Sunday Westlake Hanoi - 1 Lap around, not recommended for Solo Time trial cyclist

 1 Lap around West Lake Hanoi, starting and ending around the Sheraton Hanoi Westlake -- this circuit is full of cars, scooters, people, commerce and many other things (dogs!, crushed rats, etc). I rode it on 23mm tyres, solo time trial style, amidst the traffic and consternation. It was an educational experience, but I learned that this circuit is:

A) Not for the faint of heart

B) Really not practical, although I saw many effective joggers making their way using the various off-road areas. 

Overall, the area is over-used on the weekend by visitors and locals alike and just too narrow to be "safe". However, I did find a good bicycle shop to rent an Argon 18 for 100,000 VND/day ~ $4.00. The Argon had a number of issues, so I worked with the proprietor to install a better chain, trued front/rear brakes about the skinny Bontrager wheels and generally worked on it for the better part of 1.5 hours on and off.

Traffic has a certain flow -- good not to go against the flow, although if to you go too much with the flow that is also bad -- you can be caught out in a traffic eddy with few places to safely go. Use hand signals and expect some chaos. The weather today was clear in the morning, cloudy/smoggy in the late morning and now it is around Noon. I will seek a good place for food and go again in the afternoon. I have a lock, helmet, flat kit but no safety lights. Need to find a good shop to purchase these.

KWVI Watsonville Cessna Crashes: August 18th 2022 ~1455PM Local. Runway 20 Incident.

There was a fatal midair collision in KWVI Watsonville on August 18th, 2022 at about 2154Z.

What appeared to have happened is that a slower C152 training aircraft in the pattern was overtaken and struck from behind by a very fast twin engine Cessna -- both aircraft on Final Approach for runway 20. The apparent cause of the collision (my speculation only at this early stage) is that N740WJ failed to see and avoid the C152 in the pattern while on Final, and ploughed straight in, at an unacceptable approach speed. (180-190 knots). The acceptable approach speed for the aircraft was half of that speed. Besides being a reckless maneuver in its own right, this put all other approaching and established WVI traffic at great risk. Unfortunately, among the many aircraft in the pattern that day, N49931 happened to be in the way of the wayward twin engine Cessna.

The two aircraft involved in the mid-air collision: 

• Dual Prop, Low Wing Cessna 340A (with 2 300HP Continental Engines & 240 knot Vne) 
• N740WJ - Owned by ALM Holding of Winton CA
• Engines: 2 - TSIO-520-NB Continental
• 75 year old Carl Kruppa, requiring corrective eyewear - 3rd class medical (typical for non-commercial pilots) and wife.
• Relatively inexperienced, non-commercial Pilot. Licensed since November 28th of 2018 - less than 4 years of flight experience. Single + Multiengine ratings.

• Single Prop Trainer Cessna 152 N49931 (with 1 Lycoming O-235 Engine 149 knot Vne) N49931
• Engine: 1 - O-235 Engine at 100HP-135HP (exact Config. unknown by me) 
• Owned by Monterey Bay Aviation - dba "United" based on the field.
• Newly minted pilot, 32 year old Stuart Michael Camenson. VFR only, licensed since 2020 July 9th.

My own interpretation of the Accident Chronology heard via Live ATC.net

https://archive.liveatc.net/kwvi/KWVI2-Aug-18-2022-2130Z.mp3

Situation:

N49931 - A high wing Cessna flying slowly as one may often expect in a closed pattern around an un-towered airport is practicing. A low wing "fast" Cessna N740WJ comes blazing in at 180-190Knots.

As early as I can gather from the CTAF recordings, Cessna N49931 was in the pattern and at one point established behind Cessna 5347H doing Left Closed Traffic for Rnwy 20. A Mooney -70R entered the pattern downwind and the 5347H landed at Monterey and taxied to "United". The Mooney successfully landed and a few other aircraft including -90FL & -22H were in the pattern with N49931. Seemingly out of no-where a twin engined Cessna -WJ called  at 10, 3 and 1 miles from the airport. From the 10 and 3 mile call, I calculate that -WJ was flying at 210 miles per hour. (7 miles / 120 sec. * 3600 sec/hr). From the 3 mile call and the 1 mile call, only 37 or so seconds apart, I calculate that WJ was flying at OVER 190 mi/hr very close to the airport. 

Contrast the twin-engine Cessna's speed with what a Cessna 152 training aircraft could muster. I estimate that the C152 was flying at 60 - 80 knots in the pattern - 1/3rd of the inbound Cessnas speed!

What is tragic is that this situation could have been avoided -- however, it took a reckless inbound aircraft and a lack of visibility/awareness on the in-pattern aircraft to permit such a crash.  The Cessna 340a could have hit other aircraft, but the timing of the C152, being on left base and later final, unfortunately coincided with the 340a straight in attempt -- tragic and fatal to all involved.

My Take-Aways:

• Don't assume that any aircraft, especially near Final Approach, hears and complies with your calls on the radio -- don't trust. Verify.
• Don't fly straight in approaches ever. Or at unless you are 110% confident that you are the only traffic for 100+ Nautical miles.
• A go-around *may put you into an intersecting course with inbound overlapping aircraft. Stay the course and avoid over-correction. At the same time, get a visual on any problematic aircraft and get away from them. High Wing vs. Low Wing visibility issues need to be considered and mitigated as much as possible. (340a, a Low Wing wouldn't have easily seen an aircraft that was climbing into it from below -- as the case would have been if Stuart was executing a Go-Around and climbing out at full power)
• Train, Train, Train.

Mr. Juan Brown with his interpretation. See the Many comments from the Aviation community and others concerned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8ZcdyuSvGA&ab_channel=blancolirio

Correction: Hercules 1940s era street bicycle. Prepping to Restore. "Safety Model".

[Correction to this post -- I had previously mentioned "Raleigh" but this is another Birmingham maker: "Hercules"!]

• Front/Rear Tyre Spec: 37-590 26 x 1-3/8 Inches
• Tube: 26" x 1.50, 1.75, or even large may fit.
• Tyre Link: https://sheldonbrown.com/harris/tires/590.html
• 590mm ISO, 26"x1-3/8"
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AYMK5S?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
• Chain: 105 Link Pins counted. Replaced with Single Speed Chain.
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0089WXYHW?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Preparing to remove wheels and replace the tyres.

Eye catching elements:

• Brazed Steel Tube into Lug fittings
• Brooks Saddle
• Center Stand!
• License plate from the '70s
• Rod Brakes - brake upwards into the rim from below!
• Sturmey Archer 3 Speed Rear Hub. GB PAT 498820 649009
• Includes rear tyre driven light generator and light. 
• Includes pump!
• Child "Companion Saddle" on top tube for a little tyke to join safely. Emphasis on little.

 

Canyon CF SL 8.0 Black Ride Review (DE - Rim Brake version)

Ever since a friend recommended Canyon for their fancy "Aero-Road" model, I have had my eye on them. Last year I received a Medium "Smurf Blau" SL 8 that I subsequently returned -- it was a bit small on my 5ft 11in frame for general purpose riding. For racing, I think that Medium may have worked -- but I am so far happier with the Black German Canyon CF SL8 that I have now received after weeks in transit.

Due to the slow reception at LAX Customs, USPS not being "aware" of where the bike was for weeks and general mayhem that follows trying to ship anything these days, I have but 1-2 days more to elect to return the bicycle -- I don't think that I will after today's ride.

Mass as tested with pedals, 1 bottle holder, seat-post etc. No saddle bag or air pump.

7.395 KG

Previous Specialized Allez Elite with C24 Dura-Ace Front & Rear + Saddle Bag and Air Pump & 2 Bottle Holders

9.385KG

So that is a net savings of approaching 1.5KG if I discount the extras still on my original ride.

I expect for the Canyon to be slightly more "Aero" given the cable routing and unified "Flight Deck" Handlebars. Width of my setup is 410mm.

Handlebar "Hood to Hood" distance is 440mm vs. 480mm - a comfortable transition so far.

Between DHL, Lufthansa, the USPS and LA Customs and the final "last mile" USPS carrier abuse, the bike came with a bent skewer. I was able to somewhat straighten this and center the front brake.

Also abused was the stack which had been completely pushed out of alighment. A unscrew, adjust and rescrew of the stack so far has worked. No CF damage seen and the bike is otherwise in decent shape.

For some reason, Canyon doesn't offer the CF SL 8.0 in Black to the US Market directly. My 1 month escapade in shipping was a direct result of this strange policy. Does German Canyon believe that all Americans desire "Smurf" colored racing bicycles? Perhaps the Teutonic Black color is reserved for in-region only. Regardless, I plan to test this out over the next 1-2 days before making a final call. The decision will likely be ""retain" for the Black Canyon CF SL 8.

Video of How to Assemble:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8qxzNxx-qY&ab_channel=CanyonBicycles

Shimano C24 Dura Ace Wheel Weight - Installed

 Compared to my entry level Shimano (Tiagra?) class of wheels, the used C24 carbon-aluminum laminate wheels (10 years+ old now) saved: 240g rear and about half of that up front.

Weight Measured Including Tires and rear cassette

1.49 KG - DuraAce C24 

1.73 KG - WH-R550

0.240 KG savings Rear

Rear Wheel. I believe that both front and rear have a Titanium Hub. Rear with Hub + Titanium Free Hub body.

https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/component/duraace-r9100/WH-R9100-C24-CL-R.html

Trek 2022 Domane SL5 (Sweet spot, great ride, not a climber)

 I had the pleasure of riding the SL5 Trek Domane, which really made me want to go out and ride more. It is a great platform for cruising / on-off road cyclocross style, and absorbs bumps like a sponge. 

• Baseline: Specialized Allez Elite 2011 58cm (XL) Frame with Tiagra 18 Speed Groupset
• Tektro Rim Brake. 23mm Gatorskin Tires
• 480mm wide handlebars
• Front Wheel Shimano WH-R550: 1200g (incl. tires)
• Rear Wheel Shimano WH-R550: 1800g, rim alone 1170g
• Front Wheel Shimano WH-7900: 1100g (incl. tires - Gatorskin 23mm)
• Rear Wheel Shimano WH-7900: 1450g
• Trial Bike: Trek Domane SL5. Shimano 105 Groupset
• 32mm tires
• Disc Brakes
• 460mm wide handlebars
• Domane SL5 Total Mass: 10.21KG
• Front Wheel: 1550g
• Rear Wheel:  2025g

The main Domane challenge is taking it racing. It is a great platform -- just not for racing.

Trek may consider how they challenge the competition for race bikes which are used for other purposes also. 

[Update] See my Canyon CF SL 8.0 Review in a later post. Lighter and still relatively comfortable.

IFR Abbreviations & Terms. Concepts

Notes from IFR course

* next to Tower -- Indicates Part Time Operation. Note in Approach Brief.

APP CON - Approach Control

CCCCC ("Five Cs")- Cram, Climb, Clean, Cool, Call

CRAFT - 

CTAF - 

CTC - Contact (as in "Contact Potomac APP CON")

FAF - Final Approach Fix

GCO - 

GUMPS Check - Gas, Undercarriage, Manifold, Prop, Switches (Fuel pump, landing light)

Hold in Lieu Of - Procedure Type

HSI - Horizontal Situation Indicator (Heading and NAV in one place) Directional Gyro which displays VOR CDI - Course Deviation Indicator. OBS Omnibearing Selector to set VOR Radial.

IAF - Initial Approach Fix

Identifier - 3 Letters for VOR or other NAVAID

LNAV - 

LOC - Localizer

Localizer Course - Chase the Needle (normal sensing). "Feather" symbol. Backcourse (pull the needle)

Shaded side of feather, aircraft is to the left. 

"LOC Alive" - Call out. We've established a signal from the localizer.

Lubber Line- HSI White Mark at top indicating course heading - like with reading a compass.

MAP

Marker Beacons-

Minimums- 

Missed Procedure-

MSA - 

(P) - PAPI - Precision Approach Path Indicator

Plan View - Top Down view of IFR Approach Plate diagram

Power - check Manifold Pressure (Constant Speed Prop)

Profile View - Sideways view of IFR Approach Plate diagram

PTAC - Position - Turn - Altitude - Clearance.

RNAV

Sector - Portion of Procedure with certain altitude limitations or other restrictions

SID - Standard instrument departure

S-ILS

TCH - Threshold (Runway)

VORTAC - VOR + TACAN

Headings are Magnetic

Altitudes above Field