The year in Review

What can I say?

After witnessing the magical powers of the Iguazu falls on Christmas Day, it pretty much sums up my whole 2009.

You just end up not only having a great year, but you forget all the pains that happened along the way. At the end, we ended up shouting all our frustrations away only to be drowned by the powerful sound of the Iguazu.

Let's just hope 2010 has much better things coming up!

Axiomatic Lavatory Readings

The call of nature usually gives an opportunity to read up more on my housemates never ending supply of Glamour magazines.

It's not that I'm turning into a big softy, but rather I'd like to think in the mind of the audience reading its material - since most magazines know their target market. Yes, I'd like to know more about women and how they view themselves.

Recently though I read this article that was rather disturbing. It was about this 'gold digger' whose sole purpose in life is to, well literrally, dig for gold - meeting rich men and becoming their trophy 'girl friend'.

Although she made her motive quite clear, I couldn't see the difference between her and a high class escort.

Worse was in such a high profile magazine - to promote her 'business model' encouraging wannabes to be a gold digger like her, I just found it disturbing.

Seasons

When the weather suddenly turns cold.

When you are on a bicycle, you feel a gradual drop in tempreature as the seasons move from summer to autumn. But how rapidly do we actually feel the change?

Just two weekends ago, we enjoyed a hot sunshine in Guildford. Last weekend, the sun was out sparringly, never really reaching the highs of the previous week. Even the stops were shorter as it got cold quicker.

For once since April, my toes started to feel numb from the cold. A couple of days ago, even my fingers started to get a bit chilled.

But the ultimate tell tale sign of the worse to come is the morning cycle to work. When you actually realise you don't have any use for the body wipes as there isn't any sweat for you to clean. And the sudden rush of blood through your fingers as the warm water brings them back to normal body tempreature.

Gosh, it'll be winter soon.

Tour of Britain

This was one race that was not as feverishly followed as the Tour de France, I was onsite from 7.30am to make sure that everything was in place on my part.

After the Prostate Cancer ride at 10am, I had some time off to take my lunch and walk about Trafalgar Square.

I arrived back at my position just in time to receive the various teams arrival. When Team Katusha arrived I clapped my hands up high, applauding the previous days victory by Ben Swift. It was only appropriate

Met team Agritubel's Christophe Laurent before the race - he went to take a photo with the Horses Guard - WITH HIS BIKE!

My prized possession for the day - one bottle from Team Katusha, as one of the team members was standing beside me giving out bidon's to Ben Swift and Filippo Pozzato, so he decided to give me one of the extra bidon's as they left. *smile*

Organisation was quite a mess, as organisers were giving out orders in too many directions (too many parties involved) e.g. Army told me not to open up barriers for anyone, but then ambulance tells me that if an emergency occurs, then i would have to open the barriers for them. Then the people collecting all the steel barriers told me that immediately after the event, they would have to go onsite to dismantle things... who was I supposed to listen to?

One of the highlights was watching the horses guard, all throughout the day. had 'little ben' chiming away every hours, couple of seconds before big ben chimed!

*image courtesy of the Glasgow Ivy Cycling Club

Sony Ericsson W995

Recently, I got an upgrade from the K850i to the W995. Initially I was looking to get the C905, but after hearing that this version comes with 8GB memory, I was sold. So far after two weeks of use, I've found it to be one of the better ones I've used in a long time. Being a fan of Sony Ericsson since the K700i a couple of years ago, I got used to the phone's interface very easily. I found it easier to get use to this version more than when I upgraded from the K800i to the K850i a year ago.

Of course, even though I love this version, it does come with its drawbacks.

PROS:

1) Games - my phone came with loads of games courtesy from Orange and I've already spent many hours having a crack at some of the games.

2) Memory - The phone comes with a tiny 126MB memory, but it also comes with an external 8GB card which I've literally filled with music files. It still leaves me with enough space to enjoy my photos and videos.

3) Camera functions - there is a quick modifications function to 'correct' photos that appear too dark called photo fix which I found quite handy.

- There is also a comic strip function which I've dabbled with to give loads of laughs.

4) Music - The phone came with a Speaker + Headphones that provide very good sound quality, which is understandable as the W995 is one of the walkman versions from Sony Ericsson.

5) Video - The video quality was exceptionally good compared to the previous models and even when enlarged on a computer screen it looked very clear.

6) Keypad - This was a joy to use compared to the maze the K850i had with the semi touch screen function which was many a laugh to people who tried using my old phone.

7) Flash - The LED flash was downgraded from Xenon, but is acceptable. At least this time, they managed to put the flash in a sensible position unlike the previous model.

8) Applications - They have some really zany applications on this phone, which is bound to keep me entertained for hours!

CONS:

1) Slide - I'm not a big fan of slide phones. I always expect it to falter sometime sooner than the old phone and you need to slide it open for better quality sound (talking and listening) while on the phone.

2) Battery - I'm delighted with the functions of the phone, but I just don't seem to get the mileage I used to get with my old K850i. Previously I had to charge my phone once every 2 or 3 days, while now the battery is almost down in 1 day - although this is attributed to the amount of time I've spent playing around the games, music and applications.

3) Service - Compared to the K850i, this phone has a lower range of service. Where I stay, I usually get full bars of service, but with this new phone, that range has been halved. Also, in my office, I'm facing times when my phone has no service at all! The seeking of service possibly contributes to the lost of battery throughout the day too.

4) Earphones - Right. SE has provided the phone with a 2 part earphone. No doubt, the quality of the music is very good, but when detached and hooked into the jack for 'walkman' mode, the earphone line is just too short. So, unless we have a spare pocket on our shoulders, it would be very difficult to place while using it this way.

5) Camera - a minor qualm, there is no cover for the lens.

6) Music list - I've just loaded a bulk of music (1400+ files) onto the phone, but navigating through the songs is a bit cumbersome. Probably I'm used the ipod so I'm still having trouble looking for certain songs.

Some other needless facts of the phone:

1) Size and weight: 97x49x15mm and 113g

2) 3.5mm headphone jack (see earphones in CONS)

3) LED flash instead of Xenon flash

4) A small metal flip stand

5) LCD screen with 240x320-pixel and 262,000 colours

6) Connectivity

7) GPS

Verdict:

As I said before I really like this phone, so ignoring all its cons, I'll just say yes please, thank you very much!

Pre-Season Predictions.... again, something from football365.com

12/08/09

After a couple of weeks without football, most of my time was spent following the Tour de France. Well, the time has come around again and I'll be doing my predictions for this year.

I'll be reviewing my predictions at the end of the season in May and have a laugh at how badly I've failed.

Obvious one to start - who will win the title?

I've got it in my heart that Arsenal will win the title, just to be the surprise package of the season, BUT my head tells me that it would be Chelsea, even though I can't imagine the proud faces of Fat Frank and JT doing when they accomplish it.

Name the rest of the top four.

I've got to admit that I believe the top four won't be the usual top four with Manchester City breaking the mould. Something has got to give and I'm sorry to say this but Liverpool just do not have the quality back ups as the other teams. They should be hit by injuries in key positions (READ: Torres / Gerrard) and suffer a rough ride to the end of the season. Manure just have too much back up to fail, so I expect them to finish second behind Chelsea.

I'll have to state that Citeh are not in Europe this season and if they focus just on the league and FA Cup, they have more than enough players to fight for trophies.

Will Mickey Owen make a significant impact at Manchester United?

I've spoke to Ah Kah about this, so yes I expect him to have a significant impact. Most people rate players by their contributions and usually the easiest qualification of contribution would be goals scored. Mickey still looks like he's got 15 - 20 goals for the season, albeit not from starting positions, more like super sub roles. He won't really contribute much to the team though other than being the fox in the box target man.

Will Liverpool cope without Xabi Alonso?

No. This is the main reason I've rated them below Manure, the Arse, Chelsea and Citeh. Also, they do not have much reliable cover for Gerrard and Torres, how will they cope when either or both of them are out injured. We probably won't see the effects early into the season, but after Christmas, the strains of several cups will start to show.

Which of Man City's players will be the first to throw a wobbler (annoyed/upset)?

I would say definitely Adebayor - Even when Arsenal were performing he seemed to be unhappy about something or the other. I don't see much difference here especially when you have the competition of Santa Cruz, Tevez and Bellamy... Oh not to mention Robinho!

Who will go down?

This is a tough one. Especially after the debacle last year in the form of Newcastle and Middlesborough. Looking at the newly promoted teams, I would say Burnley definitely do not have the quality to stay in the Premier League. Of the teams remaining from last season, we can predict Portsmouth doing a Newcastle and self destructing. I would love to see Bolton go down as usual, but I would have to say Hull.

So teams to be relegated - Burnley, Hull and Portsmouth.

Which of the promoted three - if any - will surprise us, a la Stoke?

I have a hunch that Birmingham will go a long way. Alex McLeish has been in the Premier League before and he's suffered relegation. He won't be repeating the same mistake again. Also, Joe Hart is a good addition to the team, so hopefully with a sound defence, the will be able to surprise us ala Fulham last season.

First manager to go?

I've got a feeling that Paul Hart may just get sick and tired of running a body of skeleton bones. So, he'll probably do a runner and be replaced by the beginning of September.

Best and worst signings of the summer?

I guess best signings will be ones who prove their worth by scoring goals. There is not much choice of skilled strikers proving their worth in the top four, as they have stable partnerships already, so may I say Adebayor for Manchester Citeh? If you ask me in terms of actual form, I'll put my money on Joe Hart. He's got something to prove to Citeh - and since I said Birmingham would do good, he would be the best signing of the season.

The worst would again be another striker since it's always funny to state price of a striker in comparison to their game per goal ratio. So I would have to go for Kevin Doyle as I don't see him scoring a large number of goals the way he scored for Reading in their first appearence in the Premier League some years back. Also, I think Mick Mc Carthy sucks as a manager, so his head will be on the chopping board by Christmas.

Plainly on form, I would say Glen Johnson for Liverpool. He's more an attacking winger than a right back. He'll probably shine against smaller sides, but against the top 6, he'll probably be rubbish.

Which youngster will make a breakthrough?

I think Fabian Delph as I'm a supporter of Leeds United. Although there are some exciting young names in Zola's West Ham and they are always the people's 'second team'.

How far into the season will Harry Redknapp first use the phrase 'bare bones'?

He he... Does he always use bare bones? I suppose he'll use it coming into December when the season heats up and Spurs start cocking up.

Will the bonkers circus at Real Madrid succeed, or will it fall hilariously flat on its arse?

I don't like Madrid and I don't really like the buying of success. Call me traditional, but I really enjoy what Zola is doing at West Ham, nurturing the young ones through a strong academy.

So yes. Madrid to fall flat on their faces. Potential 2nd round packing from the Champions League.

Tour de France ala Malaysia - Travellers Tips

Sometime in mid June an idea to catch Le Tour de France during the last 3 days of the Tour was hatched and within days plans were proposed and a week later most accommodation and travel was booked accordingly.

Sometime two weeks ago, the plan was put in place and Le Tour de France ala Malaysia was on its way.
Some advice for potential cycling travellers:-

1. If you plan to get the Eurostar to Paris (or where ever), get a rough idea how you are getting to King's Cross/St. Pancras.

- for me, I had to get there by 10am (train due to depart at 10.25am) so I got a bit worried as it meant I would probably have to jostle on the tube for space during the tail end of rush hour at 9am. Eventually, it took me around 40 minutes to get from North Greenwich station to KC/SP without much fuss except some curious eyes on the huge bike bag.
- Oh and another thing, London Eurostar departure halls are heaven compared to their French counterparts. As I usually take the Eurostar to Brussels, which is quite a respectable station, Paris Nord felt like it was part of a ghetto and it took me at least 30 minutes to get through the queue to get to the terminal, luckily I arrived 1 hour early! Over in London, I remember arriving 25 minutes before departure and still made it to the train in 15 minutes.

2. I used my mates X Planet bike bag which was sufficient for its purpose and it met all the standard travel requirements for trains 120cm X 90cm. Now this works relatively well as it fit perfectly in the top section of the Eurostar luggage storage area. When I got on the second stage of my journey to Avignon, I couldn't bring it into the storage area, but managed to place it out of passengers near the exit. My only qualm about the bag though was the lack of wheels which could have made the fight from the Jubilee line to the Northern line easier. Also, the walk from Avignon train station to the hotel was a short but taxing one.


3. As I stated before, I was worried about getting on the trains with bicycles as I was getting various signals from different people about their views on trains and bikes. Well, to be safe, travel like how I did - with your bike bag. The bike bag holds quite a bit of stuff, so there would be more areas to keep extra materials (e.g. lock, spanner, tools, shoes, helmet, extra attire, etc.)

4. Check your shoes, see if any of the screws are missing or if you have spares - What happened to me was on the way to Mont Ventoux, I realised my shoes were a bit loose on the pedals. After unclipping in Carpentras, I realised I was missing a couple of screws. A visit to the local bike shop after lunch - the owner kept stating that he didn't have any TIME (my clip and pedal brand) products, so he could not help me. In the end I had to buy a whole new set of Look pedals for Euro50.


5. When riding, always avoid man hole covers. I know this sounds like one the basic rules to cycling, but I happened to literally stumble upon a man hole cover as we were cycling pass a round a bout. I was more concerned with a car approaching on the right exit that I lost concentration and hit the middle of the man hole cover (there was a hole just big enough to suck in both my wheels) at 40km/h. Initially I thought that I busted BOTH tyres, but upon initial inspection it was merely an optical illusion created by some chewing / bubble gums across the tyre. I probably still am the first and for a long time the only person my cycling mate will know to blow BOTH tubes in a single incident. On the bright side, at least I didn't tumble flat on my face as some may have done.


6. Always do tests run on the GPS before you travel. I didn't do a long session with my GPS on my first trip out before going to France, so I failed to see potential problems I would face as I hit the French soils. After about 2 hours of pretending to be professional cyclist, the GPS advised me to turn right into an unpaved road. Further inspection at Carpentras later, we realised that I had wrongly set it to avoid major streets and go on unpaved roads and not vice versa. After correcting the initial mistake, trips from Bedoin to Avignon took a bit over 2 hours.


7. This is a mini mistake, but when I ordered my Michelin Pro 3 Race tyres, I thought they come in pairs. Now I know, they come as one, so you always need to buy two!


8. Getting a cab with a bike bag - if you plan to do so, expect a feeling of discontentment from the driver. The nature of the bag is that it usually fits an MPV-like taxi and not a normal saloon car. Thus, choose the taxi wisely. Next tip, if there are TWO of you, you'll probably do better with a van like taxi. It will cost more, but it's better than getting into petty arguments and avoiding the possibility of damaging your bike by forcing into a small space.

9. Lodging - We stayed in the Holiday Express in Avignon. Now, it's not a bad place when you consider the price and distance to the train station (15-20 minute walk) and it suits our purpose of getting the train back to Paris as soon as possible (8pm train) after rushing back to Avignon after the tour passed us at the entrance to Bedoin. However, it's worth a little more investigation into alternate options, e.g. leaving for Paris on the earliest train possible the next day, thus enabling us to enjoy an easy stroll from Bedoin to Avignon OR the possibility of viewing the Tour from the top of Mont Ventoux. Another option would be to try and stay closer to Ventoux, say either Carpentras or another small town nearby so that conquering Ventoux wouldn't be so taxing (or any other future climbs!)

10. Climate - This is totally out of human control, but its best be prepared for the worse case scenarios. For Ventoux, I brought along a gilet and some arm warmers just in case it got extremely cold on top of Mont Ventoux. However, battling the cycling under an extremely sunny day (no clouds AT ALL) and temperatures of 35 degree Celsius, planning for pit stops at towns nearby is a wise idea. This is to avoid the possibility of dehydration and some really fowl mood swings (trust me when it's hot and you're dehydrated, getting lost doesn't help with the mood!)

11. A colleague of mine claims that whenever he rides (his mountain bike) he makes sure he brings along an extra derailleur hanger. One of these probably cost about GBP10, but it definitely can save a trip! What happened to me was that as I was weaving through the hundreds of thousand people along the road to the top of Ventoux, I came across a (possibly) Spanish couple who chose to suddenly brake and enjoy the view. As there were other cyclist coming down the hill from the opposite direction and lots of other people walking along the road, I had no option but to brake as well. Unluckily for me (AGAIN) some Brit (the irony) girl rammed her front wheel into the back of my bike. Not suspecting the damaged done, I thought my chain had been dislodged from the crank. Upon closer inspection by the side of the road, I noticed my derailleur hanger had been bent 90 degrees. According to my colleague, this is to prevent damage to the frame. After about 30 minutes to an hour of messing about trying to straighten it, I conceded defeat and took a Frenchman's advice to slowly make my way back to Bedoin and get it repaired at one of the bike shops.

12. Bike shops - from my experience this trip, it would be always good to know WHERE the bike shops are and if possible their hours of operation. For me, I was quite lucky to meet a very helpful and genuine bike shop at the foot of Ventoux. Even though they didn't carry Specialized bike products, he managed to make a bespoke derailleur hanger after I pleaded for some help (bear in mind I had to make it back to Avignon to catch a train that night and with the Tour happening, taxi's were a rarity!)

13. Contingency - not just for cycling trips, but probably applies to all trips around the world, always have extra cash in case you face any of the above problems I had throughout my trip. Always bear in mind not all stores accept credit cards and when some of them do, they charge over the Mont for the use. Extra cash in hand does no harm.

Overall the verdict for this Tour was 6 out of ten. This was because we probably achieved 60% of what we set out to do and bar some major disappointments; there will always be NEXT time. Some of the tips above may sound really like common sense, but as it is, shit happens along the way and even the simplest of issues may become major problems without proper planning.