Bardet wins Stage 1 of Tour de France 2024, Pogi was 4th

Wheels of Happiness Pogi was probably playing it safe. Not to figure in a crash in the sprint, Not to get hurt

Tour de France (TDF) predictions: Pogacar, Vinegaard, Roglic?

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Who will win:   Visma, UAE for team?   Pogacar had all this wrapped up.    But Pogi has been diagnosed for Covid, so with Steph Kuss.   And there are many defections in th teams.   The 2024 (which starts today) promises to be exciting.  

Difficulties and challenges in a bike ride

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Mostly they are pedestrians and other vehicles who pose danger to your life and limb:

1.  Pedestrians who suddenly dart out from their yard, in play;

2.  Vehicles which stops and whose door suddenly open

3.   Motor tricycle who makes turn, especially u turn without warning;

4.  MC who overtake both from right and left

5.  Mga pumipina:   trucks, buses, vans

6.   PUVs that suddenly stop and unload at the middle of the street and you are running at 30+ kph.  Sudden stop or swerve to you left?

7.  Wet roads due to the laundry or other waste thrown by the household on the street;

8.  Sand and gravel left on the street after heavy rain.

Just be watchful, vigilant and be safe

My ride today helped me come closer to the solution of my biz problems

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The ride this morning enabled me to talk to Master and set up conversation with people who will help me solve a pending transaction.

At Bugarin I met a wood carver from Paete at  Mama Rinas resto,  who can help me finish a Christ redeemer statue in Calamba.

Praise the Lord

Climbed Bugarin all the way to Manang Rinas eatery (KM 68) using big chain ring

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My bike ride today was to Bugarin KM 68, using big chain ring 52 x 28.   Like the gear combination I used for the Teresa Antipolo loop.   Before I drop down to small chain ring before Km 63  (before climbing to the bamboo farm.   This time it was big chain ring all the way.   The going gets rough at km 64, right after the restaurant row.  

But thereafter going gets less tough.  The gradient at Bugarin must be 5 to 12 max (or even less)

I dreaded going up Bugarin before   May gear was small chain ring ang the biggest cog at the rear

What was my feeling (especially that I just turned 73)

1.  Like Eureka -  see I did it big chain ring all the way;

2.  Like I was very young again;

3.  Like I had a new bike

I will try this at Cabrera, Domsa, diversion and Antenna.  I hope I dont break my chain.

One of the difficult hill climbs in Laguna

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Its even more difficult than Kennon Road.

Bearing sizes of headset

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The tapered headset 55 - 44 bearing sizes are:  42 and 52.    So the Lazada sizes are correct and there should be no confusion when you go to a bike shop.    But there is a big difference in prices.

Whole headset will cost P400.00++   bearings just P40.00 each

No more upgraditis

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No such disease happen when:

1.  You are older,

2.  The bike you had has all the features needed in the ultimate bike.

I and Markku agreed in the conversation last Saturday in a celeb lunch at Malate

Does oversized pulley, ceramic bearing make you faster (watts savings)

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It does not seem so according to this video.

Claimed benefits -  BUSTED>

Strange chain sounds after the ride today

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I checked the bike today, after sleeping to check how it is doing.  Lo and behold it was not functioning well. It was noisy.

Checked:      cable tension, the alignment of the chain with the cogs.  Nothing was wrong.  

Found out that the chain guard moved and was rubbing vs the chain.   So I had to loosen and adjust it to be nearer the frame.   Problem solved. 

Aping the pros- riding up the hills on big chainrings.

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This post climbed from Morong Teresa to Antipolo until Avida communities on big chain rings 52.  and rear cogs at 28 at the steepest portion.   When I was younger I always climbed this on 34/36  and 34.  This time am aping the big chain ring riders at the big event even using 54 and 60 chain rings at hill climb.

Thats a ratio of 52/28 =  1.85

Whereas before I rode it at 36/34  = 1.05.   Thats a large difference.  

I found out it can be done.  Prior to this, I shifted to small chain ring, 36, before climbing at Island Cement turn.   I experimented today and I came through.  Congratulations to me

Here are the reasons why the bigger chain ring, the better  :

1.  Less strain on the chain

2.  Less bending because of bigger circumference

3.  Less friction

4.  Less cross chaining

Matatarik na salunga sa Tatala Binangonan

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Sumalunga ako dito kahapon para makiramay sa Nanay ng dating kasama na namatay noong Sabado   Ngayon ang libing

Mga 1.5 km na panay salunga ito walang recovery.

Simula sa 3:00 maranasan ang mga salunga  lalo na sa 4:30

Age number ride yesterday up to Quisao Pililla

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I rode remembered my age with a 76 km ride to Quisao Laguna up to km 65 post.

65 -27 km reading in Angono  =  38 x 2  =  76.

I rode home via Diversion, a steep stiff ride.

I visited also the wake of the mother of former employee at Tatala Binangonan.  Also 2 km steep climb.

Happy birthday to me.  

Some rides, walks, running can be configured as a religious rite/obligation ala Camino de Santiago in Spain

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While in the academe, I heard the University president contemplating a long walk in Spain, which was the favorite site of pilgrims doing a penitesiya, a sort of visita Iglesia.  Its called Camino de Santiago

Lately I read about Randy David and his daughter Kara Patrimonio doing this.

Why not do similar walks, runs, or rides as a sort of dedication, penitence to the Lord the creator in our very  own Philippines?

    Say:

    7 days Camino de Laguna (round Laguna walk, with Church visitation  170 km /20km day

    30 days Camino de Luzon (Manila to Pagudpud)  600 km/20 km/day

Not every one can go to Spain.  We save dollar FX and promote Philippine tourism, religion.

Thank you so much dear readers

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Thank you so much top readers from Singapore, Hong Kong, USA.

The number of views reached 288 thousand during the last twelve much

THANK YOU SO MUCH💓💑💑

I just visited this blog and was surprised when I saw the huge readership.

Growing popularity of running, duathlon, triathlon

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This post often see events:  running, duathlon, triathlon.   And those practicing along roads and hills.

I could not join the running craze again because of all ready damaged knee tendon   Started running in 1985, after my father died, since his EENT said that the only way to overcome cancer and live long is by exercising.  He ran the Boston Marathon and he graduated from Harvard.  And posted in his clinic is not his Harvard Diploma but him finishing the Boston Marathon..   And so I started running:  joining 5k, 10 k, 21 k and 42 k   I experienced  training of run of 30 km or more.  Did not join ultramarathon though.

Then moved to trekking, 4x4, and lately biking.    I stayed long in biking because of good company and great destinations.   

Removal and reinstallation (swap) of Campy crank bearing 6805 5 mm

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The Pinarello bike all ready had lateral movement on the crank,  While Mario serviced this about 6 months ago, long time has a way of saying the bearing is old and needs replacement.   From the video, I saw that the crank need 6805 (24 mm) but has to be 6 mm. Most that are available online is  7 mm.  The original bearing is Cult and cost $100      

My first problems are the tools:  the 10 mm removal tool, the puller and the press fit.  No hammer, no drift as per video.

1. For the 10 mm hex, my difficulty was that the short end will not fit into the crank so it has to be a long arm to fit  None is available at DIY or Wigo.  So I thought of fitting a 10 mm socket at the short end of the hex and use that to remove the nut.   And so I did.

2.  For removal and installation, I had the bike mechanic nearby do the job  Paid him P100.00.  I did not have to buy the tools

Lateral movement solved

Removal and reinstallation of sealed bearings

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Bearing removal and re installation

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Genuine bearings are expensive and the diy home traditional mechanics  recommendation are not recommended because you can wreck the bearing.

You must remove the bearing via bearing removal tool that are expensive.   

      1.  Bearing removal with expanding feet at P440.00 in San Pedro Laguna at Laz

      2.  Pressfit tool with removal seet for 30 and 24 BB costing about P1,400.

      3.  Pure press fit with various drifts:     P1,200 at Lazada.

It is OK to buy this if you have a bike shop and /or bike mechanic.   But for a DIY who encounters problems with bearing once or twice every two years, a rubber mallet, drifts (from socket tools) a flat screwdriver may do the job.

DIY removal:

     1.  Remove the scewer;

     2.  Remove the cones

     3.  For hubs,  remove the axle then tap tap the screwdriver from the inside.  Do the same for other 

          bearings

     4.  For the free hub, push the bushing to other side to access the one side of the bearing.  Tap the                      bearing at four corners.  Tap tap lightly.  Do the same for the opposite bearing  Note for the

          rear hub there are 4 bearings:   2 for the main hub, and 2 for the free hub (where you attach the 

          cog.)

          While at it, remove the grime and stuck grease at the pawls.  Degrease.   Remove rust from

          round spring as the case maybe.  Relube:   light grease and oil (even Shimano mineral oil)

DIY reinstallation

    1.  For front hub, tap tap one side.  Then install the axle.   Use a drift:   a piece of tube or socket

         of same same size:  22 mm to drive the bearing in.  Tap tap slowly.  Make sure the bearing

        does not tilt

   2.  For the rear hub, tap tap one bearing.  For the other side, insert the hub, then the bearing then tap tap.

       Bearing sizes:

      6000, 6002, 6802, 6902.   There may be other sizes.   Find out from old bearings the numer

  

Servicing sealed bearings in your road, MT bikes

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Bearing centers sell at very high prices say I bought 6802 for P150.00 at Ortigas.  However when I bought at Lazada, I got them for 10 pcs for 100.

If there is no play yet on the the bearings, they can be refreshed by:  removing the rubber seals, cleaning the grease, put light grease and oil.   Check out for smoothness, and then replace the RS (rubber seals)

If you can remove the entire bearing you can do thorough clean up of the races, the cage, and the ball bearings.   It is however tedious, and you may fail reassembling the bearing.  It is better to just soak the bearing in degreaser or mild solvent, let the dirt ooze out and then re lube (light oil and light grease

I have been doing that for about more than a year and the results have been excellent.  The important thing is to see the inside of the hubs, headsets and bottom brackets.  Clean and regrease the bearings.  You will thank me and the maker of the video.

Exploding number of loopers, group rides to Bicol noted

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It has been noted that there are increasing number of loopers:   among them Jhong Saba, Rocky Raquedan,  Bike Mike.   and bike rides to Bicol

It may be too presuming that part of this is inspiration from this GMA I witness documentation.

Kaya ba ng ordinary mortal/biker?  Kaya ba ng mga seniors.  That is a great feat for a senior.  Many seniors I met said that any senior can ride but not 150 km in a day, or multi stage ride like the one we did.   It was a first time I rode with non age group bikers.   Having three generation of riders together was a first time experience

Right now nearly two years after, the number of views is 1.2 million.

It was a great honor and privilege to have been part of this ride

Mam Kara is professor at UP Mass Com, is lector at a Kamuning church, is a triathlete.  And is now at Santiago long trek in Spain Europe with her family

Rainier now rides bus occasionally to his family which is safer and convenient.  Is a full time vlogger under Code Name Unligala

Really rainy season is here; end of El Nino

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It rained yesterday,  late evening and even early morning today.    

No bike ride again.    No use daring to ride out in the rain.   The risk of moisture entering the hubs, bottom  bracket, and headset.   Risk of rusting the bearings, and disassembly and cleaning, regrease is in order to prolong durability of the bike

Keep safe kapadyak.    

Conversion of ball bearing to sealed bearing in a Deore hub

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I have been thinking of converting from ball bearing (as is often with Shimano hubs) to sealed bearing.  They say it is longer lasting, less prone to bearings getting loose, and getting grit, and affected by water causing their early failure.

The sealed bearing number is RS 6000.

The challenge are with the axle.  4 options:

1.  A anew axle with stopper for bearing (that should fit RS 6000

2.  Put nuts inside the old shimano inside as bearing guide and stopper.

3.  Put a tube shim inside;

4.  Do nothing with the axle.  Just hand tighten the outside cones.

What do you think?   Choose 1 or 4.

h

Are we going back to big chain rings? That is the trend for the PROS

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Early on the chain rings were for 53 -39.  Then came the compact 50 -34.  Then the single chain rings, one by with 30 to 42 chain rings.

Now PROS are using chain rings, even in mt stages 54 to 60 chain rings  There is a group of riders who go up  DOMSA on 54 chain raings.  They are doing the same at Sampaloc or their epic Audax rides

I am beginning to ape them by riding up hills on 52 chain rings.    And staying that way.  I can ride the first hill at Bombongan  at 52 and Teresa highway until the left hand turn at Island cement.  Bugarin until km 63.   Sampaloc until Magnetic.    

It does not increase my speed by I feel more strength on my thighs and calf.

Are you a fan of big chain rings, slow rpm strong efforts.  Or the fast cadence school popularized by Chris Carmichael.?  I could hardly push down 53 chain rings x 11.  How about you?

Will we have more 54-40 chain rings or look for our 53 -39 hard chain rings.?

Happy father's day

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Bible verses for Fathers on his day.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Loose headset again?

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I used the bike I rode on long ride yesterday.  Lo and behold, the fork, steering system was loose - probably a play of 0.5 to 1 mm.  The long ride + plus the watermelon load that jarred the headset could be the reason.

I tightened the bolt that held the headset together but there was no improvement.   Disassembled the whole

headset.  Found out:   that the expander bolt was loose, and that the compression circlip popped out.

Therefore:   pushed back the compression circlip, and retightened the expander bolt (the equivalent of the flower).  But the tightening was done gingerly because it is a carbon fork and I had no torque wrench.

Loose headset/post no more....Solved

Probably had hypoglycemia on bike ride today

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As soon as I arrived, I had to lie down.  It was 1:30.  Although it was not hot, my lunch was delayed.  I did not have snax nor breakfast when I rode.  Only coffee, and coffee at 10: am.  

Also, I bought water melon (maybe weighing 3 kgs, and picked up some mangoes on the way  10 pcs (maybe 4 kgs).    The bike was unbalanced and heavy and took a toll on my psyche and pedalling.  It was heavy going

So no more heavy load, no more heavy food load in the future.    To avoid hypoglycemia or bad feeling after a ride

Manitou fork service

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Additional video on Manitou Fork Service😊

Must exercises for senior

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I have seen my brother in law, only 3 years older than me, having difficulty and even emergencies at times because of leg and thigh weaknesses.   So it must be caused by lack of exercises.

So it is best to have must exercises:

1.  Sit ups

2.  Lunges, 

3.  Push ups

YT on senior exercies

https://youtu.be/QszUINYIg_0?si=2qBWV7T6jC5vHhTE

Trying to learn more about bike repairs

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I have taken great interest in the following:

1.  Converting from ball bearings to sealed bearing.  I have Shimano hub  which is a candidate.  This involves. removing the cup by hammering this off.   Removing the bearings, and then pressing the bearing at the non drive side.    (Press fit or gentle tap).  Then measuring on the drive side.    And then putting the axle and the bearing.  Tap    Then reinstalling the nuts.  The bearing could be 6000 RS, or 6902 (depending on the hub diameter, and axle OD

2.  The manitou fork.   My manitou fork and the one that was shown by YT (in Spanish) are the same,

     Steps:

    1.  Remove the wheel

    2.  Remove the brakes for the fork

    3.  Remove the bottom fasteners.  

        1.  For the right (spring side with the admustment)  remove the blue adjuster with a 2 mm hex.  Then

             using a 8 mm hex loosen by turning to the right.

        2.  For the left side, loosen the bottom fastener.  using a 12 mm socket or  combination

        3.  Let the oil drip

        4.  You can now  renive tge stanchion

  4.  For the right leg:

      Loosen the plastic yellow stopper using 24 mm open wrench

      1.  Remove the two shafts inside:   Remember the order.   Clean wipe, adn grease the spring

      2  Reattach

 5. For the left leg, 

     Two conflicting versions

    1.  Remove air

    2.  Remove the top cup 

    3.  Clean and regrease

    4.  Remove the sponge and soak in oil

    5  Replace

6.  Inject 10 -15 ml of fork oil (15W)

7.  Replace the 12 mm nut at the left side, tighten the right side using the 8 mm hex by turning to the left.

 8.  Reattach the blue adjuster using 2 mm hex

   

Not all repair jobs are perfect - you have to redo this and you must be patient

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We have experienced that even your best shops and mechanics foul up in the jobs you ordered.  There could be many causes:   wrong part, wrong diagnosis, the parts were reinstalled properly, too tight or too loose tightening.  A part was missed.

You must be patient and humble enough to admit the mistake was made and you have to redo the job.

This happened in my recent attempt to regrease the bearings of the headset.  I am on my third back job.

The goal at the start was to regrease the headset bearings and make it smoother.  I soaked the cage, and the individual bearings.   Cleaned each and every bearing.

However actual use of the bike showed the steering to be binding and abnormal.   I found out one ring at the bottom was missed out    The steering again was not 100%

So a washer was missed at the top bearing, and another one at the bottom.    So I added the missing part, and the binding disappeared.  However, I have not tried yet on actual ride.   

Hmmm that is what you call experience.   And maturity.  Surely, this will not happen again.  

Bike lanes - are they real, or just an LGU gimmickry

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This post would like to think that bike lanes were real legislative effort of LGU in response to pandemic, to enable many of the populace be mobile using their bikes.   DOTR has a huge budget for bike lanes. Perhaps, the bike lanes did get a lot of votes from the biker segment of the society  (It could be huge)

However my observation reveals that:   there are very few bikers using this;  this mostly occupied by MC and those without barriers are used by jeepneys, tricycles and cars for their motoring, in violation of the intended use of the bike lane.

This post is not complaining but merely pointing out our mindset towards laws and projects which we do not intend to pursue seriously.  And those bikers must learn to be more wary, and not complacent when they use bike lanes.  They need not be angry, frustrated or even go on bike rage (haha excuse the pun)

Excuse me.   No bike lanes