Mr. Raleigh

Technically, this is the first road bike I ever owned. Growing up in the kampong, I never had the financial ability to buy my own bike. The first bike I rode was my Grandpa's Raleigh. It was so big I couldn't get on the seat and had to ride it with my right leg through the frame to reach the pedals. Nevertheless, it gave me endless pleasure but grandpa was not pleased coz he was not able to use it. I rode it everywhere; to the provision shop to buy bread for mom and cigarettes for dad and grandpa. I was always ready to buy things for people just so that I could ride the bike and grandpa cannot say no. Later on, a neighbor threw away an old road bike. It was all beaten up, rusty and had a single gear only. I took over the bike from him, bought cheap paint and painted it with a brush. I remember the colour was gold. It had only one brake in front. The crank was the old fashioned cotter pin system and it would come loose after a few rides and you need to whack it with a hammer to tighten it. Still, it was my bike and I was very proud of it. I rode it to school for awhile but gave up awhile coz it was faster to walk up the slope. I remember the front crank had like 56 teeth and the rear freewheel gear was only 13. It was nice on the downhill but going up any incline was a challenge. I remember falling many times coming down the slope coz it had only one brake and in front! My younger brother would steal it for rides and one day, he got into an accident and the bike was completely smashed. Since then, I never owned a road bike. This was when I was in secondary school. When I started working in the Navy, I bought my first mountain bike. It was a KHS Summit, 3x7 speed, steel and heavy as hell. As time passed, I upgraded from the KHS to Bridgestone and ended up with 2 Miyatas which remains with me until today. That was in 1992. In 2014, I bought my first road bike. It was a Klein Quantum, size 52. It belonged to Amos from Juzz4cars. His wife forbid him to ride and I gladly took over the bike without realising that it was too big. Having experienced for a short while the thrill of riding a road bike, I decided to build one. The Raleigh frame was on sale by CRC but size was limited to 50. Going through the tech specs, it seems to be my size. I didn't have much knowledge about road bike set up and went with the Shimano 105 groupset, 2x10 speed. The wheelset was second-hand R-something. After putting the bike together, I went for my first proper road bike ride. I remembered how easy it was to get up to speed but how uncomfortable it was bent over the handlebars. Having ridden MTB all my life, the bike was left untouched for a while. It was not until 2016 that I started riding it again. We had some new friends join our cycling group and they were on road bikes. By then, I have read up a fair bit about road bikes. With tools and wallet in hand, I started upgrading the bike to what it is today. It would have been nice if it was a size 48 or even 45 but you know what, the bike is a blast to ride. It's not something you bring to a race. It's more like a casual bike to ride around the island leisurely and comfortably. I used it on my first NTU round Island ride and had no issues with butt pain or whatever. Looking at it sitting in the living room reminds me of how far I have come in life and my love for bikes and biking. I tell this story to remind myself of my roots. Too often, as we grow older, we forget what we had to go through and what our parents and loved ones had to go through to put up with us. To my dad (in heaven), who couldn't afford to buy me a new bike, mom and everyone else who made an impact in my life, I want to say thank you for sticking around with me. I want you to know how grateful I am for all that you have done and if I ever say something not nice, I seek your forgiveness and patience. Mr Raleigh will be around for as long as I am still around and fit enough to ride it. To think that I almost sold it about a year ago! Thanks for reading this..I get sentimental sometimes.

Bike List

Here is the bike list as at Dec 2016. The pictures do not necessarily show the bike in its present state. Changes are inevitable as improvements are made to increase efficiency, look and feel.

1. Vitus Chrono TT
   
2. Olmo Link Pro
   
3. Giant Momentum iNeed Street
   
4. GT Transit
   
5. Polygon Collosus AX 3.0 No. 1
   
6. Polygon Collosus AX 3.0 No. 2
7. Polygon Collosus AX 3.0 No. 3
8. Colnago CX Zero EVO
   
9. Mongoose Meteore 29er
   
10. Vitus Taillefer
    
11. Marin Fairfax SC2 IG
    
12. Focus Planet 1.0 Alfine
    
13. Vitus Dee Alfine
    
14. Voodoo Hoodoo Mystical Folk Magic
    
15. Java CL Limited Sports Bike
    
16. Carver 96er
    
17. Cannondale Tango SL 29er
    
18. Monotine Folding Bike
    
19. Ridley Blast
    
20. Steinerdesign Porsche
    
21. Miyata Elevation 5,000 No. 1
    
22. Miyata Elevation 5,000 No. 2
    
23. Giant Revive
    
24. Raleigh Ultra Race
    
25. Klein Quantum Pro
    
26. Alero 
    
27. Giant Cadex CFM-3
    
28. Miyata Elevation 10,000
    
29. Voodoo Hoodoo
    
30. KHS Montana Pro
    
31. Nishiki FS3
    
32. Bridgestone MB-1
    
33. Porsche S Bike

1. Boardman Pro No. 1
2. Boardman Pro. No. 2

Vitus Chrono TT (Sold)

I have done many crazy bike things in the past but nothing beats this. A TT bike? I must be mad. But the temptation was just too much to resist. Chain Reaction Cycles was having a sale and the Vitus Chrono TT was going for half price. Could I resist such an offer? Obviously not because I ended up buying it. Truth be told, it was a really good deal. The bike came with practically everything except for wheels and groupset. But still, a TT bike was an adventure into unknown territory. I have seen cyclists crouched over the handlebar, wearing funny-looking aero helmets and weird looking water bottles sticking out from the handlebar and I wondered, "What's wrong with these people?". Certainly, that must be the most uncomfortable riding position. I had to find out. 

With the click of the mouse, I ordered the frame and since there were wheels on offer too, I ordered them too. These are Bergamont Dolce Team wheelset shod with Schwalbe Ultremo ZX, V-Guard, folding, 23-622, 700 x 23C tyres. While these wheels are not actually designed for TT bikes, I figured they should be good enough to start with and if the bike does not turn out well, I can always transfer them to another bike. The groupset is a 10-speed Shimano Ultegra; 53/39 crankset and 11-23 cassette. Its an aggressive set-up but my thinking is that since speed is the whole point of a TT bike, why not go all the way? 

Putting the bike together was not an easy task as it appears, even though most of the major parts have already been assembled. The first problem encountered was a loose headset. After countless hours of adjustments, tightening, etc...the wobble was finally removed by the placement of a headset washer. To be on the safe side, I ordered a new headset in case the wobbling comes back. I suspect the headset used is not the best. As usual, the internal routed cables are a nightmare to put together. One wrong move meant hours spent trying to route the cable to its proper position. On top of that, cable length had to be precise or else, shifting or braking efficiency will be affected. 

The next major adjustment was the cockpit. The variations were endless and being new to TT cycling, this took a lot of time to sort out. I had to checked various sources on the proper position to make sure I was doing the right thing. In the end, I settled for a compromised position but comfort was certainly not high. Since this is a new domain, perhaps my body was not prepared sufficiently for it. During the test ride on the trainer, I discovered truly how uncomfortable a crouched position is. I salute those who enjoy doing this because I certainly am not. Never mind, I told myself, give it a shot. 

With all the work done and final adjustments made, it was time for a road test ride. I have to say this is the most frightening bike I have ridden on. It's unstable and uncomfortable when you go into a tucked position, you can hardly see anything beyond the front wheels but it is bloody fast! So, where do we go from here? I am really not sure. Perhaps my set-up is not proper or maybe my body is not conditioned enough for such a ride. Only time will tell. In the meantime, I decided that it is probably safer to use it on the trainer until I am confident of hitting the road again with it. 

Olmo Link Pro

I am never drawn into owning top-of-the-line stuff even if I could afford it. My purchases are mainly based on affordability and the potential of the product.This is especially so when it comes to bikes. Of course it is nice to own a Pinarello, Specialized or Colnago costing tens of thousand of dollars but in the end, what makes the bike go is the rider. Unless the intention of buying such bikes is merely to show off, I think the money can be better utilized for other things. Bikes, just like cars, are liabilities; they don't appreciate in value over time even though they may be classic bikes. The value of the bike is not commercially determined by market forces but by the buyer. I am willing to pay more for a bike only because it has some sentimental value. Perhaps it was a bike I wanted when I was a kid but could not afford or maybe it was a bike that reminds me of an event or a person. Whatever the case might be, prudence is a virtue when it comes to buying bikes. 

I saw the Olmo Pro Link frame hanging on the ceiling of my friend's bike shop and was attracted to it due to its colour. It looked good. I have never heard of the brand before but some googling reveals that Olmo has been around since 1931. Its an Italian brand with a rich heritage. You can read more about the history of the company here, http://www.olmo.it/en/history/

The Link Pro is the entry-level carbon frame weighing 1.2 kg. It comes with a matching carbon fork and has internal routing for all the cables. Personally, I do not like cables routed internally; they are a nightmare to install and I do not think they do much in reducing drag. It does make the frame look neat and tidy but when you work on bikes like I do, you soon learn to dislike internally routed cables. 

Not knowing how well the ride would ride and whether I would like it, I decided to take the cautious route. I used the Dura-Ace parts cannibalized from the Klein Quantum. Everything was transferred over, less the Easton crankset which was replaced by a 53/39 Shimano Ultegra 10-speed. The completed bike weighed around 7.5 kg which was quite ridiculous to me because I have never owned a bike with that kind of weight before! Of course, it was thanks to all the carbon fibre bits and pieces. I was all smiles and smirks after the first ride. It's an incredible feeling riding a bike that feels like a feather (when compared to the rest of my bikes); the surge and ability to reach good speed with less energy was something I could not stop grinning over. I knew that this purchase was a right one, never mind if it is entry-level. It is time for real work to be done to the bike.

The Easton wheels were replaced by Shimano RS 81 C24 shod with Continental GP 4000IIs. Technically, they are a little bit heavier than the Easton wheels but I did not want to spend a bomb and the RS 81 had good reviews. 

The next major upgrade was to replace the 10-speed Dura Ace groupset with an 11-speed Ultegra groupset. I wanted to return the parts borrowed from the Klein Quantum because that is where they belong. The seat post is a Deda carbon fibre, stem is a Deda Zero One 100mm and the handlebar is from Cinelli. I was afraid that the weight of the bike might go up but thankfully, it remained at 7.5 kg. with pedals on.  

The bike is a real blast to ride. With a slightly racy geometry, it’s a smooth, accomplished and comfortable ride, plusher than expected for a carbon frame at this price. The acceleration is good too, the BB86 bottom bracket, chunky chainstays and short, tapered head-tube contributing to a poised and purposeful performance.

The Olmo has proved once again that you do not need the best to be the best that you can be. It surpassed my expectations and for the price I paid, it was worth every cent. 

Momentum iNeed Street (by Giant)

I saw pictures of this bike a long time ago on the internet. It looked great and had unique features that distinct it from the many city bikes you see. I thought to myself, "Gee, it would be nice to have one." The specifications were nothing to shout about; ordinary, perhaps low-end components were used. After all, it was a bike for the masses and should be fairly affordable. Bike manufacturers tend to cut corners in order to reap higher profits. Nothing to complain about that because, for people like me, I never believe a stock bike will ever be good enough. There is always something that can be done to make it better. So, the journey to build a Momentum iNeed Street bike was kept in hibernation for a long time until by chance, someone put one up for sale. He had won it in a lucky draw and wanted to sell it so that he could use the cash to buy an iPhone 7. A iNeed Street for an iPhone 7? Isn't that a bad decision? Doesn't matter...the bike is mine.

Let's start from the original specifications.

Specifications

Sizes	Small, Regular, Large
Colors	Double Diamond:   Black/White  Blue/Bronze  Matte Green/Orange  Mid-Step:  Blue/White  Red/Pearl White
Frame	ALUXX-grade aluminum with integrated rear carrier and cup holder, double diamond and mid-step options
Fork	High Tensile Chromoly Steel
Handlebar	Alloy, Mid rise
Stem	Alloy Quill
Seatpost	Alloy, 30.9
Saddle	Riveted Retro-Classic Comfort, coil spring
Pedals	Alloy/Anti-Slip Platform
Shifters	Shimano Revo, Twist
Front Derailleur	N/A
Rear Derailleur	Shimano Tourney

Brakes	Alloy, Direct Pull
Brake Levers	Alloy Comfort
Cassette	Shimano TZ31 14x34, 7-speed
Chain	Z51KMC Z51, Nickel Plated
Crankset	Alloy, 42T
Bottom Bracket	Sealed Cartridge
Rims	Giant Alloy, Double wall
Hubs	Alloy, 28h
Spokes	Stainless Steel, 14g
Tires	Kenda Kwick Roller, puncture protection, 700x32
Extras	Chainguard, Kickstand, Bell, Integrated Rack with Straps and removable bag mounts, Integrated Cup Holder, Frame Mounted U-Lock Carrier

Not very exciting, is it? For some, the word 'tourney' is a complete turn-off and I happen to be one of those. Building a bike is not about what the bike is now but the ability to see the potential of the bike under your charge. Its about dreaming and visualising what and how things should be done. Most importantly, you must have the ability to make it happen.

Just look at that frame. How can you not fall in love with it? It's pure art to bend pieces of metal into such shapes. And how could Giant actually use those cheap components? The top tube is a single piece of metal that starts at the head tube, makes a detour for the cup holder, winds its way towards the rear to form the rack and back again.

It is obvious that with the modifications made to the bike, it is completely transformed. What used to be a straight-up, 'cheap-looking' thing is now a sophisticated piece of machinery.

Over here, we have a term for el-cheapo bikes; we call them market bikes. These are the kind of bikes that are covered with rust, creaks and croaks, uncared and never stolen. I suppose Giant intended for the iNeed Street to be such a bike. If not, why load it with all that crap?

The rear rack has a maximum load of 25 kg. That's strong enough to carry a kid but please do not do that. The rack is meant for goods, not people.

The original wheels came with brandless hubs, the spec sheet simply says Alloy, 28h. Check out the hubs now; Deore XT. The drivetrain is a Shimano Zee 1 x 10 groupset; 36t chainring with 10 gears from 13 to 35 holes. That's more than enough and climbing hills should not be an issue.

Not just the rear but the front hub is also a Deore XT.

The elastic bands are supplied with the bike. The rear rack has pannier holders for those long rides out of town.

Brandless rims give way to DT Swiss wheel set.

You won't believe the options I think of for the drivetrain. Internal gears? 1 x10? 1 x9? Retain the original 1 x 7? Etc, etc... In the end, I cannibalise the Zee system from the Cannondale 29er since I was going to change that to a 2 x 10 drivetrain. Save some money and solved the problem at the same time.

You are unlikely to see a WTB saddle on a cheap banger. I think saddles says alot about the bike. It can raise or lower the stature of the bike. Put a Brooks saddle onto any bike and suddenly, you would think its an expensive bike.

The integrated cup holder was the first thing that caught my eye. Its somewhat crazy and bizarre to put a cup holder on a bike. We don't drink coffee while on the move! But now, I do... The Deda 100mm stem might be replaced with a 90mm one as its quite a reach.

The handlebar is an On One OG gentleman styled. Somehow, this handlebar only works on big bikes. Its so comfortable, I use it on all my 29er/700c hybrids.

Its been a real pleasure building this bike. The smile factor is 9/10.