#4 又一個環島的笨蛋 - Logo

This is the logo that we have design for this journey ...

Just felt that it is appropriate to have one. Nothing special but we ought to ride like a team and a team would need a logo.

So here it is ...

We have also printed it on shirts ... hopfully it looks good.

My Ride 我的坐騎

It is time to show my bike.

It is a Gary Fisher Nirvana, seldom seen in Taiwan. It is what is commonly known as hybrid or urban bike. It has a mountain bike frame but designed to fit 700c wheel.

Other items fitted:

- Shimano XT set

- Thomson Elite seat post

- Thomson Elite X2 stem

- Truvativ TEAM Raiserbar

- Allay Normad 1.1 saddle

- Sigma BC 1606L DTS wireless bike computer

- NiteRider MiNewt X2 LED night light

- Ortlieb handlebar bag

- Ortlieb Classic Backroller pannier bag

Hopefully this bike will live through what I am about to put it through.

#3 又一個環島的笨蛋 - 行前篇

2 more weeks before we ride. Anxiety is building. Questions in my mind ... 

"Can I do it?"

"What if it becomes too difficult for me?"

"What if my butt is too sore?"

"What if my legs cannot stand it?"

"What if I cannot make it up the hill?"

Too many uncertainties ... too many questions ...

Thinking back on how it all started ... It was because of this website  http://eyetaiwan.frogfree.com/

These guys got me started and thinking. I have got to do something before my body fails me. Everything just comes together and clicked. "I am going to round Taiwan Island!"

According to the many articles and blogs, it would appear that rounding Taiwan Island is not difficult (yeah right ...). But it is not going to be easy either. At least it is a start ... the beginning of a new journey in my life? I don't know but I am willing to find out. Let's see.

#2 又一個環島的笨蛋 - 之決定篇

OK ... it is decided!



I will do it. I want to do it. Not sure if I can do it but I am going to do it!



Picking the dates is an issue. What am I going to tell my bosses? That I really need this trip to "find" myself? How do you communicate "find myself" to the people that pays you to work?

"I need to do this ...", I said.

She looked at me with a look that resemble that she understands. As she shift her eyes away, a few words came out: "Then go do it ... if this is what you have to do then get it done and over with."

It is "approved"!

Originally, the trip is planned to happen end March. The evil work schedule creeped up upon me, making the trip looked virtually impossible. "Ok ... then let's postpone it. Only once, not too far off ...", I silently thought. "End April to early May looks good, there is a holiday there. I can take that opportunity ...", happily I planned.

"You are riding too!!?!" My buddy from work is also riding? This is incredible! I told him about my trip. True enough, it is very contagious .... "I want in!", he jumped in without hesitation, "I will get Charles to join as well ..."

From a singles event, we became a tag-team of 4.

Now comes the hard part ... timing. Charles is pretty alright with any timing that have been proposed. Jacky is a bit more problematic. "June ... end June ... yeah, it is better for me", Jacky wrote on MSN after moments of silence. "But ... but ... it is too hot then", I continued with the hope of an earlier ride. "Wait for me la ...", he plead. "Ok, ok ... end June it is ... no more postponement", I tried to say in a firm tone.

"I am going first ..." I wrote on my MSN to Jacky, "I don't want to wait that long, I will go with you again when you come". "In that case, let me see ... end May?" Jacky asked. Back and forth we sort out the timing ... The final decision: "We ride on 31 May".

That's it! We are good to go, set for launch, ready to ride ... whatever phrase you want to use, this is it!

#1 又一個環島的笨蛋 - 之行前囘想篇

話説又有一個笨蛋打算環台灣島一圈 !



Why do anyone want to do something like this?


It is stupid, waste of time, waste of energy and torturing ... not to mention hazardous to your health.

So why?

I asked myself the same question as well.


You would be thinking that there must be a better way to spend my time then to devote one's time and energy to such a mindless act. Consider that I have not been active in any form of sports for a long time. The last time I was madly in love with cycling was about ... er ... [counting with fingers] almost 20 years ago.


Yes ... I was once in love with cycling!


My hero then was Greg Lemond.

The bike that I was drooling over was Colnago & Bianchi.

I was fastinated with Look clipless padels.

It was Campagnolo Record (it is still THE crankset to get today) that I wished I was padeling on.

I bought myself a Okleys Razor Iridium then as it was the only thing that Greg Lemond has and I could afford with my misarable pocket money.


Also ...


I was about 25kgs lighter then and was able to maintain a speed of 35km/h without much serious effort.


About 4 years ago, 15 years since I last cycled, I decided to get back into cycling. Bought myself a Giant Yukon as the latest fashion then was to have a moutnain bike.


Why mountain bike?


I really don't know but one thing is for sure, I was not about to climb any mountain with it. Don't think I could even handle street road, needless to say off-road. The moment I cycled home with my spanking new bike, there was the immdeiate dissappointment (you thought I was going to say satisfaction, right?). Yup, you heard me right ... great, great dissappointment!


Why? ... There was no wind in my face, no satisfaction of speed. No matter how hard I pedal, the speed remains at 25 km/h. The immediate thought was that: "Could I have been that bad in my physical health that I could not relive my days of youth again?"


I tried a few more times, taking the new bike on short (really short) trips. Every time, it was the same conclusion. It was terribly de-moralizing.


A year later, the condition of my bad back worsen. I had to undergo surgery. Hence, I sold my Giant Yukon on Yahoo! Bid to a young chap. And have not been really on a bike ever since, doctor said so ... "It is not advisable ..."



Yet the desire and yearn to cycle laid silently to be re-kindled ...