Some New Equiptment Added

Hi Everyone.....Its been a while since I last posted some news...well we are all ready to go...6 more days and we are off....!!!!!well My Cousin Lou has decided that the Dahon "Matrix" bike that he bought for the trip is not suitable ,as the rear pannier rack when attached to the rear wheel does not leave a clearence for his feet when cycling. So he will now take his ol'Faithful the "GIANT" mountain bike he bought in shanghai .As for me I have added a few new equiptment on my bike, namely a compass/bell from K-Mart which Lou bought for me...then a new set of "Mudguards" bought in a bike shop in New-Zealand, and the 3rd ,a small bag for my iphone and speakers which I found in a bike shop in singapore , replacing the little mesh bag I fixed on my handelbar.So now my iphone and speaker goes in this little bag that attached on bicycle frame and the stem..the good thing about this little bag is that its got a water proof cover so when it rains I can just close it to protect my iphone

The Route we are taking

The route we will be taking starts from the city of Danang to the city of Phan tiet, with a side trip up to DALAT, cycling the so called"Coffee & Tea to the Sea"road which is from the town of BAO LOC to Duc Trong then to DALAT .From Dalat we cycle down hill all the way to the town of PHANG RANG. From Pang Rang we will then follow Highway 1 again to Phan Tiet Here in Phan tiet we will have a few days to relax at the beach of MUI NE.

The Mekong Delta meander ride will be a much easier ride according to the Lonely planet "cycle vietnam and Cambodia" book, I am Looking forward to this ride as I have not been to this part of vietnam before..so our bicycle tour will start on the 4 th of September to the 5th october

How it all fits in the panniers

Well I have been having doubts it will all fit into the panniers!!! ...It sure did fit into 6 water proof stuff sack...and I still have pleanty of room in the pannier....check out the picture...

What goes in the Handelbar bag??

As its quite difficult to steer with a heavy loaded handelbar bag I have trried to keep the items in the bag to a minimum

so the essential items are

1)Cycling Vietnam and cambodia book

2) Vietnamese Phrase Book

3) Traveler Dairy

4) ipod speaker

5) Light

6) ball pen

7) Maps

8) Sunglasses

9) Passport

10) iphone/ear phones

11) allen key

CLOTHINGS

1) Cycling gloves x 2 pairs

2) cycling socks x 3 pairs

3) 4 x T shirts (1 long sleeve)

4) Red colour Mask(to combat the pollution in Highway 1)

Tools and bike accessories

5) 1 quick dry shirt

6) 1 quick dry travel pant

7) 2 x cycling Jerseys

8) 1 x polar fleece Jumper

9) 2 x cycling Padded Underwear

10) 2 x cycling padded shorts

11) 1 x normal quick dry short

12) 1 pair arm sleeve (sun protection)

13 )Sun hat

Tools and Bike accessories

1) cable and Lock

2) spare Brake cable

3) Bike tool ( allen key)

4) Swis army Knife

5) Light

6) ipod speaker

7) 2 bottle lubricants 1 lock tight for screws

8) small fold up pliers

9) allen keys + phillip and flat screw driver

10) bike Multi-tool

11) 2 x spare bicycle tubes

12) park tool cleaning Brush

13) 2 x spare brake pads

14) Velcro strap

15) duct tape

16) Bungee cord

17) spoke Key

18) 3 x tyre levers

19) wire for locking up panniers

20) zip ties

My Modified Dahon Cadenza

Additional Items on bike

1) 3rd Chain Ring

2) Suspsension shock absorbing front fork

3) Bontrager Handel Bar with Bar ends

4) SKS quick release Pedals with Power grips

5) Zefal bottle holder (bottom of frame)

6) Sefra E-Gel saddle with springs

7) Topeak Pannier Rack

8) Kick Stand

The DashBoard(handelbar)

1) Bontrager "trekking" handelbar

2) Pro Bar Ends

3) Pro adjustable Stem

4) Zefal side Mirror(under right bar end)

5) Thunder Horn( round item on right handside)

6) small speaker for ipod with bag

7) Bracket for handelbar bag

8) Nite Rider cycle computer

9) handelbar bottle holder

The Bicycle

The Dahon Cadenza

The DAHON bicycle company is started by a chinese Dr called David Hon in U.S.A.,he invented the so called folding bicycle.

so a little technical info about the bike,its a 26 inches aluminium frame road bike,that originally has only 16 speed but I have added a 3 rd chain ring to make it 24 speed for easier to cycle up hill .For comfort I have also added a shock absorbing front suspension fork,a Sefra E-gel saddel with springs .originally the bike weighs 12.5 kg but with all the additions I think its weighs 15 kg at the moment,

Well at last my cousin Lou has managed to get a Trip to singapore so he will now pick up his own Dahon cadenza from "SpeedMatrix" Bicycle shop in singapore But he will have to settle for the 2007 model which is very similar to mine with the exception of the frame because "SpeedMatrix" does not have the new 2008 model Cadenza

The addition Lou has made for his bike is addition of a Brook Leather saddle,and a "Trekking"(butterfly) handelbar, which is suppose to be the very good for diffrent hand position and a upright seating position .I have opted for a "Bontrager"sattelite trekking handelbar with bar ends,becuse I can add more things on the bar handel