deafening shuttlecock calls filled the air and of the few cars around, our group of twenty dollar bill was given enough of outer space to ride boldly down this celebrated avenue chatting away while moving up the gears letting our legs and lungs steadily meet our power needs .
Although I am deplorably lacking in riding fitness, I succumbed to the full moon lycra outfit and have recently bought a bicycle so this ride with the ANZA Cycling Club was to test the theme of group rides. While I can ’ t say the ride was without annoyance, some of the trouble due to an embarrassing miss of accelerate, I can very understand the aroused and physical momentum you get by riding together .
There was moment chumminess from people I ’ vitamin d good met and a level of encouragement and sympathy that was generous to say the least. While I poured effort, they barely puffed.
Exploring the CBD and outskirts on my motorcycle was an unexpected rejoice on roads I ’ five hundred drive and taken taxis through without seeing so much .
New golf for corporates
Some say cycle is the modern golf for largely male corporate types. Others say it is simply the ideal fitness choice for ageing bodies combined with the easiest network opportunity. Either way, the smash in cycling here in Singapore adds another layer of life style for expats and regular visitors alike which for many reasons can not be matched anywhere in Asia .
The Singapore government continues to invest millions of dollars into the PCN, Park Connector Network, which is gradually connecting tens of kilometres of existing tree-lined parks and cycling paths across the unharmed island to create a blissful family and casual ride particularly on weekends .
If you think placid roads and government investment are not uncommon, let me add that the local dealings authority ( LTA ) has a dedicated ‘ Hazard Reporting Number ’ ( 1800 225 5582 ) where cyclists can call to report potholes and the LTA will come and fill them within a few hours .
Call me soft but this is surely cycling nirvana when potholes don ’ t need to be dodged and where there is little worry about punctures .
Easy and breezy East Coast Park
casual rides can be found all over the island but my blame for the visitor is East Coast Park ( ECP ) because of its easy approachability to all CBD hotels. Stretching all the way along the coast for about fifteen kilometres the ECP is a hanker, breezy stretch of cycling and pedestrian paths. Tree lined and louche you can enjoy the ride and people watching all day retentive. The city traffic noises are minimized on your left while on your right you enjoy seeing the backbone, the body of water and sounds of small waves. If you need to stop for a drink or a perch, you are in luck. Cafes and restaurants are available at two main sections along the room. For atmosphere, you ’ ll enjoy seeing people running, walking, standing, talking, rollerblading, skate board, doing chi-gung, scootering and more. On the weekends, this is a mecca for outdoor action .
No bike, no excuses
Visitors to Singapore are spoilt for military service besides. Along the East Coast Park are locations where bikes can be rented. And in a sign of the times Spinlister.com is the travelling cyclist ’ s version of Airbnb. Yes, you can rent a bicycle from a local at a negotiate rate on-line !
motorbike clubs are abundant in Singapore and most have websites explaining their particular bicycle fortes and favor routes : “ Fat Boys Cycling Club ”, “ JoyRiders ”, “ Barbarians ”, “ International Gerbils ”, “ 4T2 ”, “ West Coast Riders ”, “ Geylang Cycling Club ”, and more competitive racing teams such as “ Allied World ” ( linked to Anza ), “ Specialised Mavericks ” and “ Matador Racing. ”
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The Singapore difference
According to my cycling buddies from ANZA Cycling ( hypertext transfer protocol : //www.anza.org.sg ) Singapore offers a fantastic array of sights and smells as you ride that you don ’ thyroxine find in many places around the populace .
“ On a 60-80km ride around the island you might see monkeys on the roads, rampantly boars chasing the group and pythons, ” ANZA Cycling president of the united states, Megan Kinder says .
Started in 2001 and now boasting close to 500 members comprised of 31 nationalities, ANZA follows a “ no devolve ” govern according to Kinder. What this means is no rider gets left behind .
She says one of her favored rides is dearly known as “ flavours and fragrances ” because as you ride through the farming area of Kranji you “ move through a wave of chocolate smells, followed by the strong perfume of cloves then comes a incision of nastiness followed queerly by a corn gripe smell. It ’ s a little heed bending but it ’ s a reflection of what is grown, what is processed and what is made out that means. ”
While I joked that cycling seems to be the newfangled golf for bodied types and that I was fast becoming a ‘ MAMIL ’ ( middle-aged-man-in-lycra ) that I once loathed seeing at cafe on the weekends, Megan confirmed that “ seaworthiness and network are the two independent reasons people join the club because you get to know a lot of people actually cursorily so the sociable aspect can well blend into occupation. ”
Early morning rides beat the heat
The inflame is evitable by riding before sunrise and this seems to be the key to regular cycle in Singapore. While it is muggy the roads are repose about up until 8am when it gets quite busy. And the key local tip is that most regulars take two bottles of fluids with them on any ride equitable to stay hydrated .
In recent weeks I ’ ve ride with a visiting supporter ( who brought his motorcycle from Sydney ) all the manner along the ECP around the back of Changi airport down to Changi Village for a morning frost chocolate and then taken the Loyang Avenue route back through the ‘ heartland ’ suburb of Tampines, Bedok and Kallang into the CBD. It was a bite of an odyssey at three hours and a quite at leisure 65 kilometres but it was one of the best ways to see and experience a unlike Singapore.
On your motorcycle, you ’ ll get to see, hear, smell and explore Singapore in a more comforting way – a sleepy early dawn Singapore, before the leo awakes .
Alan Menagh
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