Prepped the rim brake Pinarello - replaced the Ergo shifter and the crank c/o Jess Verches and VM

Wheels of Happiness

The source of my pride the RB was in bad shape in 2026 and had difficulty in sourcing the parts and the budget

     1.  The ergo shifters.   The right side had torn  hood, the left had broken padel and therefore effectively the bike was 1x

     2.   The crank, a 52 -36 had shark teeth all ready.  I need a crank.   The 52 -36 was replaced by 50 -34,  I found out that both combination had same bcd 110

Fortunately for VM who maintains inventory of parts, he supplied me, no payment first (very expensive) and had Jess Verchez install this for free.  Now the bike has bn parts and look rejuvenate -  like brand new.  Thank you VM and Jess

Where most of the carbon fiber bikes are made? You guessed it - in China

Wheels of Happiness

Large strides have been made by Chinese manufacturers in the their learning curve:   quality, material science and logistics.   And Western manufacturers know this too.   At 1/10 or even more the Western marketers can have the bikes made in China, labelled as made in _____ with stickers and with manuals

This post is not pro China.  Just observing

Those who dont eventually lose out to cheaper competitors.  Look at AmCla which wanted to be patriotic.

Most of the bikes are manufactured by Chinese as this video tells us.  The famous ones being Giant and Merida...

Dangers abound all around the bikers

Wheels of Happiness

A neighbor, former classmate in elementary, ex US Navy is fighting for his life in ICU -  he was struck by an auv driven by a foreigner and had severe head injuriies.  

I had my close calls too:

     1.  Last Sat by an Innova who buzzed by inches away at Binangonan y intersection

     2.  At Alta Vista in Antipolo while climbing towards the Cathedral by an Orange bus plying Manila

          Infanta inches away

Should we stop biking?   Anyway the bike lanes have all but ceased to exist?   Perish from lack of exercise

or campaign for the other motorists to drive safe and treat bikers with respect?