My Prize: Ultegra Di2 Groupset

I have never owned a bike when I was a kid. My first bicycle was a Raleigh mv8 from a group of friends. It was an excellent gift! As it came with quick wheel release, the bike could fit nicely into my car boot.

Months later, I signed up for my first Triathlon - Cold Storage Triathlon held in September 2013. I was intending to race on my mv8. As my birthday falls in the month of August, another group of friend came together and gave me a sum of money to buy a bicycle. After weighing the need for a 2nd bicycle, I decided to visit Rodalink, which is near to my place.

Rodalink carried mainly 2 brands; Polygon and Colnago. While I was shopping, I noticed that Shimano, the Japanese cycling component manufacturer was holding a contest. Take a pic with the demo bicycle and upload it to their facebook for a chance to win a Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset. I did not know what a Di2 groupset was, but decided to participate anyhow. This was the picture I posted.

I went on to buy a Polygon C4.0 that day. Polygon C4.0 came with Shimano 105 groupset. I did not think much about the contest, until one afternoon, I received an email from Shimano!!! 

A draw was conducted and I was picked from among the many, many entries! This guy from Shimano picked my name!!! Within 2 weeks, they delivered the groupset to my office.

At this point, I did not realize how blessed I was... Later, I found out that the entire groupset cost close to $2,000! TWICE the price of my new road bike :) I did some research on my prize.

Di2 is built on the electronic shifting technology. Since everything is electronic, changing gears become easier, effortless and faster by simply touching the shift buttons. Additional benefits include an automatic trimming front derailleur great accuracy plus easy adjustment and installation. Some people advised me to sell the prize to buy a new bike. However, I decided to keep the prize for sentimental reason :)

Well, the rest is history! Polygon C4.0 is a cheap and low-entry road bike, but mine is fitted with a high-end groupset. Quite a mis-match actually ;) The bike has served me well and I love the "zinc... zinc... zinc.." sound whenever I shift my gears. Till today, some people looked very puzzled when I tell them that I ride a Polygon C4.0 with Ultegra Di2. I will always follow up that I won it from a contest :)

Thank you Shimano for the prize :) Next post, I will share how I won a Sony Action Cam in another contest :)

What's Your Ride?

My first ride was on a borrowed bicycle from a friend. It was a beautiful white Raleigh mv7. I took an immediate liking to its curves and the comfort the ride brought.

 

So when my friends were deciding on buying me a bicycle as a gift, they knew what to buy for me. A silver Raleigh mv8.

 

My mv8 accompanied through many rides. It is a budget mini-velo which comes with quick wheel release. In other words, the wheels can be released for easy transportation in a car boot, if you do not have a car rack. So my mv8 and 1 kid's bike fit nicely into my car boot.

 

 

But my quest for speed made me looked for something else. This time I was deciding between a foldable bike, otherwise known as a "foldie", or a road bike, also known as a "roadie". I weighed the pros and cons and my needs. As I was preparing for my first triathlon, I decided on a road bike. With the limited budget I had, I bought a Polyon Helios C4.0 from Rodalink. (Will introduce my C4.0 upgrades and share why I chose to buy from Rodalink in my future post)

 

There many different types of bicycles and many different types of people with different biking needs. Some people like tricks, some like races, and some like speed control. You will need to take into account your own preferences when choosing the right bicycle for yourself. 

 

These are my top 3:

 

1) Your Intended Usage

 

If you don't intend to ride on unpaved trails, a road bike will be more efficient. But a foldie will be more comfortable or practical for casual or practical riders. Evaluate what will you most likely use the bike for.

 

Some common bikes you will find in your local bike shops.

 

Road Bikes - Fine frame, thin tires, drop of flat handle bars. Designed for speed and meant for use on surfaces like paved streets.

Mountain Bikes - Comfortable to sit on, generally cheaper than road bikes. Its lack of gears makes climbing hills a challenge.

Hybrid Bikes - A cross between a road and a mountain bike. Generally more comfortable and stable than a road bike but not as fast.

Electric Bikes - Good for people who do not want to arrive sweaty or out of breath. Do note that Singapore PCN (Park Connectors Network) do not allow motorised vehicles.

Foldable Bikes - Fantastic for storing away. Easy to maneuver on the train, buses or to store away in your car boot.

 

2) What's Your Budget

 

Bicycles vary widely in quality, size, shape and form, so having a budget will help narrow your search.

- For e.g., the price of a foldie ranges from < $100 to close to $3,000.

- A beginner roadie can starts from < $1000 to tens of thousands...

 

Last but not least....

 

3) Your Fitness

 

Body shape, size and and your overall health may affect the type of bicycle that is best suited for you. Do visit your local bike shops to have a better feel of what you are looking for. Places like Midview City or along Upper East Coast house a clusters of bicycle shops. Take your time to "see see look look". Test ride on them to have a feel of what suits you best.

 

And if you do not mind owning something pre-loved, visit local website, Togoparts, where you can find everything relating to bicycles and cycling. Browse over thousands of used and new bicycles in the Marketplace.

 

Happy Shopping!