Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Rodriguez 8-Ball

Most Interesting S&S Coupling Bicycle

 In Singular Mode
 Photo Coutesy of Rodriguez Bicycles

As a Tandem
 Photo Coutesy of Rodriguez Bicycles

Read the interview with the S&S Couplings's inventor in Cycloculture

Dear Motorist



From: urbanvelo

Friday, December 6, 2013

R.I.P. Nelson Mandela (1918 - 2013)

He was The Man.
Berikut ini adalah kutipan-kutipan Paling Inspiratif dari Nelson Mandela:

1. Tak ada orang yang terlahir untuk membenci orang lain karena warna kulitnya, latar belakangnya, atau agamanya. Orang harus belajar untuk membenci. Jika bisa belajar untuk membenci, maka mereka bisa diajar untuk mengasihi karena kasih lebih alamiah bagi hati manusia ketimbang sebaliknya.

2. Tak ada jalan mudah untuk mencapai kemerdekaan di mana pun. Banyak dari kita berkali-kali harus melewati lembah dengan bayangan kematian sebelum mencapai puncak cita-cita kita itu.

3. Perjuangan kita untuk kemerdekaan dan keadilan merupakan usaha kolektif. Usaha untuk menciptakan dunia yang lebih baik bagi semua orang yang hidup di dalamnya ada di tangan kalian.

4. Dari pengalaman tentang sebuah bencana kemanusiaan luar biasa yang berlangsung begitu lama, harus lahir sebuah masyarakat yang membuat semua umat manusia bangga.

5. Kita memahami bahwa masih belum ada jalan mudah bagi kemerdekaan. Kita tahu dengan baik bahwa tak seorang pun dari kita bisa mencapai sukses dengan bertindak sendirian. Karena itu, kita harus bertindak bersama sebagai rakyat yang bersatu demi rekonsiliasi nasional, demi pembangunan bangsa, demi kelahiran sebuah dunia baru.

6. Menolak pemenuhan hak asasi manusia berarti menantang kemanusiaan itu sendiri. Membuat seseorang berada dalam penderitaan dengan kelaparan dan hidup yang penuh kekurangan (kemiskinan) berarti tidak memanusiakan mereka. Namun, hal-hal tersebut merupakan nasib buruk yang menimpa semua orang kulit hitam di negara kita di bawah sistem apartheid.

7. Orang mungkin mengatakan, menghabiskan waktu 27 tahun di penjara telah menyia-nyiakan hidupmu. Namun, hal paling penting bagi seorang politisi adalah apakah gagasan-gagasan tempat kamu menggantungkan hidupmu masih tetap hidup, apakah gagasan-gagasan itu menang pada akhirnya, dan semua yang terjadi menunjukkan bahwa kita tidak berkorban sia-sia.

8. Hanya politisi yang tidak turun ke lapangan yang "imun" dari melakukan kesalahan. Kesalahan merupakan hal inheren dalam tindakan politik.
 
9. Sampai saya dipenjara, saya tidak pernah sepenuhnya menghargai kapasitas ingatan, sebuah dawai tak berujung dari informasi yang bisa disimpan kepala. 

10. Saya mengakui bahwa saya tidak punya hak apa pun untuk menghakimi orang lain berdasarkan adat kebiasaan saya sendiri, betapa pun saya boleh bangga dengan adat kebiasaan saya itu. 

11. Mengatasi kemiskinan bukan sebuah sikap amal. Itu merupakan tindakan keadilan. Itu merupakan perlindungan terhadap hak asasi manusia yang fundamental, hak atas martabat dan kehidupan yang layak. Selagi kemiskinan berlanjut, tidak ada kemerdekaan sejati.


Sumber: cnn.com / kompas.com

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Obviously Bicycle






Morning’s come you watch the red sunrise
The LED still flickers in your eyes
Ah you oughta spare your face the razor
Because no one’s gonna spare the time for you

No one’s gonna watch you as you go
From a house you didn’t build and can’t control
Ah you oughta spare your face the razor
Because no one’s gonna spare the time for you
You oughta spare the world your labor
It’s been 20 years and no one’s told the truth

So listen oh
Don’t wait
Don’t wait

So listen oh
So listen oh
Don’t wait
Don’t wait

So keep that list of who to thank and mind
And don’t forget the rich ones who were kind
Ah you oughta spare your face the razor
Because no one’s gonna spare the time for you
Why don’t you spare the world a traitor
Take your wager back and leave before you lose

So listen oh
So listen oh
Don’t wait
Don’t wait

So while the sun’s coming up
Cover ground
Cover ground

And if you find some love for these clowns
Turn around
Turn around

We’ll be half asleep on the floor of our high school gym
Thinking of you and wondering if anyone else could begin

To listen
Listen
Don’t wait
Don’t wait

So listen oh
So listen oh
Don’t wait
Don’t wait

Riding Backwards at 80 km/h

From urbanvelo

Speechless..

 

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

My (New but Old) Touring Bike


My Touring Bike


1992 Bridgestone MB4


This is my touring (sometimes commuting) bike. I got it from a friend who felt that it was too big for him. I got it all stocks (Shimano, Dia Compe, Sugino, Ritchey) except for the tires. Although the condition is far from mint and there's significant wear on the frame, the components are all working perfectly. The grouppos are 7 speed Shimano LX (I switched the Dia Compe cantis with Shimano LX one), Sugino GP (46T-24T) crankset (originally) that I switched (temporarily) with Exage LX-400 (48T-26T).

I had a touring bike before, it's a converted mountain bike, an old Specialized RockHopper. I've kitted it out with dropbar (Nitto Randonneur), Shimano bar end shifter and Paselas. Also with Shimano LX dynamo hub and Busch & Muller lights. Though it's a nice bike, but deeply down inside I want a touring bike with more traditional/conventional look, that is a bike with level top tube, diamond frame, not a sloping one. And the lower bottom bracket height on this new bike is a bonus.

As my daughter growing up, she needs a bike that more fit and suitable. So I passed it to her, with some components changes to fit her of course. Glad she loves it, she's a very happy girl.

With the touring kits took out from my old bike, I build and convert this Bridgestone MB4 to be my next touring bike. At first I used my Randonneur drop bar, but now it sporting a trekking bar with M900-ST shifter/brake lever. But I think I want to put on my Randonneur drop bar back again, because I love the position and the feel much better.

The front rack is an Old Man Mountain Ultimate Low Rider. It can be used for bike with disc brake and fork without mid eyelets, as long as it has canti's post. It has two positions for front pannier, higher and lower. The rear rack is Topeak Super Tourist DX. It's also has two panniers positions and compatible for bike with disc brake too.

The fenders are Planet Bike's, and I can't ride without them, it's a must accessories in wet season. For a little security I added Abus Frame Lock with cable accessories too. Busch & Muller front and rear lights are really handy whenever I go nite ride or commuting late, and they don't even need battery. I also added few more accessories to make my riding more comfortable, safer and enjoyable.

At a glance, it looks just like Surly bike that I always want but just can't justified for the price. So I guess I call it a poor man's Surly Long Haul Trucker (I wish, ha ha!). I hope that I can enjoy many more miles with this bike, doing what i love to do: Ride.

For them who need advice on bulding touring bike without breaking the bank, just look for an old mountain bike (early '90 ish). Look for the one that has eyelets for racks, long (relatively) chainstay and relax geometry. It's out there somewhere.

P.S. I named her 'Lovely Rita' after my favorite band's song.



Monday, December 2, 2013

Don't Try This at Home

This guy is crazy cool.. This guy is crazy... Well, just crazy I suppose :D