Reflective Strips

I might not have the most expensive Giro helmet... but I have this cool helmet with DIY reflective strips. The additional weight from all the strips is ... negligible. Being a fan of reflectives (because I can't afford to keep catching up with the brightest LED rear light available in the market...), I bought a few pack of reflective spokes and reflective strips. I have been using reflective spokes since my day 1 (read the previous post here). This time I bought "a few more" as a christmas gift to my fellow cyclist friends in the west side. The spokes and strips really do not cost a lot buying from Taobao; but I'm not sure how much are they selling for here in Singapore.

daylight

with flash on

rear of the helmet - daylight

rear - with flash

front - daylight

front - with flash

4PX + Pop Station Experience

I did not make my purchases during the 1111 event. I bought it in early December. I wanted to buy a second hand bicycle (KHS F20 R451) and pass mine to my brother in KL. But I did not manage to negotiate the second hand bicycle to my ideal price... but it is year end and I just started working this year, so I decided to upgrade some components for my current Land rover x8.

My previous purchase in October 2014 was quite bad. Shenzhen side had a 'intensified' custom process and the delivery from Shenzhen to Singapore takes longer than usual. I made my payment on 8 October, items sent out from warehouse on 12 Oct, and only delivered to my address on 21 Oct (14 days). Two weeks, reasonable for sea shipping, but quite slow compared to all my previous experience with 4PX.

After that, my friend asked my to help on buying a few things, and being aware of the delay at Shenzhen, we tried the Shanghai 乐趣购 (LeQuGou) instead. Paid on 4 Nov, delivered on 11 Nov. (8 days). Still not very fast. 

In my most recent December purchase, I intended to get a wheelset, which is quite bulky, and I can't send it to my office because of the difficulty to bring it back home. Can't send to my home either, as no one is at home during the normal delivery timing. So I chose 4PX Pop Station self collection method instead. And to my suprise, the delivery is super fast! Paid on 10 Dec afternoon, item arrived Singapore on 12 Dec, and ready to pick up at Pop Station Clementi Mall (we can choose which pop station to deliver to) on 13 Dec noon time. As soon as I received the SMS notification, I quickly went to collect my parcel. 

Advantage of using 4PX is that whenever an item arrived at the Shenzhen warehouse, you will receive a SMS alert. When item is out for delivery in Singapore (whether deliver to your address, or to the popstation), you will receive another SMS. For pop station self collection, when the item arrived at the popstation ready for self collection, you will received an SMS like this:

So this is how the popstation looks like at Clementi.

The touch screen panel

I chose "collect my parcel", and then entered the Collection Pin and Locker no given in the SMS, and then the screen will tell you the location of the locker:

So this #3 is just below this machine.

Ding.... the magic package is here :D

Took the package out

and this is how the locker box look like. I think this is the biggest locker. Other lockers are smaller.

It measures about 60cm (longest side)

Initially I worried that the package is too big (which it is) to fit into the locker and then I will need to collect from the post office inside Clementi mall (which is the same place). Refer the Pop Station FAQ here.

My paid delviery weight is 7.4 kg. With the extra packaging, it is 7.6kg, which is correct.

Dissecting the package

Bought from 5 shops. 

Ok, stay tuned for my next post on what I bought :) Will need to visit my new friend Wai Kay to do the assembly.

Bicycle rear rack basket

I have always wanted to get a basket for my bicycle, since my first post on installing a rack. I finally found myself a suitable and most importantly economical solution. I want to do my marketing and put all my misc stuff in it, instead of using a backpack.

So I got this basket from NTUC for $3.90. It has opening at the bottom. I use velcro tape to secure it to the rear rack. Velcro tape would be an option for you if you want if removable; otherwise, you can just use cable tie to fix it permanently. When fixed permanently, it would affect your folded size. This basket measures about 19 x 27cm base, 24 x 32cm top, 17cm height.

Photo: the basket was unintentionally put closer to camera so it looks bigger... it is actually smaller than the rack

Photo: side view for better intepretation of the basket size vs rack size

You need to take note of the opening of the basket to make sure that your velcro tape has the correct width to "pass through" the openings. I asked my mum to sew velcro tape into correct sizes for me. I am using 4 inch "hook" side and 13 inch "stick" side with 1 inch overlap. The total length of the velcro tape would be 16 inch. The velcro in the photo here are temporary velcro which I made using stapler for me estimate the length required. I recommend using at least two velcro tapes to secure the basket onto the rack. Place the velcro at the position on the rack where there are vertical bar on the rack to avoid movement on the longitudinal direction (see the cross in the photo above).

Add-on: If you have more things that is "bigger" than your basket, you would want to buy a elastic mesh net to cover the basket. I was told that the mesh net could be obtained from Daiso. I will pay a visit to Daiso to see if they have these items. I intend to get all of these so that I can use my bicycle for all scenarios. Mesh net to cover the basket, "single" hook to hold boxes, "triple" hook to hold bags.

Photo: mesh net, "single" hook, "triple" hook from taobao

It is useful as you can put "anything" in plastic bags in it, instead of using a backpack which would be uncomfortable. These basket are extremely useful for quick grocery errand (buying bread / milk). Hanging plastic bag on the handle bar is also uncomfortable and not safe (I'm sure you know it).

Photo: hanging plastic bag at handle bar - not safe

Photo: Securing a box on the rack using nylon string (for one time use only)

My bicycle weighs 14.9kg with the bicycle itself, light with battery, rear rack, basket and lock. The rear rack itself is 1kg+, torchlight + battery about 0.5kg, and the lock is also 1kg+. My bicycle nett weight is about 12kg+. Weight is not a main concern for me because I am not taking it for race / speed (my "engine" is not fast enough either... so I can accept my "hardware" (bicycle) to be heavy. Having a heavy bicycle also give me an excuse for not riding fast enough, ha ha ha.

Vertical planting rack

So I went back to my hometown for a quick 11 days mainly to complete a minor house gardening 'upgrading' project. I wanted to install a 'vertical wall' at home. This is the end product:

Materials / Equipment:

• 2" x 1" x 3' Batu timber x 9 pcs as horizontal member
• 2" x 5" x 6' Batu timber x 2 pcs as vertical member
• 2" x 1" x 6' hardwood timber x 1 pcs as bracing (timber name not known)
• Green color plastic mesh 1m width x 4m length
• Black color shelter mesh 1m width x 1.2m length
• Min 1.5 inch Screw x 20 (2 pieces per row + 2 for bracing)
• 1 inch Screw x 27 (3 pieces per row)
• Electric drill / screw driver (make sure drill bit is smaller than the screw diameter)

As Batu one of the higher quality hardwood, very dense and heavy, we tried using nails and hammer but failed to penetrate into the timber. Therefore we bought a electric drill, using 2.8mm drill bit, we drill a pilot hole and then use the electric drill, mounted the screwdriver bit and then drive the screw into the pilot hole. The timberis still hard enough that gives quite some resistance when drilling and screwing.

This is the drawing for the rack (units in inch). It is intentionally slanted so that it leans on wall and has better stability. Note that as it is 6ft tall, when slanted even at a small angle, it takes up about 11 inches horizontally at the ground. In summary it measures 3 ft wide, 6 inch depth, and 6 ft tall.

So I put them on floor and start marking up the 2inch timber and 4inch gap in between them.

Then I start drilling...

It is intentionally not screwed fully so it acts like a 'hook' to hook the plastic net

The timber is so hard that my screw stuck and the screwdriver start damaging the screwhead.. so I ended up with a additional hook.. for plastic bag.. heh

So I put hook the net on the screw.

So done... but it is not stable and can sway left right as there is no bracing.. So I got another piece of timber behind slanted as a bracing.

So when the rack is up, I start putting soil in. Before putting in the soil, the black fabric (usually use for shading orchid plants, etc) is laid on top of this green layer. The green layer transfer weight of soil to the horizontal timber. The black layer act as a filter to sit on the green layer, and to avoid the soil from sieving through the green layers. The black layer has much smaller openings. But I think black is not as strong as green. And there is nothing to hook the black layer properly. Cutting the black layer could easily tear the whole layer with the cut getting bigger and bigger over time. So, I overlay the black on top of green. They are permeable, breathable and do not degrade (decompose) overtime.

Topping in soil into the pockets

Finished project, with one layer of plants... Need to get other plants from neighbours / nursery.

I think the cost for this project is not high and probably <RM150 for all the materials (depending on what timber you are using). And maybe you need to buy a drill if you do not already have one. It is a fun family activity. You can have higher and wider rack (maybe another vertical member if it is too wide), depending on the size of your wall. 

Construction time maybe 4-5 hours. Starting from measuring the height / width of your wall, then buy the timber pieces, marking the position on the wall. 

If you need advice on how to construct this or procuring the materials in Penang area, you can contact me personally.

Inspired from: http://thefeltedfox.blogspot.ro/2013/04/living-wall-diy.html and http://tumbleweedtraveller.blogspot.sg/2011/03/how-to-build-your-own-living-wall-or.html

My bicycle procurement

My whole bicycle and accessories are all bought from Taobao, shipped by Sea and some by Air.

Some friends asked me where I bought it, so I went through my shopping list again and copied the links to them.

Since the item urls might be useful for people who are buying or looking for similar item that I have bought, I decided to share their links here.

Bicycle - Landrover X8:
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=16152398090

Rear rack - 高大威货架 GDW自行车铝货架 碟刹V刹通用 加粗加厚款 加弯头:
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.5.0.0.lAswpQ&id=15276398541&_u=t11fp4e4cafd

Rearlight 魔轮 自行车尾灯山地公路单车死飞警示灯红宝石尾灯:
http://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=19278069714

Frontlight 自行车灯 前灯t6 夜骑 山地车灯充电式强光LED装备骑行灯:
http://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=22308287610
The battery can last ~8 hours. I bought the highest capacity (17400 mAh). Will have indicator to show if low batt. Battery itself is similar size to the light, and quite heavy, maybe 300g-400g? Photo taken during daytime. The light is really bright. 3 modes: high, low, flash.

Helmet:
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=19344684829
doesnt have back adjustment

Super strong lock 抗液压剪立兆折叠LJ9080自行车锁电动车锁摩托车锁死飞山地防盗锁:
http://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=9899364440
really strong and solid. but heavy. 1kg+. need to buy medium size one. small size would be too small. large size doesn't come with the holder to hold at the seatpost.

Reflective spoke:
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.5.tmy6mZ&id=16039344352&_u=t11fp4e4da45
The shop that I bought from no longer sell this product. I simply browsed and found this another shop.
I got the yellow 3M reflective strip from OCBC Singapore (first event, can't remember which year, 2010?)

Rear light 2 CATEYE TL-LD155R :

http://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?spm=a1z0k.6846101.1130973605.d4915205.PJMKrp&id=22126032305&_u=t11fp4e4c2c1

(still on delivery at time of this post)

The whole rear light 'system':

Pedal:
http://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=26030968689
I broke 2 pairs of pedal (stock one, foldable, broken at 40km+). Then I got a plastic one from my friend, also broken after 20km. Then I bought this 'aluminium' one.

Long sleeve dry-fit shirt for day riding: 

http://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=22082027499

(no photo, the shirt not with me now)