Sunday, April 19, 2009

Climb! Climb! Climb!

With a couple of weeks more before our Genting attempt and just slightly over a week since our last long ride to Malaysia, it was great to have Dad out hitting the hills and acclimatising to longer and steeper climbs.

We had breakfast at Tiong Bahru (the hawker centre below the block where granduncle used to live) before taking on our first challenge of the day: Mount Faber. Although slow, Dad managed to ride up without stopping and at a consistent pace. That was a good start. We went on the Mount Faber Loop once and Dad decided to take a rest while I went on a second round. It was a fast flowing loop without the steepness of the Mount Faber Road.


A buzz of activity on Mount Faber (left); Dad helping soldiers of the Malay Regiment (right)

As expected on a Sunday, the peak was packed with people, mostly China tourists. After a rest, we continued to Labrador Park where we hit another upslope, to the vantage points where the gun emplacements were built during WWII. It was a good place to explore what's left of the historical fort, take a few photographs and chill out.


I am a gunner!

We then headed for Kent Ridge Park and of course, tackled the infamous Vigilante Drive. That short stretch was by far the steepest climb of the three places. Dad started to wobble a little and drifted out towards the middle of the lane. Most cyclists who are not acclimatised to long climbs tend to exhibit these "symptoms". It will be a worry as I believe we will see such gradient on the way up Genting Highlands.

By the time we reached Buona Vista MRT, it was slightly pass 11am, hence we stopped to have lunch at the Holland Drive hawker centre, after which, we took Woodlands Road home.

Route taken: Plotted on Google Maps
Total distance: 69km
Money spent: $12.60
Participants: LSH, Dad

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