Total distance: 210km approx.
Money spent: $6.10
Participants: LSH, Jasper, Chen Sao, Terence, Yuva, Jonathan and others
Total distance: 32.1km (on-road); 3km (off-road)
Money spent: $0
Participants: LSH, Alrasvee
We had a good chat with an American from the mountains of Santa Cruz, California. And obviously, he owns a Santa Cruz (made in his hometown) brought over to Singapore. At 52, he frequents Bukit Timah up to 3 times a week, definitely putting many younger people to shame!
Today was an occasion to remember. I cleared the rocky entrance to the Bukit Timah trail, my first ever since they revamped the climb. Mustering all the speed I could get, I managed enough momentum to get over the largest obstacles. I hope it’s not something one-off! =P
We just had to be tempted by Gangsa on the way back. I had a very close brush when I landed on my front tyre hard and almost got thrown over the bars. My saddle was too high and preventing my body weight from being pushed back further. Alrasvee was not so fortunate and he went down hard, landing on his back and cracking his helmet.
He really frightened us. On the way back, he could hardly ride and vomited his breakfast and whatever he ate at the zoo’s KFC. I hope he gets well soon!
Total distance: 13.2km (on-road); 22km (off-road)
Money spent: $2.30
Participants: LSH, Jasper, Terence, Alrasvee, Daniel, Farid
We did a little mountain biking (I went for a round of the race route and nearly totaled my bike on several occasions as I was running 55psi), then explored the rest of the island, from Noordin Beach to Chek Jawa.
It was really great to catch up with them and for my friends who had not been to Ubin prior to this trip, I hope it was an eye-opener! Too bad the Ubin of today lacks its rustic charm of yesteryears. The authorities should stop further “development” of the island. I bet we will be see just another modern beach resort in a couple of years to come.
The interesting sight of the day were the wild boars we saw – one old and immense bulk of a guy in captivity and another roaming free and being fed by the locals. For once, the ugly wild boar was kind of cute when it munched up the apple greedily.
It has been a real tiring day – one round of Ketam MTB Park at race pace drains me more than you can imagine – but I am really looking forward to our next outing!
Total distance: 66km (on-road), 20km (off-road)
Money Spent: $15.70
Participants: LSH, Fangying, Justin, Zhi Yang, Kah Hong
We broke off from the main group as we expected to do at least 2 laps and Pan set the pace for the first. He was just amazingly fast around the switchbacks, putting any AM/DH biker to shame! On our previous practice, we were still quite unfamiliar with the trail but this time, we were prepared for most of the switchbacks and obstacles. Clearing them was no longer a problem.
In a moment of “madness” fueled by the rush of adrenaline, I set my bike down the Black Cobra, clearing it successfully. My spokes were making weird noises as I bounced down the rocks but the worrisome creaking subsided after awhile.
We had a rest before doing the second lap which I attempted to time. It just felt great to pushing ourselves up the climbs, clearing every obstacle in our path and powering down the steep switchbacks at incredible speeds. Momentum was the word of the day, it drove us through the entire trail.
My front fork sustained its first battle scar when I attempted to power through a rock garden, failing, which resulted in me toppling to the side when I could not un-cleat myself in time. The bike slammed against the rocks and there went the fork! I know it hurts to see such expensive, valuable stuff get scarred but I try to live with the consolation that I had fully utilized the fork by pushing myself and the bike to its limits throughout the trail.
I completed the lap at 24min and Pan was coming in hot at 26min before Solomon pulled in at 28min and Chen Sao rounded up our finish of less than 30min. Great jobs guys! We were already cooling down when the SMBF guys started on their second lap so we decided to head back to mainland first after a drink.
Solomon and his dad were super kind to end our misery by giving us a lift to Woodlands. Thanks so much man. =)
Total distance: 50km (on-road), 20km (off-road)
Money Spent: $15.70
Participants: LSH, Pan, Chen Sao, Solomon, SMBF guys
I was glad to hit the jungle trail which was in an awful state. Most of the obstacles were damaged and the trail blocked by fallen trees. Fortunately, the dismal state of the trail was compensated somewhat by patched up areas on “Teletubby Land” as well as the functional dirt jumps and BMX track.
My suspension totally bottomed out when I rode off a ramp roughly 2.5 to 3 feet in elevation. I didn’t have enough momentum on the approach and the incline onto the ramp took up most of my speed. It was only when I was airborne did I realize the front end was dipping alarmingly and on both attempts, I landed front wheel first, the force threatening to throw me over the bars.
Later, as I rolled through the dirt jumps, I felt that my rear lifted way too easy when I crested the jumps. The front always dipped too much while the rear lifted too easily, and without proper compensation, I was always thrown off-course.
Alrasvee was unfortunate enough to suffer a fall when he landed and somehow his bike skidded under him. He took a blow to his head and his Limar helmet shielded the impact, cracking in the process. He is one lucky man. I hope the kids who were with us (riding without helmets) take precaution and protect their personal well-being during future rides.
Total distance: 52.8km (on-road); 7km (off-road)
Money spent: $3.80
Participants: LSH, Alrasvee, Eugene
Nonetheless, I was still glad to be bouncing over the rocks, sand and mud. I was so pumped up on the trails that Ulu Sembawang appealed to me more than Mandai Road and I took the former home.
The trails were surprisingly dry today, alright, not that surprising considering the dry weather yesterday, and I was glad my newly serviced bike was much less of a nightmare to clean!
In the evening, I went for a recovery ride to ease the tension off my tired muscles and it really proved effective.
Total distance: 15.3km (on-road); 20.5km (off-road); 21.6km (Sembawang Circuit)
Money spent: $0
Participants: LSH, Jasper, Terence, Chen Sao
In fact, we did the trails so fast today that I was way ahead of my schedule. Somewhere along Dunearn Road, I just stopped to chill and have an energy bar. When I reached Hup Leong, at 9.45am, it was still early and I kept myself occupied with marble game on my mobile phone!
I just couldn’t resist heading over to Chinatown Complex! I am going to miss that place. Today, I had “zui gui” with the usual $1 fruit juice (pineapple-watermelon for Sat’s Special). Hup Leong did a splendid job with the bike and it felt as good as new.
I am a little reluctant to put it through the trails tomorrow!
Total Distance: 12km (off-road); 44.6km (on-road)
Money spent: $3
Participants: LSH, Eric
We were planning to do Hutan Bandar today but that would mean a hat-trick of crossing the border in 3 days for me. Since Eric, Gerald and Pan were not able to ride, the rest of us decided to do Kent Ridge instead. I was quite glad to be able to wake up slightly later but the downside was the seething heat of the late morning sun as I embarked on the 1.5hr ride to Kent Ridge.
The guys arrived not long after I reached Kent Ridge and we hit the trails. It was definitely more technical than most, if not all, other trails in Singapore – the combined effects of steep climbs, erosion, roots and debris made the going tough. The drops seemed a bit too technical for a XC trail and even on my XCR Expert, I was losing control every now and then. Still, danger is always accompanied by the much vaunted rush of adrenaline.
After we did the XC and Super D sections, we took a leisure spin over to Mount Faber and subsequently Seah Im food centre where we had lunch. The weather was very hot but we parted ways with Jasper’s friend and headed for home. We stopped at a newly opened bike shop at Thomson. The owner was friendly and some stuff he retailed were pretty appealing. =P
Total distance: 59km (on-road); 6km (off-road)
Money spent: $4
Participants: LSH, Jasper, Terence, Jasper’s friend
Perhaps what makes overseas rides special is the courtesy displayed by our foreign friends. In the pouring rain, we were heading towards Pusat Bandaraya and had to filter a couple of lanes. We signaled and the driver of a black sports car slowed his vehicle patiently behind us as we made our lane switch. I gave him a thumbs-up and he beeped his horn as he pulled alongside us, returning a complimentary thumbs-up. Waving, I went my separate way, touched at how such a small act of kindness made my day. In fact, we encountered the same situation along almost every filter lane on the Lebuhraya =)
Total distance: 180km approx.
Money spent: RM38~
Participants: LSH, Dad, En Joo, Jonathan, Johnny
