User Review Mavic Ksyrium

Mavic Ksyrium is one of the top end product in Mavics product line. It is a aluminium wheelset. Its main feature is its weight, it is very light.

Experience on the wheels

This wheels accelerate very quickly. It reacts very quickly to any pedal activities. Its smooth sealed cartidge bearing spins fast and holds its speed easily at 35 km/h to 40km/h range. On this wheels, climbing is easy and comfortable. The bladed spokes are not tight thus giving it a very comfortable ride quality.

Truing this wheels requires special mavic spokes key. Truing is easy and fast. The wheels goes out of true fairly frequently. I guess it is because of its light weight. In comparison to 35mm profile rims, this 25mm profile rims are so much faster.

In my opinion, this is one of the better road racing wheels anybody can have. If you ride in groups, on road with lots of start, stop due to traffic lights, i recommend this pair of wheels to you.

Happy riding.......

4 star/ 5 star

It can be better if it can hold its true.

Comparision of gearing

One of the most effective method to compare gear ration is by the use of gear inches.

In the day of high wheeler bicycles, there is no gearing. The rev per min of pedal equates to the rev per min of the wheels. The load on the pedal is determined by the diameter (radius) of the wheels.

How to do it?
1. Measure the circumference of the wheel. There are a few methods
a. you may measure the radius of the wheels with tires and multiply by 2xpi.
or b. you may roll the bike on the floor starting from the valve and end at the valve. The distance travelled on the ground is the circumference.

2. Count the teeth on the cogset. For all sprocket

3. Count the teeth on the chain ring. For all chainring

4. Make a chart of chainring divided by sprocket and multiply by wheel circumference.

5. It is done.

The choice of bicycle used is predominantly determined by the format of ride chosen.

Road cycling is one of the most common format locally, bicycles used usually comes with 700c wheels, drop handlebar and double chain ring. Deviation such as triple chain ring, flat handlebar and 650c wheels are also available. Road bike comes with thin tyres ranging from 18mm to 25mm commonly. The seat angle is somewhere between 72 degrees to 74 degrees. It is suitable for smooth surfaces.











Above: An example of road bike


Another format of road cycling is Time Trial. Some of the cyclist call it Tri bike, however, the difference between the 2 is the seat angle. Sporting pursuit bar (bullhorn) with aero bar. wheels are either in deep V, trispokes or disc. The position of Time Trial bike make it every aero dynamic. Seat angle for TT bike is generally 72 degrees to 76 degrees, Tri bike usually spot a seat angle of 76 degrees to 80 degrees.Tri bikes are not UCI legal. While TT bikes are not Mass start legal.










Credits: http://www.astana-cyclingteam.com/russian/images/beijing/Levi-TT-Bike.jpg



Track cycling is rare locally. It have its fans in other country. Usually sporting a fixed wheel with single speed. Track bikes are super bikes.
















Credits: http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/attachments/f120/28499d1148139464-lotus-super-bike-lotusbike1.jpg

Off Road riding is sub divided into a few discipline. Cross country, downhill, 4X, trial, etc

In this post i shall only describe cross country cycling.
Cross country cycling or XC bikes are typically lighter then other off road bikes, it primary function is to participate in races traversing cross country terrain. Typically a cross country bike comes with a suspension fork. Some models come with suspension frame.

Frame with suspension is known as full suspension (full sus/ FS), frame without suspension is known as Hardtail (HT).

Fork is usually telescopic fork, in some models multiple linkage fork. Its travel ranges from 63mm to 100mm. Travel means the amount of verticle movement made by the lower of the fork.

Wheels are typically 26 inches, with the new standard of 29 inches. Tyres are fat ranging from 1.75 inches to 2.25 inches, with studs and patterns known as treads.

The drivetrain is usually 3 triple chain ring, with huge gear ratio. Sporting either a flat handlebar or riser bar.












Above: Cross country bike

What is Car Tuck Chia

Chia Tuck Chia is actually bicycle in Hokkien.

The site is for all cyclists and cycling enthusiast. I hope to provide all cyclists with the most relevant information on cycling, as a sports, a hobby, a passion, a way of life.

In this site, hope to include

1. Equipment reviews
2. Science of cycling
3. Experiences in training, group rides and races
4. Bike repairs and links to bike repair sites
5. Races

Hope you can enjoy this site and its information useful to you.

Ride safe, ride happy.....