Loti is going 3 years old and I am always exploring methods to drop and pick her up at school.
The usual method is drive and use a stroller.
Drive is faster, but you incur parking charges. Especially when it is a per entry charge of $2.40 whenever you exceed the grace period.
Stroller of course, is the cheaper method but gotta walk a bit more.
So the idea of a bicycle with a child seat rose.
So I went to Shopee to find the cheapest foldable bicycle. One of our cousins had bought the Phoenix locally, but I managed to find at Shopee at a cheaper price!
So order it, and it was shipped via Sea. Had to wait like 3 weeks for the bicycle to come.
When it arrive, you need to fix up the bicycle yourself. It was very easy in fact.
And I thought I had a good buy!
It took me 30mins to fix up the accessories. Quite fast I thought.
So I tested out the ride. Apparently the seat is still loose, no matter how much I tighten. Unfortunately, I spoilt the screw head and had a hard time getting the screw out.
I replaced it with a quick release clamp and things were better.
Bicycle Child Seat
I installed a back child seat. It looks suitable at first, but my heel keeps hitting the bottom of the child seat, so I bought a front child seat instead.
It was so much better and more fun for loti.
1st Cycling Trip
After a month of using the bicycle to drop and pick Loti. I decided to go a little further after dropping her. Why not go for some leisure cycling at Pasir Ris.
The first trip out was quite enjoyable, was a Pasir Ris Park end to see some uncle camping there to take wildlife pictures.
I thought, wah seh.. This bike is not bad lah hor.
2nd Cycling Trip
As usual, after dropping Loti, I went cycling to Pasir Ris again. While cycling the gear keeps dropping. As I was pretty hands on with a bicycle, I also manage to put back the chain and carried on cycling.Â
I even used my mask as a cloth, so I won’t dirty my hands. I was thinking aiya, later cycle back quickly head home already.
On and off drop 2 -3 times during the 5km ride. Then….. Suddenly the chain instead of dropping, snapped.
Dafug!
This is the first time in my entire life, I broke a bicycle chain! Don’t know is my horse power too big or my chain very bad.
Then I was thinking, aiya.. Maybe just fold the bike. Take a cab back. But hor, I don’t have mask leh.
Later uncle don’t wanna let me board how?
So I remember there is a bicycle shop at Elias Mall area. And since I will still need to go to a bicycle shop eventually.Â
So maybe can go there, buy a mask and check out the shop.Â
Push Bike To Elias Mall
It took me around 15mins to push the bike to Elias Mall. The first time is head to a convenience store to get a mask. Then look for the bicycle shop.
Bicycle Shop Off Day
Wah Cheese pie this one. Of many days, they chose today to take a day off. Really is sibeo coincident lor!
So I called my wife for help. Heng driving over only take 15mins. And heng is a foldable bicycle, if not cannot fit the boot lor.
Bring to another Bicycle Shop
After lunch, I brought the bicycle to another bicycle shop. I was thinking aiya, these bicycle shop nobody one lah.
And when I reached there, at 1.15pm. The shop was not opened for business yet, but there was already a queue! I was the #4 one leh!
Ah Di, what happen ah?
Oh, the bicycle chain broke.
Okay, your one how many speed.Â
I think 7, because the gear change thing display put 7.
1,2,3,4,5,6.
Eh Ah Di, your speed only 6 leh.
Oh izzit? Then I counted the gear. Really 6.
Kans! Kena cheated of the 7th gear.
Where you buy this bicycle? I proudly say, online leh.
Ah Di, I think you. These China online sold bicycle hor, no QC one. Assemble then ship to you already.
Well, that’s probably why I paid a lower price.
So, change chain liao, won’t break again lah?
Won’t lah, the chain good one.
Okay steady!
Paid $20 and test ride awhile, all seems okay.
3rd Cycling Trip
After dropping Loti the next day, I decided to try go for another leisure cycling with the new chain. Really no drop leh!
So happy, then cycling halfway hor. I felt the pedal was getting weird. But I didn’t think much of it.
Pedal Dropped Off
After cycling for a while and up a steep slope, the pedal dropped off.
I was like.. DAFUG. Not again right?
Then I examine the pedal, the screw thread up lorry already.
Wah lau, really so sway mah. But heng I was 20mins away from home. This time no need my wife to save me. I can slowly push the bicycle back myself.
So with this spoilt pedal, I was research on how to salvage the whole bicycle with minimum budget.
Some told me that I need to change the crankset. Of course, Some say change the whole bicycle la.
I was thinking, aiya just order a pedal first then see how it goes.
New Pedal Arrived
The pedal arrived and luckily I was able to screw in the pedal with a bit of WD40.
So with this budget ride, I actually replaced 3 important parts.
The Chain, The Seat Quick Release and the Pedal.
I think the QC part really makes sense now.Â
So if you are thinking of getting a cheap foldable bicycle. Please expect that the quality wont’ be as good. And if the parts spoilt, you also Lan Lan have to go to the local bicycle shop for repair.
This bicycle weighs 18 kg! I always thought it was like 14kg until I go and weigh it. Wah piang! The usual weight for a foldable bicycle is around 14kg
Quality: 1.5/5
With the pedal and chain that broke, the quality really is very doubtful. I'm still testing out the bicycle to see what will break down some more.
Ease of Folding: 1.5/5
Somehow, the folding clamp also broke. It is very difficult to release the clamp in order to fold the bike. For a simple folding action, it took me 5mins to get that clamp to unhook.
Size when folded: 3/5
In theory, the folded size is 60cm by 80cm by 35cm. Very decent and can fit into a sedan or taxi.
Overall Rating: 2.1/5
Overall, this bike is good for fetching your kids and slight leisure cycling. Not those round island one. I have not try that yet.
If you want those change gear quiet quiet bike. This is not the bicycle for you lah.
But after the repairs and add-on, I hope to be able to do some further distance.
