Bike touring have been an evolution for most enthusiast cyclists. We started off from cycling for fun churning the cranks around the block, then goes to mountain biking, moving with style on road bikes and finally the leisure kind, exploring places in slower pace via bike touring. Most cyclists reached bike touring stage at the slower/older age, after realising that speed is no more in the book and events or races are just for masculine seekers. Or perhaps when there is more free time.
I arrived to that particular juncture a year ago, but budget was always the constraint, and of course time. I loved travelling especially when there are new scenes and perspectives. Be it local or abroad, it always brings a wider view about life. Travelling teaches me the relation between Allah and me, between me and other humans and His other creations like the floras and faunas, the mountains, the valleys, the rivers, seas, beach, sky & weather. Though I can't afford to travel all over the world, this should be a good stepping ground with hopes that Allah s.w.t. permits with His blessings for more to come.
A neighbour opened the way when he decided to sell off his abandoned mountain bike. It is a 26" Kona with the right frame size for me. I can't resist the offered price, hence last year's Ramadhan was the beginning of new project chapter.
We don't have the urge to chase our dream if not without any challenge awaits. By early 2014, I've arranged the calendar year looking for the best time for a bike tour. The waiting game ended when Azmar & his bike tour buddies tabled out a Thailand tour. And the dates are just perfect.
Hence the bike building process was engaged. It was kind of messy at first when I attempted to get rid of the suspension fork (rigid fork preferred due to lighter weight & we don't suspension fork on road cycling). Old grease, corrosion, and all those sticky stuff. Then I had to send it off to a bike shop for new cables and tune ups.
Azmar loaned me his rear rack & panniers. I fixed it to the bike and it's almost looked like the real touring bike. Almost at least. It turned out to be my favourite on evenings, mini tour around the neighbourhood.
I find that it need a bit of touch up. A neighbour's son is an enthusiast fixie rider. He raced every weekends and turned out on podiums once in a while. He was good with his hands on bike repairs and paint jobs. His bikes were his portfolio of course. I turned to him to give my bike a new facelift. Advised by Azmar, I just need a low profile colour to avoid attraction from theft. The bike was ready in two days. Awesome.
It needs a name. I ordered a customised frame decals, named after my long lost family blog. Add a used Fizik Aliante saddle found from bicyclebuysell at a descend price and raised the handle bar with a stem-up for more comfortable ride position.
Building this machine was passionate. Then came the love to ride. I don't mind it's cheap, but cheap is my key word for adventure. I don't need spending big funds to start off my tour, be it a brand new bike and tour stuff, it will just make me a poser. This new adventure will be epic, will take me back down those memory lanes on the wild side of life. Insyaa Allah with the right objectives and His redha, I hope it will benefit me in certain ways towards a better me.
I'am ready to graze the asphalt of Thailand.
A neighbour opened the way when he decided to sell off his abandoned mountain bike. It is a 26" Kona with the right frame size for me. I can't resist the offered price, hence last year's Ramadhan was the beginning of new project chapter.
We don't have the urge to chase our dream if not without any challenge awaits. By early 2014, I've arranged the calendar year looking for the best time for a bike tour. The waiting game ended when Azmar & his bike tour buddies tabled out a Thailand tour. And the dates are just perfect.
Hence the bike building process was engaged. It was kind of messy at first when I attempted to get rid of the suspension fork (rigid fork preferred due to lighter weight & we don't suspension fork on road cycling). Old grease, corrosion, and all those sticky stuff. Then I had to send it off to a bike shop for new cables and tune ups.
Azmar loaned me his rear rack & panniers. I fixed it to the bike and it's almost looked like the real touring bike. Almost at least. It turned out to be my favourite on evenings, mini tour around the neighbourhood.
I find that it need a bit of touch up. A neighbour's son is an enthusiast fixie rider. He raced every weekends and turned out on podiums once in a while. He was good with his hands on bike repairs and paint jobs. His bikes were his portfolio of course. I turned to him to give my bike a new facelift. Advised by Azmar, I just need a low profile colour to avoid attraction from theft. The bike was ready in two days. Awesome.
It needs a name. I ordered a customised frame decals, named after my long lost family blog. Add a used Fizik Aliante saddle found from bicyclebuysell at a descend price and raised the handle bar with a stem-up for more comfortable ride position.
Building this machine was passionate. Then came the love to ride. I don't mind it's cheap, but cheap is my key word for adventure. I don't need spending big funds to start off my tour, be it a brand new bike and tour stuff, it will just make me a poser. This new adventure will be epic, will take me back down those memory lanes on the wild side of life. Insyaa Allah with the right objectives and His redha, I hope it will benefit me in certain ways towards a better me.
I'am ready to graze the asphalt of Thailand.
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