adventuresoflingthemerciless

Friday, June 19, 2009

Mountain Biking NZ 2006

Mountain Bikin' NZ.....and yes, it's not a typo. It was in the year 2006!

It has taken me over 3 years to collate the albums of Ming, Broken Arm and myself, edit them and upload them onto Kodak gallery! Reason : too busy...and just plain lazy!

So, why Kiwiland?

Unparallelled beauty...

Skydiving over breathtaking Lord of the Rings scenery....

Donning of penguin suits...

Bluebones (then red-haired Firefly) rides over the Land Over the Long White Cloud...

Dial-a-Lama

Gettin' cozy with NZ wool...

Gettin' stuck in Korean jail located somewhere in Lord of the Rings Part 2

Did I say, this place is absolutely gorgeous?

Backdrops to die for....tho' we didn't attempt any suicidal stunts on the grade 2 trails....

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Saskia's 2nd Birthday

Has it already been 2 years, my sweet?

Brought 'em doggies out to the K9 Cafe @ K9 Culture (Turf City).
All of Saskia's old friends were there :
L to R (Dog nanny extraordinare Salma, Tobes, moi, pops, Sassy, Rosco, Andrew, Janice, Sally, Jessie, Pling, Chris, Mingloig, Nik and Rusty...

Ordered an apply-flavoured cheesecake from US Doggie Bakery, located just opposite this cafe. Totally human grade, made of organic ingredients and minimal sugar - healthy!
If it's good nuff for 'em pooches, it's good nuff for that pouch!

Saskia wastes no time in diggin' in!

Saskia and Toby, you guys truly are the love of our lives!

For more photos of Saskia's birthday :-
Ling's Facebook Album
Janice's Facebook Album

Toby's Adoption Video

The video Southpark sent to us about adopting the construction doggies.

Toby, you got us at "hello"!

BTW, Toby's the frisky brownie one with the white eye shadow, greeting everyone that crosses his way.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

2 MTB Hall of Famers? pinch me, quick

When we were first graced with the guest appearance of Tinker Juarez in last year's Bike Asia 100, that was when I first learnt about the "Mountain Bike Hall of Fame".

What exactly was this hall of fame? Was it a who's who in MTBing list? A real hall with walls filled with photos of biking celebrities? Was it a museum of some kind?

It was when we researched on our biking destination, Crested Butte in Colorado, that I found out that...

"The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and Museum (MBHOF) is located in downtown Crested Butte at 331 Elk Avenue within the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum. [This] biking museum houses items of memorabilia, including vintage bikes, components, classic photos, press clippings and highlights from historic races and events....

The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Crested Butte, Colorado, was founded in 1988 to chronicle the history of mountain biking. Since the sport’s creation almost thirty years ago, mountain biking has grown immensely and the Hall of Fame has worked to document the individuals and events which have significantly contributed to mountain biking history....

As of 2007, the MBHOF has inducted 100 individuals and 4 groups who have made major contributions to mountain biking, the inductee’s photos and biographies line the walls of the museum. You can find their names listed on this web site in the inductees section."

Above, a photo I took of the glass facade entrance into the quaint little museum, tucked away in a sweet little town called Crested Butte where mountain biking was born!

Above, us checking out the walls decorated with vintage biking memorabilia, photos, posters...for more photos, click on my facebook album. And if you wana know what awesome riding we did in Crested Butte, check out some of my facebook albums...(just flip thru the albums and you'll see a couple of 'em)

Tinker Juarez was inducted into the BMX Hall of Fame in 1993, and then into the MTB Hall of Fame in 2001. Last year, I had my first brush with this MTBing royalty! I attended his talk organised by ANZA in 2008, and had a great time chatting with him about almost anything under the sun (see photos)!

This year, Tinker gave another talk at SAFRA Yishun which we helped to organise. He gave us a great insight into the minds of a world class champion. He's so softspoken and humble, yet so determined and inspiring at the same time.

Above, the lucky few who attended the sharing session with Tinker. For more photos click here.

I couldn't believe my ears when Max told me that Trek was bringing in Gary Fisher as well! OMG! I remember writing a blog about Gary "Does a Bike have a Soul" back in 2005...and now, I'm meeting my bike guru in person! Unbelievable!

As evidence that Gary really was here in Singapore, click here.

As part of the publicity for the eneloop race, I was half joking when I was wrote :-

"Gary Fisher, the "Founding Father of Mountain Bikes" and another Mountainbike Hall of Famer, will be gracing our Tampines mountainbike trails for the Great Singapore Mountainbike Carnival!

Come join the legend in merry making, and chat about the future of mountainbiking over a couple of beers! Truly a lifetime opportunity not to be missed!"

Being busy with the race and all, I thought the only time I can say that I've had a decent conversation with Gary was when I showed him the way to his makeshift changing room (i.e. the container where we store the stores). I apologised that we couldn't offer him a 5 star changing room, and he was most gentlemanly about it, reassuring me that he's used to all this, given the gazillion races that he's been to.

After the prizegiving ceremony when we were having some coffee, just when I thought I'd missed my chance, Max tells me that he's still signing autographs at T3 Bicycle Gears! We all rushed down in the pouring rain and really did chat about the future of mountainbiking...over some coffee! :)

Above, the Gary Fisher magazine article which totally inspired me! 2-wheeled poetry!

"I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: The best bike is one that disappears when you ride it. I live for the moments when the bike just blots itself out, and every little element is singing the same note - me, the bike, the trail, the sky, the dirt. Yes, yes, yes.

Maybe what I’m trying to say is this: ride more.

Get on a bike. Fall off a bike.
Leave something of yourself in it.

Does a bike have a soul? Only if you do."

More info on these 2 icon.....
http://singaporemtbcarnival.com/pressrelease/athleteprofile

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Sabah Adventure Challenge 2009 - Articles, Albums, Blogs

ARTICLES

(above) Daily Express, 10th April 2009

(above) Borneo Post, 15th April 2009

More articles available here :
Daily Express

BLOGS
CitizenSierra

ALBUMS

Avtar
(race organiser)

Cabreney Johnny
(excellent photographer who took photos of 2 x Team Casero, his brother being in one of them)

KC (Race)
(Our navigator from last year whom we adopted after his teammates dropped out of the race due to injuries)

Ken (Pre-Race)
Ken (Day 1)
Ken (Day 2)
Ken (Day 3)
(Fellow teammate, Ken Lopez)

Ling (Part 1, Day 1 of SAC 09 Tour)
Ling (Part 2, Day 2 of SAC 09 Tour)
Ling (Part 3, Day 3 of SAC 09 Tour, Day 1 of Race)
Ling (Part 4, Day 4 of SAC 09 Tour, Day 2 of Race)
Ling (Part 5, Villagers Performance)
Ling (Part 6, Day 5 of SAC 09 Tour, Day 3 of Race)
Ling (Part 7, Last few days of SAC 09 Tour)
This is me, part of Team FliK comprising Foo, Ling and Ken (hence, FliK - I know, quite spastic how we came up with the name)
Will post post-race photos of Klias River Tours in another blog

Soon (Part 1 - Pre-Race)
Soon (Part 2 - Race)
(one of the KL mtbers racing with Adilah)

Wiwin (Many Albums)
(she's one of the only 2-woman team who came in 4th in the Adventure category)

Sabah Adventure Challenge 2009 - Jason's Videos

What a start to a new year! Ken, Foo and I teamed up for this year's 10th edition of the SAC 09. Will write more about our account, but you just gotta check out the product of fellow Singaporean team Jason Boon's Hero helmetcam....friggin' awesome stuff!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

The Great Singapore MTB Carnival 2009

The race is here once again!
Click on http://singaporemtbcarnival.com/ if you wana register or find out more!

For your benefit, am cutting and pasting the info below.

Tinker Juarez is reprising his role as our MTB all-time-MTBing icon, so if anything, come down to see him race! Check out his blog : http://tinkerjuarez.blogspot.com/2009/01/great-singapore-mountain-bike-carnival.html

What's Up?!

To start off for the new offroad season, we have planned for you a wicked filthy weekend of fun!

Whether you're an elite racer, weekend warrior, mountain biker, downhiller, roadie, cross-country runner, tri-athlete, duathlete, adventure racer, or someone looking to try something new, you will be spoilt for choice with the various competitive events we have lined for you as part of The Great Singapore Mountainbike Carnival 2009! Bring your family, friends and pets along! Live music will be rocking the Tampines trail, while a food bazaar will make you hungry for more. Join the mountain bike carnival, and just have plain old-fashioned fun.

100km MTB Marathon

Last year, you raced side-by-side with Endurance Solo Specialist Tinker Juarez, reigning US 24hr Champion, 2-time Olympian and a mountainbiker hall of famer, blasting it out with other regional top riders.

In the 2009 edition of the century-race, instead of enduring the unforgiving heat, be prepared to ride into the cool sunset, put on those in-built night vision goggles, blast those flood lights and to take on Singapore's 1st 100km mountain bike race under the stars!

You can either race SOLO, or form Men's or Mixed DUO RELAY (teams of 2) or QUAD RELAY teams (teams of 4). Whatever floats your boat (or bike), just be sure to finish all 100km within 8 hours!

Half the fun is in having a support team that will just hang loose while you suffer (don't forget the beer), so leave no one (not even your pets) at home!

Be part of the 1st Night 100km Mountain Bike Marathon in Singapore!

Dirty Duathlon

Are you a competitive duathlete who's keen to test your mettle at the Tampines trails?
Or a cross country runner who's looking for some action?
Do you enjoy offroad running as much as you do offroad biking?
Or are you game to try a new multisport experience?

This Run-Bike-Run event is right up your alley!

The "full works" Dirty Duathlon caters to the experienced multisports athlete, while the Sprint Dirty Duathlon is an option for a firstimer duathlete.

You an either race SOLO, or form a Men's or Mixed Relay RELAY team.

The course layout is simple, yet challenging, so be prepared for some

Be part of the 1st Dirty Duathlon in Singapore!

Super D Race

Are you a downhiller lookin' for some fast-paced downhill adrenalin?
Or do you have a big burly All-mountain bike sittin' at home accumulating cobwebs?
Have you been watchin' cool free riding vidz lately and wishin' you had the guts to go with the flow?

Well, we have in store for you our classic Super D course : no drop is too worrisome, no jump that is forced upon, only sweet flowlines that'll leave you with a grin....and a sore shoulder from the thrill of bombing down a small schweeet hill.

You can race using your XC hardtail or your double crown DH bike, but the All-mountain bike will be best!

You can join either the Elite, or Mens Open or Womens Open category.

Be part of the 1st Super D Race in Tampines!

Short Track Race

Are you a speed demon who's got a need for speed?
Or a roadie who excels in criterium-style races?
Not much of an enduro-racer, but in for a short but fast race?

Our 10-minute Short Track Race is just what you're looking for!

This is the second time we are introducing the short-track course in Singapore. It is essentially a fast flowing criterium style mountain bike race within a short 1km course. You have to complete laps within 10 minutes, but do not be fooled by the short duration. You're main aim is not be lapped by the fastest rider! Apart from speed, skills in cornering and drifting through the corner would be a huge bonus!

Grab your stiffest hardtail and whip everyone off the circuit. Just don't get lapped!

You can join either the Elite or Open categories for Men and Women.

Be part of the 1st Short Track Race in Tampines!

Speed Trials

Ever dream of an urban free-ride race that you will put your skills to the test?
Or even an event to showcase your agility and balance over obstacles?

We'll bring you underground.

The Speed Trails lets you race in tandem with another rider over a series of obstacles. First rider to cross the finish line wins! It's that simple.....well, only if you have what it takes - balance, control, guts and bike trial skills will definitely help!

If you've got what it takes to ride technical trails, like Kent Ridge's 'North Shore'-esque obstacles, you're all set to try this challenge!

Schools Challenge

We would like to take this opportunity to encourage youth development of the sport of mountain biking by offering school students the Short Track Schools Challenge and the 100km School category at a reasonable and affordable price. We are encouraging student biking enthusiasts within the age group of 14 - 18 yrs as at 1 January 2009 to don their school colours and take part to win honours for their school. It would also attract schools with a strong sports reputation striving for another sports title feather they can add to their cap. School representatives will then encourage their classmates and family members to partake in the sport of cycling, which is ranked noe of the most popular sports in Singapore.

Kids Race

Our Kids Race is finally back! If you are a boy or girl who's 13 years and below, you can take part in either Kids C (10 - 13 yrs as at 1 January 2009) or Kids D (9 yrs and below). You will be racing a couple of laps around the short track course and will be the centre of attention in the whole event!

Kids, what will we do without them?

Rock Concert and Carnival

BTW, there will be loud music, bands playing, and a family carnival so leave no one at home!!!

Pls pass this information onto your friends, family members, pets....

Ling the Merciless

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Chi Reporting : 2008 IMBA Conference

DAY 1

Ahhh... This sucks....

UA lost my bike between SFO and SLC!!!

I've used up my whole load of expletives already.

Anyway, the kind lady from IMBA here, Patti, says that she'll set me up with a bike for the trail rides. Choices are either a Trek or Cannondale.

Decisions decisions.

I can see the big Trek demo van outside and the weather here in Park City is really nice. It's turning out to be very hot though, up to 37 deg C in Moab.

The riding vibe is fantastic as the whole town has been invaded by MTBers.

I'm hoping they find my bike bag.

Chi

DAY 2

Ok, some good news is that they found my bike bag and it's on its way to me as I type this. It's about midnight here now and will arrive by 2am. Hope nothing is broken.

Today, while the rest were busy with the IMBA conference, I went for a walk around town hitting all the bike shops. Trek got me set up with a Fuel Ex 9.5 full carbon rig for today's ride. I found it a little twitchy but I'm not complaining.

Hui Min did the Intermediate advance, while Max, Ling and myself did the Intermediate. After our NZ experience, we thought we'd better start off easy. Good thing we did coz we are at 2800 masl, and whatever short climbs we did, we were breathless.

It was nearly all singletrack and the bits that go down were fantastic. All swoopy and curved. Nothing very technical at all. Our ride leader was a guuuurrrrrl. And man, was she fit but a little crazy. She went riding when she was almost 9 months pregnant (2 days before the baby was due) and her water broke on the trail!

We spent about 2 hours riding before returning to base. I had to return the demo bike but I get to collect a different one tomorrow. He did ask if I wanted the Trek Session. I think that bike is more up Wayne's alley.

So to top it off, we gathered at the local library after showering and indulged in free beer (as many bottles as you can take) from the microbrewery that supports IMBA and is situated around the corner. This was followed by a screening of several short films done by bikers and chosen by IMBA to showcase IMBA work as well as riders who ride really remote places in Canada and one guy who rode a fixie along the Great Divide, which is only about oh 2500 miles long (soul riders).

One of the short films (which was screened in High Def here) was this one :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT0YyN8oLQs

Then they threw lots of schwag into the audience (stuff like gloves, socks) and there was a raffle with stuff like forks and a full sus frame being given away.

After that, they screened Seasons by the Collective. http://www.thecollectivefilm.com/

And then it was off to buffalo burgers for dinner.

Ling has all the pics.

Chi

DAY 3

Day two was much better.

Collected rental car from the airport (Dodge Grand Caravan - mahal man!).

Fixed up my Blur which finally arrived. Found that they warped the front disc and also bent a bit of my big chain ring (kinda like what happened to Nik's in NZ).

Brought it to the SRAM tent and they fixed me up. Straightened my disc brakes (Avid belongs to them), tuned my Revelation (Rockshox also belongs to them), found a loose pivot, and gave the bike a free tune up.

Couldn't do anything about the big chain ring though. I would have to go buy one here but looking at the terrain, I don't think I'll be doing much pedalling in the big ring.

When I told them that my brake pads were Koolstops, they immediately gave me 2 sets of Avid metallic brake pads. How cool is that??!! Then they showed me their new Ultimates in blue (Nik's previous Volvo's blue) and in white and told us they will be out soon. When Max saw these, he had a gleam in his eye.

I ended up buying them beers for all the free work they did.

After an IMBA sponsored lunch and group photo of all the IMBA participants, we split into 3 groups and went for the rides. Max, Ling and I did the intermediate again, but today, there was a lot of climbing. The reward was of course the downhills that followed.

Hui Min went off with the Advanced Group (check out the guurrrls.jpg) and did dirt jumping.

3 hours, only 24 km, and we're so dead but all with big happy grins. We started at 5pm and ended at 8. Long summer days. Heaven.

There were all sorts of bikes on the rides - full sus, hard tail, full rigid, full rigid single speed, full rigid fixie, full rigid fixie hand built in Montana with a waiting list of 10 years, etc etc...

Tonight, the main street in town is closed to traffic and they have a Jazz and food festival!!!

They also have a night ride, which HM is participating in right now at 10pm.

Brave soul.

The rest of us will pack and sleep. Tomorrow at 7.30am, they have arranged for us to shuttle to the trail head where they will serve us breakfast. Then at 9am, we head out for the Kona epic ride. It's only 20 or 28 miles BUT there are lots of climbs. Somewhere in the middle, I heard that they also arranged for some bbqed sausages. Must be a rumour. At least that will keep me going.

Gdnight.

CLICK HERE FOR CHI'S ALBUM.

IMBA World Summit 2008

Earlier in June this year, Max, HM, Chi and I flew all the way to Park City, Utah for the 2008 IMBA World Summit. It was the first time that us DirTraction folk had attended one of these summits. I must say it was well worth the effort in travelling that distance to rub shoulders and exchange ideas with other like-minded folks in MTB-related industries both local and international.

The summit was held at the Park City Marriott over 4 days from 18-21 June. We met mountain biking advocates, land managers, ski resort professionals, trailbuilders, park and urban planners, tourism officials and other representatives from the bike industry.

A typical summit day ran like this :-

- Yummy breakfast and chit chat

- The all important opening / closing speech for the first and last days

- Choice of workshops throughout the day (the topics were so interesting it was a tough decision just choosing which workshops to attend)

- And of course the moment we've all been waiting for *drumroll* - the guided networking rides! We could even pick and choose which ride was wana join to suit our riding levels!

K, enough said. Let da photos do da talkin'.

Day 1 (2 albums)

Day 2 (2 albums)

Day 3 (2 albums)

Day 4 (1 album)

Big thanks for IMBA Trail Specialist, Joey Klein who beckoned us to go join other like-minded mountain biking enthusiasts from around the globe at this summit! We'd definitely try to save up for the next summit! And to Patti Bonnet for taking care of us!

Watch this space for more photos of our rides in Crested Butte, Moab and Hawaii!!!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Extreme Sabbatical

I know, I know. It's been more than 5 months since I last posted! Can't believe time flies when ya havin' the time of ya life!

Lemme see, what have I done so far this year? Hmmmm......in a nutshell....

1. Helped out with the organisation of Bike Asia 100 (no riding, fat cells unite)

2. Helped out as a bike lead rider for the 84 km Sundown Marathon and 70.3! Also led a Lexxus who blasted his way through 50 kilometers of off-road running for TNF100, which DirTraction organised! Never done so much lead riding for events for the two legged athletes! (still no real ridin'! hmmm.....well, not at the pace at which the runners were going, save for TNF100! That fella was flying I tell ya!)

3. Joined the 3-day Sabah Adventure Race and got drastically lost twice on the first day! My race partner, Ken wanted to quit on me at the end of each day, but I managed to coax him to suffer yet another day...and another...and another. On the last day, heat stroke lashed at him, and our team DNF! Sigh.....but I made it to the finish line with 2 other competitors from 2 different teams, whose respective partners had also DNF! (no lucky breaks this time - sigh)

4. Team Mingling reprised their roles in City Chase 2008, but alas, luck was definitely not on our side when enroute to CP1, Ming lost his IC, credit card, $200 and MRT card! And that was only the beginning of a really sad, sad story! Will leave the story for another day! (lucky breaks? think quota used in last few years already)

5. Wanted to form an all ladies team for the Ace Adventure "From Dusk to Dawn" race, but Becks recently discovered her spinal injury re-surfaced, so kissed the ladies team goodbye! My other slack male buddies couldn't tahan all the knee-busting running, signature of almost all Ace races I've joined, so no team, no race! Sigh....

Now, for the good stuff that makes all the nightmares go away.....

6. Attended the 2008 IMBA World Summit in Utah! Managed to cover more riding in Crested Butte, Moab and Hawaii! Photos to be posted soon! [Teaser photo above taken at Moab]

7. Just came back from a week's riding in Bali! Sweet! Again, photos and videos waitin' to be screened!

Looks like this is a better year than never to take my sabbatical (from extreme gruelling suffering)!

Lock ya eyes on this space.....for more riding photo journals of Ling the Merciless....