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 :))

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Overgrown undergrowth

Jul distance: 223


To Jalan Ulu Sembawang, 34 km. The undergrowth is so overgrown, it tangles up my feet and my pedals, and winds itself around the casette. Twenty years ago, this used to be a road wide enough for lorries to pass each other. People used to live on either side of the road. Now, it's grass, trees, the occasional flower and lots of nature. Elsewhere along this part of Singapore, I see people in the jungle. One group wears construction helmets and emerges with a pail of durians. There's single track too, but it peters out and grass claims what's left of the road. Also in abundance: rain. I notice that a drizzle dirties my , but a downpour cleans it. Does this apply to storms in my life? Small trouble irritates. Big trouble cleans out what doesn't really matter, making clear what does.

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Glad, sad and mad

To Kent Ridge, 51 km. Today is the first official race at Kent Ridge mountain bike trail, which deserves its reputation as the toughest in Singapore. I volunteer as a road marshall; as some riders pass me, they signal how tough it is; one even does a throat-slitting motion. I'm glad to of some use to them, directing mostly friendly pedestrians out of harm's way, including someone on a wheelchair and another old lady who had to be helped uphill (which makes walking single file difficult). Just standing as a road marshall was strain enough on my back. But I try the route when the race is over, just to see how my back takes it. One lap leaves me drenched in sweat but without a scratch; not even where I last fell. I'm sad I'm not in a position to race. I'm mad as I'd thought other cyclists would look out for their own kind, but the greatest alarm is caused by three non-racing bikers who weave uphill and, at one point, stop to run alongside a competitor.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Placid on the outside, raging on the inside

To Upper Thomson Road, 22 km. On the outside, I look like someone on a leisurely ride. On the inside, I'm disturbed. My back hurts; it's been so since 18 Jun after I break the cardinal rule of using new equipment (in this case, my saddle) on an expedition only after it has been extensively road-tested and adjusted. Or perhaps it's psychosomatic: my work is back-breaking. This morning, I wake up at 2 am to write an office email ... And because of work, I decide not to go for an advanced mountain bike clinic this Fri. Which is just as well. Like bikeshop man says today, after adjusting my rear d for the 4th time this year, it costs money to ride.

Saturday, July 08, 2006

A different perspective

To Portsdown Road, 52 km. I got "squashed" at work yesterday. There's so much work, I worked past midnite and still bring work home. Not that anyone knows. I want to sulk at home, but drag myself out on the busy streets where more people are out to knock me down. On a whim, I turn into Little India. Not only is there vehicular traffic, there's foot traffic too. But somehow, I mind it less, since I expected more hazards. A little turn, a different perspective, and the world looks different. It's a different ride tonight too, as I meet some friends on a dinner ride, cruising to Holland Village and Lau Pa Sat for dinner and supper. At the latter, an acrobatic troupe whirls and twirls, achieving amazing feats of balance that cyclists are unable to even dream of.

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Sands of time

To Kent Ridge and East Coast Parkway, 64 km. Cycling makes me younger, which is why I make two newbie mistakes today: one with my clipless pedals (unclip on the right, fall on the left) and the other losing traction on gravel while going uphill. Besides going back in time today, I also make several marks in the sands of time. I'm probably the first person on the Kent Ridge trail, not just on semi-slick tyres but also on a rigid bike. Today is the first time when I'm on a ride where everyone is a race medal winner, with me, the sole guy, having the least wins. I also see a triathlon with my own eyes instead of on TV. And hold a triathlon medal - alas, not mine. If I didn't have bad knees, I'd take part too. Today is also the first time I visit a traditional Chinese medicine clinic, and have acupuncture too, for my bad back. And I cross the 30,000 km mark on a . With all these firsts, a song plays in my head: Madonna's "Like a virgin".