Friday, July 11, 2008


Joyriders - Road Cycling Group
I've been a guest rider with them on Wednesdays for about a month already. Last week I finally decided to join them 'officially'. It's the jersey. I think it's real spiffy and ordered mine - can't wait to get it. Now I have to think of a nickname for myself though. All Joyriders have a funny nickname.....like Snail Queen Joyce (the founder), Rock n Roll King Joshua (riding buddy who introduced me to the group) etc.
Anyway, this group is also known as the 5am Longhouse riders. Every day, except Mondays, there's a ride that leaves from there. That works for me because my Tuesday rides have been inconsistent. Things pop up, bad weather etc. Also, I want to improve. So this was supposed to be my 'secret training' to get faster and stronger so I don't get dropped on Tuesdays. Well, I get 'super dropped' with this hard-core bunch. Many cycle every day and for much longer distances.
But now I discover that I rather like early morning cycling and realize I've been missing out. The absolute best time to cycle in Singapore is 5am. It's cool, peaceful and hardly any traffic. The route is always the same but there's a certain comfort in predictability. It's a big group with varying speeds but everyone usually regroups at junction of Mandai and Woodlands Road. The 70+km bunch turn right to head towards Kranji, the 50+km turn left to head up Clementi....and a few of us 30+km turn left again at Dunearn Road.
Best part is coming back at about 6am and knowing I've had my workout for the day. Still buzzing from the endorphin rush and sitting on my bench to rehydrate, it feels great. The early morning calm is very good for praying and my head feels very clear. Of course, I also pray a lot because more often than not I'm riding by myself because the group is so fast. But there's no fear. It's very scenic going up Upper Thomson Road and Mandai. Those grand trees, the reservoir, the jungle.....makes me grateful for what a beautiful earth we live in.
In the meantime, I need to build muscle so I can stay with the pack. Right now, I get dropped on the incline just before we hit Mandai. Got to work on that.

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

No idea why but I rather like this ditty from a rap song I don't even know the name of.
Are these the statistics that describe what goes on in endurance events?
Nah...there's more pleasure than pain.
Tim & I are signed up to do the Singapore Bay Run Half Marathon on 24th August.
Neither of us have been running......much less any specific training.
No mood to run. I just want to bike. So much more efficient. Oh dear....

This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will
Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain
And a hundred percent reason to remember the name.

Monday, July 07, 2008





Yeah we were pooped out on the way back. For better photos and other amazing wildlife right here in Singapore, you can check out our volunteer guide's blog. http://www.wondercreation.blogspot.com






Pulau Semakau Guided Tour
To top off the June school holidays, I signed us up for an early morning inter-tidal walk with the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity on Pulau Semakau. We met them at 5am at the Marina South Pier. Boat trip to our landfill island was about 45 minutes. These are some of the amazing sea creatures we discovered there. I've been a snorkeler since a teen & did my share of scuba diving as well. But all this was in our backyard! I saw seahorses, octopus, very colourful sea cucumbers of all shapes & sizes and starfish as well.
This is a nonsensical posting but couldn't resist it. These are my two trusty pairs of cycling shades. Important to protect the eyes when zooming along so quickly. One pair is branded UVEX and cost me about $100 on sale. The other pair is from the DIY shop along 6th avenue. Construction glasses that costs $5. Both very good.
Scenic spot along the Changi Coast Park Connector. Matt on the good old Gary Fisher Cosmo. Got that second hand, put in some good mileage and sold it off to another fellow. His 8-yr old son looking for a bike. I really liked riding the Cosmo. Super smooth ride. It had 7 speeds and suspension fork, adjustable handlebar & seatpost. Tim is on a rental from Bikehaus. A super-light titanium triathlon bike he used for the Sprint Series.
The CarryMe that carried me back home after dropping the car off at Sin Ming car workshops. These two were taken on the way up Lornie Road. MacRitchie carpark is on the right somewhere.

Few days later took the Strida back to Sin Ming to pick up the car. Strida does better on bumpy pavement paths but quite a bit heavier to haul up and down the pedestrian bridge. This pic was taken crossing Lornie from graveyard Sime Road to country club Sime Road.