Cycling is like life. Cycling with no goal is meaningless. What meaning is there cycling in circles? Or living aimlessly? Meaning comes from direction and destination. Join me in my life's journey on a mountain bike :)

Blogging since 2003. Thank you for reading :))

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Across the road

Sep distance: 409 km

To Sengkang, 30 km. It's long and lies across the road, with alternating bands of black and yellow across its body. I slow down when I see it and speed up when I pass it. But it's no speed bump. It's a snake, and a big long one at that! I cycle away from Old Upper Thomson Road with its dark shadows and cars parked in the shadows, towards the wide open spaces of Sengkang. Enroute, the ups and downs of Yio Chu Kang road are like the ups and downs of my life. After feeling down this morning, I feel up after watching Eric Khoo's Be With Me, thanks to the inspiring sight of a blind lady cooking. Tonight, I train for the NUS Cycling Club's so-called "King of the Mountain". Am I setting myself up for disappointment, to pit myself against much younger folk? Maybe it's hubris, maybe it's being curious, but I want to know where I stand. At Sengkang, I pass some stuff over to RebelXH and tell her about the movie to cheer her up. Or maybe it's to remind myself to cheer up.

Saturday, September 24, 2005

Biking or babysitting?


To Changi Village, 90 km. I'm supposed to be racing tonight, but couldn't form a team. So, CC asks me to help in a ride instead. I sign up as I thought it was a charity ride. But it isn't in aid of the needy. Not a good cause, but good grief. On the way to the start point, I'm almost whacked thrice, by an oblivious driver, a pedestrian and passengers getting out of a car. After a barebones briefing and sorting out some confusion, about 70 cyclists in four teams, sheperded by motly crew of SACA and other seasoned cyclists set off on a fitness club's midnight cycling ride. I'm Team B's sweeper. Feels like punishment. Fixing lights and adjusting bikes. Crawling at 10 km/h, looking after someone who's overcoming phobia after a crash. Lead rider tells me to let someone else look after her as I'm needed up front. As it turns out, I look after two girls, going at 12-20 km/h. At rest stops, we're given apples but no 100-plus! Well, the ride has its pluses. The weather is good and so is the company. They're suffering with aches in the butt and hands, but are in good spirits. "You saved us," they chirp at the end of the ride. Yeah, from a near collision with a car and another cyclist.
Photo courtesy of Caron C

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Weather-beaten or beating the weather?

To Lim Chu Kang, 80 km. The weather man is right today. It pours in the morning. Why cycle in the rain when I don't have to? If only life's choices are easier. How can I tell whether to brave a storm or hang around going nowhere? And who knows how long the storm will last? There's no weatherman in life to tell the weather; even if there was, he'd probably be wrong. The only one who's right all the time is the Man Who Makes The Weather. As I start cycling, part of me feels down and just want to curl up in bed. But the other part of me wants to seek out the sun to thaw. Rather than being weather-beaten today, I hit the road in the afternoon to beat the weather on my trusty steed. It's reliable, unlike people. A motorist almost runs me down. I yell aggressively and almost want to wave my fist as the driver brakes in time. But why should I let her ruin my mood? Perhaps my new pair of sunglasses (a gift) makes me look fierce enough. Just like that dog at Kranji that glares balefully at me.

No. of close calls on the road: two..

Friday, September 16, 2005

Little things mean a lot

To Sengkang Ave West, 37 km. I lose a fifth of my team at work. But someone says I'm in a good mood today. Well, I already have some angels on my team and now's the opportunity to rebuild, retool and renew. I also drop by Bike Boutique (before its official opening) and pick up a new pair of bikeshorts for $20. I get off earlier today, just after 7 pm. And I ride with the policegal. I hear her go "wow" at the Seletar "dam". Well, at least I bring a little happiness into her life today.

Sunday, September 11, 2005

Death and life

To Labrador Park and Anderson Bridge, 68 km.

Ride #1 A puffer fish puffs up to look fierce. But it's just puffery. When defeated, it's deflated. The impregnable fortress Singapore too, was defeated. Besides deflating British egos, there was death when the Japanese visited in World War 2. About 70 Togoparts bikers tour Labrador Park, Bukit Chandu and Hong Lim to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of Syonan-to, when Japanese colony reverted to British colony. Our guide Arnhem says if the US hadn't nuked Japan, some of us might not be around , as our parents mightn't have survived a longer Japanese occupation.

Ride #2 No one survives AIDS, but that shouldn't mean a living death for those with AIDs. I join a fundraising treasure hunt (a sideshow to Riding for Life's Kuala Lumpur-Singapore ride), with four teams of four cyclists each. We get one of the four checkpoints totally wrong, but all the AIDS questions right. My team is the first back, but we're ranked third, which is fine because third prize is better than first prize. Today's highlights: meeting Togoparts' moderators Arnhem, Wandie and Zishin. Being recognised by a fan with beauty, brawn and brains. Winning a Camelbak (the first time I own one).

Saturday, September 03, 2005

Actual speaks louder than words

Sat 3 Sep:
To Woodlands and Changi, 104 km. The weather report states that tomorrow will be awful for riding. So tonight, for the first time ever, I ride with the Road Riders. The ride brief states we'll cruise at 28-32 km/h with occasional bursts of speed. Actually, 28-32 was the occasional speed. The rest of the time, the four of us cycle at up to 40 km/h, led by a triathlete carrying a backpack who hopes to take part in Ironman one day. We blast by five groups of kids (up to a hundred in all) wearing "Bike Connection" t-shirts and other cyclists pass us in the opposite direction. We burn up the roads but there's smoke also from smoking breaks. I head for home after Changi Coast Road as I'm sleepy even at those speeds. It is already "tomorrow". And the only water coming down is sweat.