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mr_hippo

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Posts posted by mr_hippo

  1. Goy (Mrs Hippo) has been suffering with an unknown stomach ailment for months resulting in a few hospital stays and no cure. It happened again last Friday but was given treatment and came home. On Saturday, it happened again so I took her into the hospital and just as we got into the emergency room, she arrested. She was revived there three times and was admitted to the ICU with the diagnosis of myocardial infarction and pulmonary oedema. During the day she was pronounced brain dead and also in renal failure; between first arrest and the one at 10:30pm on Sunday night had a total of 16 cardiac arrests. I had just got home and was called back in fearing the worst but she was still breathing. I told the doctor that enough was enough and if it happens again do not resuscitate She passed away at 0302am Monday morning.Heaven may have gained a star but I have lost my soul mate.

    Nowwhat has this got to do with the Classified? Our lives were not governed by possessions, we led simple, quiet and fairly happy lives. I have not worked for a few years (older posters will remember why) and slowly sinking towards the poverty level but there was a light at the end of the tunnel! Goy’s dad had given her a nice plot of land and it had been sold, contracts drawn up and wast to finalised this week. Enough to buy a small house, possibly a small business and enough over to tide us over until my pension starts in about 2years time but… With Goy’s passing, I won’t profit from the sale – I will get nothing so where does that leave me? I literally have 3,000 Baht left to my name andthat won’t get me far! One of my daughters in the UK has the room to put me up so I am going back to the UK to start life again!”

    We were not materialistic but, as you do, we accumulated a lot of stuff. PM me for the address ( Lat Phrao area Bangkok), come and rummage through the house and make me aoffer. If you have something specific in mind, again PM me, I may have it. I came here with just one suitcase and a flight bag and will be leaving the same way (plus one bike). I do not intend to keep much as I, once again, am forced to make a fresh start.

    There's possibly lots of grammatical errors so, please, don't add to my troubles by pointing them out!

  2. Sadly my wife passed away and I am moving back to the UK

    For sale

    Trek 520 tourer - 57 cm frame - bought Aug 2010 for around 50KBaht - about 30k or sensible offers

    Trek 7200 hybrid 24" frame - May 2009 - around 7K Baht; including butterfly basrs

    Carrera C8 folder - 3 months old about 60kms - 2000 Baht

  3. On Friday I had a nice, leisurely 58.54 km ride but my Garmin Edge 705 went haywire:-

    Distance:986.39 km

    Time:02:49:52

    Moving Time:02:48:11

    Avg Speed:348.4 km/h

    Avg Moving Speed:351.9 km/h

    Max Speed:29.1 km/h

    On one of my routes there is a TV station that sometimes sends the heart rate or speed haywire. Should I contact the Guiness Book of Records?

    P1010133.jpg

  4. I can't help with secondhand, but I have spent months trying to buy a new one. This is what I found about six months ago:

    The Cannondale shop on Sukhumvit 26 (02 253 3454) has two models, both very nice but very expensive. They were so far out of my price range that I didn't write the prices down, but from memory the cheaper of the two was 70,000 baht. Lovely bikes, handbuilt in America. The chap who runs the shop was very nice and helpful.

    ProBike at Lumphini (02 253 3384) has one model, the Trek 520, 58,000 baht. It had the gear levers sticking out of the ends of the handlebars, which I personally don't like. The staff were completely unhelpful and totally uninterested. They ignored me completely and when I spoke to one of them he just waved vaguely across the shop, did not accompany me to look at the bike, barely even spoke (the shop was not busy).

    Bike Zone in Amarin Plaza were very pleasant and helpful, but don't stock a tourer.

    Sport Bicycle in the HSBC building on Rama 4 (02 637 5487) sell Specialized. They don't call them tourers, but the Tricross looks like one to me, has mudguard and rack fittings Specialized Tricross. Unfortunately, Sport Bicycle don't carry the Tricross, but they say they can order it for the same price as on the Specialized web-site (USD990 which is just under 30,000 baht today). I have been trying to order one and delivery is currently promised for January.

    Hope this helps.

    Thanks Colin,

    Very helpful, and confirms what I had in mind. I have now searched quite widely and read many reviews. The names I originally listed seem to be the pick of the tourers. But in terms of price, availability, spares etc., it seems that the Trek 520 is the way to go. I have also found a shop in Pattaya on Theprasit Rd that will discount them to around 46,000 baht. With a few modifications like the saddle and maybe the rims I will have a good tourer. Cannondale look good but they don't quite get the reviews of the others. I know touring is not as popular as MTBs but I'm surprised there isn't more choice in Thailand. Thanks again.

    I have a Trek 520 and am very happy with it. The Specialised Tricross is a cyclocross bike, not a tourer. Mudguard eyes are on the front forks as are low rider bosses but I would question the validity of putting those on carbon forks! Fronr wheel is 20 spoked and rear is 24 spoked, hardly the spec. for a tourer which is normally 36 spokes front & rear. Chainset of 50/39/30 is too high for a tourer as is the 13/26 block. Like most touring cyclists ( most of my cycling has been on tourers) I prefer a steel frame not aluminum.

    Tim, the rims in the 520 are Bontrager Camino with all spoke holes fitted with brass eyelets - nothing wrong with them. Saddle? Personal choice but for now, the saddle is OK. When the time comes I will replace it with a Brookes B17

    My 520 has the bar-end levers which are ideal for tourers; if you are touring with integrated levers and they break - what can you do? With bar-ends, simply change from index to friction!

  5. santa1.jpg

    This will be the 5th Santa Christmas Day Ride when Santa hands out sweets(candy) to all. The route is normally about 30 kms. If any cyclist in BKK would like to join me this year, please pm me. Start point will be McDonalds on Kaset-Nawamin Road/Sena Nikhom junction - route Kaset Nawamin, Nawamin, Ram Intra, Suan Siam, SeriThai, Nawamin, Kaset/nawamin. Time between 6 & 7 am

  6. santa1.jpg

    This will be the 5th Santa Christmas Day Ride when Santa hands out sweets(candy) to all. The route is normally about 30 kms. If any cyclist in BKK would like to join me this year, please pm me. Start point will be McDonalds on Kaset-Nawamin Road/Sena Nikhom junction - route Kaset Nawamin, Nawamin, Ram Intra, Suan Siam, SeriThai, Nawamin, Kaset/nawamin. Time between 6 & 7 am

  7. Thanks for all the extra info I will now make a list of what I think I require and see whats on offer and try a few for size. It seems like I am being pointed towards Giant and Trek as good brands so I am thinking that the components they us should be good as I understand it so I still need to look for *deore" on brakes and moving parts or "shimalo" are these manufacturers, a standard or what?

    Shimano is a Japanese manufacturer who now supply about 50% of the components for the world's bicycles. The other major manufacturers are Campagnolo and SRAM. Deore is just one of the groupsets that Shimano produce. Groupsets are produced for different budgets and uses.

    These parts typically include the following:

    2 gear levers or shifters and

    2 brake levers or

    2 integrated brake levers/shifters

    2 brakes, front and rear

    2 derailleurs, front and rear

    1 bottom bracket

    1 crankset

    1 chain

    1 cogset, freewheel or cassette

    The major bicycle manufacturers build a bike to price as do car makers so your choice is down to budget and use.

  8. Have a look at all the components... Shifters, Deraileurs, Cranks, Brakes... They will most probably all be Shimano... You need at least 'Deore' front deraileurs, and really deore brakes as well... they will shift more smoothly, and stay in tune... The frame is about the least important.... Alivo/Ultegra are shit, and that is what you will probably find on the Big C models...

    Top of the range on road bikes is Dura-Ace, next is Ultegra.

    Alivio is the top range for recreational mountain bikes.

    Deore is for entry level mountain bikes.

    You show me a Big C bike with Ultegra or Alivio components on it and I will buy it for you!

  9. If you want to buy a can of beans, do not go to a bike shop, go to a supermarket; if you want a bike then don't go to a supermarket, go to a bike shop. What do you want the bike for? If it is mainly for road and path, either a hard tail MTB with city type tyres or a hybrid. My best advice is to go to a bike shop and try both types out and get what you prefer.

    I am not familiar with Nakhon Sawan but I am familiar with the ProBike chain who have a dealer in Nakhon Sawan - Modernbike on Daowadueng Rd (full address on this page

    From the ProBike website, I can recommend two for you - Trek 3900 and the Trek7300. I normally negotiate a discount of between 10 & 15% on my bikes. I owned a 3900 and have a 7.2 (similar to the 7300), I had the 3900 for about 3 years, rode 5000+ kms on her and sold it at about 2000Baht less than I paid for it! If it were up to me, I would go for the 7300, I prefer 700C wheels (similar size to thr old 27" ones), narrower hansdlebar and a better riding position.

    I amm not entering the helmet debate but all I can say is "Your head, your choice! - I always wear one.

    A basic CatEye computer - the Velo 8 is about 750 Baht.

    A word of warning Be careful of the 'cycling bug' - once bitten, there is no cure!

  10. nonthaburi? might as well be on the moon ;-) saenthong is a dealer/sub vendor/something or other to probike. i think there's one closer to me in lat prao somewhere.

    in any case, 30km is still better than 100km

    thanks.

    There is -Nakornthai Jakkayan between Soi 101-103 Ladprao Rd; I've been using them for years.

  11. How long has it been? 19 years? So, today, we went on our last ride and now you are retired but haven't you had more retirements than Frank Sinatra?

    I first saw you posing in a NashBar bicycle catalogue, resplendent in your red colour scheme and bright yellow lettering and knew that you were the one for me. I was working in Saudi at the time and because my company offered free shipping from the States, I ordered you.

    Remember our first ride? From the compound down into Khamis and back – you coped very well with the hill but me….. We had some great rides out there – the Hanging Village, Wadiyain and who can ever forget our trips up Mt Soudah. Back in England and all those great rides and great adventures and finally, you joined me in Bangkok.

    My first job was to give you a new facelift and that great red, white and blue paint job that people admire so much. Remember getting lost when we were on our first Thai century? Mrs Hippo was frantic with worry when she arrived home from work before us, I think you and I were both exhausted but happy!

    You are 19 years old, only the frame and forks are original, your frame is slightly out of true and I don’t want to cause you more pain by having it cold bent so what am I going to do with you now?

    I won’t sell you nor will I cannibalise you. I can’t scrap you because we have been through so much together so you are now head of the Hippo bike stable.

    Your replacement? Yes, I have bought a new bike – Trek 520 – but it is not a replacement for you; you are irreplaceable!

    Thanks for all the miles and memories!

    lasthippo.jpg

  12. Mr Hippo 45 psi should be fine for a MTB. (nothing to do with a road bike)

    Change the rim (Alex double walled) for around 500 baht and use the same spokes to rebuild the wheel, should be around 750 baht in total.

    750 :150 = 5 innertubes.

    My only mention of tyre pressures on a road bikw was when I said to the OP that I am a lot heavier than him and ride thinner tyres at higher pressures.

    It is false economy to use the same spokes in a wheel rebuild. I have built as number of wheels in my time and the chap who taught me said hat the spokes are under constant tension and to completely release them and re-tighten them puts undue strain on them and weakens them.

  13. Sorry that I have not replied before now but I have had a friend staying with me at the start of his 6 month South East Asia cycle tour.

    Now to get back to your on-going problem. Part of your problem may be technique. How are you replacing your tubes?

    Your top three photos look like 'valve creep' where the tube has moved inside the tyre and pulled the valve.

    Apologies if you already do this.

    Slightly inflate the tube and insert starting at the valve.

    Put the free side of the tyre back on the rim and press the tyre on with both hands.

    Inflate to about half users pressure and then press firmly on the tyre above the valve to make sure that the valve is properly seated. Do not pull down on the valve. If you are using Prestas with the lock ring, attach it now.

    Inflate the tyre to normal pressure and screw up the lock ring.

  14. I recently ventured to a fishing park where at the entrance was a small coffee shop.I,d decided I wanted a hot coffee before I started fishing.I asked my gf if she could order me one.On returning she told me the

    assistant had asked her if I,d wanted ice in it.You could'nt make it up. :blink:

    A similar thing happened to me in a UK restaurant many moons ago. The young girl walked ove, I won't even call her a waitress, and asked would I like anything else to which I replied "A black coffee, please."

    "What's that?"

    "It's coffee without cream."

    She went away and came back about 5 minutes later, empty handed and sais:-

    "We have no cream. Do you want it without milk?"

  15. I've just seen this thread, my thoughts on your problem:-

    Could be a manufacturing problem. I had a run with bad tubes - always by the valve.

    Old stock or badly stored stock - could be just passed the 'sell by date' and starting to perish.

    If you are using knobbly tyres, change to smooth 'city' type. I see that you are using Geax Mezcal which are sold as 'semi-slick' but they are not.

    Next time that you change your tyres get 26 x 1.5 as you say most of your riding is on paved roads.

    Look at the sidewall and inflate to manufacturers max pressure. Do not lower your pressure as a previous poster suggested for two reasons.

    1) Increased likelihood of getting a puncture. Look at it this way - when you have an injection, you are told to relax so that the muscle is not tense and the needle will go in easier. The same thing happens with softer tyres. Also there is more chance of damaging the rims.

    2) You will get a smoother ride and use about 30% less energy.

    Compared to me, you at 77kgs are just a lightweight. I run my road bike (700 x 23 tyres) at 120 lubs per squinch and my hybrid (700 x 28) at 100 lubs per squinch.

  16. Breaking News

    Slovenia v England

    Team Selection

    The first eleven England supporters who show up at the players' entrance with their own football boots will start the match; the next twelve will be on the bench. Prima donnas, cry babies and divers need not apply.

    Tactics

    Not to be confused with Tic Tacs! Put the round, bouncy thing (hereinafter called 'the ball') into your opponent's onion bag (also called 'the net' or the 'goal' as many times as you can. Please note, the word is 'goal' and not 'gaol'.

    Your opponents will be wearing a different coloured outfit to you. You will have to note that your goalkeeper will be wearing a differnt coloured top to you but shorts and socks will be the same.

  17. Raleigh? Good British bikes until about 20 years ago when they went to Taiwanese frames - reputation suffered and have never, IMHO, got it back.

    Giant - available in BKK, decent bikes but I don't like the shop's attituse or pricing.

    Cannondale - available in BKK but pricey.

    Trek - from ProBike and nationwide dealers. I am just about to buy my fifth bike from there - they normally give 10-14% discount so prices are very similar to the UK & US

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