Managing Cancer with our normal diet

Tomatos, red grape and other ordinary food sources are means to stablise angiogensis. The technique already showed success in drugs for containing cancer and may be key to prevention.

Communicating from inside-out

People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it

This is an excellent presentation on how to motivate people into action from within. The way to inspire your audience by touching them with why you do something and not what you have to offer.

Map Layers

One of the things to impressed me a lot when working on SaveCycling.com is the tremendous amount of resources already built by cycling enthusiasts around the world. These resources are out in the wild and usually made available to anyone who's interested.

SaveCycling.com is pleased to announce that we now support overlaying these fantastic efforts onto our maps. Overlays must be loaded online and must be KML or a Google Fusion Table. Once the overlay has loaded, you have full control to show or hide it (just click on the link) or to recommend it for public consumption.

We have included Google Cycling Routes and Google Weather by default.

Referring sites...

Really. Seriously?

I cannot say I am amused but I am very very puzzled that the third highest traffic source.

I have also been puzzled for a long time why facebook wants to advertise lingerie to me.

I must have done something really naughty online that throws the SEO out of whack.

2013 Dahon Dash P18, design review

So my cycling needs has shifted from exercise (the road bike), to commute (refitted my voodoo mtb), and finally a foldable (which this post is about). The foldable bike in review is none other than the 2013 Dahon Dash P18.

This bike has a lot going for it. It's a foldable bike that doesn't collapse too small like the Bromptons, or even its more popular sibling the Dahon Mu P8. Basically, my needs for this bike is as follows:

1. It must not be too complicated to fold. I will be folding this bike a lot (practically everyday) so the fold has to be sufficiently convenient;
2. It must fit a rack without interfering with the fold. The bike is primarily a commuter that must carry my 15" laptop and I hate to backpack while riding;
3. It must use standard mountain or road components. I want to retain the ability to fix and tinker with the bike.

After trying a number of foldables, I settled on the Dahon Dash. This is pretty comfortable due to its geometry. Coming from a list of road and mountain bikes, I still prefer a forward lean the upright posture more commonly adopted by foldies. 

On top of geometry, the Dash checks well against every of the above requirements. It does require a 6mm hex key to fold but I have that with my standard tool. In any case, I prefer the well hidden folding mechanism on the dash to the bulk on other foldables. As a bonus, the 2013 model comes with disc brakes which seems like a good idea (more on that later).

Overall component level of the P18 is very very basic. 2x9 speed Microshift drivetrain, 22" aero but heavy wheels, Clarks CMD-11 disc brakes with 160mm rotors, and a pair of folding pedals. Before leaving the shop, I already slapped on a rack and fenders. Pretty standard fair for real bike commuters.

The evening I got the bike, I swapped out a number of parts. Namely, a compact FSA SLK crank with SKF splined bottom bracket, 9 speed XTR cassette, San Macro Mantra saddle, SPD pedals and my 6" barends.

While I do like the dash's frame, there are a number of very fundamental problems with this bike.

1. The brakes are wrongly matched. The brake levers seems to be road lever with about 1.5cm of pull but Clarks CMD-11 is obviously a mountain brake that needs 2+cm of pull. The result is an impossible choice between a bike that does not move or one that does not stop (or both).
   
   The test bike had the problem which I dismissed as a possible tuning problem. When I got my hands on my own bike, it turns out to be a dangerous specification flaw that should be fixed by simply using the correct brake lever type. To Dahon, are you aware that road and mountain brake levers pulls different amount of cable?
   
   With my own safety at stake, I swapped out the entire brake mechanism for the venerable Shimano M956 hydraulic brakes. The brake feel and stopping power immediately improved while curing the brake rub.
2. The wheels are totally wrong. Personally, I do not see this bike topping 35kph sustained. I have to question the decision to go with a 35mm deep rim. On top of looking really silly, these 451mm wheels are heavier than the 26" wheel from my 1998 mtb.
   
   Lets face it. Any aerodynamic advantage provided by these wheels will be negligible. A simple square rim will invariably be lighter, cheaper and more comfortable. The savings can then be transfered to specify butted spokes instead of the cheap looking straight gauge spokes.
3. Rear disc and Dahon's Neos RD is a criminal mix. The rotors restrict the initial movement of the wheel and the rear derailleur which is mounted in front of the cassette makes it virtually impossible to remove the rear wheel. There is just not enough manoeuvrability between the wheel, the rotor and the frame.
   
   Removing the rear wheel was royal pain but putting it back was worse. The effort to return the wheel resulted in scratches all over and a bent disc rotor. Even the mechanics at the bike shop had to struggle with this one.

On top of the above, there are a few other problems that have prevented me from enjoying the bike.

1. The hubs are are loose bearing setup and the cone was over tightened. I did not have the tools to make this fairly simple adjustments.
   
   The bike shop I got the bike from brushed it off as due to "loose bearing" hub and suggested that I should not compare them to wheels with ceramic sealed bearings. I have run cup & cone setup for over 15 years and correctly set, even the cheapest hubs can be very very smooth. Side note to the LBS: Thanks mate, it seems that you are not much of the mechanic support I had hoped you to be.
2. Something is wrong with the headset stack. The steering occasionally stiffens up and pulls to either side. It's not caused by wheel alignment or centering -- had that checked. I suspect the headset may be shot or just inserted wrongly. I couldn't reach the headset to check as the flatpak stem was impossible to remove.

I could very well have gotten a lemon but some of the above are strictly design and specification issues.  The frame does have great potential to be a very enjoyable ride. The geometry and balance are both very good.

More about it after I finally weed out the remaining issues -- but definitely not with this LBS.

Cyclist against Bike Lanes

Firstly, thank you to all the drivers (of cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles) for giving way and watching out for me when you encounted me on the road. Your patience is why I am at home safely today, typing out this post, and contributing in my small way to society.

I am cyclist and a driver. I do not have a trucking license nor any motorcycling experience so I do not claim to understand your perspective of people like me. I commute daily by bus or car like everybody else so I can understand how much patience is exhibited by some of our drivers. I will love to, one day, drum up the courage to ride to work.

Dedicated bike lanes are the point of contention here. I have heard many arguments for and against these contraptions, and I will share my views on why they will not work, at least not yet.

Bike lanes are successful in many cities. For example, Amsterdam boasted a network of 400km of bike paths and is certainly the cycling capital of the world. New York city, however, saw mix results with their implementation of bike lanes, and bike lanes across China are nearly overun by electric bikes that operates more like motorcycles.

The success of bike lanes in cities like Amsterdam is due to the utility. Those lanes are buzzing with cyclists that represented 68% of the inner city commute. They are real means of easing traffic flow, both by reducing the number of cars, and by organising cyclists and motorists into their own lanes. The latter, only because of the sizeable cycling population that required segregation from motor traffic and pedestrians.

There are plenty of reasons why bike lanes will not work in Singapore.

The scarcity of land and already tight road space means most existing roads are already pushed to the limit of expandability. Any bike lanes drawn on these will be too narrow to afford any protection. These mini-lanes will be littered with road debris and drain covers waiting to catch the wheels of the unwary cyclist.

Buses ply along the left (slower) lane and will now need to "weave" in and out of these bike lanes to pick up passengers. Ditto for motorcars who picks up and drops off passengers will contend for the same space. Given that we hardly get over 200m of roads without a left turn, bike lanes will in fact be dangerous for both vehicles and cyclists as they merge near a junction.

Bike lanes are wasted roads. There are just not enough utilisation to justify such lanes. Why sacrifice 10% of the road for less than 1% of the commuter.

Cyclists ride at different speeds. Like cars, cyclists do not travel at the same speed. If an old uncle is happily prodding along in the bike lane at 5kph, the other cyclists overtaking him will need to encroach into the vehicular paths. Our cycling community need not be reminded that replaying of our East Coast Park encounters along our trunk roads will be a lot less pleasant.

Bike lanes are not meant to reduce accidents. They create a clear legal judgement line when there is an accident so we can easily tell if the bike has veered into traffic or the car has entered a prohibited area. If extra space can be created for the bike lane, all we need is just to make sure the left lane is designed to accomodate both a cyclist and a passing bus.

Lack of mutual respect, not lack of bike lanes, is the real culprit. The real protection of more vulnerable road users, cars from trucks, motorcyclists from cars, cyclists from cars, and pedestrians from cyclists, can only be afforded when we have mutual understanding and respect for each other on the road. Both cyclists and drivers need to recognise that they have the same rights and responsibilities when operating on the road. Rights and responsibilities.. do we need to be reminded that they go hand in hand.

The final point I want to address is, why not yet? Afterall, bike lanes are already effective in a number of cities. For these lanes to be effective, a number of factors must be met. The number of users (cyclists) must warrant the separation; the drivers must mature to accept and want these lanes and its implications; and the cyclists must mature to use these lanes in a responsible manner. Singapore neither has the mass of cyclists, nor the maturity to accept, want or properly operate with these lanes.

For now, bike lanes are admission that both groups cannot coexist, and that a legal divider is necessary to keep both groups from harming each other. Such is an admission that the war is lost. The war, not between drivers and cyclists, but for a possible peaceful coexistence of both where drivers and cyclists can arrive at their destinations safely and efficiently. Demarcating roads with bike lanes go against the very respect and understanding we are trying to build.

The emphasis should rather be placed on education and policies that promote the rights and responsibilities of all road users.

Once again, thank you to all the drivers I have encountered who has exhibited patience and grace. I hope our next encounter will continue to be a pleasant one.

PC Building

After a full 15 years since my last system build, I finally went down to Sim Lim Square to put together a new PC.

The purpose of the system is really to launch VMs -- a lot of them. I knew I wanted mini-ITX but am not sure which board or casing to get. The final laundry list for this build is as follows:

• CPU: Intel i7-3770 (non K! I wanted all the VT stuff)
• Mainboard: Asrock Z77E-ITX
• RAM: G-Skill RipJawX DDR3-1333 2x8GB (I didn't care -- really)
• HDD: Seagate 7200rpm 1TB (again didn't care)
• Casing: Lian-li PC-Q08B (because they did not have the red)
• PSU: Silverstone Strider Essential 500W

All for just over SGD1,200 from Cybermind.

The mainboard was neat. In fact, the size and the layout almost makes it gorgeous. That is, until the massive cooling fan/heat sink is placed over the CPU. Then it becomes a lump of something. 

The casing is fantastic. Panel opens on both sides giving the builder easy access -- finger gymnastic is generally not necessary. I chose this casing for both its ITX support and it swallows up 6x 3.5" hdd. The only annoying part is the LED fan. It is now going through probation as a night light for the hall where the PC is placed.

I will be spending the next week or so evaluating the best VM solution for the box. At the moment, the list of VMs is growing to include both Linux, Windows and Solaris.  Ideally, the system should be running ZFS.