On two wheels
- Kaisern Chen
- Aug 28, 2022
- 20 min read
Updated: Sep 15, 2024
My bikes, my cycling journal, all things bikes
As a cyclist, photographer, and industrial designer, my journal of riding my custom-built bike and the photographs along the journey.
"The bicycle is the noblest invention of mankind."
~ William Saroyan
2022
August 28 Bangkok, Thailand
Many of us carry cherished memories of bicycles from our childhood, and as a native Taiwanese, my experiences are likely more abundant than most. I've witnessed the explosive growth of the bicycle industry and its ascent to global popularity over the years. My relationship with bikes has been enduring, starting from my early days and evolving into countless hours spent on a spinning bike at the gym as an adult.
I own several bicycles, ranging from aluminum hardtail and carbon fiber full-suspension mountain bikes to a chromoly touring bike and a titanium road bike. For those of us who are passionate about cycling, the desire for another bike is always present. However, as an industrial designer, my goal is to design and custom-build my next one.
Today is an incredible time for creating custom bikes, thanks to advancements in professional CAD software, 3D metal printing technology (Direct Metal Laser Sintering - DMLS), and the availability of modern alloys and steel tubing, as well as filament winding for carbon components. The only limit is how far one wants to stretch the budget. My aim is to create a bike that is logical, durable, and maintenance-friendly.
As we are now in 2022, I am determined to design a bike that performs with efficiency and embodies the vision of my design studio,- SOTA - State of the Art. The new all-road bike won’t be crafted for racing, but it must be responsive and agile, ready to sprint when needed, while also being comfortable enough for long rides of 300+ km in a single day.
This all-road bike will be the first of a series that I plan to design and custom-build in the future. I’m excited to announce that it will be a titanium bike, aptly named "SPIN."
Design Criteria for "SPIN"
Geometry: I will adopt the latest NACA aerodynamic trends to give "SPIN" a modern aesthetic. Having previously owned a 2006 Litespeed titanium bike with a classic design—which, while still excellent, now feels somewhat dated—I'm eager for a fresh, contemporary look. With decades of cycling experience and tens of thousands of kilometers behind me, I understand my preferences well. While I'll forego a specific stack-to-reach ratio, I plan to give "SPIN" a more aggressive stance.
Frame: The frame will feature tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding with 0.8mm and 0.9mm double-butted and straight gauge titanium tubing. I’m not overly concerned with weight; a slightly heavier frame is acceptable for my riding style. The bike will accommodate a maximum tire size of 32c.
Head Tube: The head tube will be CNC machined from titanium, with a diameter of 56mm to support full internal routing, and I will reduce the length for a more aggressive ride.
Braking System: I have been using hydraulic disc brakes since 2006, and all of my current bikes employ this reliable system. They offer dependable performance, consistency, and low maintenance.
Fork and Stem: The bike will feature a market-stock carbon fork, complemented by either an aluminum or titanium stem, also sourced from the market.
Handlebars and Seatpost: The bike will come equipped with a carbon drop bar (market stock) and a 27.2mm carbon seatpost. I will also prepare a titanium seatpost as a spare.
Wheelset: For the wheelset, I’ll use filament-wound carbon rims with carbon spokes (market stock). Although I have an old pair of Shimano Dura-Ace carbon wheels that I still appreciate, it’s time to upgrade to a deeper rim with carbon spokes.
Groupset: The drivetrain will consist of a 2x12 wireless shifting system, with options for either Shimano Di2 or SRAM, featuring a compact chainset.
CAD Software: The design will be executed using SolidWorks.
September 9 Work in progress
My approach to creating a more modern titanium frame differs from what many custom titanium bike makers have done—some even incorporating a Ti-Carbon blend, like Bastion. While the innovation in these designs is impressive, I want to pursue a different vision. One reason for this is my desire to maintain the distinctive aesthetic of a titanium bike rather than producing a titanium replica of a carbon model. I aim to celebrate the unique qualities of titanium while offering a fresh and contemporary design.
Additionally, "SPIN" will be just one of a series of bikes I plan to build, including an all-road bike, a titanium e-touring bike named "STORM"—possibly featuring couplers—and a titanium KOM bike called "SPRINT." All of these models will share a cohesive design aesthetic.
Considering the potential for the e-touring bike, the dropout will be designed to accommodate an electronic connector if I decide to use a Mahle motor. While the dropout will be made using 3D DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering) technology, it’s essential to ensure a consistent look across all components, which will require careful attention during the design process.
The preliminary frame geometry utilizes double-butted 0.8mm/0.9mm Ti 3Al-2.5V tubes, along with Ti 6Al-4V for the T47 bottom bracket. CAD simulations estimate the frame weight to be approximately 1,307 grams, which is slightly less than my initial expectations. I’m eager to see the actual weight of the frame once it is constructed.
Note: January 31, 2023 -the actual frame weight is 1,374g! The difference from the CAD calculations may be attributed to the actual butted frame gauge and the TIG welding process.
September 18
The preparation of the titanium tubes and pressing jigs will be a lengthy process, providing me with a valuable window of time to finalize decisions regarding other components.
I plan to create a custom logo, which will likely be CNC engraved on the head tube before the TIG welding process begins.
For bottle cages, two should suffice, one on the seat tube and one on the down tube. The Silca Sicuro titanium bottle cage, which I have used on my Litespeed, will also be featured on "SPIN." Additionally, I will include space for a pair of CO2 inflators mounted on the seat tube cage.
In terms of finishes, I envision a combination of brushing and sandblasting, along with some local anodizing. While this final stage may take some time, I’m committed to keeping the overall look of the bike simple and elegant.
September 23
A close friend of mine, the renowned photographer Steve McCurry, has just published a blog post titled "The Noblest Invention" that explores the significance of bicycles.
Steve McCurry "The Noblest Invention"
Throughout our decade-long friendship, we have engaged in countless conversations about photography and life, and we’ve shared unforgettable journeys through the streets of the US, Taiwan, Thailand, Myanmar, China, and Russia. Steve McCurry has been an incredible source of inspiration for my photography, guiding me in creating more meaningful images. I hope that one day my blog will gather enough photographs to inspire others who share a passion for riding on two wheels and capturing the beauty of their journeys.
September 24
I made some adjustments to the chainstay and seatstay to allow for slightly more clearance for the rear wheel, following the suggestions of the frame builder, who has significant experience in constructing custom titanium bikes. While I initially preferred my original approach for a cleaner profile of the rear triangle, I decided to compromise for this first custom frame. After completing a ride of 3,000 to 5,000 kilometers, I can reassess and consider building a revised version.
October 9
Filippo Ganna did it! He set a new UCI Hour Record - 56.792 kilometres
The bike he rode to achieve this remarkable feat is the Pinarello BOLIDE F HR 3D touted as the first and fastest single-speed track bike featuring a 3D-printed monocoque frame made from a high-strength Scandium-Aluminum-Magnesium alloy. This aerospace-grade material was specifically engineered for 3D printing and was introduced just a week before Ganna’s historic accomplishment.
It is a proprietary Pinarello development closely associated with Filippo Ganna who was prepping his attempt for a record-setting hour record on October 8, 2022 at 20:00 CEST.
Filippo Ganna, two-time world time trial champion with this new 3D printed 64t chainring Pinarello Bolide F HR 3D costs €33,000, custom 3D printed cockpit by MOST that cost between €17,000 - €20,000, Princeton Carbonworks track wheels at €8,000 a pair, 25mm Continental's GP5000 TT clincher tyres, 170mm Wattshop Cratus aero cranks with a 64-tooth chainring paired with a 14-tooth rear cog from the same Wattshop Cratus range and added an Izumi KAI chain - total drivetrain cost £1,100.00.
Added the Kask Mistral helmet, Bioracer Katana skinsuit, and Northwave Extreme shoes among other accessories - the total cost at over €75,000.
Speed is costly! Speedy ride is besutiful.
However, this is not my dream bike, my SOTA Spin in the middle of the building process is!
November 1 Work in progress
The SOTA Bike logo design by my wife, Kanjana Chaiwatanachai.
The SOTA bikes typeface:
Three Ti bikes:
"SPIN" all-purposes road bike
"SPRINT" lighter weight, KOM climbing bike
"STORM" all-terrain touring bike, possibly will build the E-bike version first
December 1
Postman with his bike - a beautiful photograph by a great Russian photographer, Yury Chernykh, one of my best friends, shot near Tutayev, Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, recently. Tutayev is one of my favorite little towns in Russia and almost a must visit each time I visit Russia. Must be fun to cycling there one day.
December 2 - my bike is almost done, coming soon!
The frame will be hair-line finish around the top tube and down tune for logo masking before sandblast process, the rest will be laser etch. I scraped my original plan to PVD or local anodize the frame and decide to apply a thin matte paint so it is easier to maintain. The logo will be in "mint" color and a gradient paint over the bike with darker tone fades towards the rear. The paint job will be executed in Thailand.
December 22 - Shimano ULTEGRA Di2 R8100 groups to go with my SOTA SPIN
I have never use the group set other than Shimano for all of my bikes and I thought that I might make a different choice this time, but I did not! At last, the HYPERGLIDE+ Di2 12s is my pick.
The following components to build on the coming titanium frame, all internal routing:
- Crank 165mm (52/36T)
- Cassette 11-30T
- Disc Brake Rotor 160/160mm
December 23 - Lún HYPER D67 Disc Brake Wheelset
I came to the conclusion to have the Lún HYPER D67 Disc Brake Wheelset for my new SOTA SPIN for its modern rim profile - 60mm Front / 68mm Rear F-RAPID with 21mm internal and external 28.5mm width.
The manufacturer, Winspace Xiamen, Fujian, is among the more reputed carbon wheel suppliers in China. The D67 is lightweight for such a rim profile at 1,515g/pair (+/- 25g per wheel), with carbon spokes and ceramic bearings. I would go for 25mm Front / 28mm Rear tubeless tires. The final build is near!
2023
January 4 - Lún HYPER D67 Disc Brake Wheelset
The parcel arrived on December 29 and only got time to take a picture of the wheel set before the fully assemble.
January 13
January 27
The Vittoria Airliner
Not exactly new, the Vittoria Airliner has been in use for a few years with MTB and I decided to run the Airliner Road size M with the Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR 700X25c (front) and 700X28c (rear) for my bike which adds the weight 25g X 2 which is lighter than an inner tube at around 32-36g each. The set up will eliminate the need of 2 Co2 Inflators (69.7g X 2) I originally plan to use or possibly even the air-pump. This is weight saving while the practicability "checked"!
The multi-way air-valves that come with the airliner package are nice but too short to use on my Hyper D67 wheels so I need to order an extra 80mm Vittoria Multi-way air-valve for the 60mm wheel (front) and 100mm for the 68mm rear wheel.
The airliner claimed to allow "run-flat" for 50km at moderate speed of 20km/h in case of puncture which frees me from carrying spare inner tubes, the Co2 inflator, and might as well the air pump. The result is the bike will run with a super clean look with no real weight penalty in practical use. I hope.
Headset & Integrated Handlebar - DEDA S-DCR headset is the choice to assemble with the Alanera Handle Bar that I decided to use to give the bike a cleaner look instead of the original stem + drop bar approach. The Alanera (334g) is also re-finished by (1) removing the OEM cover paint (2) silver leaves applied to the surface - to give a reflective metallic look (3) semi-transparent paint over the silver leaves to match the titanium frame finish.
The fork is also re-finished as the handlebar but with a gradient tone so it reveals the silver leaves texture to blend with the white/stainless steel disc rotor.
January 28
The man-machine! A shade of matte smoke matte paint from the handlebar faded towards the rear end to reveal the titanium color. A light green tint was added at the front so it gives a slightly different color presentation under different lights.
January 30
“A bicycle does get you there and more…
And there is always the thin edge of danger to
keep you alert and comfortably apprehensive.
Dogs become dogs
again and snap at your raincoat;
potholes become personal.
And getting there is all the fun.”
– Bill Emerson, On Bicycling, Saturday Evening Post, 1967
This is one of my favorite pictures of bicycles and trains which fascinates me every time it appears in front of my eyes.
I wish I can see and possess the talent to photograph pictures such as this! However, to celebrate the first custom-built bike of my design and engineering, I ask for a print of this image from Steve McCurry, a great friend of mine, as a special gift! My wish was granted!
January 31
The challenge - a custom solution to combine my riding and photography together, safe and elegantly.
Possible camera set up to go with "SPIN" ~
Ideal: My Leica M11 + Summicron-M 35/2 ASPH
Compromised: My Leica Q2
Practical, although cumbersome: SONY A7C + FE 24-70/4G
The direction of the design will be using Dyneema fabric for a pouch for the camera gear, waterproof Coil zipper, an integrated half-shell fused with the fabric and a 3-D printed Nylon rail structure with double clamp to lock on the saddle and seat post.
Got to have a real camera with me wherever I go!
January 31
Took this picture on July 8, 2018 during my visit to Martynovo, Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia. A chef from a local restaurant returning from her shopping trip on her bike.
February 1
February 3
Met this couple from St. Petersburg, Russia, traveling on their folding bikes from Hat Yai, now at the Bangkok Railway Station, waiting for the train bound for Hau Hin to continue their journey.
February 5
It echoes Queen's single released in 1978 "Bicycle Race" as a "Double-A-Side" with "Fat Bottomed Girls" which became an international hit, reaching the top ten in four countries and charting in four others.
Bicycle Race Lyrics
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like
You say black, I say white
You say bark, I say bite
You say shark, I say, hey, man
Jaws was never my scene
And I don't like Star Wars
You say Rolls, I say Royce
You say God, Give me a choice!
You say Lord, I say, Christ!
I don't believe in Peter Pan
Frankenstein or Superman
All I wanna do is
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my
Bicycles races are coming your way
So forget all your duties, oh yeah
Fat bottomed girls
They'll be riding today
So look out for those beauties, oh yeah
On your marks! Get set! Go!
Bicycle race, bicycle race, bicycle race
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my
Bicycle, bicycle
Bicycle, bicycle
Bicycle, bicycle race
(I want a bicycle race)
Hey! You say coke, I say 'caine
You say John, I say Wayne
Hot dog, I say, Cool it man
I don't wanna be
The President of America
You say smile, I say cheese
Cartier, I say please
Income tax, I say Jesus
I don't wanna be a candidate
For Vietnam or Watergate
'Cause all I want to do is
Bicycle, (Yeah) bicycle, (Hey) bicycle
I want to ride my
Bicycle, bicycle, (Come on!) bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like
February 12
My print arrived! Hand carried to Bangkok, Thailand by the photographer himself! The print was not signed until February 18 when we finally have a break from the busy working week.
Thanks to a Bangkok-based, Thai photographer friend - Jate Pokmangmee, who got me these water bottles for cycling, wrapped in the iconic Kodachrome 64 color slides label; in time to get them signed by no other than the photographer, one of my best friends - Steve McCurry, who shot the last roll of Kodachrome 64. Thank you, Steve!
March 1
Myshkin, Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia - a charming little town I visit each time I travel to Russia! It is not unusual to see people taking their buckets or bottles to fetch water for lacking of plumping system albeit Myshkin is already a popular summer home destination for the Moscow middle-class.
March 8
March 14
March 23
One of the more unique capture of bike images, by Tom Stahl https://www.tomstahlphoto.com
March 28 The To-Go Pump!
This is a bike accessory of 2023! A to-go pump from CYCPLUS weights at 97g and measures 65*46.5*28mm with 7.4v#300mAh USB-C re-chargeable internal battery and a brushless electronic motor capable of max pressure of 100PSI! It is lighter than my Silca Impure Mini Pump - 150g and free from all the hassles! Must get one!
April 18 Sichang Island ride
46.99km of constant climbing and downhill rides on the hilly Sichang Island (Ko Sichang) during my Songkran vocation in the hottest time of the year!
May 10
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving."
~ Albert Einstein
May 24
Not much riding these days as the NBA now runs into the playoffs which keeps me in front of the TV monitor for live broadcast games in the morning hours I usually ride.
May 25
Mirror Worlds of Bolivia - Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flat) by Andrey Andreev www.paganel.tv
One of the locations on top of my list to visit as a photographer - Uyuni Salt Flat, Bolivia. Now I have another good reason to go!
June 5 - the "VISTA" Camera Bag
It is time to design a camera bag after some 3,100 km rides with SOTA Spin!
I have a rather clear vision to use Dyneema® Fabric for its strength and lightweight - a material which I experienced with great satisfaction for years with my Hyperlite ULTAMID 2 tent. The white silver-ish color is great to match my Titanium bike, apart from its ultra-lightweight and super strength properties.
A custom 3-D printed nylon attachment with a quick release will be designed for locking onto the seat post and velcro to saddle rails for extra security.
For which camera?
Selection criteria:
Quality above my iPhone 14 Pro Max which will be with me anyway
For still pictures, a high-megapixel mirrorless camera
Prefer a full-frame system camera, high-quality fixed lens the minimum
Compact & light-weight
Possible candidates:
Leica M11 + Summicron-M 35/2 ASPH - probably the largest size and weight I will go for a particular day/event.
SONY A7C - a camera I don't have yet because I prefer a 47mp or 60mp upgrade from SONY to convince me. My SONY A7R IV and V are my most used cameras for many years. It can go with a Zeiss FE 35/2.8 ZA or Leica M lens with a Techart AF adapter.
Sigma fp-L - very tempting, flexible choices with many compact yet high-quality lenses such as the 35mm & 45mm DG-DN Contemporary lenses.
SONY RX1R II - Probably the most suitable one but I sold it after the Leica Q2 came out. It is a camera with my preferred focal length, high-quality and ultra-compact size. It is the camera most close to Leica Q2/Q3 in terms of quality for the type of camera, and better to go along with cycling.
Leica Q2/Q3 - This could be perfect for me if it is fitted with a 35mm, nevertheless, it is still an excellent camera. I have been using the original Q, then the Q2, and managed a blog of all things all images with Q2/Q2M since March 2019, I love the camera. Q3 with the 60mp sensor is a better option to pair with my M11 as a secondary camera for the same resolution but it is a tab on the big side to go with cycling. Cropping is always an available option as Leica has marketed it, but I have not used it even once since owning Q/Q2!
There are some very capable APS-C cameras that I don't consider in the design process because they are in general smaller and will fit my new camera bag for cycling anyway. My current camera systems are either 24X36mm full-frame, or 33X44mm & 40.5X54mm medium format digital I am accustomed to and would prefer to stay that way, with the expectation the cameras will continue to get better and smaller.
This is a personal project for a camera bag for my bike and I am not preparing to design multiple sizes unless I am commissioned to. The new bag will be named "VISTA".
June 25
July 10 SOTA Storm
Pinion MGU - Pinion Motor.Gearbox.Unit for my next custom titanium bike project - SOTA Storm
From the minds of Christoph Lerman and Michael Schmitz, who brought their talent and passion to designing gearboxes for the Porsche into e-Bike development, merging the 48V electronic motors and gearbox into one precise, efficient and powerful package.
My preliminary concept of using Mahle motors is scrapped and replaced with this new marvel that will help the look of my new bike more fleek and fresh, almost maintenance free.
My SOTA Storm will look cool! And run wild!
July 13 Across the Chaophraya River
Ride in the heavy rain, my GP 500 STR 25/622 punctured by a glass debris after 3,417km, Vittoria AirLine helped me home.
July 21 SOTA Storm E-Bike : The power issue - batteries and the charger
The challenge for the new bike to look right, organic and with a design appeal is mostly on the battery or batteries which none from the market stock fitting my current design goal. And most of the market batteries, including those from FIT EBike come with cumbersome charger making touring with e-bike much less fun.
Custom battery appears to be the only option, at least the better option! With Pinion E1.12 Q-Factor 174mm - 39mm wider than my SOTA Spin, this would allow some room to design a unique shape of custom battery pack above/around the MGU unit using 18650 Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFe PO4) 3.6V cells to build a pack (or combination) of 48V 20Ah power with BMS (Battery Management System) PCB board, and works with a GaN (Gallium Nitride) charger using common USB-C port.
Wise-Integration, introduced the E-Bike battery embedded GaN charger at EUROBIKE 2023 in Frankfurt signaled the direction of movement of the industries. I may not go with the same direction as a common 240W GaN charger weights around 350-400g and the size of a standard 52-card deck. I will need it for my other smart devices anyway.
It is getting fun!
Jul 23 107.69km Relax Sunday ride
July 28
Jul 31
The delivery of food called demae was originally a service for wealthy daimyō (feudal lords) in the 1700s. The wealthy daimyo would send servants to let shopkeepers know that they wanted food delivered to their homes. As time went by, demae became more mainstream and affordable for the middle class.
Being a noodle delivery man required a special technique of stacking towers of food on their shoulders as they biked through busy streets.
One of the most popular foods to be delivered with this method was soba, buckwheat noodles that can be eaten cold with dipping sauce or served in hot broth. The dish was affordable and could be carried around without losing flavor or appearance.
In March 1961, new cycling traffic laws added restrictions. Officials of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department said “To ride on a bicycle with piles of ‘soba’ bowls on your shoulder is dangerous. It must be prohibited from the viewpoint of road traffic safety. But we will not place any stricter curb as they will lose more than half their customers”.
They added, “With this police assurance to overlook the illegal traffic practice, ‘soba’ delivery boys will continue to race through the streets of Tokyo,”. This method of soba delivery is not practiced anymore.
August 7
6 months & 4,232km later
My custom-made SOTA Spin services me well after 6 months and in general un-eventful rides for 4,232km, at all hours of the day, in hot and very hot Thailand weather, under hard torrential rains! I love it. Nothing has changed on my bike, all components from day one still work as I expected them, and none replaced or added; they are not perfect but together they complete my bike, making it a perfectly imperfect bike. A Wabi-Sabi bike.
It is a good time to review and make notes for the SOTA Spin 23 (built weight: 7.83kg) for the next build - Spin 24 as I originally plan for a possible revision after 3,000-4,000km testing. The review summary is as follows;
Frame geometry - I very much like how the bike turned out from my original design although now I feel it is a tab over-aggressive with an over-slammed headtube and over-specced chainstay and seatstay (0.9mm Grade 5 6Al-4V tubing) resulting in a very stiff rear-triangle. Some adjustments for the Spin 24: (1) increasing the headtube length by 12mm (2) the headtube angle from 70.6 to 71.2 degrees (3) shortening the chainstay length from 410mm to 406mm (4) revising the 3D-printed rear dropout for sleekier appearance (5) straighten and reduce gauge for chainstay and seatstay for a sharper look. The current frame weighs 1,374g which is within my original goal and I will try to make the next frame around 1,300g, or lighter.
Integrated handle - I love my Deda Elementi Alanera, the first integrated handlebar I have ever used which keeps the bike an extraordinarily simple and clean appearance. I am tempted to try Coeffient RR Carbon Handlebar which provides more hand positions, the 380mm version weighs 310g added that I need to find a stem to match with support for all internal routing that could add probably another 100g, in total 60-70g over my current Alanera setup. The design concept of Coefficient RR is wonderful but I am not fond of the design execution, which was the reason I did not use it for my Spin 23 besides I wanted to try an integrated handlebar.
Group set - No complaints at all for the complete Ultegra Di2 12s group set on my Spin 23 and I may continue to use the Ultegra Di2 12s shifters, front and rear derailleurs, and hydraulic brakes (160mm/160mm). As I am not a heavy rider, nor a powerful one, I will for the first time pair my next custom road bike with a carbon drivetrain, with custom finishing, and shed a few hundred grams in total weight.
Wheelset - The Hyper D67 (60mm Front/68mm Rear - total 1,537g) is my first aero, all-carbon wheelset even though I am nowhere near the level to ride and tell how much it improves my performance but it looks right on my bike and the kind of stiffness gives a different level of assurance when cornering. I was able to cruise at 43-44km/h on Skylane Bangkok with a little wind behind me to get the sensation of "auto-pilot" - my bike just keeps going! It is without a doubt better than my older Shimano Dura-Ace carbon rim on my Litespeed. Now, for the Spin 24 I am intrigued to try the new all-carbon CRW Works CS5060 Wheelset (50mm Front/60mm Rear), with a total weight of 1,290g - a further saving of 247g over the Hyper D67.
Seatpost - My current KCNC Ti Pro Lite (T-7451 Aluminum Scandium) is generally fine although I did encounter the titanium nolt saddle anchoring system loosening up during one of my bumpy rides (in mileage approx. 2,600km) that I have no tool with me and had to hand tighten the titanium locking screws and rode the bike home at reduced speed. It is only one accident but enough for me to consider a change to a different for the next bike - eyeing at Darimo T1 Loop using unidirectional and bidirectional carbon fiber fabrics post and cradle, anodized 7075 T6 shaft and barrels, M5 Grade 5 Titanium bolts, fastening with two ultralight 100% Dyneema® Loops - the same material I will use to make my camera/saddle bag. This new seatpost cut to 332mm (dia. 27.2 mm) will weigh approx. 76.8g, roughly 100g less than my current seatpost! And hopefully a little more compliance over the very stiff KCNC Ti Pro Lite.
Saddle - my current Selle San Marco Aspide Carbon FX with 7X10mm carbon is quite good and lightweight at 145.6 g. I will look for using the first all-carbon saddle - Selle Italia SLR Boost Tekno - at 96g, almost 50g less.
Padels - I am using a pair of LOOK X-Track Carbon Ti (147.5g X 2) and I love them and will continue the tradition of using Shimano SPD-type pedals to keep the compatibility of all my bikes.
My goal for my next custom titanium SOTA Spin 24 is a sub-7kg complete bike, not that I am obsessed about the absolute weight but a curiosity to ride such a light bike to get to feel it. My SOTA Spin 23 is already a great bike to me, the next one is not meant for making me a better cyclist but to fulfill a design development goal.
October 6 Lovely lady and her bike
2024
February 27 - Busy traveling this year! Took this picture in Siem Reap while I was study locations for a commercial shoot in coming April.
A beautiful capture of a cycling race by James Startt (World Sport Photography Awards 2024)
July 3, 2024
It's not unlogic, but it is a bit surprise that DJI is projecting its prowess to enter the growing E-Bike market with the introduction of the DJI Avinox Drive System.
The initial offering of the Avinox Drive Unit weighs 2.52kg with a max torque of 105 N-m and 850W peak power.
The light weight is achieved by employing a polymer compound planetary gearset while suppressing noise and higher wear- & water-resistant, if priced right - could be a winner! Although somewhat contradicts the brand name - Avinox - but who cares?
The power comes from two IP56 battery options - the 800Wh/3.74kg and 600Wh/2.87kg which provides riding ranges up to 157km and 117km respectively. A GaN 3X fast charger - hopefully sometime later a USB-C charging option will come, making the total package weight reduce further.
It is a new product but it is one from a company with immense experience in miniature brushless motors, controllers and power solution so it is safe to assume that it will work, pending the longevity to be tested. It looks to unseat Bafang as the Chinese premier E-Bike drive system leader, and interesting to see how it fares with Mahle, Bosch, Pinion and Shimano in performance and long term development.
July 18 at Certaldo, Tuscany Region of Italy
July 19 at Lucca, Tuscany Region of Italy
July 21 at Pietrasanta, Tuscany Region of Italy
Spotted this beautiful e-Bike in front of the Collegiata di San Martino; Duomo di Pietrasanta, Tuscany Region of Italy.
August 4, 2024 Florence, Tuscany, Italy
September 8 "Move with Haste"
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