Had a brief chat with an old cycling friend of mine yesterday. He confirmed that the rumours are indeed true. Tthere are some monkeys who are exploiting the Youth Olympics for personal gain or even monetary gain. No names mentioned but some among these monkeys are not even BMXers now nor in the past. Perfect. Just perfect. I told my friend to just relax and watch the freak show happen. I wonder if any of the monkeys are reading it now?
Sunday, 30 March 2008
29'er PK Ripper
These bikes were custom-made for the Rob and Big show in the USA. Custom PK Rippers. I have heard that SE might be making these in the near future. Who knows? I might get myself one...despite the fact that I have one-too-many bikes already!
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
Clemtwins cranks
They were certainly innovative back in the day. Check out these cranks. I was searching through Ebay and I came upon some guy selling this. These are Clemtwins cranks, the only cranks back in the day that came with two sprockets. Yep, you heard me. Two sprockets. Naturally, one would need a special hub with two freewheels. I do not have a pic of that hub but I must say, it certainly helped out in the chain-braking gate-snapping issues, while putting on some more weight on the bike. But nevertheless, a great idea!
Beware of wolves in sheep clothing
Ever since Singapore won the bid to host the Youth Olympics in 2010, there are many oout there who all of a sudden have labelled themselves "BMX consultants". Some of these clowns have not even raced in a BMX race before. Some of these fellas do not even OWN a BMX bike, let alone even raced on a BMX track! What gives here?
Do not get me wrong. It is gratifying to see more people wanting to help with the development of BMX here in Singapore but get the goddam BMX racing fundamentals first. Until you have raced in a real BMX race, have paid your dues as a BMXer, you are in NO position to call yourself a consultant to a BMX race or even a BMXer. Honestly. Lots of monkeys here in Singapore who just want to bask in the limelight when they have done NOTHING for BMX in Singapore in the past and now all of a sudden they want to because of the Youth Olympics. Let me tell you this. You are sending a wrong signal to those who generally want to know more about BMX. This includes several monkeys in our local media too. Can you media guys get your facts right before you write or produce your articles?
Do not get me wrong. It is gratifying to see more people wanting to help with the development of BMX here in Singapore but get the goddam BMX racing fundamentals first. Until you have raced in a real BMX race, have paid your dues as a BMXer, you are in NO position to call yourself a consultant to a BMX race or even a BMXer. Honestly. Lots of monkeys here in Singapore who just want to bask in the limelight when they have done NOTHING for BMX in Singapore in the past and now all of a sudden they want to because of the Youth Olympics. Let me tell you this. You are sending a wrong signal to those who generally want to know more about BMX. This includes several monkeys in our local media too. Can you media guys get your facts right before you write or produce your articles?
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
The best bars around
In the world of BMX, there are handlebars and then there are S&M Slam Bars. these bars are the most popular bars out there right now with the right width (28") a good height and just the right degree of swingback. Lots of people run these on their rides and I am no exception. They are relatively inexpensive and they are just great!
Monday, 17 March 2008
Even The New Paper wants to know about BMX
Seems that the BMX fever is hitting everyone. I just checked an old email address that I have not used for quite some time and I noticed this guy or girl from The New Paper wanting to know about BMX in Singapore. His email to me was:
I am writing a story on young BMX talents who may be interested to represent Singapore in lesser known sports for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games in 2010. These talents should be 16 years and below. Basically, I'm looking for someone who is talented, and has the drive to win a medal.
That is great but why all of a sudden now? When I called The New Paper in 2001 to come and do a write-up about a BMX race in Tampines, they were not interested. But all of a sudden, now with the Youth Olympics coming up, they are interested? Strange is it not?
But anyway. Better late than never.
I am writing a story on young BMX talents who may be interested to represent Singapore in lesser known sports for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games in 2010. These talents should be 16 years and below. Basically, I'm looking for someone who is talented, and has the drive to win a medal.
That is great but why all of a sudden now? When I called The New Paper in 2001 to come and do a write-up about a BMX race in Tampines, they were not interested. But all of a sudden, now with the Youth Olympics coming up, they are interested? Strange is it not?
But anyway. Better late than never.
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Some positive stuff
Received an email from Wafi. Something great from that email. Mails like these are what keeps me motivated.
I'm 21 years old, studying in SG, and i just got my very 1st BMX! Totally banging! Just does cheap $100 BMX's tho..now I need to head outside and start learning those bunnyhops and wheelies..wicked site btw!
Thanks afi. Enjoy BMX and all that it gives you! I know I do too!
I'm 21 years old, studying in SG, and i just got my very 1st BMX! Totally banging! Just does cheap $100 BMX's tho..now I need to head outside and start learning those bunnyhops and wheelies..wicked site btw!
Thanks afi. Enjoy BMX and all that it gives you! I know I do too!
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
Good wheels for racing
If you are serious about racing, get a good pair of wheels. The rims that I would choose would be the rims pictured above. Those are Atomlab Aircorp rims. These are no ordinary rims. For starters, they are one of the strongest rims out there in the market. the second good thing about them is that they were designed by a person that actually used to race BMX and not just talk about it. I would rather buy from a guy who has been there and done that and the owner of Atomlab, Mike Flaherty, gets my respect anyday. All my bikes, with the exception of my Kuwahara Survivor and my 29'er, run Atomlab rims laced to various hubs. Oh yes. Before I forget. Get a good wheelbuilder to build your rims.
Sunday, 9 March 2008
Singapore Sports Council detached from reality?
I have always thought so but in Parliament last week, it seems that I am not the only person to think so. Well done Jessie Phua! Like when we tried to tell them that BMX was an Olympic sport, and tried to get funding, they did not listen. Source is from the Straits Times.
HER speech was short and her voice mellow, but Nominated MP Jessie Phua pulled no punches when taking the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) to task in Parliament yesterday.
At one point, she told the SSC point-blank: It’s time to get your house in order.
Ms Phua criticised the SSC for reducing its financial support for athletes even as Singapore was facing rising living costs.
She said a top athlete such as bowler Remy Ong, who won three Asian and two SEA Games gold medals, could get up to $8,000 a year under the Training Assistance Grant in 1999. This has been reduced to $7,200.
Ms Phua, the president of the Singapore Bowling Federation, said that while the amount from GLOW (or Grant for Loss of Wages) had remained unchanged since 2000, the qualifying criterion for a top athlete had risen from a SEA Games gold to an Asian Games or a world championship medal.
She noted wryly: ‘Isn’t it amazing how, on the one hand, the bar has been raised for qualification but, on the other hand, the funding for training has remained constant or even been reduced?’
Ms Phua said the SSC was either ‘very detached from reality or, even worse, knows but chooses to do nothing’.
She added: ‘Can we really, in good faith, entrust the SSC with the development of our athletes?’
She urged the SSC to keep up with the times and one area it should start was in the people it employed. She said she understood that staff turnover at the SSC was ‘very high’.
She offered one possible reason: job dissatisfaction. ‘Many get disillusioned by an oversized portfolio, a multi-layered decision-making process and little empowerment,’ she said.
For example, she said the SSC had only one sports psychologist on its payroll to meet the needs of athletes from the 60 national sports associations (NSAs) here.
Mr Teo Ser Luck, Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, agreed that there were problems in the SSC.
It would have to work closely with the NSAs to identify the problems and close the gaps, he said.
‘There’s still room for improvement. These are how organisations are run with day-to-day challenges. We should not give up but continue to give support.’
Source : Straits Times - 06 March 2008
HER speech was short and her voice mellow, but Nominated MP Jessie Phua pulled no punches when taking the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) to task in Parliament yesterday.
At one point, she told the SSC point-blank: It’s time to get your house in order.
Ms Phua criticised the SSC for reducing its financial support for athletes even as Singapore was facing rising living costs.
She said a top athlete such as bowler Remy Ong, who won three Asian and two SEA Games gold medals, could get up to $8,000 a year under the Training Assistance Grant in 1999. This has been reduced to $7,200.
Ms Phua, the president of the Singapore Bowling Federation, said that while the amount from GLOW (or Grant for Loss of Wages) had remained unchanged since 2000, the qualifying criterion for a top athlete had risen from a SEA Games gold to an Asian Games or a world championship medal.
She noted wryly: ‘Isn’t it amazing how, on the one hand, the bar has been raised for qualification but, on the other hand, the funding for training has remained constant or even been reduced?’
Ms Phua said the SSC was either ‘very detached from reality or, even worse, knows but chooses to do nothing’.
She added: ‘Can we really, in good faith, entrust the SSC with the development of our athletes?’
She urged the SSC to keep up with the times and one area it should start was in the people it employed. She said she understood that staff turnover at the SSC was ‘very high’.
She offered one possible reason: job dissatisfaction. ‘Many get disillusioned by an oversized portfolio, a multi-layered decision-making process and little empowerment,’ she said.
For example, she said the SSC had only one sports psychologist on its payroll to meet the needs of athletes from the 60 national sports associations (NSAs) here.
Mr Teo Ser Luck, Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, agreed that there were problems in the SSC.
It would have to work closely with the NSAs to identify the problems and close the gaps, he said.
‘There’s still room for improvement. These are how organisations are run with day-to-day challenges. We should not give up but continue to give support.’
Source : Straits Times - 06 March 2008
A cool Haro race bike
I came across this rather nice looking Haro bike (Haro SR-20) on their website at http://www.harobikes.com and I am sure that it will be a pretty competitive race bike. The reason I say so is because I have seen many Haros in Singapore and I am pretty sure that their distributor will bring in bikes like these. The specs are:
# 7075 T6 Alloy frame w/21.25” TT and Internal Headset.
# 100% Chromoly Fork.
# 175mm Chromoly 3pc Crank w/European Bottom Bracket.
# Alloy Sprocket with CNC Machined Teeth.
# 36h Wheelset w/Alloy Alex Doublewall rims and rear Cassette Hub.
# Intense Haalo Tires.
# Alloy Micro-adjust Seatpost.
Check it out on the Haro website!
# 7075 T6 Alloy frame w/21.25” TT and Internal Headset.
# 100% Chromoly Fork.
# 175mm Chromoly 3pc Crank w/European Bottom Bracket.
# Alloy Sprocket with CNC Machined Teeth.
# 36h Wheelset w/Alloy Alex Doublewall rims and rear Cassette Hub.
# Intense Haalo Tires.
# Alloy Micro-adjust Seatpost.
Check it out on the Haro website!
Saturday, 1 March 2008
More on Yeti and their BMX bikes
Gene made a comment on my post (Thanks Gene!) and provided me a link to his website where the whole Yeti BMX story is. The link is located here and it is a very good read indeed. It is good to see that even hard-core MTB companies are making BMX these days.
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