'Save your ride, save your soul'. Safety tips for bike commuters.

I am sharing with you some of the safety measures that I cross-check every time I use my bike. Do put in your ideas and opinions into it.

-          The biggest saviors for a biker are not any gadgets or accessories. They are common sense and presence of mind. Do have them at all times.

-          Helmet is a must. It not only protects your head from impacts but also helps other motorists to note you. I feel that a helmet gives you a professional aura and other motorists and pedestrians are more likely to cooperate with you.

Bike Helmet- Its not just a matter of security.

©www.funnycutepics.com

-          Make yourself visible. Wear bright colored clothing or reflector jackets. Make sure that your bike is also having a lot of reflectors on it. Especially on the rear and front, on the pedals and along the rims. While choosing the color of the bike I prefer brighter or vibrant colors over dark colors or shades that camouflage with the road and surroundings.

Bike lights- Make yourself as visible as possible

©getoutdoors.com

 It would be wise to carry headlamps/headlights and tail lamps in case if you get late after work and it gets

dark out there. Don’t even think of biking without bright headlamps at night time.

Bike headlamps-Its always a good idea

                                                                ©www.123rf.com

      Equipping your ride with a bell/horn will make biking in busy roads much easier. Motorists often overlook a biker while giving way to another overtaking vehicle in the same lane or when a vehicle coming from the opposite direction breaks the lane to overtake the vehicle in front of it. Another trouble is slower vehicles and pedestrians moving in the same direction as yours. A nice, loud bell can call the attention of all the above mentioned.

Use a bell or horn- It might save more than one life

©mag.bevakoof.com

-          Fix a rear-view mirror on the bike or on your helmet. Assuming that the person behind you has seen you or will do things to avoid a collision is one of the gravest risks one can take while on the road. A mirror also makes the ride more hassle free as you don’t have to cut your focus on the road to look back when necessary.

Bike rear view mirrors- Better than a head turner

©http://baltimorebicyclist.blogspot.in

-          Never make abrupt turns or any other unpredictable movements while on the road. Even though making eye contact with other motorists may not always be possible, giving hand signals will avoid a lot of confusion. When I am on the road, I become part of it and try my level best to obey the rules. I stay confident and gives space and visibility to other motorists. I keep in mind that having a vehicle without an engine doesn’t give me any privilege and I am not prioritized in most of the cases.

-          I become very alert when I am passing close by a parked vehicle. I check if the passenger(s) is about to open the door. There can be another person or vehicle about to get into the road via the front side of a parked vehicle, which is usually out of sight. I take special care that either of us sees either of us with enough time to react.

Getting doored

                                           ©www.examiner.com

-          I have a different philosophy on using headphones. I find it best not to use them and it makes me more indulged in the surroundings and biking itself. I am able to hear my bike when I am not using my headphones. I can sense the tire pressure, chain clattering or any other creeks that might indicate an upcoming trouble. Not using headphones make quick interactions with passers by possible and alerts by other motorists are also more audible. However, I sometimes feel like utilizing the 40 minutes that I take to bike for some extra benefits. I listen to audio books and sloka chants while biking. These are not too noisy usually and most of the times I am able to hear the horns or bells or other motorists. I also put these audio in a low enjoyable volume so that it is not interfering with my surrounding sounds. If at any circumstance I feel like listening to the surroundings, I just pop out one of my earphones.

Babe on bike
Caught in Amsterdam by the Prudent Cyclist on flickr

-          Manage your clothes. The last thing that you would want is to get a chain tattoo on your 3000Rs khaki trousers or even worse, get the trousers and yourselves torn. Biking to work may not always give you the liberty to wear shorts or 3/4ths. So, what I do is that I use a paper clip to hold a couple of pleats made on the right pant leg or I would just tuck that pant leg into the sock. Also try and hop onto the bike or tilt the bike to sit on it. Trying to stretch the leg around with tight fitting trousers can put you in a very embarrassing situation.

Bikers using tight pants..beware of this and even more

Regular check-up of the ride and gears should be made a habit. Status of brake-shoes, condition of the cables, slackness of joints and bolts, lubrication etc can become decisive factors on overall biking experience.

Bike check-up. Make it a habit

©http://jeffreymcwhorter.blogspot.in

-          Keep a first aid kit handy. After all it is biking and it is an active sport. Its quite ok to fall; provided the condition is manageable. There are first-aid kits available but you can always make a bag of your own with some antiseptics, band-aids, antispasmodic sprays, analgesics, crapes etc.

Keep a first aid kit handy.

 ©http://www.bannedinhollywood.com/10-photos-of-bicycle-fail-1-photo-of-bicycle-win/

It won't take long to make these safety tips a habit. In fact, after a while, you won't even feel that you are voluntarily doing these check-ups and preparations. It just happens by itself. All these together will definitely make one of your best activities the safest too. In this regard safe biking is beaten only by safe sex.

So, Happy 'riding'. Either ways.

GT Transeo 4.0 Hybrid Bike: Review and Pics

You guys know the story. Now, know the star.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you GT Transeo 4.0

GT Transeo 4.0

Manufactured by a young but very reputed American bike company, GT Bicycles, The Transeo 4.0 has their signature ‘Triple Triangle" frame. Blue streaks and graffiti on silver alloy colored frame gives it a stylish yet modest look..hmmm, like a sari clad hot chick. (I don’t care if that doesn’t match your fantasy. We are talking bikes here; for real chicks, click here). 

The "Triple triangle" Frame. Notice the extended seat stays towards the top tube forming another small triangle.

The top tube is not cylindrical and it is not parallel to the ground either. It is 573.14mm long and should be having a diamond shaped cross-section. 

Top tube

Both the seat tube and the down tube has eyelets for bottle rack. I wished if it came with a bottle rack though. I know it’s just too much to ask but that’s what people do. At least I am better than that friend who demanded longer flight duration because he was paying so much. 

Eyelets for bottle racks

Another very big advantage of the frame is internal cable routing. All the Bowden cables that goes all the way to the rear brakes, shifters and derailleurs are sent through the inside of the tubes. That, I think is very wise because it minimizes the chance of damaging the exposed cables when we are lifting the bike or attaching something to the tubes. 

Internal Cable Routing

Furthermore, the frame is 6061 Aluminum, hydroformed and with forged bottom bracket, dropouts.

Neat ‘All TerraAlloy Riser’ handlebars; matt finish and all. And the grips are so awesome. Just the right amount of cushioning, the right amount of grip and etched with the royal angel winged GT logo.

The stem is also matt finish and sturdy but it is not adjustable it seems. So it is not easy to get the right fit with the seat post alone. 

I wonder what does those twisted lines on handlebar and seat-post means..

The headset is from FSA with cartridge bearings. They are boastable enough.

When I was beginning to nurture the idea of bike commuting, I somehow never wanted a Hardtrail bike i.e. one with a front suspension. But opting this was prudent I guess. With the high performance SR Suntour NEX v2 4110 front shocks, those occasional potholes and those infamous artworks made by local residents on tarmac to lay water pipelines can be overlooked at times. It also sports a pre-load adjust (I have not entirely understood its possibilities but it is the knob thing on top of the right shock with + and – markings perhaps to alter the sensitivity of the shocks). The forks are also Disc-break ready.

Gorgeous saddles. My butts are loving it! Not that I am not getting any tenderness over the ischial tuberosity and a mild inflammation on the pudental nerves. But the blame of these miseries goes to the long commuting of 32.82kms (16.41+16.41) which I started off without any preparations. But that’s OK. I should have followed the advises of all the wise bikers. I should have done a series of preparatory rounds. This is what happened. The day I bought the bike, I thought I will bike only for a few kms and then pick a goods carrier or an auto to reach home. But the ride on the transeo was so comfortable and exciting that I decided to carry on. I did not feel any fatigue or strain anywhere even after reaching home. So, I just skipped the preparation part. Anyways, if it was not this saddle (or a better one), I would have been walking like a penguin already.

700x40c tires are supergood. They can be inflated in a range of 35-65 psi. The valves are ‘Presta type’. Very comfortable and gives the perfect grip. Tires like these boost our confidence and dependability on our rides. Both the front and rear wheels have quick-release skewers; equals easy assembly, re-assembly, transportation and above all, puncture management.

GT nylon trekking pedals are just OK OK. It does the job well and has those rivets for extra grip and all. I am not doing complete justice to the clothing and accessory part of biking as I am still using my Formal trousers/ pants and shoes. I think the pedals can be put to better testing with a pair of biking shoes and it will improve my performance (and of course, looks) as well.

The Altus shifters are good entry-level shifters. They are, until now responding fairly well to all the abuse that I am throwing upon it. I did notice a half-a second delay though. The front Altus and rear Acera derailleurs are magnificent. Or else it would have ripped off the very first day. There is no bigger harm to a drivetrain than a noobie biker!! Universal truth.

The tektro V-brakes saved my sorry ass a couple of times. Once from a 100 ft deep pothole and then from a college bus that I didn’t notice stopping as I was too busy waving at the gals. (I won’t tell you my bike route. No!)

Like all the other imported bikes, Transeo came without fenders too. But Mr. Sujith, at Edapally BSA store was kind enough to provide those and additionally a foot pump and a lock. He was so generous that the first day when I went to get the bike and the ATM failed me, he said I could just take the bike and pay later.

The Transeo comes pre-installed with reflectors but that wont show me my way on my ride back.

Its been 4 days and 105 kms. Still the excitement is ever increasing. The bike is fairing pretty well. Very well, in fact. Everybody who has talked to be regarding this bike so far has given me very good feedback. All of them love the design, color and light-weightedness and riding comfort. The bike has already proved its strenght, agility and reliability. But then again, it has just been 4 days and the road is long and treacherous. I will keep you posted on how the bike and me are taking life.

                                                          

BSA Plug-in Helmet

Got it for 650Rs.
It is a Ladies' model but I couldn't find any differences apart from the color and design.

The story so far! (as told to my Bikes Zone Friends)

Pappu Can Bike Saala!

by cXing » February 7th, 2012, 1:47 pm

Hola BZ!
They call me cXing..Huh? OK, at least I myself do.
I sincerely have no idea how to extend my gratitude to Bikeszone. Please assume that I have “Ctrl+C & Ctrl+V’d” here all the praise and wishes given to BZ throughout the posts. Simply because they all have done it a zillion times and they have done it very well.
It’s mostly because of all these topics and posts in BZ that I ended up getting myself a bike costing 20 thou INR which is quite the double of my budget. However, today I am a very happy person and I would like to share my story to the biking community.
So, let me arrange the events chronologically and make the 5-month long story short to 5-minutes.
1. September 2011: My colleague buys a Hercules Rodeo Torrent IC for around 10,000 bucks.
2. September 2011 to 18th December 2011: I kept condemning my colleague for shelling out sooo much for a ‘cycle’. We frequently had heated arguments and debates on bike topics for months.
3. 18th December 2011: Googled-up “cycling” for the first time in my life. Then I stumble upon http://www.bikeszone.com . Soon I realized that I was involuntarily searching for an ideal bike that would suit my needs.
4. 18th December 2011 to 21st January 2012: More than a month of intensive net scavenging. Bike forums, blogs, manufacturer sites, public opinion, local bike store visits and what not!! Have you, at BZ, encountered any server overload or breakdown lately? Well, between us, it could be just me. I was so voraciously into BZ! Gosh!!! So many useful and informative stuffs!! You should deem BZ as a University soon enough!
5. 21st January 2012: Biking catches hold of my nerves so tight that I end up creating a blog!!! Do check it out folks- http://www.cyclistscrossing.blogspot.in

[I got to tell you guys that I am as new to blogging as I am to biking. My friends are already praising me with verses like..”Saala!! this bloody cXing does not even have a tricycle and yet he has started a bike blog!! Crazy &#@#$% !!!
So pardon me if it is too naive or if I have made too many mistakes. I could see that a lot of dudes here have awesome blogs, all very informative, entertaining and inspiring. So I think it is fine to seek help of you all in bike-blogging as comfortably as seeking help regarding biking itself.]

6. 4th February 2012: The choice is made, all plans are set and off I go bike shopping! But fate had something else in store for me. All ATMs and online money transfers were down due to some network jam. So all I could buy was a cyclocomputer (Sigma BC 506), Number lock (Firefox) and a pair of gloves (Firefox). I returned home totally wrecked and spent an entire sleepless night cursing ATMs and online money transfers.
7. 6th February 2012: I headed straight to my LBS, first thing in the morning, assisted the store manager in opening the store, bought the bike..GT Transeo 4.0, made some fittings, rode back to work, switched on the PC, opened BZ and got registered as a new member and here I am!!
That’s it!! Reborn and up-to-date!!
Future is always uncertain. We still can’t even get our weather forecast correct. I don’t know where all these endeavor will take me or what will become of me as a biker. But one thing is certainly certain. Getting into biking is a turning point in my life and I am sure that the road ahead is gonna be awesome. As for now, I am a very very happy person and that’s all I care about!!
Let no butts ache ever! Peace!!
P.S: Will definitely write a review of the bike and accessories..yeah that goes without saying. Right now I am too busy riding my bike around…

Firefox Gloves 20962

I had visited “The Bike Store” at Palarivattom, Kerala today. I had searched around the vicinity and could find only this bike shop that hosted some decent accessories. They deal in Firefox, Trek, Giant etc. I guess that is a good service centre too, though I have no personal experience to testify it.

I wanted a helmet, a cyclocomputer, a pair of gloves and a good number lock. Though I didn’t get a helmet (In fact I didn’t get a good one from anywhere at all.), I got the remaining.

I am an average built person with average (don’t ask me how to define that.) hands. So I picked a pair of Firefox Gloves 20962, size “L” gloves from the choice of none else.

Firefox Gloves

Firefox gloves appear to be pretty decent for that price tag. I got one with yellow colored lining and the entire glove is synthetic. Nylon, perhaps.

The best thing about it is the lush gel padding on the palms. They are very comfortable and dampen quite enough vibrations and impact. I have used it for over 100 Kms and never once did I feel any tightening or any numbness or compression.

Firefox Gloves-Gel padding

The palmar surface is mesh-like and hence there is satisfactory heat dissipation due to which my palms have not got sweaty and wetty.

Another very good thing about the glove is that it has rubber paddings right over the knuckle area which are capable of protecting your knuckles from a good degree of lacerations if at all you fall.

The material covering the thumb area has a good texture that gives it excellent grip.

The major downside is the overall stitch quality. It is very flimsy at some areas like the ‘finger-holes’. Also the synthetic material used to line the medial side of each fingers appear to be another vulnerability.

Making a final verdict, the Firefox gloves are just OK fine, China made gloves and for a price tag of 350 /-Rs, it is fair enough for a casual commuter like me. Though I am currently a satisfied user, I am already thinking of an upgrade. That is just a ‘human thing’, I hope.

Secure your lock!!-Firefox Number-Lock review

What is that one thing which gives you a sudden bolt of anxiety+worry+uncertainity ?

……….???.......????.......???.......???.....???!! Enough!!! Time Out!!

I’ll tell you. Misplacing keys. All kinds of them. Car Keys. Bike keys. Apartment keys. Locker keys. It goes to Bike locks too.

Since I am very notorious in loosing keys and also because I worry my holy soul out all the time I loose a key, I decided to get a Number lock this time for my precious GT Transeo 4.0

So, I bought this… Firefox lock 20258 . 

Firefox Lock 20258

The first impression I had was ‘heavy’. It is heavy indeed. Thanks to the 12x1000 mm long metallic cable and its seemingly strong 4 Digit lock mechanism.

Firefox lock with plastic seat mount

It is very intuitive and simple to set and reset the numbers. There is a knob on the lock-end. Twist it, set the combination, twist it back and you are all set. So, what happens when you have already set the lock and then forgot the password? God, may help you!! Alternatively, the combination can be jolted down and hidden somewhere. And if you forget where you had hidden it..this time only God can help you!!

It also comes with a plastic seat-post mount and its pretty decent. But still, you have to take some extra care because the seat-post mount has a spring clamp that attaches to the plastic latch and the whole mechanism is very flimsy. It is highly advised that the lock cable be looped around the seat post or anywhere nearby rather than just hanging it from the mount. Trust me. I've already lost my lock somewhere on the road and this is what the seat post mount came of use.

My colleague's Sigma sensors where far away from the magnet and it was not working well due to this. The seat post mount that came with the Firefox lock was lying useless as I had lost the lock. So we just trimmed it and used it as a mount for the sensor It's working just fine now!

Again, not a superfab product but it is a value for money stuff. Rather than a reliable sturdy solution to lock your bike, it is more of a cheep good looking substitute which gives you a sense of security. Well, that’s more important than actual security, right?