Monthly Archives: November 2012

PSLE results today – you are special no matter what

No one can argue the stresses our kids go through these days, not to mention the anxiety and pressure too for Singaporean parents in our rat race.

Today many of our cherished 12year olds will get their PSLE results and we just want to take a moment to wish our children and parents calm and patience  that our children no matter how they do in the PSLE  – ARE our children.

Good results or not so good, give them a hug. And friends and patrons of My Bike Shop who have their kids with results today, you have done your best too.
Really applaude the announcements yesterday by the govt not to highlight the top schools or scorers in the press. We should just dedicate a fixed budget for every child enrolled in every school so that the school has the resources to hire the best or invest in the best for our kids no matter which school. They are our future and there’s that many Singaporeans we have now with our declining birthrate. Let’s do what we can for them.

 

Rain rain go away, come again another day – monsoon season and keeping safe

With the rainy season ahead of us, road conditions are wet and fallen dead leaves, or twig,  fruit can be a cause of your spill. So even MORE you have to be guarded with safety gear (Bike helmet and brightly coloured raincoat) has to be considered.

Even motor vehicles have poorer visibility ( see pictures of view from the inside of the car) can be highly dangerous when the roads are wet. Wet weather radically alters the conditions for the bike rider, meaning the cycling techniques employed in dry conditions have to be adjusted accordingly.

Wet weather leads to a soggy and cold ride, there is also a significant effect on a bike’s tires, brakes and also on a cyclist’s visibility and braking distances.  Here are things to bear in mind if you plan to ride in the rain.

Bicycle tires

Rain affects the grip of tires on the road so it is necessary to reduce speeds. No amount of tread design will help you grab traction over steel plates that you see often on our roads where construction takes place if you do a hard brake on wet steel plates. So please make sure that you hold steady you ride and ride upright and alert.

Bike brakes

Wet bicycle brake pads are less effective. To keep the brakes in a condition where they will produce some braking even when wet, it is best to keep some light pressure on the brake pads. The pads rubbing against the wheel rims wipes away the water so they can respond when pressed.

Cycling visibility

In heavy rain, visibility typically will be poor, with water running into the eyes and spray coming up from other vehicles or cyclists. Glasses with clear or yellow lenses produce the best visibility in heavy rain. Also it is best to make yourself visible to others with a brightly coloured rain jacket and switch on your lights.Whatever you decide on your cycling jacket needs to be water resistant and breathable.

Cycling in groups

When riding with others, keep a longer distance away from the front rider as this throws up spray and grit. Also, stopping distances will be affected in the wet so it is best to keep a safe distance apart to avoid collisions.

Cornering on your bicycle in the wet

When cornering, it is best to keep the cycle more upright than in dry conditions.

Cycling is a sport that one has to be safe and know what you are doing. Helmets are a must even at low speeds and we always tell everyone – get a helmet, its not always about you falling down but you never know who might just ramp you from behind or from the side. Many studies have proven ( see this one done in Australia http://ors.wa.gov.au/Documents/Cycling-Safety-Forum/cyclists-forum1-haworth.aspx  , 69% reduction in head/brain injuries and 65% reduction in facial injuries for cyclists involved in accidents

Many people even  tell us – “I ride very slow”. Even at low speeds of 15-18 km/h, worst when you come downhill, hitting anything at 30km/h will result in serious injuries. See research done on this http://bmj-injuryprev.highwire.org/content/3/2/110.full.pdf  Authors gave a questionnaire to 3,390 bicycle riders who had attended a hospital emergency department in the Seattle area. They found that cyclists involved in a crash at a speed greater than 15 miles per hour were 1.4 times as likely to have a “severe” injury (defined as an injury severity score greater than 8) as cyclists involved in a crash at a speed of 15 miles per hour or less (15 mph = 24 km/h).

But always after the rain, the sun and dry weather will return..so ride safe!

November arrivals and pre-orders

Introducing the Tern Link D7i,

Tern Link D7i

Features:

  1. Shimano Nexus 7 Drivetrain – Hub gears require less maintenance, allows shifting whilst the bike is at a standstill (like after stopping at a traffic junction), smooth gear shifting.

  2. Biologic Portage Rack – Great for running errands, carrying your stuff using the elastic luggage strap to secure your bag to the rack. The rack is also compatible with all KLICKfix attachments, including the BioLogic Commute bag.

New Arrivals:

  1. Tern Link D7i (black/grey), $1100 Special promo (RRP $1275) includes racks & fenders
  2. Tern Link C7 (black/grey), $595.
  3. Tern Link Uno (black/grey), $999 with fenders.
  4. Tern Verge Duo (black/grey, black/pink), $1350 with fenders.

Pre-Orders for these bikes are now open!

  1. Tern Verge X30 (arriving in mid-dec), $2999. Pre-order today with full payment and receive a FREE bundle worth $90 (Biologic Dry Bag and Cyclotunes speaker), while stocks last!
  2. Tyrell FX  (yellow, orange), $2500.
  3. Tyrell CSI (matt black, blue, red, scotch brite), $3750.
  4. Tyrell CX (matt spark iron), $2650.
  5. Alex Moulton TSR 9 (black, burgundy, midnight blue, ivory, white, regency green), $2850.

Don’t miss out on this chance to meet, test and own these ever sought after bikes from:

Tyrell – Japan’s No.1 selling mini-velo brand, quality finish, light and fast.

Alex Moulton – Rich heritage, Beautiful Craftsmanship, pioneering the small wheels revolution since 1960s

Tern – Designed by cyclists for cyclists, providing quality folding bikes, committment to a sustainable future.

My Bike Shop catalog goes E version

We support lowering carbon footprint and that’s why we encourage the use of bicycles where you can. In fact if you noticed, our outlets have REAL plants inside and outside to make our patrons feel more relaxed and warm.

While we use Inverter ACs and supplement the aircon fancoils with the use of fans in the shop, I think everyone appreciates the cool AC and also the sofas to rest after all that trial and cycling at our shops.

So we try our best to create as much green as possible but upkeeping these plants and preventing mosquito breeding is our utmost priority so we make sure that no water ponding occurs. And with the exception of 6 Elephant ear bulbs which we bought, the rest are plants we grafted or saved when people do not want them.

We have always been asked about catalogs and price lists and so after working very hard with a customer of ours ( Who owns BST Mobile – an Android App developer for the top OEMs)  who very kindly, designed an E catalog that would run on Android Tab and has a CMS (meaning an entry system via the web to update the database). We now have a first version of a E catalog!

This means we have almost real time update of the models in stock and also the key vital stats like color, RRPs, key specs for My Bike Shop patrons to browse.  We are still running trials but by using this format, it’s our own way of not printing more brochures and flyers that end up in the trash.

And from last night’s field attempt, we were able to leave all the paper catalogs at “shop” and just bring 2 Samsung Tabs for interested parties to browse. That’s what we call cool! We could then run videos and screen capture of people riding their folding bikes!

Syntace Accessories are now available at My Bike Shop!

Syntace’s Guarantee and Warranty

Syntace products are put through rigorous tests like the VR-3 Test Machine, Corrosion testing, Hardness testing, Impact testing and hand measurement. Syntace offers 10 years warranty* from date of purchase on all material and manufacturing defects. (*Limited warranty indicated by Syntace, find out more here)

Our range of Syntace accessories

Our range of Syntace accessories include Road stems, handlebars and accessories that are compatible with most of our folding bikes. For more information, please refer to the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.447220505315768.90830.233222840048870&type=1

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As mentioned in their website:

“Syntace Quality is guaranteed through thoughtful design, constantly challenged by rigorous testing using our VR-3 and Impact testing machines. We have examined all the load variables in normal and extreme use as indicated by, for example, real-world testing monitored and reported by strategically-placed strain guages. The loads are then converted into repeatable, consistent test protocols which are employed to simulate forecast normal and extreme use over the forseeable life of the product. The millions of focused test cycles allow us to offer the following Limited Warranty.”

“Limited Warranty: Syntace USA, Inc. and Syntace GmbH (collectively,“Syntace”) warrant the original retail purchaser that the covered product is free from defects in materials and workmanship. This warranty is valid for ten years from the date of purchase. Syntace’s sole obligation under this warranty is to repair or replace, at Syntace’s option, the Syntace product in question. Limitations of the Warranty The duration of any implied warranty regarding condition, merchantability, and fitness for an application or otherwise is limited to the duration of the express warranty above. In no event shall Syntace be responsible in any way for any loss, inconvenience or damage that results from breach of any express or implied warranty as set forth above. Some states do not allow limitations on the length of an implied warranty, and some states, provinces or countries do not allow exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. To Make A Claim If you feel that you have a valid warranty claim, you must send your Syntace product along with satisfactory proof of purchase date (i.e., cash register receipt, charge card receipt, etc.) and a written explanation of your claim to Syntace USA, Inc. or Syntace GmbH at their respective addresses. Thank you.”