# dulu aku suka gak p opis naik beskal.. pasal dah kenal dgan pak guard tu, senang le nak bawak naik lif ke opis aku kat tingkat 16. aku letak le beskal kat store. skang nie opis dah pindah kat ubn tower.. payah le sikit. tahun lepas ada sekali aku try bawa beskal p ubn.. naik lif.. ada guard tu duk sibuk cari, sapa yang bawa besikal naik lif.. member² yang dah tahu tu, diam je lah.. hmm itu lah last aku bawa beskal p opis.. iya lah nak tinggalkan kat basment takut walaupun berkunci.. artical nie aku suka.. jadi aku copy dan paste kat sini.. kalu suka baca haa...
COMMUTING 101
Derived from "Your Guide To Commuting" by Cass Gilbert
Harga minyak naik? And Already invest a few thousands to your bike at your favourite bikeshops and yet not fully utilised 'em? What better time to have a go at something that may start as a practical solution to a daily necessity before eventually becoming one of the most enjoyable elements of your working routine? Ride to work! You'll feel more excited to go to your office rather then dragging yourself.
Why commute by bike?
Cycling to work offers a whole assortment of benefits straight from the box, and a host of long term ones besides.
For a start, it’s purposeful. Forget expensive gym memberships – commuting keeps you fit and gets you places. In the fast-food, concreete jungle, pre-packaged world we live in, there’s nothing like it to keep healthy and active. What’s more, it’s free. You’ll save cash on fuel, and tolls ), and should recoup the cost of a bike and maintenance within a year.
It offers stress relief from day to day life; a chance to be outside, feel the elements and escape the confines of indoor existence. Plus, you know where you stand. Oil price is getting higher and higher, cars sit in traffic (you know, we actually pay to the "highway owner" just to be cought in a traffic jam). A journey by bike always takes about the same time.
By playing an important part in reducing CO2 emissions, it helps appease your environmental conscience too. Lastly, cycling to work simply equates to more riding – which has got to be a good thing in anyone’s book.
..but too bad. The only drawback is you have to cope with "the infamous Malaysian Drivers"..we still do not have the answer, wheteher their from hell or from the heaven!
Getting Started - figure out your route!
Begin by figuring out your route to work. We’d recommend taking time to map out at least two or three options, as varying the ride will keep you interested – one direct ride for when you’ve overslept, and one with more variety for when you have time on your hands. Use it as a chance to unearth your city’s lesser-known back roads – dive down alleyways, under overpasses, along quiet backstreets.
The Workhorse - your favourite bike!
Of course, you’ll need a tool for the job. A glance up and down the roads reveals a rich tapestry of bikes used for commuting. You can spend a small fortune and pimp your ride, play it low key and blend into the urban landscape, or simply convert your own time-tested mountain bike into your ultimate commuting machine.
While any two wheels will get you from A to B, some are more suited than others, and still double up for alternative uses too. Indeed, it’s a wide genetic pool, drawing from road bikes, flat-barred road bikes, cyclocrossers, 29’ers, tourers, hybrids, hub gears, fixed gears and folders.
But, what the heck! Again it will get the bikeshop tauke richer, remember, the point is to keep it LOW KEY! ..minor conversion rules!
Converting Your Bike?
Obviously, we’re on a budget, convert the main bike into a commuting machine with a few tweaks, or pick up something cheap from the classifieds at BBS.
A good set of puncture proof slick tyres (less rolling resistance) will do and will save you lots of hassles and the most important is, it will cruise 100 times faster than your draggy offroad rubber!
Basic maintenance
Try to check over you bike once a week, as commuting can be hard on kit. keep your tyres at the right pressure means less rolling resistance and extends their life. Pay extra attention to brakes.
Wipe down the rims and pads of grit so they last longer. Be sure to keep your drivetrain clean and use a suitable heavy-duty lube.
Check your tyres for bits of broken glass that might try to worm their way in. For the minimum maintenance, go fixed or hub geared.
Pakai baju apa da?
The ideal clothing should keep you dry, comfortable and visible, and stand up to daily use. Waterproofs jackets (if it rain) don’t have to be expensive – look out for models designed for city use which is durable and also offers great visibility.
Your workplace might be very cycling friendly with bike parking, lockers and showers. Or it might be that you’re the only cycle commuter, reduced to shoving your bike in a hallway and applying some extra deodorant – if that’s the case, lobby for better facilities and try to encourage others to bike too (yeah right).
With the right setup and a bit of planning, there’s no reason why you can’t commute wearing proper cycling clothing, carrying very little baggage and still pull off a shirt and tie/skirt and heels combo for meetings.
Many people find it’s easiest to drive or ride the train one or two days a week, and restock with enough ‘work’ wear at, to keep you going or if your office got a laundry shop nearby, just stock-up your 'kemeja' there for 'em to iron at the cost of RM4 per week (still lot cheaper than your parking fees).
Helmet usage is compulsory because it is shown to reduce head injuries in some cases. If you choose to wear a helmet make sure you get the right size, and it’s correctly adjusted to stay put in the proper position.
If you’re a fast commuter, clear lenses help guard against rain, flying critters and bloodshot eyes on windy rides – unless you want to arrive at the office looking like you’ve been a nocturnal.
If your commute is long, you might want a pair of dedicated cycling shoes. Many of us rate mountain bike shoes because of their stiffness and walkable tread.
Commute Tips
Perhaps you’ve been that last person to squeeze onto an overcrowded KTM Komuter, or simmered in one traffic jam too many, only to see someone shoot by on their bike and think, ‘Well shiver me timbers. If that’s not the transport solution, what is?!”
If your local area is not blessed with such integrated, ubiquitous city cycleways like (nonetheless, atleast better then Puchong) Shah Alam and Subang Jaya (Germany and Holland as in Europe), there are probably plenty of back roads to ensure an all but traffic-free route to work.
Allow yourself plenty of time – you can build up fitness and speed as you go, and start out by riding in a couple of times a week. Make sure your bike is in good working order and you have a proper set of lights.
Gambar Hiasan
Eat an energy rich breakfast and lunch – or you’ll feel tired by the end of the week. Depending on the length of your ride, carry some snacks or mix up an isotonic drink (a home-made version is half and half of fruit juice and water with a pinch of salt) – and make sure you drink it.
Lastly, learn how to fix a puncture (don't tell us you don't know how to fix a puncture, if you really don't, its time to "start your engine, donate your bike for charity!"
Happy Riding..!
Compiled by Koh Ah Meng
nak jugak naik basikal gi kerja tapi larat ke ari2 90km.. eeemmm..!!! 