My cycling in Singapore experiences - barking dogs

This is in reference to the article "Cyclist chased by pack of dogs at Bukit Brown" on June 2, 2013 home section of the Sunday Times.

 I am not a dog lover, and am quite against keeping pets. I just find the article too bias against dogs, and will very likely lead to the deaths of these innocent dogs. The road mentioned is a dead end road which most will not ride into. I rode that route accidentally one Sunday evening last Oct, and was also barked at by the dogs, who came crowded around me, but that's all. Nothing much to worry about.

I am also not an expert in dealing with stray dogs, but from my experiences with dogs while cycling, including those huge ones in industrial areas, and such "stray" or I prefer natural dogs in the wild, I would like to share what I understand.

Basically, I think dogs will bark at intruders, especially those that they detected only at close distance, and their intention is to make a stand telling the intruders that the place is their territory. Thus, this is what I do, and would advise others:
a) Don't ride silently in dogs areas. Have some music on speakers so that dogs will not be shocked by you, are more prepared to expect something approaching them, and have more time to access what is approaching.
b) When barked at, don't assume they are going to attack. Just continue at same or slower speed.
c) If approached, I think their intention is just to sniff your smell.
d) Soon, you will be further away from them and they will go back to their life.

The above is my amateur understandings and methods which have worked for me couple of times.. Please do check with dogs or wild life experts on dealing with them.

I hope the peaceful life of these dogs and the residents there will not be terminated by the above news article.

But too late.. heard that the AVA people had already been to Bukit Brown :(

Roller wheel(s)

Brief comments on some existing designs for attaching a third wheel to a side-folded folding bicycle for easy rolling.

a) Adding a hinged or pivoted leg with a wheel at the end, allowing it to be lowered when folded and raised when riding. E.g. early model of Dahon folding bicycle.

Pros:

Does not affect the seatpost adjustment.

Easy maneuvering.

Cons:

Only on folding bicycles that come with it.

Significant extra weight.

Hinge and pivot performance tends to deteriorate.

Need to lower and raise the leg when folded and unfolded.

b) Replacing the seatpost with one that has another tube at the lowerend with a wheel fixed at the bottom. E.g. JSK Folded Bike Moving Caster Seatpost.

Pros:

Does not affect the seatpost adjustment.

Can be implemented on different folding bicycles

Does not need extra tasks to use it.

Easy maneuvering.

Cons:

Need to replace the existing seatpost.

Must match the seat tube dimensions.

Significant extra weight.

Significant lower clearance between wheel and floor when riding.

c) Mounting a wheel at the end of the seatpost. E.g. Qbicle folding bike roller.

Pros:

Little extra weight.

May not affect the seatpost adjustment.

Can be implemented on different folding bicycles.

May not need extra tasks to use it.

Cons:

Need to remove if end of seatpost goes into the seat tube for riding.

Need to roughly match the seatpost diameter.

Slightly lower clearance between wheel and floor when riding.

Need to align the wheel direction during each installation.

Difficult maneuvering.

d) Dahon D-Walker.

Pros and Cons: I think picture says a thousand words. I say it is over engineered but not much added value.
Correction: After having experiencing folding bikes with the N-fold design, I guess the above design is to help tackle the unbalance "problem" in N-fold design.

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From here, I came across these after I have come up with my version.

e) Another implementation, away from seat post/tube: The clip talks about the magnet but the wheel appeared in it.

f) Dahon Landing Gear
Only for certain Dahon frame that allow it to be mounted at the BB.

g) mo:Rack
A Singapore product.

h) "Imitation" of the Qbicle Folding Bike Roller

i) Another Japanese kinda over engineered version. This one has almost the same concept as my current version.

j) The best design I have come across so far. Easy installation, rotatable, no need to be removed, light, cheap! 

My cycling in Singapore experiences - Why not ride to work?

I read a new nicely written e-book, LET’S BIKE TO WORK, SINGAPORE: A QUICK START GUIDE by Calvin Boo. In it there is a list of reasons why many cyclists think they cannot cycle to work. I would like to share my views on them here.

Why [Not] Ride To Work?

Ten and more reasons …

Start a conversation with any cyclist and most can churn up at least ten reasons why they cannot cycle to work: 

How far can a five year old ride on a balancing bike?

Our family made the following cycling (not all) trip on Sunday. My couple and our five year old son. I am on a Tern Link C7. Wife on a Polygon Urbano 3.0. Son is on a loopfiets or balancing bike, or kid training bike.