Maxxis Grifter Progressive Review

Maxxis Grifter tires 20x2.10 Wirebead for BMX is what I had installed in my folding bike. Check out my previous entry for the Maxxis Grifter fit in Dahon SUV folding bike and its initial review.

After more than 20 kilometers of test riding the Grifter, I must say I am impressed with the duties I've intended for it. The wide size of the tires makes the ride a bit more comfortable than the stock 20x1.50 tires that came with the bike. Loose road particles such as gravel, small rocks, or even litters can be run over with confidence. Transitioning from road to sidewalk or ramp or any kind of unevenness is something to be cared less about. The bike rattled less.

You can't use all the width of the tire on the folding bike. I can't turn as hard as I can on BMX or Road Bikes. The tire shoulders do not contact with the ground. The photo below shows that the shoulders have a brownish dirt while the crown area is relatively clean.

You know which part touches the ground.

Even though the Grifters are not slicks, these tires are grippy on various kinds of pavements, even smooth concrete. This is particularly good because I slipped once on road bike tires. It was messy. The big threads may have contributed to grip while dry. I would still have to test it on wet surfaces. These tires are also noisy. Maybe not as loud as the hubs but definitely audible even on easy rides. I cannot attribute the noise to the thread design as I have no means of measuring it. Another thing that bugs me is that road particles can get stuck inside the threads.

Rocks can easily get in the threads.

I am quite happy with how the tires performs. I would've installed them on my BMX before, if they made 2.40 sizes for this model.

Maximum Tire Size for Dahon SUV

Before the acquisition of the Dahon SUV Folding bike, I found myself endlessly browsing through BMX photos on instagram and in Facebook groups. I was once an owner of two BMX Bikes (a Haro complete and a custom built from a Skavenger frame) and up to this time, partially recovering from the heartache brought about selling them. To ease the pain of loss of a bike that is so impractical of my adult needs, I wanted to get some BMX elements built into my folding bike.

#animalbmx MTT

A photo posted by Mark Arce (@arcemark) on Apr 30, 2014 at 9:11pm PDT

One of my BMX bikes in the photo above.

My current road bike came in with 700x23c tires. Lessons from the days of car racing dictates that the best first upgrade are tires. It also goes the same for cycling. With better tires, you can corner faster with confidence, use less effort with lower rolling resistance, and get better grip. The problem I had was choosing between the 23c and the wider 25c. Literature around the internet suggests that you can go faster with 25c even though it is a bit heavier of the two. Talk around bike forums say that the bigger tires are more comfortable and can diminish the shock from uneven roads.

Why not get wider tires for my folding bike? It will be the best for comfort (not that the steel frame is comfortable already) at the same time feed my desires to relive my old BMX.

While browsing for wide tire'd folding bikes, I came across a Tern touring bike. The Verge S27h. This is one awesome machine. I bet I can cross the Isle of Skye with this while carrying all my gears. Soaring north of Php 80,000 for the bike, I had to look elsewhere.

I checked and measured the Dahon SUV's frame for clearances to see what size of tires would fit best. I got 2.25" at the fork so the biggest I could fit is a 20x2.20 tire. I was browsed through my usual BMX sellers to check what they had in stock. BMX Cycle Center had Animal tires at 20x2.20. Perfect!

Photo from BMX Cycle Center

Photo from BMX Cycle Center

 I have many Enemy Component parts and The Project parts (from BMX Cycle Center) in my BMX and Fixed Gear bike (both already sold). Check out their page for cool stuff.

Unfortunately the Animal TWW tires did not fit in the frame. It would have been awesome to have those tires mounted on the folding bike. But this is not the end for me. The shop owner brought out a set of Maxxis Grifters (Php980 at BMX Cycle Center). Prior to this blog post, I had no idea about any Maxxis tires nor where does the Grifter fall into the greater scheme of tire things. According to the Maxxis site, the Grifters are made for Flatland, Park, Street, and Vert, and are light. Okay then.

The Grifters are 20x2.10 in size. The fenders have to be taken out to accommodate the huge width. Only a few millimeters left for clearance for both the chainstays and fork.

Photo from BMX Cycle Center

Photo from BMX Cycle Center

Photo from BMX Cycle Center

The tires are pumped to about 90 psi

The tight clearance at the fork. There is no rubbing though. 

Small gap at the chainstay.

Small gap at the seatstay.

For comparisson, I shall present a before and after photos. Follow this link for my previous entry about my initial review of the Dahon SUV folding bike. Prior to tire replacing, this was what my bike looked like:

If storm troopers had bikes, this would be it. Ewok for scale. #dahon #dog

A photo posted by Mark Arce (@arcemark) on Dec 28, 2015 at 2:47am PST

How it looks like after installation.

The bike felt a bit stubborn on the short test ride. There are no heaviness felt at the pedal stroke. The thick tires could probably dampen the agility and response of turning. Tomorrow will be a day for a greater test ride.

In conclusion, the maximum tire size for the Dahon SUV is 20x2.10. But be aware that not all manufacturers produce the same tire size as mentioned on paper. I had an Odyssey Chase Hawk Slicks in 20x2.40 and it was smaller in actual size than the Animal MTT 20x2.35.

Next up on my list are black rims, spokes and hubs. I could've gotten an all black wheel setup but I'm not rolling on disc brakes. Before all of that, I have to get a custom made rack that can carry a laundry basket, the real purpose of this bike's purchase. LOL

Update: My initial review of the Maxxis Grifter tires.

Dahon SUV Folding Bike

A quick background:
I have an aluminum road bike, a Cannondale CAAD8. I ride it to work almost everyday. I needed something that can carry 10+ kilos of laundry weekly, which the road bike is incapable of without rack modifications. Being a weekend long rider, I wanted the roadie to stay light and relatively aero.

A folding bike might be the best option there is for me. These city riders have complete accessories available locally. More on racks and accessories some other time.

I was set to get the Dahon Vybe D7 in white. It was on the top 10 list for folding bikes for 2015, according to ibest9.com. Being a noobie in the folding scene, I can't recommend you taking that seriously. When I was about to get the Vybe in ROX BGC, they told me that a customer got the very last unit and I was torn between the SUV(Php 15,000.00) and the Mariner(Php 28,000.00), 13,000 price difference. I would've picked the shiny Mariner, it being aluminum and lighter by 2.6 kilograms but this would just be my secondary/utility bike and the SUV is the best choice.

I had to get the cloud white color.

The crank is thin and very flexy. Being used to Ultegra 6800 cranks, this is not very desirable at all for me. The cranks will be one of the things that will be going. I was surprised to see that the pedals are also foldable but they feel flimsy so they'll also be going. This might be because I am used to stiff cranks and pedals for road bikes. Only a matter of time before I can really decide if I should pursue upgrading.

Small enough to fit in the corridor.

The one thing I dislike most about this is that the flat bars are welded to the stem (or whatever it is called). They form a letter "T" which makes micro adjustments impossible. You can only adjust the height. I'll do more research on how to replace this part without straying too far away from the design principles of Dahon. Colorful, custom bikes are fun to look at but I don't want mine to look very chopsuey.

I can't say at this point what the material used for the wheelset are. From my previous experience with other bikes with wheelsets like these, the rims are pinned aluminum while the spokes are not. 

I was told by the salesman that should I upgrade to other rear derailleur, I don't have to change hangers.

The welds on the frame are not smoothed out. This is not really an issue as you don't really need a bike like this to be very aerodynamic. I do, however, have issues with the quality of the powdercoating. There are little holes in the paint around the joint areas. I can't say for sure if these are defects or is an effect of the powder coating process.

You can't remove this label.

Holes at the bottom bracket.

At the top tube and seat tube connection.

Head tube.

Everything is powder coated.

The shifter clicks nicely and changes gears smoothly. 

It fits right in the elevator.

What is the maximum tire size to fit this Dahon SUV bike? Check out my blog entry to find out.

I have to get used to riding a folding bike. The riding position is comfortably upright unlike the aggressive stance in road bikes. During my first test ride out in the real world streets, I came across folding bike riders who courteously greeted me with a welcome nod. The folding bike group is no different with roadies. We all share the same passion which is cycling. See you on the road.

Mallorca Ensaymada

Ensaymada fans rejoice. Pasteleria Mallorca's ensaymada will bring peace to any fighting family members. If you have lost connection with a friend, family, or even old flames, I recommend that you give them the Mallorca as an offering. The Magic of the Mallorca is like a spider web, where no insect can escape. Whenever you need to lure in your insect friends, the Mallorca is your weapon of choice.

#Mallorca

A photo posted by Mark Arce (@arcemark) on Dec 23, 2015 at 1:25am PST

Like with all things valuable, you just can't have it whenever you want it. You have to get in line and you'll shell out top Peso for it (Php370 each but we paid Php360 each when we ordered 5 boxes). You can't have them the same day. You have to order it in advance and pick up will be the next day, the earliest. My beautiful mother-in-law told me the other day that Mallorca does not accept orders anymore for 2015. They are fully booked till next year.

I may have been an exception to this as I was offered a fresh out of the oven piece the very same afternoon I visited. I was told that they'd work longer hours this season since they are so in demand. I do understand them and their cause. There are so many broken families and friendships out there that needs to be healed.

As you can see in the photo above, the ensaymada came in a golden box. I have to admit that I was disappointed as I wanted their original pink box. But it will matter no more once the Mallorca gets settled in my stomach.

I cannot hide this from my fellow Filipinos. Let us share the love.

Remember the name and the address. Call for ordering.

Unboxing the Mallorca

In its full glory

If you are visiting their store, this Instagram post will show you how their store looks like.

This simple house is where you will find the magic that is the #Mallorca

A photo posted by Mark Arce (@arcemark) on Dec 23, 2015 at 1:23am PST

Vivaldi Ski World Mascot

This creature was in front of Vivaldi Ski Park Main Center entrance. I have no idea what it is. It is a mix of a grown Bart Simpson and a green frog. Check out the fingers. Same count as the Simpsons characters, except God in the Simpsons Universe. This character doesn't even have references to skiing.

I can't find anything about this in the internets.

Check out this facebook post by Simon Chiu. They posed in front of this weird creature.

滑雪暖身前哨戰：深～蹲
Posted by Simon Chiu on Tuesday, December 22, 2015

For our English speaking friends, the translation Google gave me was: Ski warm skirmish : Deep ~ squatting

I already emailed the resort regarding this matter and I will get back to you when they reply.

Check out the Daemyung Resort website for more info on their ski slopes.

LINE's Friend Pop T-money

When we arrived in Incheon, we immediately bought our T-Money cards. The awesome guy from 7-Eleven showed us the LINE's Friend Pop T-money  cards. They are cute and nice. How can you resist not buying. We paid KRW4,000 each. Then we loaded it with KRW10,000 for going around Seoul. During the span of our three day visit, we spent about KRW15,000 for trains and buses.

These cards have added purpose, having printed with the Line app characters. I have completely no idea how what these are or how these work. Being a non-resident of South Korea, I don't think it matters. A friend of mine says that with this card, you get 30% discount in GS Supermarkets if you have their points card.

My wife got the duck card. She lost it during an emergency poop attack somewhere near Hongik University Station. I hope I can still use mine when we visit again probably in 2017.

Bibigo in Incheon Airport

There is a Bibigo restaurant in Incheon International Airport. It is located directly opposite to Lotteria. They have a relatively big dining space considering they only have seven dishes on the menu.

I have no idea what they cook there. We were seated across them and they were just cleaning that area the entire time.

 Their Bibigo Bibimbap serving was just right. But since I came from a three and a half hour flight, I wished they would serve a bit more. Below is a photo I took of their Bibigo Bibimbap.

Bibigo Bibimbap

Upon further research online, they have a branch in Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Philippines. I have to do an ocular and possibly satisfy my gastro cravings in order to confirm. Check out this link from Zomato.

Tteokbokki Appreciation

I love this! I wish I could've eaten more during my visit in South Korea. I found myself buying more Gimbap while on the go. This version of Tteokbokki has small rice cake parts unlike the ones you see in the markets around Seoul, which are longer. The spicy flavor kept me warm in the cold of winter.

The vendor is scooping the Tteokbokki as shown

And placing it into a cup. The serving size is enough for me.

A glorious close up.

Tteokbokki kept me warm in this environment.

We bought the Tteokbokki in Daemyung Vivaldi Park Ski World.

Odbo Duty Free Shop

My parents went to Seoul in the height of Fall of 2014. During their tour, they were brought to this Odbo outlet. 

Fast forward to December 2015. I was asked by my mother to buy Odbo stuff for her since I was visiting Korea. I had to do a little research on how to get there. Maybe this will help you, future Odbo non-Korean buyers in finding your way to their shop.

A quick Google search will lead you to a blog post of Shernell. She starts her journey from Line 3 Mapo-gu Office Station Exit 3. If you scroll down a bit to the comments section, you'll find a comment from David Chong, dated June 21, 2013. His comment yields to a shorter walk from Line 2 Hongik University Station Exit 1.

Below is a map version of David's comment, which I followed.

First, get off at Line 2 Hongik University Station Exit 1. You'll exit through an escalator, passing by Butter store. Once you exit the building, turn right and follow the road going to World Cup Buk-ro. This is about 200 meter walk. 

This is the Butter store at Hongik University Station. Photo by Alex from his blog. Pretty cool blog.

Once you turn right at World Cup Buk-ro, continue to walk straight until you'll see the Odbo Building on your left. This is about 1000 meters distance so you better be ready with your legs.

Here are some of the landmarks that will guide you. Hopefully they will be entertaining enough for your long walk. Below is the intersection of World Cup Buk-ro and Donggyo-ro, about 300 meters from Hongik University Station Exit 1. You may have to wait for the stoplight to turn green before you can proceed.

About 600 meters from Hongik University Station Exit 1, You'll reach World Cup Buk-ro 8-gil. Be careful crossing the street.

Intersection of World Cup Buk-ro and World Cup Buk-ro 8-gil.

A quick look on your right, you'll see a nice modern building with a large "Humanist" sign. Apologies that a sign has blocked the logo.

Beautiful cars along World Cup Buk-ro 9-gil

At about 800 meters from Hongik University Station Exit 1, you will see an SK Gas Station on your left.

About 100 meters from the SK Gas Station is the Seongmisan-ro intersection. You'll see a 7-Eleven on your left side, as shown in the photo below. This is what seems to be the last big intersection before you reach the Odbo building.

Also in that intersection, you'll see a church on your left side. It has a huge cross on top of the tower. You'll never miss it. From this intersection, you have about 300 meters of walking left.

Right after the Seongmisan-ro street, you'll see this building. If you follow Google Street View, you'll see that this building is Konditorei Und Backerei. That image capture is from 2009. Today it is now Masterhands Richmont bakery.

Ahh Thaarr she blows! Better have your faces ready to receive loads of sample make up. Not me though. I'm a non-Korean guy on an errand.

These are two separate buildings. We are looking at the one on the right.

Hold on to your ovarian excitement as there is a pedestrian stoplight nearby so that you won't get hit by cars. Use the pedestrian lane. Just calmly cross the road and you are there. 

This is the facade of Odbo, taken on December 14, 2015

I know what I am buying so I kind of bypassed the whole sales talk thing that they throw at your face. They have a buy 5 get 1 free promo when I got there. Each product on the photo below is Krw 42,000. I spent Krw 210,000 for everything, which is about Krw 35,000 for each product. After I paid, I received a tax refund receipt envelope which I can claim at the airport. I got Krw 12,000 for my refund, enough for a sumptuous Bibimbap, which I never got because Incheon Airport is so big, we never had time to look for a nice restaurant that serves Bibimbap. Writing this made me crave for Bibimbap.

After you have indulge yourself with all the expensive cosmetics, it is high time for your Walk of Shame. You'll find a lot of tour buses parked at the side near the Obdo building. When I took this photo, these are Chinese tourist buses parked. Follow the road you took and it will lead you back to the Hongdae, where you can spend more money and do more walks of shame.

The "Walk of Shame"

This is a long quest for me (coming from Myeongdong). You better allot your entire morning if you're commuting to the Odbo store.

Let me know if you have any questions.