Merida Matts TFS 300 (2011) Entry level mountain bike

I was at Lim bicycle shop opposite Sunshine Square Bayan Baru at noon with my friend who wanted to look for a mountain bike with a price range below RM2500. Mr Lim who I think is the owner's son recommended us a few mountain bikes that is within the range of my friend's budget. I find this model Merida Matts TFS 300 looks quite good for the price and the components that comes with it.

The frame is double butted aluminium which increases the stiffness of the bike.
It has Tektro Draco hydraulic disk brakes which is an entry level disk brake. Although it's entry level brake  the stopping power is good.

This bike has Shimano SLX rear derraileur that will contribute to smooth shifting for the rear cogs.

Finally, the suspension fork that comes with the bike is the SR Suntour XCM which is very common for entry level mountain bike. Not much can be said about this entry level suspension fork.

Hawley Shimano Deore XT 780 (2012) Review

Trek 6300 (2011) - Mid priced Trek Mountain bike

I was at Lebuh Carnavon late evening to visit a friend, while waiting for him, I drop by CCI to check out a Trek mountain bike. I told him with a budget of between RM3,000 and not more than RM4,000, which bike would he recommend. Since it was closing time, he inform me to go to Trek website to have a look at Trek 6300.

This bike has 27 speeds, and comes with a mixture of Shimano and SRAM components as it's gear set.

The bike comes with Avid Juicy 3 hydraulic disk brake which is an entry level brake by SRAM but still have good stopping power. The frame is made of Aluminium that helps to keep it light and strong. The bike comes with Rock Shox Recon Silver coil suspension fork which is good for off road rides.

The weight of this bike is also just slightly over 10kg. I haven't test ride this bike but by looking at the components that comes with it, it will be a pleasant bike to have for a budget under RM4,000.

For more info click here.

2012 Shimano XTR Shadow Plus and XT Groupset

Cool 2012 Shimano high range mountain bike Groupsets.

2012 Giant Bicycles Road Product Launch

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A personal appeal from James Cracknell - Use your head. Use your helmet

Good video on why we should wear a helmet when cycling.

Kheng Som, Fried Chicken with Kafir lime leaves at Asama Thai Restaurant, Central Square, Sungai Petani

We visited Central Square again last Saturday and decide to try the lunch set at Asama Restaurant. The lunch set we ordered is for 2. It comes with 3 dishes, rice and a drink.

Fried Chicken with Kafir Lime leaves

The Chicken meat is deep fried and served together with lots of fried garlic, ginger, and kafir lime which gives it a very pleasant aroma.

Stir Fry mixed Vegetable

Normal mixed vegetable stir fried in sauce. Nothing special about this dish but it taste good. The vegetables are not over cooked and are still crispy and taste fresh.

Kheng Som Siakap fish

This dish is the most spicy dish among all we ordered. It is known as Thai Assam Pedas. This soup is much spicier than tom yam. Although the color doesn't makes it look spicy, don't be fooled by the looks of it.

Trek 8000 (2011) Mountain Bike

 

During my ride to Cherok Tokun on July 17, 2011. I met up with 1 guy riding Trek 8000 which is the bike shown above. We chatted at the peak of BM hill and I asked him how much did he payed for the bike. It cost approx RM7,000 plus and weighs about 10kg. I asked for a short test ride and he let me.

 The bike has a very light feel and very nice to ride. It comes with mix of Shimano XT and SLX gears which complements each other. The Fox suspension that comes with it responded very well.

 

The only complaint was the Avid back brakes keeps on rubbing the rotor thus causes drag which the owner agrees. This slows down the speed of the ride. Once this problem is resolved I believe it will be a very nice bike to ride.

Click here for the details.

Raleigh Elite Pro Hardtail Bike

This is another common Raleigh mountain bike. Given a price tag of approx RM1,800, it comes with a better gear setup than the Enduro Pro. 

The gear set is a mix of Shimano Alivio and Suntour XCR crank. This bike also comes with 27 speed.

The gear shifters are Shimano Alivio Rapid fire. Some may not like it it due to the small display of which gear you are in.

It felt like the Enduro Pro except the gear change is much smoother with Alivio. The frame, suspension fork, rims and mechanical disc brakes are similar to the Enduro Pro, therefore the ride comfort does not defer much.

For those who wanted a 27 speed entry level mountain bike and are willing to spend a bit more, you could consider this bike. The frame can also take upgrades which is useful if you want to upgrade to better components in the future.

For more info click here.

Steam rice near Penang Snake Temple

This stall selling steam rice is located at the shop next to Penang Snake Temple. The stall sells 3 types which are chicken and mushroom, spare ribs and steam meat with salted fish. 

All are priced at RM4.50 per bowl.The taste is quite nice as the sauce sips into the rice giving it its flavor. The portion is reasonable with the price but for a big eater, 1 bowl might not be enough. 

Spare Ribs rice

 Steam meat with salted fish rice

Mountain biking mum aiming for top spot

Mountain biking mums are becoming a major part of Australia's biggest annual mountain bike marathon, the Flight Centre Epic. Race organiser Peter Creagh, of Tailwind Promotions, said the event in the Lockyer Valley in South East Queensland had seen an increasing number of female participants since it started nine years ago.

"Women are certainly rising to the challenge offered by the Epic," he said.

Policewoman Emma Thomson, from Cleveland, is a single mum who enjoys the exhilaration of competitive mountain biking and is looking forward to her third Epic, which is held on August 6-7.

"Admittedly the course took me forever to complete in my first year and I thought I would never finish," Emma said.

"Now I've come to really love the sport. Last year I came second in my age group and this year I'm looking forward to giving it another go and hopefully taking out the 30-39 age category."

Emma turned to mountain bike riding after she had her daughter, Adela, in 2006.

"I used to like running and competed in triathlons," she said.

"My work colleagues were into mountain biking and after I had my daughter it seemed like a natural transition from running and triathlons to mountain biking.

"Now I try to train every morning at Daisy Hill Forest with my work mates and when I'm doing shift work I'll train during the day while Adela is at school."

Emma said she would not be able to keep up her training and competition schedule if it weren't for her wonderful parents.

"I'm very lucky that they're so supportive and are always willing to help me out. My dad competes in triathlons so sometimes we train together and Adela can't wait to join in when she's old enough too."

Mr Creagh said this year's event would start and finish at Spicers Hidden Vale and the Epic would cover 75km instead of the traditional 104km.

The Epic weekend includes the 99 Bikes Mini and Minor Epics, where children can ride with their parents, as well as the 30km Spicers Chase cross country race and the 50km Merida Pursuit half marathon.

For more, go online to www.cycleepic.tailwindpromotions. com.au.

http://www.baysidebulletin.com.au/news/local/sport/other/mountain-biking-mum-aiming-for-top-spot/2222745.aspx

Avid Single Digit 5 V-brakes

This is Avid single digit 5 V-brake that my friend bought. I manage to test it out and it works well. The stopping power even rivals a budget mechanical disk brake. Furthermore, this V-brake is light weight and easy to setup and maintain. The setup is almost similar to my old Deore V-brake. My friend has been using it for about 6 months without any complaints.

Website link click here.

Supper at Ananda Bahwan

It was late at night, my wife is hungry as she came back late from work. Went to Ananda Bahwan Bagan Ajam. Ordered roti naan paratha  and roti naan. I'm having paratha for the first time. It looks like roti canai but a bigger version and is cooked in oven instead frying on hot pan like roti canai.
The roti paratha and naan came with 3 sauces which is chick pea (kacang kuda) curry, mint sauce and another which is made from tomato.

The roti paratha is a bit oily as they spread a bit of butter on top of it, but the smell is fragrant. The texture is almost similar to roti canai but less oily as it is baked instead of fried.

 Roti Paratha

 Roti Naan

Sports Drink do it at home

While reading Bikeradar's archive news,  I stumbled on an article on how to make your own Sports Drink which is published on April 2010. Although its an old article it is very interesting. To make a sports drink all we need is water, sugar and salt. There are 2 methods mentioned that is using table sugar and fruit sugar to make 1 liter of drink.

Table sugar 
1) 60 - 80gm of sugar.
2) 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
3)Some sugar free cordial and topping up with water to make 1 liter.

Fruit sugar
1) 400 - 600 mls of fruit juice.
2) add water to dilute until arrive at 1 ltr.
3) 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

The article also mentions using fruit juice is better compare to glucose only as fruit sugar is easier to be absorbed. Thus this will lead to better performance.

For the full article click here .

Lau Yu Coffee Shop Sungai Petani 2nd visit - tau fu fa, fried jawa mee & chee cheong fun

Visited this coffee shop again to try out their famous soya bean milk drink and and tau fu fa (tofu pudding) The tofu pudding is very smooth and soft and goes well with the black sugar syrup.

The fried mee jawa is also quite tasty. It's not common to find fried mee jawa. This is one place that I know sells it together with the normal mee jawa that has gravy.

 

Next is the chee cheong fun (rice noodle rolls), the rice rolls are cut quite thinly cut. By cutting thinly the sauce will be able to soak into the noddle rolls giving it the flavour.