Knee pain from cycling?

May 8, 2019May 5, 2019 ~ My Bike Shop Singapore

Just like everything else, the bicycle has to fit the rider’s anatomy. If we ride without adjusting the bicycle to our needs, it could result in knee pain, which is a common issue with riders.

The 4 most common causes of knee pains are due to improper saddle height or position, have a crank that is too long for the rider, rider pushing excessively high gears, or poor foot alignment.

Here are a few things you can try out before heading to the doctor’s.
If the pain is in the front of the knee (Anterior Pain):

Pushing too high gears -> Lower gear, and increase cadence

Saddle too low or far forward -> Raise seat or move seat back

Foot too far forward on the pedal -> Move foot back to have toes in line with the pedal

Crank arms too long -> Shorten crank arms by 2.5 cm
If the pain is in the back of the knee (Posterior Pain):

Saddle too high or far back -> Lower seat, or move seat forward

Too much pedal float -> Limit float to 6 – 8 degrees
If the pain is in the inner side of the knee (Medial Pain):

Incorrect foot position on pedal (toes pointed out) -> Narrow foot position by adjusting foot parallel to bicycle

Too little pedal float -> Limit float to 6 – 8 degrees

If the pain is in the outer side of the knee (Lateral Pain):

Incorrect foot position on pedal (toes pointed in) -> Widen foot position by adjusting foot parallel to bicycle
Too little pedal float -> Limit float to 6 – 8 degrees

If all else fails, you might just need supplements to aid you. Consider Jointplex Pro. We sell them and many experience its efficacy.

Offering foldable bikes at that S$500 level THAT offers global make and quality

November 24, 2018November 29, 2018 ~ My Bike Shop Singapore

We need the exercise and we love cycling! We worked with our suppliers during this period and we lined up a few sub S$450 – S$550 price tag foldable bikes that must meet below criterion:

A global brand
FIVE years warranty
Optional upgrades: Fenders and Rear rack (Hey its rainy season and at least there are affordable upgrades)
At least 6 speeds
Designed with folding joints that won’t hurt your fingers ( or wallets)
Take rider weights of at least 105kg
Priced between S$450 – S$550

So here is our lineup (unless stated, prices are without fenders and rack):

Tern – Link A7, stepped down from Link B7/C7 ( no front luggage truss mount) at S$499, is the 3rd iteration of the value foldable.

Review on Link A7

pilot-1406-country-f — Junction 1406 – 6 speeds 16 inch

Bickerton Portables – the widest line up with 16 inch Junction 1406 S$399. (comes with rack and fenders)

or 20 inch Junction 1306 6 speeds at S$399 (If you are aged above 59 years, we sell you the bike for S$299) (including fenders and rack)

Bickerton Junction 1306 6 speeds 20 inch

1507 .jpg — Bickerton 1507 7 speeds 20 inch

and 7 speeds Junction 1507 S$499 that offers the new benchmark for a 7 speeds foldable at this price tag inclusive of rack and fenders.

How can one forget Dahon?

Dahon – Route/Vybe at ranging between S$499 and S$550

Read review on Vybe C7A

So many reasons you’d buy a foldable bike from us.

Cost of ownership: The average ownership of a well designed foldable that you could own and ride for 2 years. That’s only a less than S$20/mth for TWO years (or 67 cents a day investment), a small footprint, comes with gears and gives you plenty of natural endorphins each time you cycle. Do the maths, you’d understand why you should buy a reputable brand – it’s truly affordable now.

What if you want something better?

Care for your helmet, helps you take care of your scalp

October 22, 2016April 8, 2019 ~ My Bike Shop Singapore

Very often we have customers who refuse to don a bicycle helmet for various WRONG

reasons, from “not necessary” to “messes up my hair” to ” I am going at a slow speed” to “it’s too hot”. The bicycle helmets we sell range from S$49 to S$250 and we brought quality to every price category so the economics of owning a helmet is a weak one when you consider the fact that you need protection to your head when someone hits you.

HOWEVER, when it comes to care of your scalp which could lead to itchiness or hair root aggravation, we do ask that you take note of a few things:

1. Pick a good fit for the helmet

Too tight a fitting or too loose can lead to the helmet pulling on the roots of the hair. The scientific name is traction Alopecia. You can easily avoid any risk of traction alopecia due to wearing a helmet, by using a helmet of the right size that is not too tight or too loose on your head. Do the 2VI method.

While putting on the helmet also ensure that no hair is pulled very tightly by the helmet. Take your time every time you put it on, and continue jiggling and shifting the helmet till you reach the most comfortable position, when no hair is pulled back tightly. Also take care while taking off the helmet.

2. Keep your helmet clean and store it in an airy and hygienic place to avoid hair loss

As your scalp sweats up due to wearing a helmet, the inner layer of the helmet also gets wet with sweat. It is also important to clean the inner lining of your helmet regularly and to ensure that there is no fungal growth on the inner soft layer. Store your helmet in a hygienic and airy place so that it can easily get dried up and is not smelly. We recommend you shower with your helmet after each ride. No, you do not need to wear it but shampoo the straps and inner lining ( BUT we won’t stop you LoL)

3. Stay dry Along with the above you can also follow the following tips to avoid any hair loss caused due to wearing a helmet

Along with the above tips, you can also follow the following to avoid any hair loss caused due to wearing a helmet,

Every time you take a break between ridings, take off your helmet as well and give your hairs and the helmet some time to dry out.Towel down to dry faster
Wearing a piece of cloth or scarf on your head, covering your hairs before putting on the helmet can be a very effective way to reduce any risk of hair loss due to helmet. The cotton cloth will reduce any friction between the hairs and the helmet and will also soak the sweat quickly eliminating all the worries. However, always ensure that the cloth is washed and completely clean before putting it on.

Moulton SST – the engineer’s dream

October 16, 2016November 15, 2016 ~ My Bike Shop Singapore

The Moulton Spaceframe is so easily recognised. Unique, iconic, d0258552_17595385

engineering artistry with the frame lattice and just so classy in looks, it really sets you apart.

HOWEVER…

The stainless steel of Bradford made bikes are the epitome

moulton-masterpieces-speed

of the elite when it comes to small wheeled seperable or fixed bikes. Aircraft stainless steel frame but really expensive.

Introducing the New SST. Features the essential Moulton ‘ingredients’ but in a more affordable frame material:

Fillet-brazed construction in Columbus Spirit and Reynolds 525 CrMo steels.
Moulton leading-link front suspension (with soft rebound stops, hex key adjustment)
Moulton rubber-cone ‘Monosphere’ rear suspension, oversized rear pivot bearing.

Unified rear fork with triple-crankset/compact clearance.
Kingpin separability (hex-key operation).

Colours Britannia Red, Airforce Blue, Forest Green and Flight Grey. RRP S$6500 sst-britannia-red alexmoulton_sst_gray3 alexmoulton_sst_green30 sst-blue

Pay more than S$2500 for a folding bike?

January 24, 2016November 25, 2018 ~ My Bike Shop Singapore

We have almost all the marques from all over the world- Japan, UK, USA and Taiwan. So when it comes to folding bikes, we get customers who appreciate their top end bikes like they enjoy their fine dining, exquisite cars and their finer things in life. Like cars, the exquisite bicycle brands have models with very much similarity.

First, the Alex Moulton range, the cycling equivalent of owning a Bentley or Rolls Royce. The Moulton Bicycle is the original full-suspension, separable, small- wheeled, high-performance bicycle, world-renowned for speed, efficiency, durability and comfort.

Alex Moulton Speed with a Bentley in the backdrop

Double Pylon with Rolls Royce. Expertly engineered for over 50 years and handcrafted in England, these bicycles are the world’s most efficient form of transport – designed for universal use, real performance and comfort. These bikes are not hard to spot, whether gleaming in Stainless Steel or resplendent in a custom paint job. Starting at just over S$8,000 (AM Speed) and running as high as S$32,000 (Double Pylon) the powerhouse of the range is the Moulton Speed in Stainless Steel at just over S$15,000.

Alex Moulton Double Pylon. Did you know that the late Alex Moulton pioneered the suspension design that went into the Mini?

As a radical design, the Moulton bicycle – the first small-wheeled adult bicycle – needed credibility in the market and Alex Moulton realised the importance of this when planning the launch of the bicycle in 1962. Aided by his Marketing Manager David Duffield, himself a record-breaking cyclist, several riders were actively supported by Moulton. Coventry CC pursuit team were unstoppable on the track, their Moultons allowing them to keep in a tight group to reduce aerodynamic drag; road riders benefited from the reduced aerodynamic drag of the small wheels and, with reputation established, the Moulton became acceptable to the most discerning club cyclists. Following the introduction of the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) rule 1.3.018, Moultons are not permitted in road-racing events – this is why you never see them in events like the Tour de France – but they are still used in time-trials and for ultra-distance events.
Moulton Coventry CC 1962

How do you know you are staring at one of the high-end, handcrafted Moulton and not the standard Moulton TSR range (that gets you on a Moulton for just under S$3,000)? Other than the refined components, you will notice the “kinked” bottom section of the spaceframe. This is a dead giveaway that you are looking at a top end Moulton, with the enhanced performance and comfort characteristics. The Moulton Jubilee, is all about comfort, whether you are planning a touring trip or want comfort, control, and ease of riding as a weekend warrior.

The TSRs are truly awesome to ride, thanks to the late Dr Alex Moulton’s pioneering work on suspension design for small wheels. Moulton have taken everything they learnt in engineering design and conceived the SST. Although no “kinked” spaceframe, Moulton wanted to improve on the TSR series, and have introduced a whole host of engineering innovations – the SST is the result and costs less than S$6000.

If you want something lighter on your pockets – Tyrell FSX , retailing above S$4,000 and you get 406 wheels on lightning-fast frames and they come with a choice of Ultegra or 105

Next came the American revolution and putting the first man on the moon. Dahon. 35+ years in folding bikes. They celebrated with a 35th-anniversary bike Curl i8 but see challenges as they attack the Chinese markets. But still they have a few really nice new folds and innovation like the Dahon EEZZ.

Tern – HQ-ed out of Taiwan, management team trained in the USA and possessing a global mindset. Armed with innovations, Tern is like the Tesla brand of cars. Fast, eco-friendly in mind, innovations at many levels, a new look at folding bikes, putting together innovations at the component levels and winning awards across the globe.Tern introduced the 26 inch wheeled Eclipse X22. The Eclipse X22 is designed to be the fastest folding bike in the world. With hand-built 26” wheels and race-tuned geometry, it’s a full sized road bike, but it folds down small in 10 seconds. It boasts an Ultegra drivetrain, and—just in time for the UCI’s new regulations—a set of Shimano hydraulic disc brakes. With a stealth black finish, hydroformed fork, red Syntace accents, and perfected engineering, the X22 inaugurates a new chapter in Tern design. It sells for S$3800. The Eclipse P20 is a very affordbale S$2300.

26 inch based folding bikes that can rival roadbikes

For 2017, their answer for a top of the line premium bike – Verge X11 retailing at S$3,800. With a transmission range that spans a very wide range, you do away the dual chainring requirement.

So if you have S$2400 – S$2700 as a budget, that Dahon Mu SLX, Verge P10, Eclipse P20, Tyrell FX, Chedech, Moulton TSRs and even Tern Surge Pro (minivelo) is looking really within reach

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Cycling Myth Busters #3 – Balls of ceramic are better than balls of steel?

August 28, 2010August 27, 2010 ~ My Bike Shop Singapore ~ 2 Comments

This blog is really about Steel ball bearings versus Ceramic ball bearings. Enough has written about this subject but I thought I put together the topics the guys are pre-occupied with. But for those who already burn their wallets swapping out all their existing ball bearings to ceramic based ones – the answer is Yes.

First principles:

Metal balls are rolling, spherical elements that are used in check and ball valves, bearings, and other mechanical devices that provide rotary or linear motion. For us bikers, it means Headsets, Bottom Bracket, Hubs and Cranks . Surface Roughness measures the irregularities that form on the surface, but are not significant deviations. Basic diameter Tolerance is the maximum allowable deviation average diameter from the diameter specified.

Ceramic balls are made from inorganic, nonmetallic materials that are processed at high temperatures. Many ceramic balls are capable of achieving an extremely smooth surface finish to a high degree of tolerance. As a result Ceramic Balls have an extremely low coefficient of friction as compared to Metal Balls. Grinding removes cuts, scratches, scuffs, and other irregularities. Many ceramic balls exhibit much greater hardness than steel balls, resulting in longer life and improved reliability. Ceramic balls can also provide high stiffness, low thermal expansion, light weight, increased corrosion resistance, and electrical resistance. A wide assortment of Silicon Nitride Ceramic Balls, Alumina Oxide Ceramic Balls and Zirconia Ceramic Balls are now available.

Ceramic bearings benefits

35% less Thermal Expansion:
Think of putting a coke in the freezer. You have to allow for its expansion or you’ll blow the tin. Steel bearings are like the tin of pop. Ceramics on the other hand change size significantly less then steel with a given shift in temperature, thus raceways, rings and seals from a typical bearing can be made to much greater tolerances. They can even be fabricated with a smoother finish so vibration goes down and stability goes up.

50% less Conductivity:
Ceramics are electrically NON-conductive, and chemically inert, thus do not suffer from oxidation and the rust that degrades the surface of a traditional steel ball bearing. They suffer less heat damage since they don’t heat up as easily. This helps to maintain the spherical geometry of the ball bearings and significantly reduces your repair time.

60% less Weight:
Since silicon nitride is only about 40% of the weight of bearing steel the savings are obvious. Think about tying a heavy rock to the end of a rope. Its hard to get in motion and hard to stop. The lighter the rock the easier it is.

The issue of bearing weight is the same story. The heavier they are the more effort it takes to get them rolling and stopping. Thus ceramic bearings, with less then half the weight, and thus less rotating mass, will be much more responsive in acceleration and deceleration, with much less effort.

50% Higher Modulus of Elasticity:
that’s just a fancy way to test how easy it is to deform something. Ceramic has a 50% higher modulus of elasticity, so it takes a lot of work to alter its original shape. That gives you a much longer life expectancy in a hard wear zone like a bicycle’s bottom bracket.

Cold Welding:
Steel on steel has a nasty habit of welding itself together, that’s why you use anti-seize on some fittings. In a bearing the lubricate helps to prevent this but when bearings sit over the winter this can happen. Ceramic is NOT able to weld itself to steel. Steel and Ceramic are incompatible in that respect so cold welding is another difficulty you can avoid with ceramic ball bearings.

Research suggests that Bottom brackets equipped with ceramic bearings have a 5-10 times longer life. Industrial literature might suggest ceramics add 3-5 times the life expectancy. Either way we know they’ll be there longer than their carbon steel cousin.

Equally exciting, in tests with Olympic and professional racers and in controlled lab tests with wheels, ceramic bearings repeatedly show significantly less friction, making for faster speeds, acceleration and deceleration with less force.

So whats not to like? Only the price. Ceramic Bearings are easy to justify with longer life, less vibration, more speed but at maybe 5 times the price of traditional bearings the questions still remains as to whether you can justify the added cost?

Approximate values:	Silicon Nitride	Zirconium Oxide	Steel
Density	.11 lb/in3	.21 lb/in3	.28 lb/in3
Hardness (Vickers Hardness Scale)	1580 kg/mm2	1300 kg/mm2	700 kg/mm2
Maximum Use Temperature	1000C	1500 C	300F
Corrosion Resistance	Excellent -Chemically inert		Poor