Could we wear a yellow jersey - never but can ride the same bike and crash harder than they do!!

Wheels of Happiness

I rode today up a steep hill  and watched afterwards  a video a clip of Pogie winning a stage and wearing a Yellow Jersey.  We could not wear a Yellow Jersey like they do but we can ride the same bike, experience the same pain as you race or climb a hill.   Or worse crash.

In some areas of our lives we can wear a yellow,jersey as a champ, for having achieved something of note.  but not the TDF Yellow Jersey.  

What is your Yellow Jersey in your life.?   

Budget e bikes

Wheels of Happiness

Can you afford ebikes?  EMTBs?    My Wheeltop electronic shifter is tops.  Has been doing finef ever since.   It set me back by mere P25,000 vs SRAM and Shimano that cost well over 6 numbers.

We cant be purists.   We need to exercise yes, and we dont want to suffer forever as we bike

Long range electronic bikes

Wheels of Happiness

For senior like me, (weakening muscles, loss of strength) this will be the next frontier.   We can go on long rides and not fear hills anymore.

I believe that many seniors will migrate towards ebikes.  They are motor assist anyway and exercise will not be lost.  Affordable Chinese bikes will be available soon

Hot trending bikes for 2024

Wheels of Happiness😊

1.  Superlight bikes

     1.  S works

     2.  Factor

     3.  Orbea

     4.  Giant

2.  Customized paint jobs

3.  Integrated cockpit

4.  1 by  (1x)

5.  Internal frame storage

6.  Wider seat stays

Learning how to repair your bike - benefits

Wheels of Happiness

Some would consider it rather unusual to learn how to repair bikes.  Better leave to the mechanics and let them earn a living: But there are certain benefits when you learn to repair your own bike:

1   Self reliance.   When you are in a middle of nowhere,, you can repair and get home.  For instance, if           your break your derrailleur, how do you get home?

    If you have spares, ,can you replace:  brake pads, cables, screws, or even repair a flat?

2.  More learning -  you can be useful to your bike mates if you know how to take care of minor repairs.  

 Bike shops and reliable mechanics are hard to come by in remote places.   All they need and know  are  hammer and plier to repair your bike.  Will you allow this?

     Knowledge is power.   You are higher in the pecking order of the group if you have this advantage

3.  You train your mind to:

     1.  To be clean.   Most bike foul ups are due to dirt and grime accumulation

     2.  To be meticulous in parts:   part number and measurements, proper orientation when installing

           (better take pictures)

     3.  Be process oriented.  Proper sequencing.  Wrong sequence means you have to repeat the

          entire process.   Better take pictures and place the parts disassembled in proper order you

          took them apart

    4.  Have proper tools.  No tools can wreck you bike

    5.  Plan your repair:      1.  Have complete parts,   2.  Have complete tools   3.  Review the YT

         Video, manual

    6.  Be patient.  If you commit mistake, be willing to repeat the whole thing.  Dont throw away

         the repair, and or rush to the mechanic

4.    You definitely save money.

       The mechanic in remote barrio charges P200.00 per item.   The nearby mechanic charged

       me for a hub removal and bearing reinstallation.   A workshop charges P1,500 for taking bike

       from their house and redelivery.  The repair and parts are exclused.

5.  You lengthen the life of your bike

     1. You can be careful with your bike as you repair, and as you use it.  You do not expose the 

         elements that could wreck or destory the bike:   wading the bike in flood waters, streams

         to extreme heat.   You do not water the bike that lets water seep into the bearings and metal

         parts that could rust.  You do not cool disc brake by pouring water.  You do not shift when

         the chain is under tension.   

        Since you can disassemble:   you can chain your wax, change the chain when needed

   2.  Some parts can be recycledd:

        1.  Bearings can be regreased.  You dont need to buy a  new one

        2.  You can make the bearing new again by refreshing its old bearings.   Balls are cheap

6.  You become more connected to your bike.  You learn to appreciate its complex engineering and functioning. so you take care of it more closely.   So its not just a bike.  It is a product of the teamwork and the passion of those who put it together. So you must too

Bikers now a political force - one out five households own bikers

Wheels of Happiness

Manila Times - many more Filipinos own bikes

A former senator did not get reelected because he offended several million MC riders who were offended by law he passed regarding additional plates for MC.

But now, the bikers who were given bike lanes and being criticized for such a privilege have been increasing in number   1 out of five households own bikes as per survey of SWS:  The bikers are more numerous than car owners;   there are more bikers than there are MC owners in MM.  

Motor vehicle owners MC and autos should be aware of this number as they continue to abuse bike riders

  This is the result of the survey:

The survey found that 29 percent of Filipino households (an estimated 7.3 million) were using bicycles — 23 percent owned the bicycles while 6 percent used borrowed bicycles. Bicycles were being used for essential (21 percent) and recreational purposes (18 percent). Nationwide, households that owned bicycles outnumbered the 6 percent of those with cars by a ratio of 4:1.

The popularity of bicycles was even more pronounced in the National Capital Region (NCR), where 32 percent of households owned bicycles compared to the 6 percent that owned cars — a ratio of 5:1. It is noteworthy that bicycles are the most commonly owned vehicle in the NCR (motorcycles, the second most popular vehicle in the region, are owned by 25 percent of households).

Why do owners of high end bike stores visit Taiwan often?

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
May 13, 2018

Sometime two months ago I conversed with a top officer of a prestigious bike company.   I heard him say that we meets with Taiwanese supplier and/or he flies to Taiwan often.

Which makes one think.  That their outfit supplies high end bikes, from Europe,and that some of the bikes which they put on sale are branded as made in Taiwan.... One wonder if it was really worth debating about orig or legit bikes,  because we do not know whether there are orig/legit bikes anymore.  All else, even high end bikes are made in China/Taiwan

Cost analysis of carbon fiber frames and wheelsets, financing study

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
April 20, 2018

Engineer  June and I gamely tried to negotiate with a local dealer of carbon fiber frameset and all we could get from him are  (best price)
         



Bianchi XR 4   $600

Pinarello carbon frame $555

                                             Kulay ng F10 ni VM

                                          Specialized Venge Vias  $700.00

Growing consciousness and awareness for beautiful, quality, lightweight bike frames and wheelsets

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 29, 2018

                                       The OEM disciples are all setting to spread the good
                                         news about OEM frame and wheel set so that
                                         more will enjoy beautiful bikes at affordable price

This post did a number of posts on his OEM bike project;  and pictures of his finished project. I brought this in our Bisikleta Iglesia today. With the  number of people touching the bike, making suggestions, or joking about riding the bike by mistake, and openly saying that the bike is nice and beautiful I could judge that a number are really aspiring to get one.   An OEM bike.  No less than 5 may be out of 20 who biked today would, if given the chance get one.

Same thing about the readers at the net and social media. I got inquiries about: supplier of the OEM bike frame, how much is the budget, where did I get the  Direct Mount brakes, I would  say about 2 dozens are ready to start an OEM carbon fiber bike project.  For 1/5th the cost, you could  have a super bike lightweight shod in high end group and wheel set.

             Say frameset     CF                         P35,000.00
             Wheelset           CF                          25,000.00
              Ultegra RS 8000                              30,000.00
                            Total                                  90,000.00

 An orig legit sourced (mas mahal tubo ng reseller)  would set you back by P400,000.00.   4x ang mahal and most of them goes to the profit of the trader.

Why prevent those who are PHP challenged to enjoy super bikes at limited budget. Yong mayayaman ayaw ata.  Privileged sila ... kaya nilalait OEM at replica.   I tell you they perform just the same.  I have an orig carbon frame/bike and this OEM. Mas magaan at mas pleasant iride ang OEM...Mas guwapo at mas Oh ahh

             
         

How many bikes do you own/have in your house?

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 14 2018

From Quora - How many bikes do you own   (on the average 2 to 3)


That is a very timely and relevant question.  Many post events where the biker was said to be be nagligpit and worse, asked by wife to sell a or several bikes. Order ni Ms.   Kalat kasi. Kasi maraming bikes.

Kapadyak ilan nga bike meron ka o nasa bahay (Yong iba sa kaibigang bike shop nakapark ang kanilang bike.  Totoo o hindi)

Several pro bikers were interviewed at You Tube and on the average own at least 6 bikes.  Some own 11 bikes.   And I thought I was abnormal

I think most bikers at least those  I know and talked with have at least 3 bikes. True or false.  The entry level would surely have only one.

Kapadyak Ka Recyclist Vhen is able to build a 7500 grams bike at cost of only P46,200. Wow

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
February 28, 2018

I was conversing with Vhen this morning and he showed me his just assembled bike which he claims and weighed at 50kg weighing scale to be only 7.5 kg.  Wow that is 16.5 lbs, a very light bike, lighter than most carbon fiber bike. Some carbon fiber bikes weigh over 8 kg.   An Ridley Orion weighs 8.4 kg (mabigat ang carbon fiber niya.  1.4 kg excluding fork)  But Vhens alum bike frame and carbon fork weigh only 1.8 kg.

So how much did he spend?

                   Ridley Fenix Frameset                           -  P15,000
                   Amcla 350 sprint5 wheelset                           5,500
                   105 Group set                                            15,000
                   Labor                                                           1,000
                   Velo saddle                                                  1,300
                   Ritchey seat post                                             800
                   Carbon fiber drop bar                                  1,500
                   ITM stem                                                    1,400
                    Bar tape                                                        300
                    Tires      Conti                                             4,000
                                  Tubes                                              400
                        Total                                                    46,200

               Cost /gram                                                       6.16      very cost effective

It was a labor of love and he meticulously searched for and studied the parts that will be included. He worked very hard with the mechanics

How about my project:

    I may be able to come up with a Bianchi Oltre with the weight of:

               1.  Frame  set

                           Frame    with direct mount brakes                                            1.900
                           Fork      with direct mount brakes                                              .700                                                    

             2.  Group set  (chop suey:    Durace, SRAM  and Ultegra)                     1.623

             3.  Wheel set                                                                                         1.300

             4.  Tires                                                                                                  .700

             5.  Drop bar                                                                                           .300
                  Bar tape                                                                                             .080
                  Stem                                                                                                  .200

                                                                                Total                                    6.803


       How much did will  it cost me:

              Frameset                                      P32,000
              SRAM       GS                               18,000
              Durace crank                                  10,000
              BB                                                   1,000
              Cable set                                          1,200
              Wheelset                                        25,000
               Stem                                               1.200
              Drop bar                                          1,500
                              Total                              89.900

                                              Cost /gram     13.21            
                                              My bike cost is 2x for only  697 grams difference

                                             Its because of the wheelset that cost him only 5,500 bargain

But if Vhen were to buy an expensive wheelset say 17k, his cost will be

P46,200 +  17,000 - 5,500   = 57,700/7,500 =  7.69  still cheap


           

           
                 

LF for budget meal bikes and parts? Meron bang budget meal bikes?

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
February 4, 2018

Budget Meal Bikes at BikeHaus at Ka Muning
This post often see posts of fellow bikers advertising LF for budget meal bikes. Some may mean superbikes that cost only 4 numbers. Supebikes cost 6 numbers

There are budget meal bikes like Trinx, XiX whether MTB or road bike. But a budget meal budget gets you the bike that could be less than satisfactory to you:   heavy, sluggish, 7 or 8 speed only. Would you like a budget RB that weighs 10 kg.  or MTB that weighs 15 kgs.Equipped with unknown groupset., wheelset, or frameset.  It may have difficult unresolvable issues later on.  Or may not have resale value at all later on.

My first bike, a prescription bike to cure my rheumatism. set me back by P2,500.00 only at a local bikeshop definitely a budget meal  In two weeks time:  the RD got broken, the right crank fell off, the BB was busted. I had to upgrade everything

No doubt about it,  We all make tawad. We negotiate. We want to get the best bang for our hard earned bucks.   But...

It is expensive and it costs money to be in biking;  pero once in a while investment. The bikers who advertise or post at FB who put on sale prices are passionate people:  they invested a great deal of time and money building preparing for their bike project.  And are awed by some newbies wanting to have a bike the easy way.  Yes sometimes you may encounter generous bikers  who give away their bikes for free.  Swetihan lang yon. Most of the time you will find difficulty in haggling for a beautiful,  lovely bike that you want for a budget meal price.

But most prices are very reasonable and the owners throw away a lot of value (nagpalugi na) give away na nga mga price...

                     e.g A Pinarello Dogma with Ultegra gs, carbon wheelset (50 mm rim height) sells only for                            P100k.   The wheelset alone  would be about P60k,, the GS 30k, and the frame  about 100K
                    and all for only P100k

                    Somebody in Davao is selling a Cannondale full cf frame with ultegra GS and carbon wheels
                     for only P70K.  compute if  di ka panalo.

                   Somebody in Laguna with KTM carbon bike durace set up, fulcrum wheels is selling for only
                   P50k

                   Somebody is selling Mosso 710 with 105 11 speed 5800 group set,, RS 11 wheels for only
                   P30,000.    and so on.

                   And kaya maraming nagsasabi wala nang LP (last price)

If I were you, I will save money, and go buy out a bike that you like.  Not a budget bike

If you scrimp, you also scrimp on your enjoyment and safety

If we can get carbon bikes cheap, we must be in Heaven

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 8, 2018

Somebody sent me a message and asked how does it look to be heaven?

I said where bikes are cheap.

And the guy who sent me the message sent me where that could be.  It is in the south and bikes, thanks to China could be much cheaper than the generic we buy here.   Or those that are sold at FB (well this is also posted at FB)

Photos from FB link

There are too in Lazada. But their big difference is the sticker and the paint job.

Cheap Carbon Fiber bike frames at Lazada

                                                    Beautiful, just  like the  real thing;   OEM kasi

The high priced sellers manufacturers must  be running after these sellers, fuming mad, but we are singing merrily for making these beautiful bikes affordable.  Thanks to China and other OEM manufacturers


Bianchi Oltre x4

                                                      Reference  for painting my Bianchi bike

                                                 Ito ang manufacturers photo; ano pagkakaiba?

                                                    Affordable Zipp aero rimsets

Pinarello

                                                   F10 Pinarello Dogma -   ang gara

Wheelset

A new bike shop in Binangonan with Quiapo prices, inquire now and get unbelievable low prices

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 16, 2017

I saw Glenn Diestro yesterday with a newly acquired carbon fiber bike with Campy group set and told me he has all ready a bike shop in Binangonan besides URS named Bike World.  As I biked to Wawa his son Andrew was there expounding the low prices they have at Bike World and the carbon fiber bike of his dad which he said costs P200,000 (it is but the acquisition price is half of that)

This morning after a Niogan Pililla bike ride, at around 11 am, I passe by his store to buy a LED lamp.  I got one for P500 (list price is P550) a mounting post for LED flashlight for P150.00 and a grip for MTB for only P75.00 to replace the regular grip costing P450.00 (which is now dirty and sticky) a total of P725.00

The Bike World is only 4 months old yet his sales is unbelievable.  He said he got 50 fat bikes now there are only a dozen remaining, he got about the same number of xix bikes, now there are only 4.  He sells several dozens aluminum pedals weekly.  Why?  Because he sells them cheap. Quiapo Prices for a bike shop located in Binangonan:

     Sample of low low prices

      Parts
                                                                               Others
       Shimano triplet crank           P980             1,450
        Alum pedal for MTB               380
        Alum pedal with sealed B     650            1,200
        MTB brake pads                    400               500
        Shimano chain 8-9 spd         450               600
        Hydraulic brake set            1,900           3,500
        Gloves giant with gel            400              900
        Ordinary gloves with gel      200
        Stem  50 mm truvati             550
        Mavic Rimset   MTB         4,500           6,500

     Bikes:

      Xix                             26            6,500 only
      Xix 29 er with hydraulic brake  13,000
                     
      Trinx                                         7,600
       Fat bikes                                  9,800  only
       Folding bikes      krypton        6,300

Merry Christmas tomorrow!

Wheels of Happiness

Some wishes for 2015 for road safety as we ride

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines  |  January 10, 2015

             Less pollution, more safety on the road please



There are several wishes we have for 2015 as we start to ride:

1.  Less pollution on the road -    Tricycles and jeep please have your engine tuned up and please do not rev your engine as we trail you or meet us.   A burst of dark gases from your exhaust can damage our open lungs as we exert to sprint or climb hills;

2.  Please remove (disallow)aftermarket  exhaust pipes from MC that blows direct into our face.   When you follow an MC, the exhaust pipe vents into the face of the one following

These bikes are worth million

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal  Philippines   | October 20, 2014

I realized that some bikes that we park at Barangay Hall near Simples Lugawan are worth millions.  Take a look:

             Tarmac  -  P200t, Look 200t Argon 200t Colnago  -  P400t  = total P1 million

Pictures of other bikers/bikes

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal  Philippines   | May 1, 2014

                                 Glowing green aerowheels

I took pictures of other bikers and bikes to spice up my posts today.



Bikes

                                 Bikes parked at Antipolo Church

                                  Bikes in Manga

Our bike pics yesterday Tagaytay City Easter Sunday

Wheels of Happiness

Bikes need some publicity and recognition too.  We have oftentimes posted only about the riders and not about the bikes.

                                  Our bikes parked in front of Taytay Municipal building at MEG

                                At Camp Bagong Diwa

How to make your bike lighter; light is might

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal, Philippines  | December 4, 2013

From Grimper Hereux

From wiki how

As we biked last Sunday VM told me about a You Tube video that adding merely a water bottle in a bike added 20 watts to a bike without adding speed or incline.  Conclusion:  light is might.  A heavy bike requires more power.

What are the ways to reduce weight:



1.  Buy lighter, albeit lighter frames like carbon fiber.

2.  Buy lighter chain ring set, and pedals

3.  Buy lighter wheel and wheel set tires  These will set you back by  30 to 50t and will save you about 2 lbs.  Your 19 lbs bike now becomes l7 lbs.  That is a lot of weight loss

4.  Remove all unneccessary accessories that add weight