Real Rugged “Romance”

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FROM 500 TO A REFINED 800

The entire project took Nick about a year. It was a great relief the moment he realized Romance 800 did not fail to surprise him. When the descent from his course’s highest point begins, riding the bike up the mountain is all worth his effort. Having a lighter bike frame at 1.3kg allows him to climb up the rock-strewn, gravel roads at speeds he would have hardly attempted on a heavier bike with smaller teeth. Say, the pre-upgraded Romance 500 was weighed at 1.6kg.

Moreover, the highlights of the project bike include an Aerozine’s handlebar, Schwalbe’s tubeless wheels, SunRace’s cassette, Shimano Deore’s crankset, a XP-Zero 400 Seatpost from Aerozine, hub from Circus Monkey as well as a carbon made saddle from Giant Contact SLR which Nick fell in love with at first sight during his trip to Taiwan. “I have encountered a high end handlebar, however, it broke after a crash. So, I decided to purchase an Aerozine for its affordable price yet decent functionality.” Nick further explicated.

Apart from wanting to achieve a lighter bicycle, the tubeless tires do not only provide clear advantages in speed, comfort, grip and puncture protection to start off flat, and then slope dramatically off the trail, getting progressively rougher as it goes; it is also an ideal buddy for off-road which reduces the rolling resistance. “I am grateful for Schwalbe’s tubeless tires as they had done me good for my jamborees.”

As an ardent mountain biker, Nick understands that cassette provides with a range of gearing options that the chain can run on. The range of gear ratios allow to vary his pedaling cadence to attain optimum efficiency. Unlike his former cassette with 36 teeth, he opted for SunRace’s cassette with 42 teeth purely because of the larger sprockets that offer a lighter and smoother gear, letting him turn faster especially hitting a steep ascent.

To boost his ride, Nick replaced a double chainring with a single chainring from Shimano Deore for its weight reduction and less complication. Simplicity has its virtues as the set-up is often used to help guide the chain and stop it coming off the chainring during gear changes.

So far, Romance 800 has been tagging along Nick to his races and evening spins through high and hell water. Occasionally, he commutes to work as well.

When you set yourself more challenges, you tend to make things moderately hard for yourself. In overall, Nick has spent RM7,500 on his project bike. With help and support from his friends and family, he is constantly creating more experiences, enhancing his performance and upgrading a better bicycle that in the future, he will master his personal best.

Don’t limit your challenges. Challenge your limits. “My next upgrade will be a fork. A suspension fork that is consummate for my MTB adventure.” Nick finished his sentence with the brightest smile. That passionate smirk showing on a 20-year-old no one can ever relate.

Specifications

Frame
Romance 800
Handlebar
Aerozine
Saddle
Giant Contact SLR
Seatpost
Aerozine Zero 400
Crankset
Shimano Deore
Cassette
SunRace 10 – Speed, 42T
Wheelset
Schwalbe Tubeless
Hub
Circus Monkey

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The editor of Cycling Malaysia Magazine. She writes news, interviews, product features, pre and post-event articles. She enjoys everything about nature and the outdoors.

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