Sunday, March 21, 2010

Mind blasted and twisted by brute torque power

I know I know... I should have blogged about the past 2 rides I had over the past 2 weekends. But it has really been a hectic week for me, sleeping at 4am for like 3 nite in a row. Totally tired out... But hey... Work work work aside. The previous weekend had kind of reunion ride with the FAKAWI group. Which was a good meet up with the old kaki kayuh. Another thing unique is that Cycling Asia was covering the ride, kind of doing a write up for FAKAWI. I wonder if there will be any pic of me in the mag ? But hey some cam whore pics...



After ride... Mud bath and sweat soaked.


See this is why u need to wear eye protection.

So this weekend office organized a Family Gathering in FRIM. Nothing to really shout about. It was a ride just Saiful and me, pushed thru the Dream Trail. Pathetic kan... Used to clear those technical sections but now no balls liow.

But the main highlight of my weekend was the car hunting window shopping Sunday. After a craving satisfied Japanese lunch at Rakuzen, with Shannon. After a short break back in Subang Hse to catch the start of the F1 race in Albert Park.

Together with Shannon, too bad Bernard could join, we first went to Mazda showroom in Glenmarie. Which i think is totally fuck up. Coz really the sales guy no doubt layan la but then like as if he is not happy to be working. Didn't help that couldn't test drive the Mazda 3, was start the car also cannot. Macam double standard service la ni...

Then we went to Hyundai coz Shannon wanted to see the new Sonata. But not in the showroom yet... Still the i30 was eye catching ! With a 2.0 power horse but a bit shabby interior, much like proton feel.
Moving on next to Peugeot showroom. Just to see what the 307 turbo has to offer. Anyway I wasn't too keen, just give it a look see. As like the next car.... But like I said, no one layan us cause there was another customer was there with the family. More potential buyer lor.

Now............. Check this out.



Sweet racing stripes... But does it really deserves it ???

Sat inside the car... Then the elderly sales lady immediate asked if I wanted a test drive, so Hell Yeah ! The Ford showroom along Federal Highway is like socmuch more relax...

Test drive... Slowly reverse my way out. Together with another potential buyer, he wanted to feel how comfy it was sitting behind. So car full...

Exiting the showroom main gate. Floor the pedal and damn ! Unexpected wheel spin sialz ! Ok ok... Recompose and reallign the car with the straight clear road ahead. Apa lagi with slight rolling start, put the pedal to the metal... Fuu yoh ! The surge and the turbo kicked in immediately ! Hey... 320Nm worth of brute torque kicking in at 1800rpm ! Shifting in to S mode, to play with the "manual" double clutch 6 speed gears. Instantly felt the 1sec lag in the gear change but it was ok when just running in Sports mode.

Was truly great kept flooring the pedal, to get the turbo surge. But it was more of a straight line speed test. Wasn't much turns and corners for me to test the handling. But Shannon sitting behind said felt a lil body roll. A lil is good enough for me... Nothing some strut bars can't help.

By far it was the best car test drive I ever had.... Reasonably priced. And I think I'll save more than half in fuel expenses. A full tank can stretch for 900km and that's urban and extra urban driving. So I see it going 1000km on a full tank.



I now stand corrected and understand why my uncle kept pushing me to get a diesel powered car. Really powerful low end range and rpm redline at 5000. Cukup la tu since max torque output at 1800rpm.



White is just right. The racing stripe is more obvious and for good reasons...




Damn... Still can't forget the ride... Wanna test drive it again, test out the handling and comfort.

Friday, March 19, 2010

IMG_2492_Twisted


IMG_2492_Twisted, originally uploaded by ::N.Keong::.

Can't help it, but I've just gotto blog / post this shot... Why ? Just cause this shot took no longer than 30 seconds to achieve. To begin with I wasn't involved at all with this studio session. I finished my session earlier, went for lunch and then just dropped by to look - see - look - see. And the more I see the more I likey...

With permission and invitation from the organizers, I was allowed to steal a few shots. Which this happens to be the FIRST shot and the only SHOT that worked !

I then learn that it pays to just sit back and observe... Then took out my camera, snap boom bang ! That's all...

I do need to work on posing the model though... I tried to direct her here and there, but doesn't seem to work. I need new ideas...
That is the GOOD thing about working with experienced models, little effort is put into directing the poses. So I can concentrate more in the actual shooting.

Then again.... what do I know ? I'm just pedaling my way through studio photography...

CREDITS to....
Model : Ashley
Light Setup : Sean Lee and Clarence

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Shopping...

Actually hor... Have to admit that it been a long time since I went on a shopping spree. An actual outing that I enjoy a good shopping therapy. Crazy as it sounds, I do love shopping. Don't mind the endless walks into all possible shops. Honestly... Really nice to dress someone up and make them look good, and I mean good.
Which I've done before and succeeded. But that's another story... I do wonder how she is doing, been a long time I met her. Hope she is getting on fine, after what she been through, she deserved so much better.




Oh well... It was a nice short window shopping after a simple dinner. I am just blogging for the sake of posting. I'm actually brain dead. So I best stop now...

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Forced insomnia

This post is inspired by House S06E14, starts with this girl (who actually looks like an ex-character but can't remember), who just blogged her arguement with her boyfriend... A small arguement of how ppl blog everything about their life. Everything written for all to read on the Internet... How about that ?

POV : Point Of View




Sideline story... Just a fraction of my home workstation. Where office is comfortably at home... As u can see House is playing.

So forced insomia...

I'm actually due for a trip to Kuantan at 5am, a meeting at 10am. Thank goodness I'm not driving so I've decided to stay awake so that I don't over sleep and gonna be sleeping the whole drive to Kuantan.
Which I should be sleeping cause I'm actually falling sick. The signs of sore throat, cough and flam. But hey... I don't know what am I doing actually.

Let's see... I'm brain dead now, not sure what else to write. And I think it is freaky to be blogging your life on the Internet.




My bed is calling... Silk comforter, a precious gift from my mom.

Sunday, March 07, 2010

Rides again

This posting should have been done long time ago, which actually it was done, but then I didn't save and then exit. And all gone la. Now I know lor, 1st time using blog app with iPhone mar...

Last weekend was a long weekend... Had Friday off, good thing bout being in Malaysia, many public holidays. Took the chance to start riding again. Damn as hell I'm so out of shape thus the decision to start riding again.

And riding I did start back, together with my colleague and his wife. As always FRIM is always good for starters. So we arranged to meet at 730am, didn't they were late, the ride matters. We started the scenic route, Bukit Hari trail if I'm not mistaken. Hey it has been almost 2 years since I actively ride... It was a test of my stamina.

I guess before I proceed on with the short ride blog, should tell bout the preparation the nite before. Spent nite with mama mia DVD playing, changing tubes and tires. Was just a tiring ordeal actually... Been awhile mar... Feeling was great prepare all my stuffs the nite before.

Back to the ride...

Headed upto the trail... I took the lead. Didn't quite waited for them cause I thought that they were fast mar. Just go lor, as much as my feet can pedal, working hard pushing my 100kg weight uphill. Ok la... Still can pace myself uphill then again the trail is dubbed as a highway. Hehehe... So yeah... I did take a break, to wait for them. In which....




It feels damn good hearing the zing from the 24 engagement Tank Lights hubs and the ling long from the bear bell. Let's not forget the clean air. The sweat soaked tiredness and a certain numbness - priceless.

Little did I know...

Coming the a downhill section of the trail, bit of the rocky part, try la... Bomb only downhill. Felt the tail was flying everywhere, rear tire too much pressure. It was bouncing everywhere... Next thought that came across my mind was damn don't let the tire blow. So I stopped and pppsssssssssssrttttt... I've got a flat !
Bah ! Luckily I've got spare tubes. Should have brought more tubes, as I was done, 2 rider chicks came along. 1 of them had a flat... Pretty hardcore rider chicks.. And I mean pretty...

There after it was pretty standard by the books. It was a test of nerve actually going downhill again. Single track so no worries lor... But still need to build up guts again. End of it a good sweat out ride.

That is not the end of the weekend ride.

On Sunday morning, another ride... With my all time kaki, Keat. This time decided to take the Rover trail, more scenic route. With joggers and walkers on the same trail, a bit tricky at certain sections.

But... The best part... It was Crap goin uphill. Damn as hell didn't make it all the way. Felt all flat out dead tired... Really gave up. Stopped to rest at the end of Dream Trail, konon la macam just finish...
Damn long lor rest there, my legs were on the verge of getting cramp. Survived la... The rest of the trail felt endless...

That's it la !!! 2 things was then confirmed. First we were heading to wann tann minn for sure. And that I'm damn out of shape. So I've decided to ride more... Now that photography has taken a slow slow pace. Bah ! Another disappointment... But that's another story ain't it.

This weekend... No ride. Couldn't wake up, was working till 4am - for real ! So another weekend missed. Thinking now if I should ride after work tomolo. Reverse up to FRIM sg buloh trail... Sigh... Decide later. Now to enjoy the rest of my evening. I've got The Godfather III playing on and just finish my cup of Bailey's.




That's all... Got a few more things I wanna blog about. Time time and time... Need to steal more time...

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