CX Lounge

It seems like a bit of a rarity these days to actually see something I've worked on built. So it was nice to drop by the new Cathay Pacific Lounge in the Airport the other day to check it out post completion. Some really nice finishes that came good, and the 'red carpet' idea at the window really worked with the high gloss ceiling. Nice.

http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_HK/atairport/hklounge_cabin

Aeroport

This sits in stark contrast to the radioactive green sky out of the office window the other day...

Tree Hoose Hotel

A very nice Sverige tree hoose.

http://www.treehotel.se/en/rooms/the-cabin

Map Readin'

Steve Coward (http://www.crosscountryhk.com/) shows us the route for this morning's first 'not a race' group ride around Tai Lam. Sadly, Action Asia will not be running any mtb races this year so get behind the DIY version! I dropped my chain about 9 times, but worked out a sneaky way of getting it back on with my foot. It really is time for a new mountain bike. Some really nice images from the day here.

FB_Hong Kong MTB

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_145903122125591

BlackCat

Bridge over Tai O water

A nice ride on Lantau today, including a quick stop at Tai O to take this picture. How will the view look once they finish building the longest bridge in the world in the background?

Wafflin'

Hats off to Bill, aka Mr. Waffles and Steel for this nice profile on Jan Kole.

http://www.wafflesandsteel.com/jan-kole/great-people-meet-jan-kole-of-colossi/

Plaza Loungin'

I wouldn't normally post this photo of a shower as being architecturally noteworthy, but as of this morning (I can grip handlebars again) it is of major relevance to my life, and as such, related to the nonsense I post on here. The reason? The shower is a photo taken in the plaza lounge at Hong Kong airport. And seeing as I'm now working on site at the airport (I'm on the new Midfield concourse), my commute just got a lot longer. Riding all the way to the airport is not technically feasible on bike, but riding to the airport express takes me the same time as a taxi (but is cheaper) and chops about 20mins off the loser cruiser a.k.a. The Bus. 

Once at the airport I can ride the dull roads of Tung Chung, but what about the final piece in the jigsaw puzzle? Well, instead of the gym, as luck would have it my AmEx credit card gets me free access into Plaza lounges, just underneath the airport express, from which I can get some free jam on toast, a shower AND a new toothbrush- sure beats Fitness First! Working at the airport is indeed a surreal existence, but as this photo shows, it's not all bad.

Pallet Building

And the U value is? I like.

http://bldgblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/pallet-house.html

Asia Fixed Gear Championship

Hats off to Brian, Sander & Co. for getting this together. I'm very tempted to put Harry back on a plane just for this...

http://flwrider.com/asia-fixed-gear-championships-2011/

Velodrome 2012

Just got around to looking at the proper images for the on time and on budget London 2012 Velodrome. A great boost for UK Cycling and UK Architecture also.

http://www.dezeen.com/2011/02/25/london-2012-velodrome-by-hopkins-architects/

MASH[ED} PALM

This weekend I was meant to be in Thailand, attempting to ride 750km in 3 days from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. Instead, I'm at home unable to ride, my attempts to fix up a slightly broken body in 5 days failed. Having taken a nasty tumble on the tram tracks last Sunday (speed bump plus unseen piece of wood) on my way to a local race, I've spent the week in and out of bandages, nursing wounds and limping my way around town. Alas, whilst elbows and knees heal fairly quickly and scab up nicely, palms do not. If I could have gripped my handlebars in some shape or form I would have gone, but riding 12hrs a day one handed with a big risk of infection is not a possibility. Down but not out, I'm now considering trying to honour those who have sponsored me with some sort of alternative. Watch this space I guess.

http://www.justgiving.com/Thai750

[FRAME]D

[FRAME] Chapter Twenty Two from Flwrider TV on Vimeo.


Thanks a lot to Brian Fu for putting together this video. He seems to have made someone who is not always the most comfortable person behind a lens seem fairly at ease. Hopefully I said something vaguely of interest! If you haven't already, you should definitely check out Brian's other interviews and Vimeo clips.

http://flwrider.com/

Let's all move to Cape Town

Arriving in Cape Town, the coffee was great, but the riding was even better! Riding down the coast, up Chapman's Peak (scene of many a car ad) it was easy to see why these roads are some of the most popular in the world, each year hosting what might be the biggest mass ride in the world - the Cape Argus.

I'm afraid these photos were taken from the hire car, as I was too busy enjoying the riding to stop and take pictures, but the scenery was spectacular, the climbs not too steep (all big ringable at a push) and basically some of the nicest roads I've ever ridden.

Coming into the U turn of my ride down at Cape Point (a nice variant of the Argus route) I reckon I'd passed 4-500 cyclists coming the other way, and probably another 1-200 myself. Some were in some sort of timed event, probably some sort of Argus warm up, others just out for a Sunday morning cycle. It was so radically different to HK, where 90% of the cyclists are serious and committed, to go to somewhere where there are at least 90 times as many riders, with 90% of them looking like recreational riders. It's really refreshing to go somewhere that proves if you have good weather, scenic & safe roads and a culture of cycling, it's not just hard core testosterone fueled roadies who'll ride, but old guys, young guys, fay guys, thin guys, women, women with one leg, children,  tandems, unicyclists. You get the picture.

Oh, and breakfast back at Camps Bay wasn't bad either!

Lastly, just to rub it in, they also have amazing rides within the city where you can climb into the clouds away from the traffic and reflect on how life probably should be. Damn you Cape Town!