube: 16cm
A pretty sit-back and up-right position with the 72 deg seat tube angle and long head tube.

Bike is then setup with the parts which i like, also tried to copy the theme of CUBE HPT but didn't turn out well.. Making of the CUBE

After service review & thoughts
Bike Butler have this signature mark on most of his bike. Yes~ the super long Head Tube which had invited many comments about it. Should really see my Coach ride... With the more upright position, i constantly remind myself to apply lesser pressure on my palm and work my core harder to maintain the nice curve of my back.

Leveling the handlebar and saddle height, makes the rider looks less 'garang'. But allowing the rider to sit in the 'neutral/optimal' position. Personally I'm still trying to find out more on this 'neutral/optimal' position specially on how arch should our lower back be? Tried googling it but not much findings.

Compared the Bike Butler's fitting with the US Fitting Service. Of course with more resources and support, US looks much better. They can provide video clips of you riding before and after the service. Can try go 'YouTube, Bike Fitting' as Bike shops actually uses YouTube as a media to market their bike fitting service.

Lastly Bike Fitting Service is like consulting a doctor. They can diagnose through a few tests to tell where is the problem. But without proper input from the patients, they still cant make proper judgement and prescription. E.g. Pain.. How pain? Discomfort, How discomfort is discomfort? Same for ache, sore, numb.. Especially for beginners.. isn't pressure on hand and buttock common? Will a series of tests and questionnaire help?

Thursday, July 31, 2008

My beloved bike: DEAN


Monday, 920pm at Blk 824 Coffee Shop 'A Star", I had officially lost my first unlocked bike while having a meal!

Was about to leave the table, still saw my bike alone at the lamp post. Had this interesting topic which kept me seated for another ten minutes or less. TEN MINUTES!

DEAN had been the most wonderful bike i had so far. More mileage compared to my newly bought 'CUBE' bike. Been through the most harsh wet weather than my Cannondale had ever seen. Left its tyre marking along most parks and chalets unlike my Identiti. Truly the MVB of my bicycles. The bike which i dont need to zhng to make it look good or to meet my riding needs.
Somemore i just washed it 2 weeks before! Wiping the rims and waxed the frame to give it a shine. Maybe the shine on the bike was the stealing trigger point. Too bling~ haha!

For those who lives in Tampines and happen to see it, pls contact me..
For the person who stole my bike, may you be part of the tar on the road soon!

Bike Theft Victim: Lock your bikes!
C Cube

Custom Ti Road Bike : CUBE HPT



Frame XACD Custom TI
Fork Easton EC90 SLX
Rear Shock N/A
Rims Mavic Ksyrium SL 08
Hubs Mavic Ksyrium SL 08
Spokes Mavic Ksyrium SL 08
Tires Continental Ultra Sports
Pedals Shimano Ultegra SL
Crank Shimano Ultegra SL 10spd
Chain Shimano Ultegra SL 10spd
Rear Cogs Shimano Ultegra SL 10spd
Bottom Bracket Shimano Ultegra SL 10spd
Front Derailleur Shimano Ultegra SL 10spd
Rear Derailleur Shimano Ultegra SL 10spd
Shifters Shimano Ultegra SL 10spd
Handlebars Easton EC90 SLX
Stem Easton EC90
Headset Chris King Red
Brakeset Shimano Ultegra SL 10spd
Brakelevers Shimano Ultegra SL 10spd
Saddle San Marco Aspide
Seat Post Easton EC90 Zero Setback
Sizes 48cm
Extras Salsa Seat Clamp, Red

Top Tube: 51cm (actual), 53 (virtual)
My first 'Brand New' bike, almost everything brand new except the bottle cages and saddle. Many have questions about the long head tube.
The geometry is
Seat Tube: 44cm (CTC), 48cm (CTT)
Seat Tube Angle: 72 deg

Can reduce the steepness of the top tube, however will end up stacking another 5cm of spacer for the handlebar to be lifted up till that height.