Rise of The IGUANA, Fall of The AGGRESSOR

I write this entry with a heavy heart. After serving me so loyally for 3 months, the Aggressor is......... DEAD!

I was cycling at Seashell Park, a gradual hilly area. As I pedalled up the slope, a loud "CLACK" was heard throughout the Pasir ris neighbourhood, breaking the silence of the night.

Little did I know that that was the dying scream of my Aggressor.

I dismounted, reluctant to see what had happened. It had been making funny noises before I went to Ubin on Sunday. After the trip, the noise became worse, gear shifting to the highest 2 gears imposssible. Yet, I still went cycling, the day after that.

I inspected the damage. The rear derailleur was bent. I attempted a hasty repair, checked and mounted the bike again. As I was on a slope, I stood on the pedals.

"CLACK!! PAP!!" I almost lost my balance as my Aggressor screamed its last painful cry, pleading for death.

I got off, and the derailleur looked like this:

It was impossible for me to fix it. And then I knew... Its dead.

I went to Isyraf's house nearby, lugging the dead chassis. We discussed funeral plans, and the new girl I'm going to get.

I took a cab home, with the chassis in the trunk. I knew... A lot of thinking would've have to be done that night.

And here I am, welcoming the new addition to my otherwise uninteresting life, the IGUANA Disc 2008.

What the shit? Isn't it the same as your Aggressor, you may ask? Not exactly. The frame is much lighter and stronger. The parts suck like shit, although its 3 levels higher than the Aggressor in terms of components.

Haha. But my Aggressor will not be forgotten. Instead, the Iguana will be a commemoration to her. A salute to the lessons learnt, the falls she made me make, to become the rider I am today.

Still sucky components? Hoho. I upgraded almost the whole bike.


I swapped out the stock parts for these:

• Full Deore LX drivetrain, $400 (4 levels higher than current)


• Mavic Crossride Wheelset, $400 (Incomparable to the Jalco rims and brandless hubs now)


• Avid Juicy 5 Hydraulic disc brakes, $450 (Its Avid, Juicy 5! Its an insult to compare it with my Tektro rim brakes)

Total Price after an hour plus of haggling: $1,550 including the frame.


If I had bought the Trance ($2,000), I wouldn't have been able to afford the high end wheelset (brandless on Trance), brakes (Tektro hydrualics, won't have enough stopping power for my mass plus weight of full suspension) and drivetrain (Normal Deore derailleurs, generic Shimano Cassettes and cranks). I would've have been back to a broken derailleur in 6 mths, maybe slightly more? A broken derailleur on a $2,000 bike. Lol.


Finally, my dream bike is here, albeit the lack of full suspension. Though 'Iguana' is not as 'fierce' as 'Aggressor'. Haha.


Collecting it tmw. Oooo. Can't wait to try the Juicy brakes. Mwahaha. Enough stopping power to stop my immense mass and ass downhill the China Bowl at Ubin. Woohoo!!!!!!!


The stupid thing now, is that I'm kinda scared to go Ubin on my new, expensive Princess.


Well, at least it didn't come with clipless pedals. If not, I'll fall like some enthu ppl I know. LOL! No offence, brother, but clipless on trails is suicide.


Can't wait for this weekend. Gonna bed-in my hydraulics Juicys before I head down to Ubin. Yay.

Some pics of my Aggressor before her untimely demise:

And guess what? You know how much it'll cost to repair my Aggressor's derailleur? $25. Lol. I think I may trade it in, or let someone deserving ride her.

Are you deserving of riding my first bike? I think you are.