Finally-how it is going to look like

Side view: bike with complete luggage compartment

It is so touching to finally see my bike equip with all the accessories  The heart is filled with joy knowing that it is one step closer to achieve it. i can feel the beauty of life.

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Bike Selection Exploration 3- Talk with Faizal 25th April 2013

I have decided to get Ortlieb Ultimate to be mount on handle bar of my bike. Dave Ern recommend me to get it from Faizal as he is quite reasonable. I am not sure that whether is my bike handle bar aluminium or carbon fibre (if over tighten, it will the carbon, that's why people does not recommend to mount anything on carbon fiber frame).So, i brought my bike to show it to Faizal to make sure it is suitable. Thank god, it is ok. Then, i got it (try to get yellow color, but no stock.)

Interior

with open cover

However, purchasing of tangle frame is not very smooth. I had problem buying from amazon.com. I have to find other baggage solutions because Ortlieb itself is not enough to carry everything. Faizal suggested me to wrap the tyre and inner tube around the bike stand and cover it with plastic. With the tyre storage issue solve, if by the travel date i still could not get the frame bag, i will carry my hydrapak.

Finally, the bike selection and carriage option is temporary set.

   

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Bike selection exploration 2- A visit to basikal Akmal's workshop 23rd April 2013

Last year when I met Ricklee, he recommended me to talk to Basikal Akmal for building a touring bike and also advise. After communicating with Akmal on FB, I decided to visit him at UPM on 23/4/13.

After understanding my requirement he recommended me to get a tangle frame bag. I was like Huh!? What is that? I never heard it before. But after he showed me the picture of the bag, I immediately agreed with him that it is one of the best options for my Scott as it will not jeopardized the integrity of the bike frame.

How it looks like mounting o a bike

Revelate M size tangle frame bag dimension: Top length 19.5", front height 1", overall height 4.5"

He also introduces some cools gadgets like take a look eye glass helmet mirror. I personally think that it is a super cool gadget which acts as a rear mirror. After attaching it to my spectacles, it kind of feel like new Google spec that is expected to launch in the end of the year and it looks futuristic. Of course it is effective in serving its purpose. It is very clear when looking back. Conventional look back mirror is being mounted on the handle bar. The problem with it is that if you turn left or right with your handle bar during  cycling, you will not be able to look back of your bike. But since take a look is mounted on the spec or helmet. It doesn't have the issues. 

Take a look eye glass mirror

Take a look eye glass mirror mounted on on my spec

How it look like mounting on spec

Image of view from Take a look eye glass mirror

Never realized that there is also automatic shifter for bicycle....

Automatic gear shifter, change your bike gear without you shifting it. The down side is that it has 4 gears only 

Akmal actually had done the route before, he would recommended us the following route. 

Day 1 : Alor Setar to Penang taking coastal road –and skipped Sg Petani

Day 2: Round Penag Island

Day 3: Penang to Taiping ard 50km

Day 4: Taiping to Ipoh

Day 5:  Ipoh to Telok Intan

Day 6: Kuala Selangor to Shah Alam ard 150km

Will further discuss this with Prem.

Akmal also recommend android apps -Oruxmaps. According to him, the apps allows us to save the route map on phone. This comes especially handy when there is no data connection.

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Reading material

Book recommend by Dave for the trip

The book talks about a lady and her friend 'e experience embarking on a journey round peninsular Malaysia on a bike in 2009.  The book provides useful tips do's and don'ts and insight thoughts about the journey.  

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Bike option exploration 1-volt shop visit 22 April 2013

Bike Advertisement only RM 699

The actual promotion bike

Yew Khuay posted the volt promotion on his FB. The deals looks good. I went in and check it out on 22/4 after came back from Langkawi. To my surprise, the salesman strongly recommend me not to go for this bike. Apparently, he got a lot complain and bashing from customer after buying it. According to him, the bike will start to give problem after 50km. He thinks that it does not suit my purpose. For touring, he recommend me to get a Releigh. He google the bike for me and thinks that Releigh Oakland fits my requirement.

The Releigh touring bike that they sell, nice spec, but out of my budget

He ask me to check it out on other shop as they do not carry the model. 

Before i leave, i saw ORTIEB Ultimate classic. 7L capacity, water proof. Maybe i can mount it in front of my Scott. I can use it to put my shirts and hand phone and other accessories. But the volume might be a bit small, i need another options to carry the rest of the luggage eg. spare tyre and tubes.  i was also concern that whether is it suitable to mount on my carbon fiber handle bar?

Prelim idea of mounting Ultimate in front of my Scott

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