Action Cycle: Brompton

Showing posts with label Brompton. Show all posts

Sunday, 24 November 2013

Brompton Accessories #10 -Kamoya Jenny Suspension

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BROMPTON ACCESSORIES #10 - KAMOYA JENNY SUSPENSION

(This blog is not a review, it's more on my foray in purchasing accessories for my 3rd Foldie - a Raw Lacquer Brompton P6R)

While on a cycling trip in Japan recently (... see Cycling Japan 2013 blog), through a close friend I got the Kayoma Jenny Suspension for my Brompton. So what's the advantage of fixing one of this gizmos? Effeciency, beauty? For this refer to Outdoor Explorer's write up (... see OX write up) where there is an elaboration on this.

The Jenny Suspension is made in Japan and came in a zip-lock plastic wrapping. For shipping the whole package is further bubble wrapped.

When opened, the items were the main spring with a black internal tubing, two silicon O-rings with one having a metal capping. The O-Rings protect the two ends of the spring during movement. In a smaller plastic bag were the nuts and washer for installation.

The main stay of the suspension (as in most suspension systems) is the spring. The stiffness of the suspension depends on this spring (i.e. through thinner or thicker coils). The one that I got was HARD, i.e. to take a load of more than 70 kg, in the standard Brompton suspension this is called STIFF.

Into the spiral core of the spring is a tubing that prevents friction between the installation screw and the main spring.

The unit came with installation instructions, unfortunately it is written in Japanese. So one will have to figure out the installation sequence and method bye the diagrammatic photos shown, but it is always easier than shown.

I left it to the experts of Outdoor Xplorer (OX) team to carry out the installation. In capable hands, the installation was carried out quite fast.

The installed Kamoya Jenny Suspension, looking good and strong, matching my Brompton raw lacquer colour.

View of the suspension with the Brompton folded.

A row of Bromptons with the Kamoya Jenny Suspension installed.

How's the ride-bility? Personally, I found the suspension slightly stiffer than the regular Brompton STIFF suspension giving a better push when cycling on smooth roads. I have yet to try it out on real bumpy roads though.

For purchase and installation, try contacting OX Team, they could have some units left.

Monday, 4 November 2013

Accessories #6 - Olympus Tough TG-2 Camera

You are at - Jotaro's Blog / AhPek Biker / Buying My Bikes & Accessories / Accessories #4 - Rear Laser Light
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MY BIKE - ACCESSORIES #6 - OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-2 CAMERA

(Disclaimer - all prices mentioned are list prices. For more accurate pricing please contact the relevant people. This blog is not a review, it's more on my foray in purchasing accessories for my Foldies)

Between my bicycling and blogging I have to find a good camera to take respectably sharp photos for my biking blogs. And these photos have to be taken while I am on the go, i.e. riding my bicycle. A couple of other features that the camera for biking should have is being tough to take falls, and waterproofed for snapping photos while cycling in the rain.

My first tough, it really took a lot of beating and still continued serving me for six years.

Previously I was using the Olympus Tough 6000 (1st generation model). With 10 megapixels the photos it took was okay but had some noise and as such will tend to be grainy when enlarged. But it suited my use by

- having a sports mode to take photos on the go.

- being tough to take falls from up to 1.5 metres (the above photo shows how much suffering it has gone through) and still be able to function.

- being waterproofed; I have used it to take photos in the rain and also underwater photos.

But it has a big disadvantage; its start up time and wake up time is slow (up to two seconds), and because of this I have missed many photo opportunities, just seeing events as the passed by while my camera was "waking up"!
Despite it's limitation, this camera served me well for over six years until it reached the end of it's useful life.

With my first Tough going kaput, I opted for the Samsung WB150F. I was attracted by it's look, price and most importantly its built in WiFi. It then sold at MYR600+ with a spare battery thrown in and also some other freebies (like personalized calendar and photobook).
Here's a quick rundown on it's features:

- 14.2 Megapixels, quite high for a camera at this price range.

- with a 18X optical zoom, it has one of the highest zoom for it's range.

- WiFi capability allows uploading direct to internet sites like FaceBook, etc. I found this a bit cumbersome to use as the tethering with a wifi site takes a while and at many times turns out to be unsuccessful.

- WiFi connectivity with a Samsung phone, also the same problems on connectivity time.

- WiFI remote control of camera using a Samsung phone, this is a good feature for taking self shots or placing camera in odd places for that perfect angle. Sadly connectivity time is a problem also.

- There is no sports mode for taking action photography. I tried to use their alternative of fast shutter speed but the photos did not turn out well.

Don't get me wrong, this camera takes beautiful photos for a compact camera, but with a sports mode lacking, it was just not suitable to take photos while on the go.

So the Samsung was left for other non-biking photo taking, and the hunt was on again for a suitable action camera. A few of my biking friends had got the latest model Olympus Tough Stylus TG-2, being more careful after the Samsung experience, I decided to borrow and try out their cameras before making the buying plunge. Here's the run down on its features:

Pros:

- Tough! Can take falls of up to 2'1 metres. Operation range as low as -18 degrees Celcius.

- Takes very good action shots under Sports Scene Mode, even with very low lighting.

- Very quick focusing with its CMOS feature.

- Waterproof of up to 15 metres.

- Can take good underwater shots with it's various "Underwater" Modes.

- Fast start up & wake up time of less than 1/2 second.

- comes with a GPS function that indicates nearest attractions. The GPS can also create a track based on a series of photos taken while the GPS is on; this will be useful should one not have one of those cycling GPS gizmo like the Garmin 800.

- Built-in altimeter, barometer and compass; for those who really go to extremes.

Cons:

- Turning on after the auto off, the flash goes into automatic mode. Many a photos, especially action shots in low lighting mode turns up better without the flash.

- low optical 4X zoom.

Taking action shots with the Sports Scene Mode is a breeze with this camera. I took the photo of the above motorcyclist under medium light condition of a shaded road and still the photo came out perfect.

Taking action shots under low lighting conditions were excellent too. The above was taken of a cyclist at night under a street light while I myself was cycling.

It's great for underwater photography too. This photo is taken with the Underwater Action Scene Mode, one of several Underwater modes.

While in the great outdoors, there is always that opportunity to take close up shots; the camera has the Super Macro Mode that allows for this. Wow! A beautiful butterfly.
For those who like food photography, there's even a Food Scene Mode.

Another Super-Macro shot, this one of a blue-bottle fly came out very well.

The Olympus Tough TG-2 is tough and has been designed to look rugged too! Rubber friction pads a strategic location helps the user get a better grip of the camera while taking in adverse conditions (eg. while cycling, jogging or underwater).
On the left side is a protruding bracket that for tying the camera strap, this looks tough too!

Even the camera bag has been designed for those outdoor adventure types, It comes with a self-locking pull cord that ensures that the camera stays tightly in the bag while scaling a cliff or beating around the bush. The bag straps onto a belt or hooks onto a belt loop, etc.

With the GPS turned on, attractions nearby are indicated on the LED screen. There is also a compass at the bottom of the screen. AND it allows tracking of your route, useful if you are jungle trekking or cycling overseas without a dedicated GPS unit or if you phone does not have a data plan. The tracking runs even when the camera is off, so it could drain the battery.
One other thing that I find useful is that the camera has dual time setting, so there is no hassle of resetting the time when back from holidays abroad, just switch back to the home time.

Overall, other than the auto-flash coming on automatically, I find the camera robustly satisfactory for my adventure use. For WiFi, it is FlashAir™ card compatible, install this card which also serves as a memory card and wah...lah!

Sunday, 1 September 2013

Putrajaya : Brompton Malaysia Ride Sept. 2013

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Putrajaya - Brompton Malaysia Ride Sept. 2013

(Photo by Rita)

Putrajaya Core Island & Vincinity - 1st September 2013

Medium-size Group Ride : Millenium Monument>Putrajaya Core Island>Precint 8>Saujana Hijau>Putrajaya Core Island>Millenium Monument

Cycling Distance Covered : 25.12 km.
Time : 7:40 am to 11:45 am
Time Taken : 3 hrs. 5 mins. (including stops for brunch, photos & re-grouping)

Route Recommendations :
1. The Putrajaya Lakeside (... see blog) is a scenic place, ride there at a leisurely pace and stop wherever you feel like it.
2. Don't miss riding at the boardwalk at Precint 8.
3. After the boardwalk there is an interesting bamboo grove section.
4. Saujana Hijau offers a fantastic view of pine tree forests, and also gives a good climb; and best of all it's motor vehicle free.

PRELUDE

When Finty, the leader of MY Brompton Malaysia FaceBook group posted a ride for Brompton riders to take part in a ride at Putrajaya, I was most keen to join in. Since getting my Brompton (... see Buying My 3rd Foldie), I had never rode with the group; so this will be the opportunity to ride with them and more importantly to get to meet old and new friends.

En route on my drive up to Putrajaya I picked up Takeshi from the Kelana Jaya LRT station. He's a Japanese based in Malaysia, I have met him casually before, this will be a good chance to get to know him better.

THE RIDE

MY Brompton Malaysia Putrajaya Ride Map (click for Map Link)

The ride route : Medium-size Group Ride : Millenium Monument>Putrajaya Core Island>Precint 8>Saujana Hijau>Putrajaya Core Island>Millenium Monument

Meeting at the Alaf Baru (Millenium Monument), we will ride with the Mercy Syria public cycling event for a short while before heading off on our own for a more interesting ride. It was interesting indeed, seeing a side of Putrajaya that I have not experienced before. Read on to find out ....

From the Millenium Monument we rode off to the Putrajaya Boulevard and parked our bikes at the front of the Palace Of Justice; our bikes there gathered many curious stares. Many has not seen such folding bikes with funny rear wheels that turn upon itself... "Er... how to ride if the wheel is like that?" some asked.

Here we waited for the start of the "Mercy Syria" public ride event, it's an event held to raise funds and awareness for those suffering during the present turmoil in Syria.

The Mercy Syria ride kicked off, we let the main mass of many cyclists ride by first before we joined the tail end.

And here we are, happily cycling down the Putrajaya Boulevard It's great to be able to ride, and such a cool looking gang we were.

Riding across the Sri Saujana Bridge - I have always liked this bridge with it symmetrical curves and two sharp pointing main masts.

A couple of the riders came wearing sarongs; here's Rita in a nice batik one. We call her the Pink Lady, she rides a Hot Pink Brompton and often with matching pink attire - pink helmet, shoes, jersey, etc.

Slightly ahead, I saw this little girl riding a cute little pink bicycle with her father, they were part of the Mercy Syria ride; it's good to start them young to be aware of the way of the world out there.

Hey Rita! Watch out, here's a future Pink Lady wannabe!

Regroup at Precint 8 and a short rest.

At Persiaran Barat, we waved our goodbyes to the little girl & her father and headed off on our own. From here on, Pak Adib, the man in orange will be leading us on a more interesting route. He's just into his sixties and jokingly call himself a "Six Series", a word play on the BMW car series.

We stopped at the Putrajaya Lake Club with its stony "beach". It was a good place to stop, as from here, the view across the lake is rather scenic .....

..... a lakeside view of the Putra Mosque - taken at the right time of the day from this spot, it is quite picturesque.

Beyond this, the ride got even more interesting with us riding onto boardwalks along the lakeside.
Pak Adib was a conscientious ride leader, briefing us on the area we are riding through and what pitfalls to watch out for along the route; eg. on the boardwalk - not to cycle along the center as some nails could be sticking up above the planks.
Nails! That's a real no-no for our tires.

A short ride into bamboo groves, where the bamboo formed a nice archway.

We are back onto the roads again, heading for our next destination Saujana Hijau. Some of us took to riding on the pedestrian/cycling lanes, others rode on the road. The trouble with the cycling lanes here is that they are finished with either paver bricks or textured concrete, making riding on them rather bumpy; I do hope the authorities will take note of this.

Saujana Hijau is a park on a small hill overlooking Putrajaya. The hill is dotted with pines trees in many areas. Partway up the hill, at a flatter area with a rest pavilion, we took another group photo. For flower lovers, this place has flower beds with lovely, brightly colored flowers.

For cyclists who love to climb, this place offers a good climb amid a nice mini pine forest.

Takeshi was full of joy, whooshing up and down the cycling lanes - this place must remind him off home.

Back on the flats again, we are riding on the Seri Perdana Bridge. Across the lake, the Perdana Putra (Prime Minister's Office) can be seen sitting grandly on a hillock.

The previous day was National Day, our Malaysian Independence Day. That was why many of the streets were lined with the Jalur Gemilang, our national flag. Many of us were riding with small Jalur Gemilangs attached to our bicycles; Ronnie took it a step further and rode for a short while carrying a Jalur Gemilang fluttering at the end of a bamboo pole.
Perhaps next year, we should join the National Day parade, all carrying flags Ronnie-style.

Brunch at Medan Selera Putrajaya.

But Pak Adib was not finished with surprising us; after lunch, instead of the normal route back to our end point, he took us on a route through a tunnel below the Putra Bridge - it's access is from the Medan Selera lakeside level.
Hey! There is a tunnel here?

(Photo by Finty)

It was a warm ride of meeting up with new friends and catching up with old ones.
It was a ride of surprising areas that many does not know exist in Putrajaya - boardwalks, bamboo groves, pine hillocks, secret tunnels, etc.
Many thanks to all for making this such an interesting ride.

Special Thanks to :