Monday, February 3, 2025

Biked this morning up to Morong KM 44, visited Mario Toledo to have the bike fixed - Wheeltop does not want to shift to 36t

Wheels of Happiness

This post biked this morning to Morong KM 44, near the New Municipal Building of Morong.   On the way, I discovered that there is a Bikol Ni Lugawan in Mambog Binangonan Rizal near the INC church.  That means, I have to bike just 10 km instead of 20 km+ to Lagundi Morong Rizal.

At Cardona a 60 ish MTB rider just past the municipal hall passed by and conversed regarding my destination and I said I am up to Morong only, and he said he is from Tanay.   I chased him and overtook him at Callahan and over the top he overtook me and chased him again from the exit arch and overtook him near the Bombongan crossing.  He inquired about my age and answered 73 and he said he is 59   So that is about 2 decades difference.   

I returned and then proceeded to my main destination a bike mechanic from Mambog Binangonan Rizal.  He lives at Crystal East Binangonan and arrived there at about 9 am.  He awoke at about 9:30   I went there to do a back job on the Wheeltop electronic GS that does not shift up to 36 t.  I need the 36 t to enable me to ride up steep hills like the ones going up Mambog.   There were 3 hills till Marios place and I only had 32t to manage the climb.  The first one was about 20% grade.

While waiting for Mario, I conversed with the regired Msgt from PA.  He was being massaged on account of neuropathy from diabetes and difficulty in standing   I learned that his wife just died  and may be he weas recovering from the grief.  We talked about same situation as I have.  Diabetic and growing weakness. I advised him to exercise some more and be happy.

As for the bike, Mario was able to make the gears go back to 36t.  But he needs to access the apps to smoothne out hte high gears.  

Sunday, February 2, 2025

An unknown blogger, BA - TJ sent questions regarding seniors biking

Wheels of Happiness

An unknown blogger, netizen DM me 9 point questions regarding biking for seniors.  Though I do not know much about him, and the qurestions were straight forward, I answered him promptly.  I told him too that I was with Kara David in 400 km bike ride to Bicol

The questions center on benefits of biking, and how biking should be:

1.  Biking develops posture, you dont stoop or do duck walk;
2.  Better breathing 
3.  Long life
4.  Lesser maintenance medicine
5.  Being more positive, happier
6.  Having stronger bones.  
     The theory is that brittle bones is not caused solely by lack of Vit D and Calcium but by weaker muscles.   So you have to exercise if possible using weights.    Lifting weights develope muscles which makes bones stronger.
7.  Freedome from Sarcopenia.  As we age, our muscle mass depletes.  Only exercise can partially stop that or stop that.   

So bike more exercise more

More power to his web site...





Still debugging the Wheeltop EDS Tx gs ; it does not shift to 36t

Wheels of Happiness

I am on my third day after Mario installed the Wheeltop DS Tax.  Its not completely debugged.
There were two problems:    1.   It does not shift to the big chain ring, 2.  The RD does not shift to 36t (allegedly the biggest cog that it could accommodate.

When Mario installed this all gears were working.  However the cranks set got loose, the highest gear 11t was not working well, so I made adjustment to the RD (and then the 36t) does no work anymorel

I waited to get the apps to function but it was quirky.  I got the gears all smoothed out all right, but the 36t still not worked.   So I have to go back  to Mario because it looks like its mechanical. Just minor tweaks.

But I am happy over all with the way the bike works.  It gave me added confidence and added ommph.  Speed.