Fabricate A Cage for Your Pet

There is a pet shop beside my shop and I have been asked how to ferry a pet on a bicycle. 

You can use 2 baskets for bicycle. 



Stack one over the other. 



Tie them together with strings, clips or wire cables at the top of both sides. 



You can use a cable ties on one side if you want it to become a permanent cage for your pet.



You can place the fabricated cage horizontally and strap it...

 

...on the rear carrier of your bicycle. 



It is smaller and likely cheaper than the ones you get at the pet shop, especially, if you need only one more basket to fabricate it.  

Is it reasonable for a person who usually bikes short distances recreationally to sign up for a 20 mile bike for charity?

If it is for charity, why not? Unless you are very competitive, there is no rule to say that you must finish the 20 mile course. You can always stop half way if you feel that it is too much for you.



The most important thing is to have fun and feel good that you are doing something good.

Just make sure that the bicycle you will be cycling on is of the right fit for you. Even if you do not plan to ride to win, it is best that you learn how to prepare for it and to build up your stamina for the long distance ride.

You will find some of the information I shared in the following articles useful.

What are some good rules of thumb for starting out long-distance biking?
How can you ride a bicycle without getting tired?
Which is the best bicycle for long distance ride?
How many miles should I bicycle per day on a world tour?

Need winter wear? Use your long cyclist pants.

If you plan to travel to places where the climate is colder, make sure that you include thermal wear in your luggage. Thermal wear is made of synthetic material, such as, polyester that will wick away moisture, like your perspiration, from your skin. So, avoid wearing cotton as it will absorb your perspiration or water from the rain or snow and that will make you feel colder.

When the temperature drops, it is not the cold weather you should be wary of but the wind. You will feel the chill as the cold wind blows over your exposed skin. So, wear long sleeves and pants, make sure that your head is covered and your scarf is on to keep your neck and nose warm. Wear gloves and thick socks to keep your limps warm and mufflers to protect your ears from the wind. Don’t forget your lips. Apply lip balm to prevent them from becoming dry and chapped.

Though wool can help trap heat and keep you warm, several layers of lightweight clothing are preferable to one thick layer. Wearing tight jeans over your thermal wear can constrict your blood vessels and make movements difficult. Lycra spandex is a lightweight synthetic fiber fabric which stretches well. So, Lycra spandex clothing is best worn over your thermal wear. You can add more layers as the temperature drops.

For the outer shell layer, you can decide if you prefer to wear a parka, coat or jacket. How waterproof, padded and insulated you want it to be depends on what the weather is like where you are going. Google “cold weather light waterproof jacket” and you will find a wide variety in the market.
I wonder if you noticed that most sportswear are made of Lycra spandex. So, before you head off to buy your winter clothing you may want check out if you can pack any of your sportwear with you.
Don’t miss out the padded long cyclist pants. I encourage my customers to wear them for their winter holiday overseas. The padding will not show as it will be covered by your long winter jacket and it provides some comfort during the long ride in the plane, train or car.



The leggings of Lycra spandex pants are close fitting and usually with zip enclosures so you can easily wear boots over them.



Do you know that you should buy boots that are one or two size larger than your regular size?



Bring along your woolen winter socks when you are out choosing your boots. Remember too that you plan to wear them over your thermal wear and Lycra spandex pants.

What are some good rules of thumb for starting out long-distance biking?

Before you start out on a long distance ride, you must ensure that the bicycle you plan to ride on is of the right fit for you. If you want to have an enjoyable ride, read up about the kind of touring bicycles that are good for long distance ride as you will be required to carry a pannier for tools, spare tubes, food, drinks and other stuff that you may need on the journey.

If you expect that it will rain at places that you will be cycling to, be prepared for it. Make sure that you properly dressed for your ride.

However, if you plan to travel overseas on your bicycle, it maybe a good idea to consider getting a folding bike for ease of moving it on public transport. Find out how you can ship it internationally.
Do you have the stamina for it? Learn how you can build it up. You should also learn how to ride so that you will not tire yourself out sooner than you should. Cycling in bicycle-friendly countries can also reduce the stress of long distance rides.

Learn how to service your bicycle regularly and how to figure out what is wrong with it so that it can be maintained to run efficiently. The very basic that you must know is how to change your tyres and tubes.

For your own safety, make the following checks before you start your ride.
Checklist before going on a bike ride

I like the idea of getting a road bike for exercise but skinny tires scare me. Does something like a hybrid bike exist?

Road bikes run on 700x23C slick tyres. Fixed gear bikes on 700x28C slick tyres. 700C indicates the diameter of the rim while the 23C or 28C indicates the width of the tyre. The larger the number is, the wider the width.

Usually customers on the heavier side are concern about its width when they consider buying road bikes. Hybrids also run 700C slick tyres which are wider than 23C and with deeper threads.

They are not installed with drop down handlebar that you see on road bikes. So, cyclists who like riding on larger wheels with slick tyres would prefer to buy a hybrid if they do not like the idea of bending forward to ride. Hybrids are similar to touring bicycles except that the later are installed with heavy duty front and rear carriers for carrying bags or panniers.



Unlike the road bike, for a hybrid you have the option to choose one installed with suspension.



A 700C tyre is there about 28-29” in diameter. Some brands have markings on their 700C tyres and tubes to indicate their size in inches. Example, a Schwalbe 700X35C tube can also be used on a 28X1 5/8-1 3/8” tyre, as indicated on the tube.

While you cannot change a 700C slick tyre to a knobby type as there is none in that size in the market, it is possible to change knobby tyres, usually installed on a MTB, to ones that are slick.



So, if you like the idea of riding a bicycle with a large wheel diameter and slick tyres, you can consider buying a 29” MTB and change both the tyres to slick type for speed, if that is what you are aiming for. This should take away your fears of riding on skinny tyres.

Some customers buy a second wheelset for their MTBs to install slick tyres so that they can use them as and when required by interchanging wheels. But it can be costly as you have to also install another set of freewheel or cassette if it is a geared bike.

You can also change the upright handlebar on your hybrid to the drop down type but you will also have to change your brake levers.

How many miles should I bicycle per day before I start on a world tour?

The best way to test and build up your stamina for long distance ride is to get yourself a bicycle trainer. Mount your bicycle on it and start cycling on it. This will also help you build your muscles for endurance ride.

The gluteal muscles you build up on your buttocks will also act like a cushion so they will not hurt as much during long distance rides.

You must also learn not to cycle against the wind and to change your gears correctly for uphill or downhill rides.

To know how well you are doing on your trainer, you can install a bicycle computer on your bicycle so that you know the distance you have cycled, your average speed and the total distance you could cover in a day considering that you will be called away while training or taking breaks for meals or toilet breaks.


There are meters that can also read if you have high pedal cadence as it tells how fast you can pedal. The higher it is the faster you can go which means that you can cover a longer distance without getting tired at the right gear speed.

Consider installing a butterfly handlebar on your bicycle which you will be touring on.

That way you can “exercise” your hands by moving it along the sponge grip so that it will improve blood circulation and relieve you from hurting due to compression of the nerves of your palms.

As for wheel size, cycling on a 700C wheelset will get you further per revolution vs cycling on a 26″. Most touring bikes are installed with 700C wheelset. Though there are also touring bike with 26″ touring bikes in the market.

700C Touring Bike


However, all 700C tyres are manufactured slick so you will have difficulty cycling your bike over rough terrain. So, you have to decide if you need a bicycle with knobby or slick tyres.

Should bicyclists obsess less over their component selection and focus more on developing their motor?

Getting a bicycle is not as straight forward as that. I am serving a generation of customers craving instant gratification with their purchase. Here are some points to note when choosing a bicycle.

When customers enter my shop, the first question I will ask is if they are cycling with their friends. It defeats the purpose of buying a mountain bike if the group of friends you are joining are riding road bikes. Your cycling skills can’t help much here as you will be struggling to catch up on your knobby tyres as your friends sped by on their road bike with 700C slick tyres, heads bent forward on tarred road.

Similarly, size of wheels also matters. In Malaysia, it is now popular to choose bicycle with wheel size of 27.5” or a 29er. So, if you were to buy a 26” bike, you may have a problem chasing after your friends cycling on a 27.5” or a 29er, as with each revolution, it can go a bit further than a 26er.

Once my customers have that settled, they will then have to decide if they would like to consider buying bicycles similar in standard to what their friends are cycling. If they just opt for a cheaper model than there is an issue of "losing face", a cultural behavior that the Asians will understand. That is, the feeling that you have lost self-esteem as “what you have is not better than theirs”.

This is how I help my customers overcome that problem. The general idea of most customers is that better components will be installed on a higher priced bicycle. In order to help them make the right decision, I will let them compare components on one bicycle with those on another instead of comparing price of each bicycle to make the decision to purchase. Sometimes, a less well known brand may have better gearing system installed vs one that is branded even though they are similar in price. Then you will have to decide if you would prefer the brand you are seeking and pay more for higher end components installed, which tend to be lighter in weight.
I let my customers feel the mechanism of the bicycle so that they can tell, for example, the difference of using a bicycle with mechanical disc brake over one with hydraulic disc brake or one with V-brake. I let them lift up a 20” steel folding bicycle so that they can imagine how heavy a steel bike with 26” wheelset or higher would be like. Then they can decide if it is best that they pay more for bicycle with alloy, chrommolly or carbon frame.
The important thing as a customer is that you must ask the shop if spare parts of components on the bicycle of your choice are easy to find and replace. So, even if you opt to choose a lower end bicycle due to current budget, you know that you can upgrade the components at later stage when you understand bicycles better as you ride and are sure that you are serious about cycling.
Once you have cycled on your bicycle (or your friends’) and have a clearer idea of what you really like, you will have reached the stage to be obsessed about components. But this time it is because you want to build up your cycling skills with the right components.

Should I buy a fork for BMX or MTB?

When you buy a fork for mountain bike, you have the option to buy one with suspension or without. There are forks in the market for 20″ MTB like the one shown here. 20″ MTBs are usually recommended for kids of age 6 and above.

If you plan to buy a replacement fork just make sure that it fits the size of the bicycle you intend to install it on. They come in sizes for 20″ right up to 29″ bicycles. Choose one with suspension if you plan on riding off road as it will take the strain off your shoulders during bumpy rides on your bicycle.

If you buy a cheaper fork with suspension, it is likely that you will not be able to adjust the shock absorbers as there is no dial on it to adjust their tension or to lock it so that it does not move at all.


BMX forks do not have suspension and they are usually built sturdier and stronger than other fork without suspension, eg, meant for a fixie or a regular 20″ bicycle. You will not be able to install your BMX rims or tyres on a fixed gear fork as the tyre width for BMX can be as wide as 2.35″

Mountings on the fork for the brakes are located differently for V-Brake, U-Brake or disc brakes. So, inform the shop the kind of brakes you intend to fix on your BMX.

In Malaysia, it is now popular for youngsters to modify their 20″ BMX with a double fork (with or without suspension) like this.

This is how they want their BMX to look like after modification.

Or like this.


This is how they ride (fly) the modified BMX.


This is dangerous and illegal. Bicycles like these get confiscated by the local authorities if riders are caught in the act.

Chain Often Came of Your Bicycle?

Sometimes customers come to the shop asking us to help install their chain which had fallen off their bicycle. That can be fixed by adding a master link or rivet.



If the components on your drivetrain are worn out, it would be best to change them if you are installing a new chain, especially, if it is an expensive one. This is because each time you ride and change gears, any worn out parts on the drivetrain, such as, the freewheel/cassette or chainrings or derailleur wheels will pull and rub against the new chain. Your new chain will be damaged and you will have to change it sooner than it should.

If the mechanic informed you that the cassette needs to be changed too, it is possible that the teeth on the cogs of your cassette are damaged. If you do not change it, the chain will keep skipping over the top of the cog and fall off. Ask the mechanic to show you where the damage is. If you cannot see any wear, or burrs or bents on the teeth, you can always send your bicycle to another shop for a second opinion.

The following are some questions a good mechanic should ask you before re-installing your chain:

1) Is it a new chain? New chains for bicycles are always longer than needed. A chain that is too long will slack and fall off the bicycle. We can use the old chain, if it is still on the bicycle, to determine its required length. However, if there is a slack in the old chain, it is possible that it has worn out, in which case, we will have to determine the correct length required for the new chain.

1b) If it is a new chain, did you get the right chain for your bicycle? There are differences in chains for single speed and geared bicycles. Bicycles running on higher speed need the narrower chain which is more expensive. The cheaper single speed chain installed on a geared bicycle can cause it to fall off the chainring due to its width and thickness.

2) Did you fell off your bicycle while cycling? If you did, we will have to check if any components on your drivetrain have been damaged or need adjustment. Your new chain will be damaged if there are bents in the chainring teeth or on teeth of cogs on your cassette.

3) Did the chain come off only when you change your gear? That will mean either the chain is worn out and need to be changed or that the gears need to be set. Chain wear or dirt on it will affect the efficiency of your gears. If that is the case, just putting the worn out chain back on will not help as the chain will fall off again when you shift your gears.

Before the mechanic put your chain back on, he will have to check it for bents or stiff links. The chain will have to be cleaned first if it is clogged with dirt. Once installed, the chain should be lubricated together with the components on your drivetrain.

Are white bikes usually made for women?

What should determine a male or female cyclist’s choice in buying a bicycle is the frame size. Not the colour. A frame size of 16″, will be suitable for someone with height of 5'2" - 5'6".



Bicycles painted in white are more difficult to keep clean and you may find that you will have to clean it up more often compared to bicycles in darker colours.



The stains on a white bicycle stand out. So, if you are fussy about keeping your bicycle looking nice and clean but you do not have the time to maintain it that way, getting one in white will be a bad idea regardless if you are a male or female cyclist.

Moreover, overtime, if you do not clean your bicycle properly, you may find that it has gone a little yellow on you.

How can you ride a bicycle without getting tired?

Cycling will not be so tiring if you are able to eliminate the issues you faced. I share here some reasons why you will feel more tired than you should while cycling:

1) You are cycling on a bicycle with the wrong frame size for your height.
2) It could also be that the handlebar reach is either too near or too far for you.
3) Or you may have set your seatpost too low.
4) Your tyres are not fully inflated to run efficiently.
5) You are not using your gears right.
6) The gradient of the roads you chose to cycle on are too steep.
7) You are trying to catch up with fellow riders who have better stamina or who are more efficient cyclists.

If you are cycling on a bicycle with the wrong frame size and you do not intend to replace it, here are minor changes you can make to it that will ease the strains of cycling which will make you tired.
Most stems come in length of 32mm right up to 80mm. If the handlebar reach is too far for you, you can use a stem with shorter length as it will bring the handlebar closer to you.



If you would like to remove the strains on your shoulders and arms which can tire you out, you can consider installing an adjustable handlebar stem as it will also allow you to sit in a more upright position.

However, if you are cycling on an old bike that uses quill stem, there are extra long models in the market which will increase the height of the handlebar for easy reach so that you can sit in a more upright position.


Your seatpost height must be adjusted so that when you sit on the saddle, your knee is slightly bent while the ball of your foot is resting on the pedal at its lowest position.

Try to inflate your tyres to the maximum PSI shown on its sidewall for a smoother ride.



Make sure that you use tyres with the correct threads for the right terrain you are cycling on. For urban ride, slick tyres like the one shown in the above photo will be more efficient.

Knobby tyres that are usually installed on MTB will be more suitable for rougher terrain.



Learn how to change your gears efficiently so that you will not have to struggle uphill. Avoid cycling over bridges or through routes that are hilly which can tire you out faster than you should. Routes with lower gradients will also put less strains on your body.

If you plan to cycle in a group, check to see if fellow riders are cycling on MTB or roadbike or Hybrid or Fatbike or folding bikes. Try to match what they are cycling on as different types of bicycles have different wheel sizes and tyre threads for different terrains.

Frankly speaking, whatever exercise you do, unless you are doing it half halfheartedly, you should feel some form of fatigue and tiredness. You should feel tired as some exertions in strength is involved in moving your bicycle.

The weather can also wear you out if you are cycling under the hot sun or under a heavy shower without the proper attire and protection. The stress of keeping yourself safe on the road while cycling can also tire you out. If you don’t want to feel tired at all, stop your bicycle for a rest more often and avoid routes that will stress you.

What are the best tips to maintain a bike in the proper way?

When you buy an equipment, a manual will be provided with it. A good manual will provide instructions on how to install the equipment correctly. It will provide information on how to use it safely and maintain it so that it will run efficiently.

Even though not all brands/retailers for bicycles will provide such a manual, if you google “owner's manual for bicycle” you should not have any problem in finding one online. From it, you can even learn if you are getting the right frame size for your height.

Though you get your bicycle fully assembled from your bike shop, in the manual you will learn how it is assembled and the type of tools and the sizes you need to do the job. That way if any of the parts are loosen, you will know how to fix it back correctly and with the right tools.

You will learn the name of the parts on the bicycle which will enable you to tell the mechanic clearly what needs to be fixed if professional help is required. This image is from link to “Owner's Manual for Marin Mountain Bikes”.


It provides a schedule on what and when you should clean, service and lubricate on your bicycle and what you should not do. Eg, here is a tip on how to set your gears so that you will not wear out your chain earlier than it should.

I like the instruction manual provided by Green Line for its Single-speed and Multi speed Beach Cruisers, it provides very clear information with lots of images.



The “Owner's Manual Single Speed and Multi-Speed Bicycles” from Dynacraft Bikes that I found online is also very good.

If you take the time to read the manual, you should not have any problem maintaining your bicycle in a proper way.

Would you separate an attached padded liner from your biking shorts?

You are likely to damage or leave holes on the lycra/spandex material of your cyclist pants if you try to remove the pads sewn securely to it.

If you do not like to walk around with a pad in your pants, you can also consider getting padded boxer for cyclist which you can wear like an underwear with your regular pants. Your pants must be loose or stretchable enough for you to cycle comfortably.

There are cycling cargo shorts that are supplied with detachable padding.


This is suitable for cyclists who would like to remove the padding when they have reached their destination to run errands.

These detachable padded pants can be used with your regular pants if you can sew elastic loops on them. Just take a look at how these loops are sewn on the cyclist cargo shorts and you will get the idea how it should be done.

Do you think riding a bike should not be allowed where there is no bike lane?

Cycling started, from the beginning of invention, the world over, without bicycle lanes.

While there is concern that lack of lanes make cycling unsafe on roads, there are also issues with safety even when they are in place because there is no protection for cyclists if behaviour of car drivers and other road users do not change.

No Surprise: Study Finds Sharrows Don't Make Streets Safer

Based on this Infographic, posted on Forbes, it is obvious that there are less road fatalities reported for cyclists in a country when there are more people are involved in cycling.


So, the best way to initiate cycling in your own country is to start a movement, whereby, a group of cyclists make a commitment to make cycling safe with the support of their government so that cycling-specific infrastructure should be part of the development and proper guidelines for all road users are reinforced by the relevant government agencies.

If you would like to work on that, I have shared many useful links in the following write up on, "How can public transportation be integrated for urban cycling?”

Following are links to bike movements that you can emulate to increase participation:
About CicLAvia
Midnight Ridazz Bicycle Ride
List of rides from The Critical Mass - Cycling as a Political Statement

Install the training wheels correctly

Bicycle size 12” right up to 16” are installed with training wheels. They are meant for child age 3 to 7. The reason why most kids still need training wheels even after they have outgrown their bicycles is because the training wheels have been installed leveled with the rear wheel.

The training wheels should be installed with a clearance of less than half an inch from the ground. That way, the child will learn to move his weight from left to right and vice versa each time he feels like he is toppling over.

There are training wheels in the market for 20” bicycles and they are adjustable to fit 12″ to 16″ too. Make sure that you get one that comes with metal instead of PVC cap, as shown in this photo.



Any brand of bicycle with no gears can be fitted with training wheels. Just make sure that they are not installed leveled with the rear wheel.

What are cyclists’ concern about mountain biking?

Here are some of the concerns cyclists faced when they are out mountain biking:

1. When cycling in a group, do I have the stamina to catch up with fellow cyclists?
2. Is my MTB good enough compared with the ones ridden by the others?
3. Will I be left to ride alone if I have to stop to make repairs?
4. Do I have the right tools with me for repairs?
5. Am I dressed appropriately?
6. What kind of support will I receive if there is an accident? Are the rest of the team experienced cyclists?
7. Will it be awkward if I have to get off the bike to push it uphill?
8. What if I lost my way?
9. Is the trails we are cycling to safe? Will I get mugged?
10. Will I be back too late?
11. Will I be invited to join them on the next expedition?

Is that how you felt the first time you went out mountain biking?

Plan to buy an ebike? Here are some factors you should take note.

eBike actually encourages people who are overweight to consider cycling.

I read a report that most people who are overweight are not keen to cycle as the assertion can make them perspire heavily. Also, they fear the embarrassment of being watched if they have to get off a regular bicycle to push it uphill. You can ride uphill on an eBike more easily, provided the slope is not too steep and within the acceptable gradient limit specified for it.

Factors you have to note before getting an ebike from any shop:

1) Is the wattage and speed legally acceptable to be ridden in your own country? In Malaysia, we follow the UK rules so ebike must be pedal assisted, which means that it must have pedals installed that can be used to propel it.

2) Do you want it installed with lithium or lead acid battery which is heavier but cheaper?

3) Ebike comes in tyre size of 14” to 26”. What tyre size is best for your size?

4) Will you have difficulty getting batteries or replacement parts or services to maintain it?

5) What is the highest gradient of incline the ebike can ride up on?

6) Do you need it foldable for ease of transport when you are not riding it?

7) Do you need one with extra seat for pillion rider?

8) Do you need one with gears too?

9) Does it have proper locking system in place to prevent theft?

10) Is the lighting adequate enough for rides at night?

11) Does it have a horn to warn pedestrians and other road users of your approach?

12) Does it charge while you pedal? Some ebikes are supplied with self-charging system so that while cycling, you can recharge your battery. eBike with “recharge” mode will be more expensive.

Shop around and look at the specifications of the ebikes you are interested in. Here are some examples of what is available in Malaysia.

This unit is foldable with 16″ wheel size. If you plan to use public transport part of the way while cycling on your ebike, a foldable model will be a good option to consider. Note the weight of the ebike. Is it too heavy to consider trotting around?


This model with 24″ tyre size comes with a seat for passenger. As it also comes with a basket, it will be suitable for rides out to pick up some stuff or to carry stuff of a child that you plan to ferry around.


If you know what are available in your market, it will be easier for you to make a decision after considering all these factors.

The specifications of a bicycle

In general, it is good to know the specifications of the bicycle you are interested in. If you discover a shop selling a bicycle way below the price of other shops, hopefully, it is because it is doing a great promotion to draw customers in and not that they have replaced expensive components with cheaper brands or models.

The same applies if you are buying a used bicycle. You would want to buy a second hand bicycle because the components have been upgraded. You can haggle on the price if you know that the original components, which were better, have been replaced.

Here is another point to take note of when you are buying a bicycle for a child. Bicycles for children are usually supplied with mudguards installed. If you don’t see them, they are likely removed by the retailer to be sold separately. Australian brand bicycles for children will usually be supplied with coaster brake and bell installed.

Some brands have websites with specifications of their bicycle posted online. Some distributors supply their bicycles to their retailers with tags that include the price and specifications.



You know that you are getting a real discount on the price if every components/model indicated on the tag are still on the bicycle.

If you want to know the specifications of a bicycle, you need to know:

1. the brand of the bike.
2. what kind of bike it is, eg, MTB or roadbike, etc.
3. the tyre size, eg, 26″ or 27.5″ or 29er or 700C.
4. the model name or number of the bike.
5. if possible, the year of manufacture, just in case some components have been changed for later models.

Do a search for “specifications (brand name) (type of bicycle)”, and you should be able to find the models that are available if they are posted online. If you are able to find their facebook page and it is actively managed, you can post a message there, to find the specifications of the bicycle you are looking for.