Easy Rolling Wheel

Trying to document how to make my Easy Rolling Wheel. Need not follow exactly, just achieve the functionality. You might also like to read about some other similar products that I have come across.

Materials: Some anti slip material, Elastic string,Normal string (thicker type), A paper clip (optional),some scotch tape, Some double sided tape (thicker better), A washer, Furniture caster wheel, Some unwanted cloth, furry and thick would be better, and Water hose.

This is one of the way to reduce the slanting angle of the caster wheel.
Thickering the caster wheel stem: Cut out two pieces from the water hose about the length of the caster wheel stem. Cut a small segment out from one of them..

Coil the cut piece reversely and insert it into the other piece.

Pass the elastic string through the hose piece.
Tie the elastic string with an adjustable loop on to the base of the caster wheel stem.

Position the elastic string at the gap of the cut hose in the outer hose.
Press the hose piece on to the caster wheel stem. 
It should be quite tight.
Note: 
1) This design might need to be adjusted depending on the bottom cap of the seat post.
2) A longer section of the hose might be better.

That's it if your seat post allow the elastic string to be pulled through from the top and tie on to the saddle frame. Otherwise, you'll need to find a way to secure the top end of the elastic string inside the seat post. Below shows the way I did it.

Son can ride a bicycle!

On 29 June 2014, last day of his P1 holiday, I was putting back a 12" steel kids bike given by a neighbour so that we can discard it for someone else to use. He hadn't had good time with this much heavier and taller bike while training wheels were fixed on, as he has been enjoying his wooden balancing bike much more. Thus, when he was asked a few days ago he said he didn't want this bike. However, as I put on the rear rack and the kick stand, without the training wheel, and asked again if he would like to ride on it, he said yes. So we went downstairs, to an open, flat and sheltered space.

There, initially I asked him to position the pedal so that he could start pedalling off. After some attempts, this didn't seem to work, partly because the chain kept dropping off with this sudden assert of force on the pedal. Ironically, another neighbourhood kid of his age, who hasn't yet able to ride a bicycle, suggested to push first then step on. So, he tried that and after some attempt, he could pedal and balance for more than 2 m. Upon see this, I concluded he has learned how to ride.

I think the short distance was mainly due to the chain was very loose and kept dropping off. Later, than I realized the problem was because when I fixed the rear wheel earlier, I didn't ensure the chain is taut, which is not necessarily when there is a rear derailleur, but this is a single speed bike, the first that I have ever meddle with. Now that this issue is resolved, I am eager to see him ridding a bicycle.

Update: Confirmed he can. The night this blog post was published, he showed his ability to ride a bicycle to my dad.

My Bicycle Commuting - Is this a norm of taxi drivers? (2)

Here is the first two accounts: Is this a norm of taxi drivers? (1)

 (on 2 Apr 2014)

My Bicycle Commuting - Some experiences can't be shared

There are lots of experience sharing by cyclists who have been "saved" by the helmets. I believe there are also many cyclists who don't wear helmet hadn't experienced any events where a helmet could have saved them. However, virtually none of the latter would want to share that, even touching woods with as much skin as one could. Also, sharing such is not helpful. Thus, this is not a helpful post :P