Griprings - A New Bicycle Accessories Sensation In Singapore?

Remember this name "GRIPRINGS", the fast trend setting bike accessory in town is now available through LifeCycle and MightyVelo retail outlets. Fast gaining popularity with it's multiple choice of combination of colours and even a customisable website that let you choose your desired colour combination and ship to you through www.gripbuilder.com (FREE DELIVERY to Singapore)



Griprings in short are rubber based round band that replaces your average looking bicycle grips (all range of bicycle as long as it uses standard handlebar, Skate Scooter (Adult or Children). Depending if you are using trigger or rotational shifter on your bike, you may select 5-7 rings either in standard 1 colour pack or customisable colours (out 11 standard colour choice), The ability to fit huge numbers of bicycle types (foldable bikes, fixie, etc), kick scooter or skate scooter are really widening the options.

Sample photos (left by MightVelo / Right by LifeCycle) at retailers.


Subject to the length of your handlebar, the cost will vary

Example 1 (BikeFriday): Total 5 pairs of griprings ($16) + 1 pair Barend Plugs ($5)
Example 2 (Tern Bicycle): 6 Pairs of griprings ($19.20) + 1 pair Barend Plugs ($5).

Join in the fun today and customise your handle bar today with your favourite colours!

Specification:
GripRings available in 22 or 24mm handlebar diameters

Price:
11 colours @ $1.60 each for griprings
Locking Barend Plugs @ $2.50 each ($5 a pair)

Below spotting a Griprings endorsed Brompton with tubeless Tannus tires (picture copyright of MightyVelo) which looks absolutely dazzling .


How it looks like on an adult Kick Scooter (Picture copyright of LifeCycle)


Griprings on Fixie (Picture copyright of LifeCycle)


Griprings on children skate Scooter. (Picture copyright of LifeCycle)


Summary:
At a pretty affordable pricetag and very trendy colour combination. Griprings are catching up real fast and if you would like some fun alongside your mobility transport tool, it's a worthy consideration. No harm since it doesn't cost much to mix and match.

Immerse potential...

Price: 4.5 / 5
Looks: 5/5
Value: 4.5/5
Upgradability: 5/5

* All photos are copyright of respective bicycle retailers (namely LifeCycle & MightyVelo).
* The author of the article are not sponsored nor paid on the above article. Opinion are strictly based on author's freedom of speech.

Local Bike Shop (LBS) that carries the Griprings:
Might Velo
239 Lavender St, Singapore
Tel: 6396 6280

Life Cycle
1) 204 Rangoon Road Singapore 218451 (Tel: 62994308)
2) 986 Upper Serangoon Road Singapore 534732 (Tel: 62890176)

AEON 20 Folding Bicycle - A worthy consideration for sub $250

The AEON 20 is a relatively unknown foldie bicycle in the market as it's often been overshadowed by the better made and quality of the aluminium models from Dahon or Tern selling at My Bikeshop.

AEON 20 is a fully DLT licenced bicycle with official Dahon Licence Technology (DLT) which offer the reliable and easy fold technology (beware that many others from China are usually imitation or non licenced DLT product). At the current clearance price of S$220. It's actually a worth consideration as it offer better fold than the ALEOCA competitor. Comes with only 6 speed Shimano SIS Tourney gear, it comes in Green and Blue as featured below.

Weighs at 13KG and using hi-tensile steel frame, AEON is a relatively affordable bicycle if you do not ride too often and just require a bicycle for marketing or easy mobility.

Hi-Tensile Steel frame offers a firmer resistance on the road when riding through uneven ground or potholes as the vibration are not as obvious as aluminium frame with only rusting as the major disadvantage.



Available for a limited period and comes with bell & fenders (1 pair). Do give it a thought if you need a good folding bicycle that bring along on public transport (MRT/BUS).

Pros:
- Proven DLT Technology (backed by Dahon)
- 6 speed generic speed control
- Comes with bell and fender by default
- Colourful choice of colours
- Adjustable handle post height

Cons:
- Hi-Tensile Steel frame (take more care to avoid rusting)

Available via: My Bike Shop (address as above in their 2 outlets)
Tel: 67757133 (Jalan Mas Puteh) & Tel: 66941750 (Sin Ming Lane)

Preview: 14 - 16" Foldable Wheels - Dahon, Brompton & more..

Miniature size foldable bikes are always popular due to the portability they offer, while they could not compete against the performance foldable bikes from Tyrell, Bike Friday, Dahon or Tern. These are more focusing on ease of fold and portability.

There's a huge followers group on Brompton bicycle in Singapore. With the National Park saga on the $2500 Brompton bicycle raising many eyebrown on why civil servant are given such high priced bicycles and wonder why a $100 Aleoca or UTADA foldable bike can't fit the bill?

In the next coverage... We will talk about the Dahon Dove, Brompton and some really interesting small size foldie that may fit some ladies mind about commuting through

Stay tuned!

Hachiko HA10 - Aluminium Foldable Bicycle (Foldie)

The fury of the Hachiko brand of foldie is among the most interesting scene among foldable bike market in Singapore recently. With many sellers appearing in Qoo10 and various online group by sites such as AllDealsAsia.com and various specification of the bike and pricing rapidly falling by the day. As of date. I'm sure many early buyers may notice that prices have fluctuated high and low just like SGX stock exchange. It was as high as S$420 at one time, and now can be found at S$279 for the earlier model Hachiko HA01.

Today, Maxxum Interactive will be featuring a Quick-Review of the new HA10 Classic Black model which was brought in by the local distributor.

This model is proclaimed as the FIRST (and probably ONLY) aluminium frame Hachiko bicycle in the market.



The HA10 is a all black design which was rated to weight around 11.5kg (down 1.5kg from the hi-tensile steel HA01 sibling.

Colour
The all black finishing will be very tempting to most male riders. It is also easier to patch up any possible paint drop or light scratches.

Frame
The new HA10 utilise aluminium frame (not mentioned the actual material which should be based on AL-6061 material). Aluminium provide a rust free and light weight feel to bicycle which are commonly used as a mid-tier frame material on commuter's bicycle. As the material itself is lightweight, it is often a ideal choice for foldable bicycle which usually have a weight penalty compared to the road bikes due to the additional folding requirements which uses additional material around the folding joint area to strengthen the bike's structure.

Specification
With the improved aluminium frame, the HA10 price is now official $449, with promotional rate hovering around $410-411 (correct at time of writing). The 7 speed HA10 are published as having aluminium handle bar and handle post, which does give additional pointers to this bicycle that almost matches the competition (Raleigh and Polygon). Do take note that this is a new model and if possible do drop by the inspect on the other lock and joint components to compare with other models of the similar price range.

Overall Comments
At this price range. The competitors, with established after sales service by other local bike shops, are proving still a challenge as Raleigh is retailing below S$400 for similar specification aluminium frame bike. Hachiko are finally arriving with an interesting proposition of mechanical disc brake which are not available on the other competitors, if you are willing to top-up additional capital to try out on the mechanical disc brake system. This is indeed a good choice with similar Dahon Mu inspired frame design and better non-rusting parts (compared to HA01).

If you do not venture off-road, disc brake are not a must and in fact better off without it as maintenance cost are lower for normal v-brakes.

 

Below is the welding pattern (very even) on aluminium frame


Below are the usual uneven welding joint for hi-tensile steel frame.
 

All specification and images are copyright of respective stakeholders.

Visit the distributor's link below for more details:
http://list.qoo10.sg/item/HACHIKO-JAPAN-FOLDABLE-BIKE-SHIMANO/409987795