Among Changi Cycling Group kakis (members), I can claim to be the "Lau Chiau" (veteran) as I have been cycling since the late 80s' or more than 20 years of road biking experience.
I have also taken part and completed 4 triathlons from 1988 to 1991 locally covering the total distance of 108km with 2km Swim, 90km Bike and 16km Run. Thus, I have some credentials to talk something on road biking.
Briefly, I will tell of how I was introduced to cycling, the physical and social benefits and some safety tips on this activity.
Quote "Good Health is the most excellent of achievements"
Sometime in 1986 I was at East Coast Park with my children who were 5, 10 and 12 years old for a period of bonding.
There I met an Air Force colleague who was cycling with his kids and his bike cost only $150. The following week I got a white Shimano Racing bike costing $150 but weighing a good 20kg and started cycling to Changi.
Then regularly, I bought my children to East Coast Park for cycling with my kids renting the bikes and my Shimano in the car boot with the front wheel hanging out and secured with elastic ropes.
Then in 1987/88 I started participating in Biathlons consisting Cycling and Running or Swimming and Running. Then I got hooked on the demanding sport of Triathlons in late 1988 which I completed with my white Shimano racer.
Some cyclists whom I met at Sungei Ringgit coffee shop were surprised to see me coming back from Desaru with a $150 racer.
At that time I also managed to get my youngest brother who was an Air Force technician interested in Triathlon and we both cycled to Desaru going in the morning and returning the same day.
Once we stayed longer than usual at Desaru and realised that we would not be able to reach Tg. Pengelith Customs/Immigration Checkpoint by 4.00pm, and that we will missed the last boat.
With no other alternative we decided to cycle to JB via Kota Tinggi. It was the most harrowing experience as we were sandwiched between vehicles along some stretches of the single lane road. It was very risky and dangerous.
In 1989, I upgraded my bike to a $300 red Shimano weighing about 15 kg and took part in 2 triathlons with it. Sometime in 1990 I bought a 6 month old second-hand Raleigh weighing about 9 kg for a whopping $1000 with a pair of cycling shoes thrown in. That's how I got hooked on cycling.
Benefits of cycling.
1. Cycling is a low impact form of exercise as it is less or very little stress on the joints at the knee, hip and ankle areas as compared to running.
2. Good aerobic exercise in building strong vascular strength and thus more stamina if done regularly and with enough distance and speed.
3. Good family bonding with young children.
4. Good social bonding with colleagues and friends when done on a regular basis and especially with different venue/time and periodically with nearby overseas' cycling trips.
5. Good form to distress from work, family, financial and other personal problems.
6. Life is more interesting when one has an interesting hobby rather than just work, eat, sleep and work, eat, sleep on and on which at times seems meaningless.
Safety is of utmost importance.
As with all physical activity, one has to assess the dangers one faces with road cycling.
1. The tag line is "See and be seen". The risks involving road cycling is accidents with vehicles. I have heard of cyclists smashing head-on to stationary vehicles.
2. The most important piece of safety item one must wear is a reliable safety helmet. It protects the vital part of the body - HEAD in the event of fall or collision with any object, moving or stationary.
3. To see, cyclists must be able to see what are in front for at least 50 meters in order to react in time for any emergency. This is especially at crowded areas like East Coast Park where many children nonchalantly move about onto the bicycle paths. Switch on the front blinking light when cycling along such places even during the day.
4. Be seen, cyclists must wear brightly coloured shirt and switch on the rear red blinking lights to warn motorists.
5. Other items like hand gloves, cycling pants, sun-glasses, helmet liners and shoes will enhance this activity.
6. One should know in advance the route and the traffic condition before embarking on the ride. If in a group, the start/finish point and stop points should also be made known before starting.
7. Finally, when cycling outside Singapore, we should always maintain a 50m distance gap for security and to deter highway robbers.
8. In conclusion, we hope to keep on this healthy, happy and interesting activity on and on.
"Happy Cycling"
Written By Victor Loh
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