S08/05 Chalet & BBQ

My JC classmates were organizing a chalet stay-over and BBQ from 30th Dec to 1st Jan but since I am still working, I could only join them for the BBQ on New Year’s Eve. I decided to cycle to the NTUC (Downtown East) Chalet, despite the long ride to Kukup scheduled to take place on New Year’s Day.

It was great to see everyone doing fine. Dinner was good but I didn’t stay too late. Still, I ended sleeping only after 2am!

Total distance: 48.1km
Money spent: $16~
Participants: LSH, JC classmates

Sembawang Circuit Recovery

Total distance: 16km
Money spent: $0
Participants: LSH

Ketam!

IMBA-certified, Blue Square, Black Diamond, Double Black Diamond, Gravedrop, Black Cobra. At last, I was finally back on Pulau Ubin to ride the one-of-a-kind-in-Singapore Ketam MTB Park!

I was so excited that I woke up at 4am and had to force myself to sleep an hour more! The weather held up and after a 35km “warm-up” ride to Changi Village for breakfast, we embarked on a short bumboat trip to Ubin. A one-way trip cost $2.50 a person and an additional $2 per bike.

It’s difficult to describe the ride. Just absolutely fantastic. The climbs pushed us to our limits, the tight steep switchbacks threatened to throw us off the edge while the rock gardens provided non-stop adrenaline-pumping action. On my XCR Expert, I felt as if I were on a larger trail bike and it was simply a wonderful experience.

The scenery complemented the ride. Without the sights, the trail would not be that enjoyable. In fact, I wouldn’t want to race Ketam, it’s perfect for a thrilling cruise – with obstacles that simply blur the lines between XC, AM and DH. With an XC bike, the steep rocky descents will seem more fearsome, with an AM machine, the stamina-busting climbs will be made more painful! Such defines a well-built world class trail that simply allows the rider to push his rig to its limit.

Fearing that I may fail to clear, I just blasted off on my first attempt!

We had fun at the Free-ride Skills Park and no one wanted to do the trails a second time! The “Teeter Totter” proved an irresistible challenge and distraction from the trails. After a break, we cycled the usual routes around Ubin, helped a rider fix his chain when it broke, and visited Chek Jawa.

Slower approach on another attempt

It would be the first time I stepped into the boardwalks – Pan had been there before and this time round, he took care of the bikes while we explored nature. It began to rain when we headed back to the jetty, had coconuts (at an exorbitant $2.50 per fruit) and loaded up a bumboat for the return journey.

Ipoh chicken hor fun at Changi Village was very much welcomed along with a mug of grass jelly drink. It was still raining cats and dogs when we started our ride home but the good thing with the pouring rain was that it washed mud and unwanted crap off our bikes, making our jobs much easier when we got home! I was feeling damn cold in the rain but the rigours of cycling warmed me up.

Total distance: 70km (on-road), 20km (off-road)
Money Spent: $18.10
Participants: LSH, Pan, Gerald, Jasper, Terence

Christmas Greetings from Bukit Timah

Alrasvee had to turn back when he incurred his fourth flat in two off-road sessions. We had just started passing through Bukit Sembawang when it occurred. I guess the problem lay with his rims.

As we were running late, Eric and I rode quite quickly through Track 15, kicking up a mud-bath. We linked up with Team Midpoint at Chestnut Ave and thereafter, I did two full laps of the Bukit Timah XC circuit, hoping to catch up with Midpoint which did one lap and probably broke up at Diary Farm.

Obviously I failed and I rode home via Track 15, slowing my pace down to ease the build-up of lactic acid during the two fast BT laps. Already, I was feeling hungry and my strength was fading.

Total distance: 10km (on-road), 28km (off-road)
Money Spent: $0
Participants: LSH, Eric

Round and Round Sembawang

I met up with Alrasvee to pass him his new pump and we both headed down to the LBS to get his spare inner tubes. We returned via Simpang Kiri and Sembawang Park. I was feeling famished and after stuffing myself with cornflakes, Dad came home and he wanted to ride. As a result, I found myself on the Sembawang Circuit again.

Some uncles were spoiling to race at the park connector. I was in no mood for their nonsense but as they bore down into my path dangerously, I felt a bit irritated and couldn’t resist giving their lovely hybrids and road bikes a good thrashing.

Total distance: 34.8km
Money spent: $0
Participants: LSH, Alrasvee, Dad

Sunday Spin with Team Midpoint

The roads were crowded with road bikes today. Once in a while, I saw a few MTB hard-tails but I think I was the only full suspension MTB around! I had left home for Toa Payoh around 4.15am and arrived back before 10am.

I had an early lunch and hit the bed soon after!

Total distance: 88.7km
Money spent: $0
Participants: LSH, Team Midpoint

The “Leafy” Tire

What happens if you are unlucky enough to get three blown tires in the space of a couple of hours and you have only a single spare inner tube?

 

We took a practical lesson on bike survival skills!

Total distance: 10km (on-road), 22km (off-road)
Money Spent: $0
Participants: LSH, Eric, Alrasvee

Sembawang Circuit Recovery

On the long ride yesterday, I eased down on the gears every time pain shot through my muscles and threatened to aggravate the injury incurred during SSCM last week. I was glad I didn’t feel any ill effects today other than a slight strain as I rode to the beach.

Total distance: 16km
Money spent: $0
Participants: LSH

Cycling – In Search of the Meaning of Life

The average Singaporean will scorn at the idea of cycling 130km from JB to Pengerang under the late morning sun for seafood. They would gladly prefer the air-conditioned comfort of their luxury cars, never mind if gallons of petrol are burnt just to get to Pengerang and back.

Few understand cycling culture and even fewer understand the underlying philosophies of pushing our physical and mental limits. In fact, over the last 3 years, cycling has taught me a set of life values, skills that I rate more importantly than almost anything else in the world – it has allowed me to understand the true meaning of life.

Just yesterday, I was on my way home from work when I passed 2 kids on their new bikes, from the looks of it. One of them was intently securing with rubber bands a piece of cloth to the handlebars (to act as padding). I could see the innocence in their eyes, the excitement of getting probably their first real personal bicycles and the tender loving care towards the bikes. I couldn’t help but smile as I recalled my first bike close to 15 years ago. Yet, I felt a sense of guilt. Some of us own bikes of incredible extravagance (the cost of a fleet of 30 bikes from Carrefour will still not be enough to purchase the bikes some of us own) but the excitement, contentment and care are long gone, only to be replaced with an ugly urge to feed our ever-growing egos.

As the never-ending road stretches on for tens to hundreds of kilometres and I settle into a comfortable cadence, it’s time for some self-reflection. I feel my worries draining away and an inner peace taking its place. It’s almost as if I have all the time and space to myself.

The sights and experiences encountered by a traveler of the path less beaten never fails to amaze me. Contrary to bustling metropolitans where we bemoan the degradation of societal values, the kindness, encouragement and help provided by complete strangers with no strings attached humble me and make me feel more human. These friends are no rich people – many struggle to make ends meet – but they possess values that many of us – superficial and living in material lavishness – lack.

The majority of Singaporeans can get by with life comfortably but in our pursuit of social status and material gain, many have lost what it is to be human. We take pride in the immense amount of monetary and material donations made during high profile fundraising drives (perhaps for fame, glory and a flaunt of wealth) but ironically, few will give up their seats on public transport to the more needy.

Still, I feel very fortunate to be a Singaporean and living in a well-governed country. As I made my way home, a reckless driver swerved into my path and slowed to make a turn. At that instant, I was checking my blind spot and when I turned my attention back to the front, I was horrified to see my front wheel inches from her bumper. Instinctively, I clamped down on the brakes hard and swerved to avoid the vehicle. Welcome home.

Total distance: 185km approx.
Money spent: RM16.70, S$12 approx.
Participants: LSH, Tim, Eric

Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon Race Kit Collection and Pre-Race Warm-up =P

The race kit this year wasn’t fantastic but I hope the race tomorrow is. I guess the torrential downpour “cooled down” rather than serve as a “warm-up” but it was good to get my muscles working and a bath for my dirty bike.

Alrasvee’s friend guessed my bike was at least a year old! Haha!

Total distance: 64.2km
Money Spent: $3
Participants: LSH, Alrasvee and his friend

Inaugural Dusk Ride

 

Total distance: 23km (on-road), 15km (off-road)
Money Spent: $0
Participants: LSH, Terence, Jasper

The Beautiful Sunset in the Backyard

Sembawang Circuit.

Total distance: 19.6km
Money spent: $0
Participants: LSH

Off-Road Madness

Total distance: 12km (on-road), 25km (off-road)
Money Spent: $0
Participants: LSH, Pan, Gerald, Eric, Melvin, Dexter

Final “Training” before SCSM 2009?

I rode down to Toa Payoh at quite a taxing pace in the evening to meet up with Team Midpoint and we proceeded on to Mandai and the Zoo before I broke off at Woodlands Road.

Total distance: 50.7km
Money Spent: $0
Participants: LSH, Team Midpoint

Eastern Loop

My usual way of tackling a sleepy mid-day! East Coast Park was pretty crowded, which gave me countless opportunities to burn my brakes. It was also a refreshing change both in feel and scenery – riding in a park as compared to the trails or on the roads.

We stopped at Chong Pang to have a good dinner before heading home.

Total distance: 80.4km
Money Spent: $4.20
Participants: LSH, Dad

Mud-Bath 2

The weather was drier as compared to last week but mud was still in abundance. I shouldn't have told a friend that I keep falling off-road. It's a curse! I thought I would buck the trend as I did the last two weeks with a bike offering superior control and traction but I got caught on a wrong line with a slippery root this time round. I was fast enough to un-cleat myself but still lost balance. =P What a joke!

Total distance: 22.6km (on-road), 15km (off-road)

Money Spent: $0

Participants: LSH, Pan, Gerald, Eric

Red, Black and White

 

From the photos, it’s obvious why! It was a good early morning ride to Mount Faber and we stopped at C2C and Yishun Polyclinic on the way back to get Alrasvee’s cleats fixed and my errand done respectively.

Total distance: 64.4km
Money spent: $2
Participants: LSH, Alrasvee

Sembawang Circuit In Place Of Another Cancelled Midpoint Ride

Total distance: 16.7km
Money spent: $0
Participants: LSH

For the Sake of Dinner

The first mid-distance road ride on my Jamis. Enough said. Mount Faber was crowded with Chinese tourists, Orchard was jammed with vehicles and Little India was simply overwhelming in terms of human numbers!

Total distance: 57.1km
Money spent: $3.30
Participants: LSH, Dad

The Biggest Mud-Bath Yet?

It rained for the past few days and the weather at 7am certainly didn’t look forgiving. The trails (T15, Scorpion, BT) were incredibly wet, slippery and muddy but it was damn fun. My Kenda Nevegals gripped well and I certainly have no complaints as I was going faster than ever over certain tricky sections.

Today was Gerald’s inaugural test of his Giant Boulder with a full Deore group-set and Mavic wheel-set. From what he said of the bike’s performance in wet weather, all looks good and the bike should perform much better in drier conditions.

The amount of mud on our bikes was just incredible. l gave up trying to wash the mud off along the corridor and brought the bike into the toilet for a wash-down with the shower. =P

Unfortunately, the RD and rear brake cables had come loose during the ride and intense grinding against the frame induced quite bad cable rub! Now I have a “polished” spot of aluminum where the paintwork has chipped off! I spent quite some time taping up the damage to prevent further aggravation.

Total distance: 30km (on-road), 15km (off-road)
Money spent: $0
Participants: LSH, Pan, Gerald

Sembawang Circuit Spin

Total distance: 16km
Money spent: $0
Participants: LSH, Dad

Last Ride to School this Semester?

Total distance: 57km
Money spent: $0
Participants: LSH

Mountain Biking & The New Balance Real Run 2009

On Saturday morning, I was blown away by the XCR Expert’s on-trail performance. The grippy 2.1” Kenda Nevegal tyres were almost a liability on the road but on the wet, slippery trails, they proved to be a valuable asset. Cornering was a breeze and when we hit Bukit Timah, the bike really showed its race potential as it took obstacles well and climbed with ease. Jamis did well in the design of this particular frame and the bike was well-balanced even on the steepest climbs.

On the downhills, the suspension systems worked well enough to snuff out potentially tricky bumps and I had better control over the bike than previously. The trails were muddy following a few days of rain but it was really enjoyable to put the bike through its paces. As expected, I had a hell of a time washing off the immense amount of dried mud which had clogged the linkage and my parents just shook their heads at how a brand new bike had been thrashed into a disgusting filthy slob of metal. The bike also incurred its first battle scars – scratches at the end of the right crank arm – when it hit jutting rocks on a climb. Somehow, the linkage also got scratched, probably by a flying piece of debris.

I am definitely looking forward to the next ride.

Total Distance: 24.6km (on-road), 14km (off-road)
Participants: LSH, Ben

In the evening, we met up with Mum’s family at Bukit Batok to celebrate Grandpa’s birthday. We left before the cake-cutting as Bro was leaving for Brunei that very night (or rather 2.55am in the morning). After seeing him off at the airport, we left for home and I finally retired to my bed at 2.30am.

In just 1.5hrs, my alarm rang and I had some breakfast before cycling a short 3.2km to Yishun MRT where I caught the 5am shuttle bus to Changi Exhibition Centre where the New Balance Real Run 2009 was held. We reached more than an hour early and I was really drowsy as I did my warm-up, then settled somewhere to just close my eyes.

Before the commencement of the 10km race at 7am, several trainers came on stage to lead a warm-up session. I was in the front pack, roughly 15 seconds away from the gun start lead. Soon, we were off and I broke away to join the last of the leading pack. I just managed to cling on, overtaking a few stragglers on the way but my last kilometre was pretty bad. The pack accelerated away but I really couldn’t find the strength to increase my pace.

Nonetheless, I am quite happy with my time of 42:16min (10km) but I have some work to do if I am going to attempt running under 3.5hrs for the Standard Chartered Marathon.

After the race, it was a long walk out to the SAF Ferry Terminal and I took nearly an  hour to cover that distance. I totally lost my consciousness on the bus and was just glad to reach home.

Total Distance for the week of 2 November 2009: 195km

Jamis Dakar XCR Expert

After days of research and a visit to Hup Leong, I decided to settle for the Jamis Dakar XCR Expert (2009). I decided to pay Gilbert a visit today with the intent of ordering the bike and collecting it on Friday but thanks to their great service and efficiency, they built the entire bike from scratch and I was on my way home by 4.30pm. =)

I struggled a little on the way home – the bike felt draggy with suspension not locked down, the seat-post was low and the SPDs kept digging into my sandals (improper footwear =P). Worse, I didn’t have my helmet on and my Bermudas were just too baggy to cycle comfortably in. I was glad to be home and made several adjustments before bringing the bike out for a test-run with Dad.

The bike feels smooth on bumps but on the roads, the Fox RP2 flexes when activated. Switching it to pro-pedal mode is much more efficient and the bike finally feels faster. The hum from 2.1” Kenda Nevegals is reassuring of good traction but when it comes to endless kilometres of smooth tarmac, the over-traction just seems to be the main factor slowing the bike.

In the air, I must say the bike feels pretty light. Landing is just brilliant as the shocks cushions the impact well. I can’t wait to test it out on the trails this weekend.

The Specifications

Frame Kinesium alloy main triangle, STW optimized 7005 seat & chainstays, 100mm travel mp3 linkage design, Fox FLOAT RP2 shock with 10mm hardware, replaceable derailleur hanger

Fork Fox 32F FIT RLC

Headset Ritchey Comp Logic Press fit, semi-integrated with 20mm shim stack, 1 1/8”

Wheels Mavic XM317 eyeletted disc rims, 32H, Shimano Deore M535 CenterLock disc hubs, WTB 14g stainless steel spokes

Tires Kenda NEVEGAL, 26 x 2.1”, folding bead

Derailleurs Shimano Deore XT Shadow rear, Deore XT 34.9mm top pull front

Shiftlevers Shimano SLX Rapidfire Plus, 27-speed

Chain Shimano Deore XTR

Cassette Shimano Deore XT, 9-speed, 11-34t

Crankset Shimano SLX Hollowtech II, 44/32/22

BB Set Shimano SLX integrated

Pedals Shimano M540

Brakeset Shimano SLX hydraulic disc brakes, 160mm XTR SM-RT97 CenterLock rotors

Handlebar Ritchey Mountain Comp Rizer, 31.8mm O˚ x 20mm rise x 670mm

Stem Raceface Revolution SL

Grips Ruffian Odi clamp-on

Seat Post Ritchey Pro, 31.6 x 350mm

Saddle Selle Italia X0 Trans AM

Color Team Red/Pearl White

Weight 12kg approx?

---------------------------------------------

Original Specifications

Frame Kinesium alloy main triangle, STW optimized 7005 seat & chainstays, 100mm travel mp3 linkage design, Fox FLOAT RP2 shock with 10mm hardware, replaceable derailleur hanger

Fork Fox 32FRL, air spring, external rebound adjustor, lever actuated lockout, 32mm stanchions, 100mm travel

Headset Ritchey Comp Logic Press fit, semi-integrated with 20mm shim stack, 1 1/8”

Wheels Mavic XM317 eyeletted disc rims, 32H, Shimano Deore M535 CenterLock disc hubs, WTB 14g stainless steel spokes

Tires Kenda KARMA, 26 x 2.1”, folding bead

Derailleurs Shimano Deore XT Shadow rear, Deore XT 34.9mm top pull front

Shiftlevers Shimano Deore XT Rapidfire Plus SL, 27-speed

Chain Sram PowerChain 971 with Gold Power-Link

Cassette Shimano Deore XT, 9-speed, 11-34t

Crankset Shimano Deore XT Hollowtech II, 44/32/22

BB Set Shimano Deore XT integrated

Pedals N/A

Brakeset Shimano Deore XT hydraulic disc brakes, 160mm front & rear CenterLock rotors

Handlebar Ritchey Mountain Comp Rizer, 31.8mm O˚ x 20mm rise x 670mm

Stem Ritchey Comp V2 OS, 31.8 bar bore x 6˚ rise x 90mm (13-15”), 100mm (17”), 110mm (19 & 21)

Grips WTB MotoTec clamp-on, DNA compound

Seat Post Ritchey Comp 2B, 31.6 x 350mm, with alloy clamp & cromo seatpin

Saddle WTB Silverado Team, flex-tuned shell, DNA padding, ABR corners, titanium

Color Team Red/Pearl White

Weight 26.20 lbs (11.9kg)

---------------------------------------------

Total Distance: 38km
Money spent: -
Participants: LSH

Retirement

After 16,781.5km of faithful service over slightly less than 2 years and 10 months, the time has come to retire my Raleigh. I realized something was really wrong when I cycled to school on Tuesday. It was to be the bike’s last. As had been in the past, the bike did not break down in the middle of nowhere – it got me home and when I checked for the source of malfunction, a sense of dread washed over me. There it was, the cable on the verge of snapping for the third time in months.

I imagined the cable snapping 30km from home. With a rapid-rise system, I would take hours to spin home. I was immediately thankful for its reliability over the years despite my continued abuse. I will miss the days when I took it everywhere. Round island, Bintan, KL, Genting, you name it. It was the do-it-all bike which never gave me any problems when I was out there in the middle of nowhere.

The next time I am out mountain biking, I would probably be on a different system. Then again, nothing lasts forever. Time to start anew. And look forward to a faster and more controllable platform.

Total distance for the week: 224km

Another Busy Week with School, Cycling and TKD

The week just flashed by. The workload is quite crazy but life goes on. I rode to school on Mon, had TKD on Tue, rested on Wed, cycled again on Thu and had TKD on Fri. To round it off, I went mountain biking on Sat via the usual Track 15, BT and Lorong Sembawang route.

The trails were real busy because of the North Face 100. The Nike Human Race was also on Sat so I guess the sane would run the 10km while the insane would attempt the 50km/100km off-road race.

Total distance for the week: 157km

A Hell of a Week

The database project took up most of my time this week and I am glad most of the accounting project has been completed three days before it’s due. Unfortunately, I have not done my tutorials for this week so I have a lot of catching up to do!

I only cycled twice to school this week. Injury prone me took a couple of knocks during TKD training on Tuesday and that lay me off for the next couple of days. I am getting quite used to the limping and pain week after week. =( By Friday, I was back on my bike but my leg felt real funny when I cycled. Somehow, there was this nagging pain and it subsequently went to my knee.

I spent the whole Saturday with Dad, Bro and Phebe in JB. We met at 9am at Woodlands but we took more than 3 hours to clear the jam which started even before the Woodlands checkpoint.

Lunch was at Restoran Black Canyon (Tebrau City, Desa Tebrau) and I think it is worth mentioning as the service was excellent. The staff actually recognized me when I walked past the restaurant – I was surprised when he asked how I was doing. Not that I didn’t recognize him, I had to turn down his promotions for the past few times I was at Tebrau City! =P This time though, we patronized the restaurant and the food was good. I felt their service set them apart from the neighbouring restaurants we had patronized in the past and it left a really good impression on me.

After shopping at Tebrau City and subsequently Tesco, we headed for Taman Sentosa for dinner. The “pasar raya” there didn’t garner much of our interest so we had dinner at one of the supposedly famed seafood restaurants. The price was reasonable but service totally a turn-off as compared to our experience at lunch.

City Square was our last stop and as usual, we bought bread from Mum’s favourite bakery. I visited Optik Vision – their good service has ensured my continued patronage thus far. Sometimes I really wonder why our neighbours fare so much better in terms of customer service. Singapore really needs to work hard in this area!

Total distance for the week: 112km

Sembawang Circuit: 6.3km run

The Hills

I found myself at the peak of Kent Ridge Hill and subsequently that of Mount Faber a few hours ago. The night was cool and definitely silent up in the hills, despite the significant human presence. Most were couples lost in their own world anyway and I was probably the noisiest person around when my cleats grinded the ground.

Orchard was definitely a contrast and I was not totally surprised to see the long queue outside the Selegie Road bean curd stall. Cycling through Little India was another experience. Orchard was lit up with incredibly bright white lights (it felt almost like F1) whereas Little India felt traditional – nicely prepped for Deepavali with a whole range of decorative lights lining the road. We had our snacks at the bean curd stall along Balestier Road; then headed for home.

Total distance: 68.8km
Money spent: $1.80
Participants: LSH, Dad

A Tiring Week

This week took off literally with a “stressful” start. I thought things would get better after the FM test but I found myself readily occupied with heaps of work and approaching datelines. The announcement of the Accounting 1 quiz to be conducted online over the weekend didn’t exactly lift my spirits. =P

Tuesday’s TKD training was tiring, more tiring than I care to admit. Kicking non-stop for close to 150 repetitions wasn’t exactly rejuvenating and I found myself struggling to breathe. My legs were getting heavier at each repetition and my muscle fatigue was definitely at a all-time high – not since the KL – Singapore expedition last year have I experienced such fatigue that totally discouraged me from further physical activities for the next couple of days.

I was disappointed that a thunderstorm swept through Sembawang on Thursday, totally grounding my chances of cycling to school. I grabbed the opportunity to do so this morning despite my still aching muscles but all went well. I got into a close shave with an impatient lorry driver but then again, it’s just another common occurrence in the life of a cyclist. I met a Caucasian on his road bike as I entered NTU – I have seen him around before – and I guess from his age that he may be a lecturer. It’s good to see others actively cycling to work. =)

I hope the weekend turns out great, though I have quite a bit of work to clear! I find our coach’s motivational talks quite inspiring. When you are faced with adversity, dare to push your limits. Tell yourself you are the best and you can do it!

Total distance: 57km
Money spent: $2
Participants: LSH

For the Sake of Seafood

I was in some taxi, speeding down the narrow winding roads of Changi. Somehow, I was instructing the driver in shifting his gears, or something to that effect. Then, Justin Timberlake’s “Sexy Back” cut into my thoughts and I was jolted awake. It was 3.50am. I was supposed to meet Eng Joo at 4.30am.

He reached early, despite sleeping only for 1 hour! We set off for the Woodlands Customs and as expected, traffic was super sparse. At that weird timing, I was glad to see a friendly smile from the customs officer. Clearing Kompleks Sultan Iskandar, we turned onto the familiar Jalan Tebrau, greeted by the first major climb of the day.

The ride to Kota Tinggi took roughly 2 hours, our progress impaired by hunger settling in. The town was abnormally quiet today and my favorite pit-stop was not ready for business. Hobson’s choice, we settled for another “restoran” where food and service standards were just average. Fortunately, the prices were reasonable.

Stomachs filled, we started on our second phase of the expedition – the ride to Desaru and subsequently Sungei Rengit. The weather was in our favor today and we made good progress. I started to face headwind halfway through, and just 12km from Sungei Rengit, we encountered wet weather. Rain covers up, we pedaled on.

Eng Joo is a strong rider and we managed to reach Sungei Rengit by 11.15am, probably the earliest I have reached the town so far. We met up with Bro and Phebe – I recognized two familiar helmets in the distance (a grey Giro and blue Prowell).

This time, we patronised Restoran Makanan Laut Yoou Kee, 55 Jalan Pantai, "critically acclaimed" for its lobsters (with Mediacorp food critic programmes featured over the shopfront). We had chilli crab, sambal kangkong, breaded prawns, bean curd with mixed vegetables and mushroom soup. The bill including drinks came up to a total RM121. I thought the prices of the main dishes were reasonable, the canned drinks slightly expensive and the serving of snacks very exorbitant! Just one plate of the fried popiah skin snacks caused us RM4! That’s how the restaurants in the area attempt to increase their profit margin – through charges of small yet “hard to reject” items such as wet towels and snacks. Nonetheless, the quality of the food served was fine - we had a good meal.

We paid a visit to the mango farm but harvest season was over. Dejected, we returned to Tanjung Penjelih where I started experiencing slight pangs of hunger. We managed to get onboard a Malaysian bumboat for the ride back to Changi (RM15 per pax, RM3 per bike; as opposed to S$9 per pax and S$2 per bike). Yay!

I lived to regret my decision not to grab a bite at Changi before heading home. In the pouring rain and pervading cold, weakness started infiltrating my system. I just couldn’t find any more strength amidst my hunger to continue pedaling. I am just glad my mental strength held me through the last few kilometres and the moment I reached home, I started gorging on any food I could find. =(

Total distance: 200km approx.
Money spent: RM54
Participants: LSH, Eng Joo, Bro, Phebe

Wanton Noodles @ Hougang Street 21

Bro’s craving brought us to our childhood haunt – the wanton mee stall at Hougang Street 21. There were so many familiar faces around – most of the vendors were there when I was not even in primary school yet; they are still there more than 14 years on.

Business at the wanton mee stall was as brisk as ever. I think we waited a good 30 minutes for our food. But it was as good as ever, though the price has crept up slowly over the years from $2 to the current $2.50. We also had mee rebus (similarly priced) and I thought it was among the more decent ones I have had.

The nicest surprise was from the familiar couple who sold soya bean drinks. At $0.30 per cup of grass jelly drink, I believe I have found one of Singapore’s cheapest stalls. Not to mention that they have been serving quality drinks for the past decade!

After lunch, we continued our ride to Ang Mo Kio where we visited Elken before heading home.

Total distance: 38.1km
Money spent: $8.10 (2 pax)
Participants: LSH, Bro

Lunch @ Nihon Mura (YCK Outlet)

Bro wanted to try out their sushi buffet today. I put aside my work for the time being, powered down my notebook and rushed off for a shower. I thought we were taking the train down to Yio Chu Kang when he dropped the bombshell.

I was surprised. The weather was blistering hot. Nonetheless, I grabbed my bike, a couple of essentials and off we went for our sushi buffet.

Total distance: 20.3km
Money spent: $21 (2 pax)
Participants: LSH, Bro

Tuesday Night with Team Midpoint

Bro came along today and I believe that was his fastest ever on a road bike! We left home around 8.05pm, reached Toa Payoh at around 8.45pm, left with Team Midpoint slightly after 9pm and reached home before 10pm.

Total distance: 37.1km
Money spent: $0
Participants: LSH, Bro, Team Midpoint

TKD Training

I spent quite a lot of time finishing up the last couple of questions on MyAccountingLab as well as Tutorial 7, getting distracted by Bruce Lee and his annoying yells from the living room. And when he faced up with a TKD fighter, I just had to catch a glimpse. Couldn’t help it, could I?

Before I reached the end of my final question, Bro was already bugging me to go for TKD training. It was a long time since I stepped into Ci Yuan CC and I was glad to see the familiar faces.

Working out for the 7th straight day this week was slightly taxing on my body but I managed to garner most of my form. Certainly, my reflexes were slow especially on counter multiple turning kicks but I was glad I could still land 3 mid-air kicks to the target. My judgment was also off-target on several occasions so I have to work to get a certain level of consistency in my sharpness.

Overall, I felt good but somehow drained. I watched Lewis Hamilton maintain the lead but this year’s race was not that exciting as compared to last year’s; and I felt my eyes starting to close. I shall rest tomorrow – as in, not exercise!

The Off-Roads and a Great Night Out

Pan and I hit Mandai Trail 15 at around 9.40am in the morning, did reverse Scorpion, and proceeded to Bukit Timah where we expected to meet the other guys from the NTU team. I felt lethargic today when I got on my bike and my muscles felt sore when I made my way to our usual meeting place.

The guys soon gathered at the trailhead at BT. The weather was very dry, even scathing hot but at least traction was sufficient enough for me not to slip on every climb. It was real fun to tackle BT again, especially with the guys. I fell once when I got caught on a heavy gear up the trickiest climb of the trail but I was glad to clear it on my second attempt. That part has always been a 50-50 for me.

I met up with Bryan, Zi Kai, Alfred, Kao Jun and Jiashun for dinner. Bryan will be leaving for Cambridge come Wednesday so all the best to him. Dinner was good, the LAN gaming was fairly amusing but the best part was in meeting up and chatting with them. As Zi Kai rightly pointed out when we split ways that it was back to reality, I suddenly felt that time has passed so quickly and many good things have become nothing but deeply etched memories. I look forward to meeting up with them again.  

Total distance: 30km (on-road), 15km (off-road)
Money spent: $0
Participants: LSH, Pan, NTU Cycling Team

Recess Week!

I just can’t believe nearly half a semester has passed. Somehow, I am not particularly looking forward to the recess week. However, I am certain I will feel a sense of dread next Sunday when school is about to start again.

It’s great that we have cleared a major presentation for IT – credit goes to my team mates for all their effort. I hope this encouragement will spur us on for our next project.

I dropped by at Grandma’s place after school today. It took me just half an hour to cycle from school and I had a very good lunch there. Grandparents really pamper their grandchildren. I was faced with a continuous flow of delectable drinks and snacks after a hearty meal.

Mum and Bro took the MRT home but they stopped by at West Mall to check out mobile phones. Not surprisingly, I reached home earlier than them.

I can’t wait to hit my bed. Just totally tired.

Mileage of Week Starting 21 September 2009

1. 23 September 2009 - Return trip to and from school – 56km
2. 24 September 2009 - Return trip to and from school – 56km
3. 25 September 2009 – School; Grandma’s place – 56.8km
4. 26 September 2009 – T15 / Bukit Timah with NTU Team - 45km

Sembawang Circuit: 6.3km run

The skies threatened to pour but we pushed on. I had a great time eating to my heart’s content at Tebrau City, JB yesterday and I was probably burning all the excess calories (if any even) today. Looks like I can still do with my daily dose of an ice-cream!

The Saturday Night Round-Island Spin

Sembawang – Jurong – HarbourFront – East Coast, from end to end, the loop around our tiny red dot made up 114km, according to Google Maps. It surprisingly fell way short of the NTU Bike Rally’s 128km and that route taken during the rally was arguably shorter than last night’s ride.  

So what made up the vast difference? Road works? That roads are not that straight as usually shown in maps? One can only wonder.

My 280km Batu Pahat vision for the weekend was shattered. Everyone thought I was crazy but then again, it’s unlikely they were up to the mark to make it there and back. Judging from last night’s ride, while Dad’s techniques have visibly improved, his long distance endurance and fitness didn’t. He lost it by the time we were at Changi and past 12pm, showing obvious signs of physical and mental stress.

The weather was cool, almost cold, with the presence of a slight drizzle for most of the way. Our pace was decent, and we took only a couple of short breaks, less the supper stop we made at Tampines.

I was famished when we passed the coffee shop in the vicinity of the mountain biking park and I was glad to have fishball noodles and an accompanying cup of warm tea. I guess my family members tend to be irritated with me for taking them into physically-taxing situations but at the end of the day, it’s for their own good. If they can’t complete such a distance with relative ease, forget Malaysia. Forget a 42km marathon because they will not be prepared.

We were still on the roads at 2am. Somehow, I felt sharper and more energetic after supper. I was glad my muscles didn’t complain at all so it was more of mental fortitude against the dead of the night.

I often play mental games or let my thoughts wander, though I shan’t reveal what goes through my mind here. At 3.30am, after all the washing and cleaning up, I finally hit the bed. It never felt so good.

Total distance: 114km
Money spent: $3.40
Participants: LSH, Dad

Mileage of Week Starting 14 September 2009

1. 14 September 2009 - Return trip to and from school – 56km
2. 17 September 2009 - Return trip (school); NTU Cycling Team – 67.7km
3. 18 September 2009 - Return trip to and from school – 56km
4. 19 September 2009 – Night round island – 114km

Sembawang Circuit: 7.5km run

I felt good today. The past weeks of intensive cycling has boosted my running pace, or at the very least, make me feel better. I have not been doing pull-ups very regularly though and the strain was pretty obvious today. I hope it does not deteriorate.

What’s Important in Life?

A recent conversation with a friend set me thinking on several issues all of us will probably grapple with in our lives. Let’s simplify life into four general terms: Family, Country, Job/Career and Religion. Which will take precedence in importance?

I guess everyone will have differing views and it will be interesting to find out how people rank these four terms. If such a survey has been done, I will definitely like to know the findings made.

Personally, I have long decided that the rankings should look something like this:

1. Country
2. Family?
3. Religion?
4. Job/Career

Family definitely takes precedence over Career in relative importance as Career is nothing more than a necessary tool to support the Family. And if Career conflicts with Religion (very very unlikely), then something is probably very wrong with the choice of Career (doing something unethical or giving rise to guilt in the long run), thus explains my inclination to place Religion above Career.

To date, I still can’t figure if family should take precedence over religion or vice versa. I know a devout believer’s answer but to me, it remains a hugely grey area. Country definitely takes precedence over all. Without the country, there will not be anything else. Someone close who is a devout believer told me that God will understand should a conflict arise (between Country and personal belief) and that we should answer the call to serve the country first.

I will remember his words and believe that loyalty to country should remain steadfast through the most difficult of times. We may get disillusioned but if we can see through the confusion to what we really believe in, I am sure we will find the direction to our problems.

As of now, my doubts will probably remain unanswered.

Mileage of Week Starting 7 September 2009

1. 7 September 2009 - Return trip to and from school – 56km
2. 9 September 2009 - Return trip to and from school – 56km
3. 10 September 2009 - Return trip (school); NTU Cycling Team – 64km 
4. 11 September 2009 - Return trip to and from school – 56km

Mount Faber on a Rainy Day

Bro’s alarms (watch, mobile phone, etc…) are always set to 0530hrs daily since he’s serving in the army and Sunday morning was no exception. I woke up only to realize it was not my alarm. Mine sounded about 15min later.

I guess the whole family was awakened. Dad inherited Bro’s old phone yesterday and to his dismay, found the 0530hrs alarm working perfectly this morning although the phone was switched off. Dad was reluctant to cycle so early in the morning – that was his stand last night and I was all prepared for another solo ride – but as I had breakfast, I found him getting ready to join me for the ride.

The weather was amazingly cool this morning when we left home at around 6.15am. We soon found out why. Flashes of lightning streaked across the dark skies and it was only a matter of time before it started pouring.

Our “wish” was fulfilled as we near Bukit Panjang (10 Mile Junction). The rain got steadier heavier and we were totally soaked. We proceeded down Clementi Road and the rain stopped briefly when we hit the West Coast Highway but the weather was simply not merciful today and we found ourselves battling strong gusts amidst the rain.

The cool weather meant less physical exertion and Dad managed to climb Mount Faber on his Ventura Elite today, which was great. I am guessing the height of his saddle had a part to play too.

       

The summit was totally void of visitors, less a maintenance worker. I guess most people shy away from the rain as well as the “slippery” road conditions. We took the curves down with more caution, but obviously I was way faster than Dad in wet conditions. Dad voiced the riskiness of a descend in such weather – true, but we need to adapt to cycling in different weather conditions as we can’t expect mountain roads to be always dry. In fact, Genting is usually wet and we were just lucky on our previous trip.

I was freezing cold, in fact shivering, when we descended from Mount Faber. I think the last time I experienced such cold was during the descend down Genting! Back on the roads, I couldn’t help but increase my speed to get the cold out of my system.

We had our second breakfast at the Tiong Bahru Market. I can’t wait to visit the hawker centre again to taste more hawker fare. It was slightly past 9am when we started our return journey via Chinatown, Serangoon and Balestier. It took us about an hour fifteen minutes (of coldness) to get home.

Thus concludes my first post with Windows Live Writer. Out.

Total distance: 66.3km
Money spent: $3.70
Participants: LSH, Dad

Chill, Wind, Chill

The postponed Business Law lecture ended about 8.45am. It didn't feel like a Friday at all. I had wondered why I stayed back for the lecture (only about 40% of the lecture group turned up), especially since my time was wasted yesterday when the lecturer failed to inform us of the cancellation in advance. He redeemed himself today with an interesting, concise and clear lesson and I knew I had not made a mistake by staying back.

After all, it's fundamentally wrong to play "truant" and we should be responsible for any decision we undertake. There's no point complaining of lousy lectures, difficult topics and the supremely fast pace if one does not even bother to put in the basic effort expected of a student.

The roads were largely clear of vehicles when I started my ride home. By the time I passed the cemeteries along Lim Chu Kang, there was no other vehicle in sight, all the way till Kranji. The night was cool, the wind almost chilling and other than the background noise of the jungle, the only other unnatural sound was probably the hum of my tyres against the road.

Lim Chu Kang was eerily quiet and dark along certain unlit parts. I thought I spotted humanly figures ahead but they turned out to be dustbins or roadside signs when I pulled closer. My eyes were playing tricks on me in the night. I nearly jumped when a voice broke into my train of thoughts. In the dark, I couldn't see anyone! Clearly, someone was speaking and I figured it was a foreign worker by the side of the road, perfectly camouflaged in the shadows. I didn't catch sight of him as I continued down the road.

I ran into a friend at Admiralty. He was cycling when he saw a familiar bike (probably couldn't see me in the dark). I felt someone tailing me and turning back, I was surprised and glad to see a familiar face. Yesterday, as I was heading to NTU, I got acquainted with a fellow biker on the road and we ended up exchanging contacts. That's the beauty of cycling.

Total distance: 57km

Money spent: $0
Participants: LSH

Burn-out?

I really hope not.

I have stepped up my flexibility training, resulting in sore and tight muscles these days. I guess that was the main cause of the sudden "pull" I experienced today. It was definitely the worse cramp I have suffered on a sport so far, the first in cycling and hopefully the last. The guys were going real fast and I had to pull out because I couldn't keep up with them anymore.

At that instant when my leg went numb with pain, I thought I was in deep trouble. I couldn't feel anything on the left, hence I took my leg off and coasted to a halt. Home was at least a good 40km away.

Fortunately, the pain was not too bad when I eased the pressure off my left leg and concentrated more power on the right. I maintained cadence and rode at light gears all the way home. Justin was kind enough to see me through all the way to Brickland Road before he headed back to school. Thanks bro!

I reached home at 10pm, approximately 4hrs after I left home for school.

Total distance: 81.1km

Money spent: $0

Participants: LSH, NTU Cycling Team

Mileage of Week Starting 24 August 2009

1. 24 August 2009 - Return trip to and from school - 56km
2. 27 August 2009 - NTU Cycling Team's Inaugural Ride - 53.6km (1hr clocked on road bike to school)
3. 28 August 2009 - Return trip to and from school - 56km (1hr 7min clocked on MTB to school)
4. 29 August 2009 - Mountain Biking - 38km
5. 29 August 2009 - Saturday Night Fever - 81.3km
6. 31 August 2009 - Return trip to and from school - 56km

Mileage for August 09 stands at 1202.3km.

Saturday Night Fever

I must have been running a fever. When Dad got home, I bugged him about tomorrow's early morning ride to Mount Faber. My request was met with a strong protest - the sign of laziness - that sleep is more important than keeping fit. Knowing very well that I had just returned from mountain biking earlier in the day, he jokingly suggested that we cycle at night instead, knowing that such a request would be turned down by the sane.

I lost my brain at that moment and agreed. Of course, he was very surprised but I was insistent on getting him on his bike. We set off at 7.30pm for the eastern loop, covering Seletar, Hougang, Pasir Ris, Changi, East Coast Park, Balestier, Thomson, Yishun and finally home.

The first "pit stop" was the main jetty of East Coast Park, the second at a toilet to refill our water bottles and the third at Balestier Food Centre where we had minced meat noodles. The meal was sumptuous and at that instant, I thought night cycling was very rewarding. We arrived safe and sound at our doorstep at 11.30pm.

I was very surprised at my mileage for this month. Now I have another 81.3km and probably a little more distance on Monday's ride to school.

Total distance: 81.3km
Money spent: $6.00
Participants: LSH, Dad

Rain and Mud!

It started pouring when we hit Butterfly. The trail was crowded with runners today as the training sessions for the North Face 100 were in full force. At certain points, I was riding right behind the runners but I wasn't moving much faster than them over the slippery roots and branches.

The rain added to the thrill. We were literally covered with mud when we emerged from the trails and headed to the zoo for a meal. I could feel the stares of the public around us. Ben and I took the Ulu Sembawang shortcut back to Woodlands where we split up for home.

I went to the fruits stall at the entrance of Sun Plaza, intending to get some fruits as requested by Mum. The uncle was very unfriendly and told me to get lost as I was "blocking" his way. Damn it, why do you think I would be looking at fruits? There went his chance of making a sale. Not all bikers are bad boys. Not all dirtied and muddied people do not intend to buy anything.

I had a hell of a time getting the mud off my bike and doing basic maintenance. I had reached home at noon and it was 2pm when I finished washing my soiled shoes and took a shower. Lunch was next and I pampered myself with a Milo Dinosaur. =)

This weekend marks the end of the third week of school. More or less settled in, I am struggling with the increasing workload. Tutorials after tutorials, there seem to be not enough time for revision. I am quite glad there were no lessons on Thursday as it gave me time to catch up with the syllabus. I hope next week will be an easy week (dream on).

Total distance: 20km (on-road), 18km (off-road)
Money spent: $0
Participants: LSH, Ben, Pan, Dexter, Jonathan

NTU Cycling Team's Inaugural Ride

I must apologize to everyone for being late today.

The ride was way above my expectations. Everyone was so organized - the most organized ride I have ever taken part in. The team leaders certainly did a great job and it was a splendid start to the team's first ride.

Moreover, I felt that the team really had potential. I broke off at Kranji. I heard from Pan about the bursts along Neo Tiew and Lim Chu Kang and I can imagine the speeds they were doing. It was great cycling with them for a start and I am sure everyone can only get better as training comes along.

Total distance: 53.6km

Money spent: $0

Participants: LSH, NTU Cycling Team

Part-time Courier Service?

I was back on my bike this morning. The first stop was Owen's place at Whampoa where I bought another jersey. Pan was not riding today, hence I met him at Whampoa.

Following that, the next stop was Elken at Ang Mo Kio. I purchased the health products required by Mum before heading home. I reached my doorstep before noon, less than 3 hours after I set off earlier in the morning.

Total distance: 36.4km

Money spent: $25

Participants: LSH

Mountain Biking T15, Scorpion (reverse), Butterfly

I believe today will be another occasion to remember. The curse of the Butterfly struck me once again - this time, I was out of the trail though!

This will arguably be the worst crash I ever had, simply because it was a frontal, face-first impact against a hard, man-made object. Without my helmet, I would have required medical attention and possibly a stitch or two.

On the plains heading towards T15, I had attempted to move onto a pavement from the grass at high speed. It was a stupid mistake (all fault lay with me) as I failed to clear the height difference, causing the side of my tyres to catch the edge of the path. The bike careened onto the path and I totally lost control of the skid. I found myself slamming into the fence of the PUB compound, face first. I thought I was done for. My visor got ripped off by the impact and lay dangling when the front of my helmet contacted the fence. The force pushed my shades off and I was glad the SAF really meant "heavy duty" and "shatter-proof" when I bought the shades last year.

I guess I have to contend with a dent in the helmet, bruises on my forehead and a slight headache for the time being! Not that my last finger is not giving me enough trouble... =P

Total distance: 21km (on-road), 19km (off-road)

Money spent: $0

Participants: LSH, Ben