All 3 bikes now functional: S works, Sava Ti, and Pinarello F10

Wheels of Happiness

Before, only the Ti was usable functional bike.  Pinarellos hood was ripped off after a dooring accident;   the Sworks SRAM changer was toast, as well as its rear tires whose side walls had puncture holes. 

For the Pinarello, this post had DIY make do solution for the rubber hood cover:   just wrapped old bike interior to make the feel on the right STI (brifter smoother and for aesthetic purpose), 

For the S works for the tire used super glue to bond the rubber patch on to the sidewalls.  Now am more confident that I will not get puncture as a I ride.  For the shifter, I bought an electronic changer for the the bike.  Though its not perfect, I can use most of the gears I need:  the front chainring, big and small, and the 36t large cog.   

Solved.  Now happy

Bike repair and improvements are great teacher - and exercise for the brain and hands

Wheels of Happiness

Since this post was not able to bike today, I made the following improvements on my Ti MTB

1. Crank bolt pre load.  Adjusted the preload as advised by GCN.   I loosened the pinch bolt, hand tighteend the crank bolt, and then tightened the pinch bolt.   The crank spun more freely.

2. Cmpression ring. The headset kept on getting loose.  It must be the compression nring that was left out.   So I reinstalled the compression ring.  Hopefully the problem is solved.

3.  Second life to headset bearing.  This post spent P500.00 for headset replacement.  But all that were replaced were two berarings:  the 55 and 44 mm od bearing.   And so I reviewed the parts that were salvaged and they were shells of two bearing.  There was the plastic band that encased the braring for the bottom and two other shells for the top.    The top bearing shell lacked three bearings.  And the top bearing lacked about 20 - 24.  It was good that there were spare 1/8" bearing (left over for the hub repair I bought from Sising.   Sure enough, I was able to reassemble the two top and bottom berarings.   That should save me about P500.00 next time

Bike repair really teach you a lot -  how to repair, improvise and think

Worked the whole afternoon getting my TI MTB in tip top condition.

Wheels of Happiness

On my bike ride to Wawa, I noticed the shifting to be hard.   The headset problem has been solved.  Now its the time to look after the drive train.  These were the things I did:

1.  First, this post disassembled and soaked the rd and fd in degreaser and cleaned them well.  Then the oiled the pivot points.  However I could not get the main spring have the proper tension.   I could only get

the cage to 90 degrees vertical not at horizontal.  Therefore the chain was slack  II tried a dozen times to get the tension of spring back.

2.  I researched at YT and found out that I have to rotate the cage clockwise by at least 180 degrees.  This I could not do since I observed the part that attaches to the cable gets into the way.  (You will be surprised that I was not thnking outside the box.  )  It looked immovable.  The only way out is to move the spring by other means.   I gave up on my DIY and went to the bike mechanic,   He proposed creating a tool to rotate the spring.  Later on he found like solving a puzzle that the parrallelogram can be moved and the cage can be rotated 180 degrees.  Voila.  I gave him P50.00 for the effort.

3.  Then I found out that the cable inside was rusted.   So I had to replace the outer too.   And so I looked for  full length shifter cable and I found one.  My waterloo there is inserting the cable at the changer.   I entangled a cable before.   I had smooth sailing this time.   I replaced the outer at the last 20 cm portion of the cable near the RD.

4.  It took me 4 tries to get the cable to the right tension.  And I had to adjust the limit screws.  The bike would not shift to the biggest and smallest gear.   

5.  Then the rd would not shift back to the lowest gear.  I found out that the upper pulley was hitting the chain stay.  So thats where the B screw adjustment came in.  I scewed in the B screw to clear off the chain stay.   

Perfect.  Now the Ti MTB is a Ok.   But was tired.   Finished at 7:00

Do more expensive bikes make you faster and superior?

Wheels of Happiness

No they dont.  Although psychologically they can motivate you to bike harder and faster, in reality maybe they dont.   Its mind over matter.  And if owning a championship bike does that, then it is motivation. 

For me a senior, this is a great plus.   But its the inner drive and enthusiasm that count.  Ti, Steel, Alum bikes are the same.  Its the engine that count.   The core muscles and physical conditioning

It pays to have your bikes clean, properly maintained, greased and adjusted

My ride today on Sava Ti MTB to Medalva Hills

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
December 2, 2017

The PE of our office mates took us to Medalva Hills at Botong Francisco Highway.   It is a challenging uphill climb.  However I had my SAVA Ti bike 3 x 10  XT group set.   There were 3 sections of climb:   one after highway, next is the 500 meter long climb to the crest, and another two steep climb at the subdivision

I had to use 32 x 36 gears to make it easy on myself...

I have my usual 3x ride for the week:   one on November 30, one yesterday and one today.   Ti to Morong on November 30 Sava carbon yesterday to Mahabang Parang, and today's ride.

                  Loyola Retreat House at the background

                    My office mates playing badminton

                                  My Ti Bike and sunrise

My bike ride yesterday November 30 2017 on a Sava Ti MTB

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
December 1, 2017

                               My Ti bike atop a mountain

Only 24 days before Christmas.   We hope many got their 13th  month (bonus) all ready.

Belated Andy Bonifacio day. It is too sad, another Andy (the former Comelec boss) did not see Christmas while in office.

Yesterday, I rode to Morong on a Sava Ti.MTB This post has not used this for a while.  In Darangan, a roadie overtook me, and I gave chase and was with him side by side until Morong. The rider in a Dogma P look alike was alone and is from Taguig. He said it was his first time to ride again in so many days. He overtook me downhill at LLDA because he overtook a jeep, I did not.   I caught up with him before turning right to Cardona munisipyo and were side by side in Callahan.  He overtook me again downhill, but I passed him and several MTBs at the flat.

On the way back I took the diversion road, at Cardona, and before turning left I was at 42 x 28 before shifting to 32.

I was on that gear while going up LLDA.

In Binangonan, I came across MTBs who were 29rs. I proved that 26ers are not lame because I kept up with them and passed them  in a sprint before Island gas where I sprinted.

It was a great biking day

Caring for the bikes; wiping and polishing the same constantly

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
September 10, 2017

When I rode to Jariel's Peak with Peter Anonuevo and the  rest of Recyclists, I was stunned when Peter A mentioned that the way to make the Ti bike (which I brought with me for the ride)  was to buy a 3M sandpaper probably 2,000 grit. What sand paper?  I do not even wipe this clean nor dry.

And so beginning that day, I made sure  that the bike was thoroughly cleaned and wiped.  And then rubbed with a special towel to make it shine.

Pre Luis also could not resist wiping his Felt bike clean when we reach the destination.  He makes sure he has a rag for this. I being tired after a long ride could not even manage to change my clothes

I think I did not do this before to my bike during the last 10 years I biked.   I have to devote more time for this now that I am semi retired

Still strong at 66?

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
August 22, 2017

Of the six riders last Sunday to Jariel's Peak, 5 had road bikes.  I brought a Ti Sava MTB.  This helped a bit because it was lighter.

As you can see in the video, I was abler to keep pace with Jess Verchez.   But I was sitting down.

That was great accomplishment for me considering that my farthest bike ride for the last two weeks was only to Morong or Antipolo.

Watch the video taken by Pres. Luis Genavia

Pleasant day today for a bike ride; slightly overcast and light breeze

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
July 30, 2017

Today was a very pleasant day for biking.   The skies was overcast (not much direct sunlight) and light cool breeze blowing from the south (but sometimes it got very windy) due to a reported typhoon system in the north.  It could have a been fine day for biking at US.

I left later than usual, about 7:30 because of  digestive system disorder.  Again I bought the SAVA Ti and rode side by side by a former fellow Taytay rider (whose name I forgot, friend ni Joel)  He had a Ridley carbon fiber bike and he noted that what I had was a Ti.  I even left him at times.  And also I took the Cardona diversion and he took the usual route. He said it was malupit.  Going up Namay Morong, I left him and another companion.

There was no more lugaw at Simples when I arrived (a little over 8:00 am) and just said hello to the husband of Ms. Simple who is having challenges with diabetes.

And then I decided to return home via Teresa and Antipolo.

I happened to ride with two young MTB riders who had Eagle SRAM group.   I was able to catch up and even overtook them really going up Teresa.    But well they were young.  So a 70,000 gear set can not leave you far enough. It is about strength and endurance.  (Am I beginning to lose some of that)

In Antipolo, and going home there were patches of  strong rain, or showers and dry roads. I was able to get home before real rain started to pour  

Hill climbs with Sava Ti

Wheels of Happiness


Rizal Philippines
July 30, 2017

I had 3 hill climbs this week SAVA ti:  2x  Eastridge;   and once for Antenna San Carlos Heights last Tuesday.   And they looked easy for me, because I merely used the low gears.   I was able to climb the sites using only 32 chain rings and max of 36 for the sprocket

I have two other MTB:   a SAVA 580 carbon fiber and Mosso Falcon 4. But this one is the best so far.  It was a good buy

I learned from the video at You Tube that you do not have to over exert nor race going up because you can blow out and not finish the climb.  At East ridge yesterday, a young MTB rider had to stop often and said it was his first time.   Going down was perilous:  the roads which were moss filled were difficult to negotiate going down hill:  the tires skid and the bike despite the knobby was difficult to control - you could ditch anytime. But thanks God,these were uneventful climb and descent

Climbing Botong Francisco (Medalva) yesterday together with office mates

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
July 23, 2017

Our PE yesterday was jogging to Medalva (Botong Francisco highway)  I took the opportunity to test the Sava Ti bike with XT group set, WTB wheel set  and  Manitou fork.  I did 3 x ride up the hill.  I used 32 chain ring and max of only 36 for the steepest part.  For the hill, I used 32 x 32 and it was easy riding.  I did not have to catch my breath, nor be in distress.

I rode it 1x before the ladies climbed;  then I climbed it again as they were walking at the climb;  Then as they were descending, I descended and climbed again the hill  (that is the 3x time)

The weight and  the gears of Sava Ti were perfect for the hill climb.  There were others whom I saw negotiating on an MTB with platito gears (24 chain ring) walking.  The others used 24 chain ring for the climb.