The Star: Riding Pretty...

Source 26 Sept 2009:
 
Riding pretty

By ROSE YASMIN KARIM

Had enough of gripping the steering column and mashing the accelerator? If you’re thinking of trading your car for a bicycle, a Japanese cruiser will get you rolling in style.

Once upon a time there were bicycles that seemed to invite you for a ride.

They had fenders to prevent the rider’s clothing from getting mud- splash. They had skirt guards on the rear wheel to prevent flowing dresses from getting trapped in the spokes. They had cushy saddles that wouldn’t make you sore from the little ridges and bumps of the road.

I was struck by the elegance of many of the bicycles at Zklasikal, a bicycle shop in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan. With bicycles, about 600 of them, covering every inch of the double-storey shop, Zklasikal is the place to score high-quality, gently-used Japanese bicycles.

I can only imagine at one time these bicycles were bright, shiny and new. Someone was excited to take one of these on its first ride, probably wiped it down often, remembered the rides they’d finished and dreamed about the rides planned. Then it slowly fell into disuse.

A baby-carrier transforms a bike into a two-seater for parent and child as demonstrated by Rosmah Muhammad (pic below), Zulkepeli’s wife.

Why?

Who knows?

Maybe a flat, loss of interest, or lack of time. In any case, it finally ended up sitting in the rain and sun until it weathered. But now, refurbished, these bicycles await new memories and new plans. Depending on how much you want to spend, the proprietor, Zulkepeli Kamarudin, 54, has a range of models from which you can choose.

Prices range from as little as RM150 to RM1,500.

“People appreciate Japanese bicycles for the durability and comfort,” says Zulkepeli with a twinkle in his eye, the kind you only find in people who truly take pride in what they do. Now, how did the bicycles find their way here?

“Over in Japan, to dispose of big and heavy items like bicycles, the local council impose a levy. A free alternative is to simply ditch it where it stays unfound and the tyres go flat. Then there are also unlocked bicycles “borrowed” for a single time use, and left propped up against walls,” says Zulkepeli.

“These abandoned bicycles are eventually collected by the local council, never to be claimed by the owners. We buy them off the hands of the Japanese and ship them back by the container load.”

Pretty practical

Women would look much more elegant on these vintage-inspired two-wheelers than they could possibly look on a high-speed mountain or road bike. The loop frame on some of the bicycles allows for easy mounting and dismounting, so you can cycle in everyday clothing — skirts, dresses, ballet flats.

“The saddle is positioned lower than the handlebars so you can relax and sit tall on it rather than hunched over. This way you are better able to observe your surrounding and make yourself more visible to traffic,” explains Zulkepeli.

“The swept-back handlebars are also comfortable to hold and relaxing for the wrists and arms.”

Far superior to the practice of shouting “Make way!”, a clear-sounding bell comes as a standard feature. Fitted at the handlebar is a wire basket made for baguettes and croissants and a posy of gerbera daisies, but you can also cram a huge stack of books, groceries bags and whatever else your heart may desire.

“All the bicycles come with a small lock located on the front frame near the spokes. All you have to do is drop a small lever so a rod enters the area of the spokes. Remove the key and the bicycle is clamped.”

While comfort and convenience takes precedence, the bicycles are also designed to perform well for leisurely rides. Think waking up and riding to a tiny cafe, then cycling home to prepare a gourmet meal for your friends and eating under white fairy lights, and you get the idea. You’re far less likely to work up a sweat on a Japanese bicycle than you are on a road bike, which means you are far less inclined to reach for your spandex shorts and wraparound shades.

“Given the motorists’ blind spots, riding fast in Malaysia is dangerous. Simple single-speed bikes, while less speedy, require less maintenance than multiple-geared bicycles and is suitable for daily rides especially in paved areas with little differences in elevations,” Zulkepeli opines.

Perhaps in lieu of the higher gears, employing some yoga breathing technique and imagining your butt is getting firmer would help riders take on a hill.

The bikes that arrives at Zulkepeli’s shop are sometimes in need of nothing more than a good scrub. Others require a little bit more elbow grease to bring it back to life.

“When the bicycles get in, we oil the bearings, derailleur and brake system,” he says. “Brakes are often in bad condition on second-hand bikes. Usually rubbing all the dirt off the brakes with a rag and applying light grease will be all they need in order to be in working condition again. We also get bicycles that are rusty, which if left untreated can eat up the parts. Soapy water and sponge take off rust really well. I usually then dry the part and apply a layer of WD40 (Water Dispersant 40) to the part that’s rusted to stop excess water getting back in.”

The shop also sells folding bicycles which are cool but are really only suited to short journeys as they require more pedal effort per kilometre.

“They transport well in the back of most cars, which is one reason for their popularity. And they are easier to put away safely, minimising theft,” says Zulkepeli who has lost quite a number of bicycles to bicycle burglars.

Old’s new again

“I think the reason most people buy a vintage style bike is that they want their old bike back, a way of regaining their youth. Or maybe a vintage bike lets people have the one they couldn’t afford as a kid,” Zulkepeli suggests.

For Rohaimi Mansor, 33, a computer engineer, a Bridgestone single-speed bicycle is his second pair of legs. Instead of jumping into the car and polluting the world, he would rather peddle to work.

“I’ve owned expensive, multi-geared racing and mountain bike but my old bicycle is my absolute favourite. It looks old-fashioned but it’s a treat to ride,” he remarks.

“Instead of walking the seven minutes to the train station everyday, I now ride my bicycle. Instead of driving to the futsal court a couple of kilometres away, I now ride my bicycle.”

The best part, Rohaimi reflects, is parking within steps of his favourite mamak restaurant.

“I cycle to work from Shah Alam to Kelana Jaya so I get my 70 minutes of outdoor cardio exercise five days a week, which in turns lets me eat anything I want. Some days I want to challenge myself, and I ride hard and fast. I like having the wind in my face, coasting down the road while traffic is at a standstill. Sometimes I pedal only fast enough to keep my bike moving forward and I take my time without breaking a sweat, gathering landscaping ideas to take home,” he says.

Riding vintage bikes, Rohaimi observes, isn’t exactly “mainstream”.

“Young boys have flown past me in their BMX, and I’ve been left biting the dust by a guy on an eight-speed road bike. But all of them took a second look at my bicycle. Big old fender bicycles have got characters. Maybe the cool factor will grow.”

Zklasikal Enterprise

S909-A, Jalan Tok Kenali,
Kubang Kerian
16150 Kota Bharu
Tel: 013-9813399