With A Bike Once Again

I am with a bike again! Actually I wanted to repair my brother's old LeMond Tourmalet road bike, but I guess due to the amount of mileage it has clocked, there are too many faulty parts. I went to the bike shop and asked for the repair costs and it amounted to about $300! My goodness!

As such, I decided to repair the mountain bike that we bought back in 2000. Amazingly, it was still in a pretty good condition. Just a few repairs were needed. So I changed the below items:

2 tyres - 2 X 12 = $24
1 tube - $6
1 chain - $28 (Old chain was super rusty)
Truing - 2 X 5 = $10 (I tried but I just didn't know how to true wheels! Have to figure this out man.)

Total: $68. Bargained a bit and got $58. Maybe it was because I bought the bike from that shop 8 years back.

Am wondering when I will bear to spend and have the money to buy a good bike of my own. I mean those that are really good.

But the main thing is that I have a bike to ride once again! Time to do some crazy stuff!

Kate Voegele!

Just now in the evening, I went to do my intervals. Felt a little lethargic. Over-training? Perhaps. Shall see how as to how my running schedule will pan out over the next couple of days. Anyway, the point is that I didn't meet my targetted times. But I still remain confident.

I listened to Kate Voegele again! Ok, I first heard this singer when I went to Music Junction @ TM to walk about. It was playing and I asked the shop assistant about it. It sounded so appealing! And it was a first listen for me. I thought it was Shakira. Haha.

I came back home and found out that this singer's surname is pronounced "Vogull". And I discovered another great song of her called "Only Fooling Myself". (The song I heard in the CD store was " I Won't Disagree".) The latter sounds very soulful, and the former, more catchy, more radio friendly.

Below are the lyrics for "I Won't Disagree", my preferred song of the two!

Ignorance is bliss

You'd always hear me say

But at times you can't deny

Those eyes lookin' your way

Let me begin by saying what I mean

It's a crime against the heart you know

To be somewhere in between

Well don't be shy I've got an open heart and hand

And I just might have to confess just where I stand

'Cause lately you make me weaker in the knees

And race through my veins baby every time you're close to me

Take me away to places I ain't seen

They say you've got a hold on me

'And I Won't Disagree

Rock a bye my baby

Don't be blue tonight

Oh I'm on my way

And I'm gonna make it right

'Cause I've got the feeling

You'll be needing love

And of all the lonely hearts

You're the one I'm thinkin' of

I've been told it's gonna take an iron hand

To break the mold and stand above all of the rest

I'll be thinking of that evening

When there's nothing for me to do

And I'll be wondering if by some slim chance

You're wondering too

Sometimes I feel just like what this song desribes! Haha! Hyperlink for the song on Youtube is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83LkgFYA_2Y. Picture above is that of her (courtesy of www.katevoegele.com)!

Citius, Altius, Fortius!

My IPPT is on July 31, Thursday. I am working very very hard, both mentally and physically, and there's only one IPPT badge that I wish to place on the left sleeve of my uniform on August 4: the one with the star. There's only 1 colour that I want, and that is the colour of the medal above. I was never born with a good level of fitness but I have always believed that any able-bodied fella would be able to achieve Gold if he put his heart and soul into training for it.

Citius, Altius, Fortius! (Swifter, Higher, Stronger - The Olympic Motto)

(Above photo is courtesy of the official website of the Beijing Games.)