721 new parts 26 Aug 11

Wuddup pedallers,

Just wanna share with you some new parts that i obtained recently.. These are what sticks on my 721 now. Notice any differences from the last post? =)

Michelin Pro Race 700c x 28 slick tyre + custom-painted "Stars" front rim

Stars rim custom-painted at @CaramelBikes by Sunu and team.

Eightinch front hub

MKS "Silvan" track pedals

BLB rear hub

Dodici rear rim + Vittoria Randoneur 700c x 28

I can safely say that it is now 90% done. I'll be needing new 46t crank sets and a new chain, and i'll be 100% done with this. For now, at least =)

Regards,

Donny a.k.a Speeder

Leader 721 parts breakdown

Wuddup pedalers!

Forgive me, i'm still mesmerized by the awesomness of the 721. It's so awesome i decided to create this collage of the bike and its parts. Bear with me on this :) enjoy.







See you on my next post. Be safe and keep on pedalling.

Regards,
Donny a.k.a Speeder

The Best Car Free Day Ever?

Wuddup pedalers,

Sunday 31 July 2011. Probably means nothing to you or to a million other people. But this was a day to be cherished. Why?

• I got a fresh ride *victory dance*
• 95% of my @morningridecrew riding buddies are here
• We're about to get nice breakfast --> good news for me :)
  

We started at Grand Lucky SCBD, as we do every Sunday. Quite surprised at the turnout. Everybody was in a good mood, probably because this is the last day before Ramadhan fasting month begins on Monday 1 August 2011.



So we made our way to Bubur Kwang Tung at Pecenongan, Jakarta, which is a totally awesome restaurant that sells porridge. Any kind of halal porridge, that is.



The way back from Kwang Tung was a total blast also. We took the Car Free Day route of Thamrin-Sudirman on our way back to Grand Lucky. Never realized there's so many of us.. but then none of us ever experienced a Car Free Day this empty!




Normally, Car Free Days are packed with cyclist, runners, and people. But this time, it was sooo empty. It made me think, "Could this be The Best Car Free Day Ever?"

That's it from me this time, from all of us at @morningridecrew we wish you a pleasant Ramadhan Fasting Month ahead. Peace.



Regards,
Donny a.k.a Speeder

WELCOME 2011 LEADER 721TR V2.5 a.k.a LORD VADER

Wuddup Pedalers,

Been riding a fixed gear bike for almost 3 years now.. and after almost 3 years of researching and experimenting to search for what is best for myself, evolution has finally happened.

From unknown roadbike-fixed-gear wannabe to VISP track bike, please welcome the latest evolution in my fixedgear-biking journey: 2011 LEADER 721TR V2.5 a.k.a LORD VADER.



What's the difference between Lord Vader and the VISP?

Even though it's a track bike like the VISP, the difference is definitely there. The VISP is light and finished with light materials (thin paint). This could be both good AND bad.. for example: lighter means faster speed pickup from standstill, but tends to "float" at high speed especially when windy.

The 721 is slightly heavier and bulkier, but gives the same speed pickup as the lighter VISP when starting from standstill. Lord Vader is a lot more stable at high speed, but i tend to get tired after some time at high speed when trying to catch up with the Cinelli Mash. Note to self: It might be wise to upgrade my crank to 48t so i can get better pulling power for myself at high speed.

Shape wise.. there's only so much the designers can do with a track bike of this price range, i guess. Like iPad and Galaxy Tab, the designers at Samsung couldn't think of any better design to apply on a tablet pc. Hence the likeness (and the lawsuit that soon followed =P). Ditto with Leader and VISP, the design similarities between 721 and TRX790 are definitely there.

Value wise, definitely worth every penny saved and spent. Nuff said!

If you're interested in getting a 721 also, go to http://leaderbikeusa.com/?p=839 for clearer looks of the frame. You'll know that it's totally different than VISP & PCO.



If you're interested in seeing more pics of mine, go to http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150330382251411.397670.562981410. Anyways, here's some of 'em:



Overall: definitely recommended. Lord Vader may not be the best Leader 721 yet out there, but riding it made me feel like a million bucks simply from the riding and handling standpoint. I will definitely get better parts to match it.

That's it from me this time. I'd love to hear comments from other 721 owners out there, so drop me a line and thanks everybody for reading.

Regards,
Donny a.k.a Speeder

Coming Soon: an evolution in biking

Dear Pedalers,

I've had a bike before the VISP. It was more of an experimental bike, really.. i bought it out of curiosity because i wanted to have a fixed gear bycicle. Personally, i bought it for far too expensive. i didn't know from what brand the frame was, i didn't know what were the parts i was buying, i didn't know what was the size, and so on.

In my opinion, i got punked by the shop who sold me this. but hey, it's all part of learning. Friends who rode fixed gear and fixed gear parts were rarities back then, so i never really had a guideline in the beginning. i even participated in a fun bike event where i was the only fixed gear bike in a sea of mountain bikes =P

But it's all good you know.. i lived, learned, and ultimately evolved to become a better rider. As time progressed, i learned to ride better, chose better parts, and chose better riding buddies.

I don't fit well with skinny roadbike-styles, though.. they don't appear fast, and i looked like a circus bear riding a circus bike when i'm on one =D

I eventually upgraded from that bike, and got the VISP. over some time, i've grown accustomed to its track-style frame and have decided that this is the best frame style for me.

But even the VISP needed upgrading. But this time, i decided not to upgrade the VISP and its parts. I've decided that it's time to evolve. Why not change the game to suit my rules, once in a while?

Let's take a look at the chart below:



What will the VISP evolve into?? Stay tuned for the next post, folks =D

Regards,
Donny a.k.a Speeder

Bye-bye VISP.. it's not a farewell :)

Wuddup pedalers,

The VISP has been around for quite some time, and i've had tonnes of fun with it. It has helped shape me into the skinnier, leaner, and healthier person that i am now :) It has also helped me make new friends with the @morningridecrew, a group of riders who i now consider more than just cycling mates.

"The Trooper" will be facing a major face-lifting project soon. The project will mostly involve parts upgrade and a fresh color.

I leave you now with one last good look.. see you real soon, Trooper. This is NOT goodbye :)



Regards,
Donny a.k.a Speeder