The Bike Shed

I might need another bike rack soon looking at the way this is going. Hsemate has just decided to take up Triathlon and managed to borrow a old racer to train. And a new collection to the Team. Pinarello FP3.Anyone keen to get a 'light' bike, should be looking at Scott or elsewhere but not here.
Frame weight + Ultegra grouppo, Most oversized Crank and Look Pedals: 4.8kg (after the handlebars have been changed)
This exlcudes the wheels, seat post and saddle. Frameweight is a modest 1100g which is not too far off the mark but its the handlebar, seatpost, saddle which lets it down! Thankfully I think Pinarello realised this, as the seatpost is 31.6mm. An easy alternative to look for a lighter replacement.

One thing I cannot fault: Riding the same route every Saturday on an aluminium and converting to carbon, the damping properties are amazing. Not sure if its just the properties of carbon or the propriety ONDA forks, but every bump and humps used to send jolts up my back/neck but not anymore.

Cooking

Hey Cat, its not the puttaneasca but its where it ended up and whats been keeping me busy these past few weeks. Trialling a 10 week pilot program of physical activity and healthy cooking.
I am quite amazed at how some people do not have the basic cooking skills at all while others just lose it over the years with hard work at the desk and substituting it with fastfood or takeaways.
U cannot talk about a healthy diet if the people do not have the basic skills to do it and that was how this was born!

Tacx vs Park Tools PCS 10

The final piece to the workshop. Tacx's Spider Team bottom bracket vs Park Tools PCS10.
The Tacx is quick and easy to setup, pretty much good to go after opening the carton. Even comes with a handy tool tray. Its easier to stow away and is much lighter then the PCS 10.
Unfortunately with Park Tools, some assembly is required. Its much more suited to a fixed position. Not a stand I'd fold up, stow away and pull out when I need it. While its stable and also much more bulky; I wouldnt say its more stable that the Tacx.

The only main difference, the Tacx allows you to spin the bike 360 degrees while servicing (not the Park Tools).

But the Park Tools allows you to set the bike at any incline (if you foresee a lot of that happening, not that I could imagine a lot of scenarios).

Last piece of the puzzle

Hey Mike, finally the last piece of the puzzle.

Park Tools PK63

The grand-daddy of all bike tools, Park Tools PK 63. Bought it while the US dollar was at an all time low few months back. My day job, Dietitian, night job; Sports Dietitian and now a weekend wrench. The first project was restoring a mate's 1950's Malvern Star (suppose to be a pro bike in its hey day) Will try to get some picts next time round.
While you may have the best tools, it does not buy you experience. You just pick up a book and learn the hard way. Try looking for a 2-3mm ballbearing which I dropped while I opened up the hub of a Shimano cup cone wheel.

Options

"...our squad of athletes have grown dramatically over the years..."
"...we need someone who knows the sport and is willing to train with the athletes... but also know their life outside the sport.."
"...we need someone who knows the education system and the stress the athletes face.."
" ...we need someone has done the hard yard, has life experiences and who the athletes can look up to as a life coach.."

Just some extracts of a phone conversation I had with the Singapore Sailing CEO last Friday. The irony, I worked with passion hoping for a full time job only to be told, we really need you, but red tape restricts us from hiring you (full time). I left the country and with it my disillusion.

"..we had a meeting some time back and your name came up as the best person for the job.."
"...would you be keen to take up a high performance/sports science coordinator for the junior squad of National sailors for the upcoming Asian Games and 2010 Youth Olympics...."

Me: How much are u going to pay me! ( not those exact words but similar meaning)

"no scale really. Its up to you to negotiate.." (I take that as any thing I want..ha)

I couldn't really sleep on Friday. I had initial granduers of box seat tickets to a stadium pack full of people while watching our group of athletes walk into the stadium. But am held back with a good stable job, my own patch and a lifestyle only people in Singapore can dream about. Do I really want to give it all up for passion again?