January Febuary 2013, important months for trip

things to do in January, Febuary 2013 :

• purchase air ticket around end of January. (look out for good deals)
  enquire abt Tokyo entry and Hiroshima exit.
• with tickets confirm, furnish details for trip's itineraries & transfers
  .
• see if there are more riders interested to join in. hopefully not a lot.
• learn sewing and make custom Brompton covers for riders.
  (required for Japan Train rides)
• buy tools
• buy spare tyres. learn how to change rear tyres.
  .
• buck up on my Japanese Language. 30 min daily online.

Ideas about travelling with a foldie

i want to note down some of the ideas / features i have about travelling with a foldie.
it will affect how i organise a tour if i am tour lead. these are just guidelines not hard rules.
i try to achieve them whenever possible.

• main emphasis of tour will be on enjoyment & fun.
  means no long suffering rides over boring landscapes in favor
  of taking public transport instead.
  .
• limit ride to about only 30 km per day complementing public transport.
  not only it will be more enjoyable as group will not feel rushed,
  there will be sufficient time for experience capture along the way.
  .
• encouraging capturing of experience with picture taking & videos
  means if possible, all members will learn basics of good photo taking.
  and most should be at least taking pictures for themselves & group.
  .
• consolidation of media after trip.
  all will submit medias for video/photo DVD making. all will get DVD
  as memories with original media files collected.
  .
• budget within reasonable comfort.
  nothing too extravagant, affordable basic accommodation in a safe area.
  .
• allocation for spontaneous activity.
  have 1-2 buffer days for ad-hoc plans on the road, breakdowns, delays..etc
  .

• have assigned groups when situation calls for it. eg, japan city riding
  3-4 riders per group for easy management. buddy system.
  maybe walkie talkie for comms?

 these are initial ideas, they probably will change somewhat as i gain more experience.
at least they provide initial guidelines that i can follow for time being.

further, i am thinking of japan in this case. if it is other countries, its will be slightly different.

My Brompton & initial upgrades

i realized i haven't really posted pictures of my Brompton by itself yet.
its been a month or so since i got it. so here are the current ones . :)

simply love the ride !!

Lovely sage green !

Champion of folds

as usual, all riders will pimp their rides. so did i. :p
i mean how can you not help it? i have never known a rider who does not
itch to do upgrades to their bicycles. i think it is a deep seated desire.

anywayz, one of the first things that i did was to protect the paint from wearing off
at the rear triangle area where the fork hooks on when in folded mode.
the product is Lizard skins. its a common product found in Local bike shops.

its quite long actually but this one is already cut
on both ends. one for me, the other for my fren.

this is where it goes. also takes up lubricant spills from chain.

i got free rear & front lights from my purchase. but i broke the front one when my bike fell
sideways in folded mode. lesson learn not to have any attachments sticking out too much
from the M handlebar.

in replacement, i got meself a cateye HL-EL135 front lights. very happy with this ! ok, its
not the brightest of lights but it is small enough IMO, lasts long on 2 AA batteries.

HL-EL135 . 150 candle power & 80 hrs on constant mode.

next upgrade is the cycle computer from Echowell, a taiwan company. Mine is Echowell BRI-10W
model. its wireless, have 10 functions & is splash proof too. it is mentioned that the circuit is being
condomised (wrap rubber ...LOL) to prevent water entry. best thing it costs $50 SGD only !! wuhoo !!

Echowell BRI-10W cycle computer

last but not least, i gotto get it !! the Brooks B67 saddle (Honey) !! * fwah ! so nice !! *
altho it is new, i tell you the ride on this thing is just heavenly on the butt !! plus extra
plush feel with the springs, it actually made me wanna ride more !! * looking forward *

Quality product with generous butt real estate. * nods *

Hugh springs for that Limo ride. * nods again *

i cannot emphasis enough for all to get a Brooks saddle. think about it, something must be wrong
right when riders dun buy anything else after their first Brooks saddle, it is really good shit !
i was skeptical and got a couple of other saddles before. And then the Brooks. And i thought,
" what the hell ! i should have gotten this from day one !! -_- " * waste money *

so this is the message, (Jokingly extract from Russel Peters) " Be a man, DUU the right thing !! "
* Laugh off my chair * hahaha.....

First Ride with LCSG

Finally, i got my bike and had a first ride with LCSG group.
it was a ride organise by the Northen Star to tour sembawang area.
we visited a mosque (suppose to be the first one in singapore)
well, i really dunno if it is true but we'll take it at face value. :p

this mosque is small and is surrounded by trees

Taiwoon took a nice shot of me & sweeper Denise

I was with Group 1 and not surprising, LCSG gotto do the left, right and anyhow shots.

hahaha..... i think many are secretly giggling as they pose. so fun!

 "to the left " shot

" to the right " shot

" Anyhow " shot

i also request Taiwoon to take a personal photo which i absolutely love. Thanks Taiwoon !!
this was taken at the Woodlands Waterfront

Beri Nice shot by Taiwoon

Not forgetting, the group shot. we had nearly 60 riders with this sunday ride! that's quite a lot,
wouldn't you agree !? who dat flat on the floor !!?? hahahaha so funni !

My Bike & setup for trip

Currently i am on overseas job so updates are a bit slower. nonetheless, japan trip is still on 

schedule. At the moment, i have already placed my order for a sage green Brompton model H6R

and will be collecting it once i am back in singapore early Oct. Yeah !! 

i can't wait to ride it with LCSG group!! :-D

the bike setup for trip will be limited to a front brompton pannier and a backpack on rear rack.
this is ideal setup for mobility IMO. once pack up for public transport, rider will only have to deal
with 3 things : back pack on the back, right hand with folded bicycle covered up and left hand
with brompton pannier.

ideal riding setup will be like this old man (courtesy from Mike's blog)

Estimated costs

Estimated costs for 14 days Japan trip.

a few things to note :

• for accommodation tho i use 14 days, most probably we will be staying at my
  Aunt's place for first 2 days touring Tokyo / Yokohama.
• also, if twin sharing, lodging cost is reduced to average abt 3500 Yen /head /night 
• 3500 Yen = $56 SGD
• some lodging place includes Breakfast as package.
• trip may end earlier as we may not need the 2 days buffer for detours.

the rest of the estimates are more or less there. only big variable is the flight ticket & airport tax.
so, will be getting ticket early prob January 2013.

Lightning Helmet

Today, i bought meself a beri fast looking Helmet. *Happy*

Look at this thing !! the lines from the design looks like it was cut by the wind. *nod head*
and i love it for the ventilation. u can feel the wind even when travelling at walking speed.

it costs $150+ tho. :p
but nvm, its for my mum cos i still wanna see her evyday after i do a ride. *..Hee...* :-)

So fierce the front. and full of big holes too !! oops.....

what can i say? the back is the same good shit !! * i like *

Tentative Japan Trip Schedule

I am fortunate to be able enjoy a 2 days standby (basically stay home wait for activation)
so i've been working on the Trip Schedule for the past days. Its my first time planning
for such a long trip and it's pretty grinding for a starter like me.... *tired*

Working on the Japan Trip schedule for April 2013

Anywayz, i am glad that it turns out well. This Japan Trip on foldable bicycles will be 14 days
and it will happen between 12~25 April 2013.
We will be riding our Brompton foldie. Yeah !! :-D

At the moment, confirm going is just me & my fren Kris. I intend to invite a  minimum of another
2 more riders to form a group of 4, and a maximum of another 6 riders to form a group of 8.
Big groups are not easy to manage. Plus differences in personality, preferences and
expectations, it is a formula for sourness.

This trip features a good mix of the Old and New Japan, of cycling vs public transport.
Highlight of the itinerary for me is the journey along part of the ancient merchant route
linking Edo (now known as Tokyo) to Kyoto. its the Nakasendo route. translated it
means middle mountain road. this route is a downhill ride along ancient postal towns.
if u do a search for pictures, u would feel as if u have been teleported back to the Era
of the Samurai. Naisu !! :-)

ok enough blah...blah...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tentative Japan Trip Schedule :
M=Morning
A=Afternoon

Day 1
M : Flight from Singapore to Japan
A : Transfer by train from airport to Ueno Station.
quick cycle tour Ueno Park area (depends how much time we have)
Nite @ Yokohama (my aunt's place)

Day 2
MA : cycle tour Tokyo Area . Imperial Palace, Gardens, Temples.
A : cycle tour Yokohama area . Chinatown ?? Yokohama Bay ??
Nite @ Yokohama

Day 3
M : Transfer by train to Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture. Tour Matsumoto Castle
A : cycle to postal town Kiso Fukushima via Shiojiri
Nite @ Kiso Fukushima

Day 4
MA : slow cycle to Magome postal town. (must take lots of pictures cos pretty and ancient)
there is a bit of hiking also for this day.
Nite @ Magome

Day 5
M : Transfer by bus to Nakatsugawa, then Transfer by train to Nagoya.
can detour to explore Nagoya Castle cos its along the way.
A : Transfer by train to Kyoto. Tour Kyoto a bit, maybe just shopping ??
Nite @ Kyoto

Day 6 & 7
MA : cycle tour Kyoto. there are a lot of naisu places to see in this area !!
Nite @ Kyoto

Day 8
M : Cycle to Osaka (50-60 km)
A : tour a bit Osaka (depends how much time we have) maybe just shopping ??
Nite @ Osaka

Day 9
M : cycle tour Osaka. Tour Osaka Castle, Osaka Museum of History.
A : Tour Osaka Aquarium . (this is the only Aquarium in the world that house a Whale Shark)
Nite @ Osaka

Day 10
M : Long transfer by bus or by Train ? to Hiroshima
A : if there is time, Hiroshima Castle, Peace Memorial Park.
Nite @ Hiroshima

Day 11
M : Cycle to port area. Transfer by boat to Miyajima island
(one of the top 3 most beautiful Japanese Island)
A : cycle tour Miyajima.
Nite @ Hiroshima

the extra 2 days are for buffer & spontaneous activity / detour along the way.

Day 14
Flight Back to Singapore from Hiroshima.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

this is just a brief layout, will furnish with a more detailed plan in future for my own tracking as well.

I believe schedule will change somewhat since its still 7 months from departure.
But at least i have something to work with for the time being. besides, i'm being pestered
by Kris for schedule cos he needs to apply leave way ahead due to operational reasons.

Original Inspiration & Research Material

the original inspiration for this Japan cycling trip, i think, begin from this book i borrowed
from the library something like 9~10 years ago. Wahahaha.....freaking long time back!

as u can see, i photocopied it just like what evyone else would do then. hahaha...
plus added my little bit of creative flair trying to decorate the front by HAND. *sweat* -_-

this is the front cover look of the book. i believe it is no longer in production as i tried looking
for the original copy from the net but failed.

it is quite interesting to read detailing some of the rides done by the Author himself.
it is the first thing i did as research for routes to cycle in Japan. However, i
soon felt that the coverage is not really comprehensive enough for my intended trip
around Central Honshu (current plan). Book covers a few rides only in each region.

so, i begin searching the net for more information. Not surprising, there are other more interesting
areas to visit and cycle. At this point, i can't help but feel that actually, Japan is really BIG !!! :-p

now, i am a bit torn regarding which place to go. Hmmm... need to think about the concept
of the trip. i believe once i got that bit nailed, choosing where to go would be easier.
will post once i have my thoughts spot on.

That's all for today folks !
Happy Cycling !!

PS:
I got bad news that the Brompton i wanted (wz H handle bar & telescopic seat post for tall riders)
would have to be a custom order, paid in full first & gotto wait 10~15 weeks before collection.
Wa lao eh !!!!! Sianz half liao lah !!  -_-

Should i settle for a Flamingo instead ?? need to try to see the bike fit first. ;-)

Interesting japan bicycle trip video & some thoughts

was fooling around in U-tube and found an interesting cycle touring video.
Have a look !

these guys are riding at night! well, its no big deal as long as there is front lights and a map.
thinking abt it, i dun wan to do it given the choice. Nights should be reserve for recovery
and friendly chatting IMO.

they are also using camping grounds when convenient. there are a couple of them around but
i dun think there are that many that one can use evy night. esp when i am planning to travel abt
60-100km a day only.

mmmmm......maybe it is a good idea, as contingency plan, to have a tent for each 2 buddies
just in case. Becos some parts of the trip can be 100km plus. the group may not be able to
cover in a day (depending on fitness level). Anywayz, it is wiser to put up a night outside
to have sufficient rest for the next day. Japan dun seems to be too strict abt people camping
about, unlike singapore where u need a permit to do so ! hahaha


since it is not too expensive, it's better to use the Minshuku or business hotels
(surprisingly affordable) littered all over japan. 6000 Yen average can cover for a night.
if twin sharing, it comes up to abt 3500 Yen per person average.


not rushing the schedule is also part of the plan. i am there to enjoy myself and the journey,
And not going out to torture the group. its strange, some singaporeans rush to work and all,
then they rush even more while on vacation just so to be able to cover as much as possible.
is there really a point in doing things like that ?? if they actually enjoy it then i got nothing to say la!!
Hahahaha...

Minimum Areas to cover for trip

Let's see the minimum areas of concern to cover for the trip to happen.

this is what i have in mind. it is IMO the bare minimal requirement for the trip.
it is also kind of a check list of what i need to find out & do.

other areas to note that i can think of for now is :

. Group management
. Luggage Management
. Customs & Visa requirements

trip is going to be probably 14 days or less, depending on schedule & route of choice.
i think this is a good balance that riders can go for without having to quit their job or
sacrifice family time & emergency need for leave.

being on the optimistic side ( meaning inflating costs a bit. Hahaha . :-p ) & considering a 14 days trip.
i estimated that it would cost about $150 ~ $170 SGD /head /day minus flight ticket money.
i think it is pretty ok la. i mean..... this is Japan leh ! u're talking about.....
the estimates will be more accurate as the departure date nears.

i dunno why today i'm actually feeling a bit impatient about it. might just do it next year.
life is short, must cherish evyday & opportunities.
who knows, something might occur in my life that renders a trip cancellation ??
i will die with regret lo if that happens !! :-p

Best Time to visit Japan

mmm...... for a start before anything else, when is the better month to visit Japan ?

so it seems like its going to be month of April. My sister also told me during this period,
one will experience relatively lesser rain which is good since cycling will be affected
if weather gets too wet .

Next Year November, one of my sister will be getting married in Japan so i'll be spending
a bit of time going with her to help out as advance party. After that, probably family vacation.
if the trip is going to be April 2014, i'll have 5 months to do final preparation prior to trip.

that's not too long a wait !  *Happy* :-D

so, perhaps it is also good time to set the flight date & get a ticket when i come back December 2013.
that'll save some money . As u know, flight ticket usually takes up a big portion of vacation budget.

This is good plan desu. :-D

i dun have it yet... really !! :p

ok, i started a blog to begin logging in things and all but ....

Guess What ???

I dun have a bike yet.. Wahahaha *laugh off my chair*
will be getting a Brompton & start joining the rides with the LCSG riders. ;-)
Looking forward to explore the park connectors. haven't been cycling for 2 yrs already.

IMO, this Brompton is really over priced considering the grouppo they give you.
typically, bicycles of this price range would have Shimano shifters. Hiyo .....
Anywayz, the model i want is the M6R & that will unload $2500+ SGD of sweat blood money ! -_-

its unfortunate that i dun have a choice as the japan trip i am planning requires a champion foldable.
i opt out Flamingo cos of doubt in their durability. Bromptons are known to last long with care.

i learned that it is really quite a bit cheaper overseas. Not including shipping,
it is close to $2000 SGD only after currency conversion if you get it in London.

now, i am a bit torn over the colour choice. kinda decided but seriously i am ok
with any of the 3 colours.

1st : Race Green
this one is just classic Britain ! Race Green reminds me of the newer Mini Cooper & Aston Martin.
i kinda like the Brompton Logo in White too.

2nd : Apple Green
a couple of LCSG riders have this colour. my fren thinks it's ugly but i feel it stands out from the
other duller colours.

3rd : Desert Sand

this choice contradicts my preference for brighter, more outstanding colours. however, it will look freakin

nice when match with a brown brooks seat. Beri matching colour tones !

of course, end of the day it really boils down to personal preferences.
well, some comments wouldn't hurt, right ? hee.. hee...
like for example, maybe the Apple Green Brompton is a all time favourite among the LCSG riders?
i really wouldn't know unless someone care to comment since i'm just coming back to riding
after a long long break.

Thanks in advance for the comments ya !

:-)