#232 : Saturday Group Ride

7 out of 14 riders

Bal going down Black Cobra, me below taking pic.
Pic by AirTime Mark

Pic by AirTime Mark

StairRider Deck going down the 3 black diamond entrance.
Note how much is left of the 150mm fork.

Sugar Rush Rey going down from Bird Cage

Four of us went on an early morning road trip to

Changi Village to meet with the rest of the guys for

a trail ride at Ketam in Pulau Ubin. The meeting time

was supposed to be 8AM. However, I think we

were forgiven for being late as this was the 1st time

we took that journey on pedal powered motorcycles

... errrrr ... that is AM bikes :-)

Anyway, the weather was nice although we could

have used some more clouds to shield us from the

sun. Also, nowadays, it seems that nobody wants

to 'explore' the rest of the island after the trail ride

in Ketam. Everybody seems to want just 3 to 5

laps of Ketam and then go back to Singapore

mainland to have some of those Ayam Penyets

or Dum Briyani.

Ooopsss, I almost forgot, now I remember what

took the place of the customary Chek Jawa rides.

Now that almost everyone is on a long travel bike,

every one goes to Black Cobra and have their

picture taken by semi-pro photographer

AirTime Mark :-)

At the end of the trail ride, everybody promised

to go to BT on Monday for a trail ride ... hmmm

let's see how many actually show up ;-)  

#214 : Deepavali 2011

Deepavali ! Another holiday and an excuse for

us to let our masochistic proclivities shine
through :-)

Today's ride started from Casuarina at around
8:30AM ... well, my friends started at that time.
Me? At 8:30AM I was opening my mainframe terminal
emulator and working! Anyway, I got out of my
house at 10AM and reached BT at around 10:30ish.
I half cycled, half pushed my bike around the BT
loop and once I got to ZH, I started calling my
friends.

They just got out of reverse Rooty Trail after
coming in from Casuarina. So slow?! Anyway, they
made their way to ZH and once there they could
not be persuaded to stop being masochists. So on
they went to Bukit Timah leaving NoLights Louie
with me. ... Since Louie and I had time to kill,
we did reverse Flowy Trail and went to the
entrance of Rooty Trail. The peloton came after
about ten minutes' wait and off we went into Rooty
Trail again. At this time the sun was shining and the
weather was really very hot but once we got into
the trail that leads to Casuarina, the rain came!

The rain was so heavy we almost could not see where
we were going! Water was rushing down, turning the
trails into streams! Looks like it was just not
enough that we can't see where we're going, we also
can not see where we are putting in our front tires.
Lots of 'whoopps!' can be heard from the peloton
whenever we encounter drops that were concealed
by the rushing water.... there was even a dead monkey
floating at the downhill section before the 2nd
stream... I wonder how that monkey died? :(

The rain brought good things and bad. Bad thing
is it limits visibility and we can't hear ourselves
shouting (e.g. "THERE'S A DROPPP!!!", "WHATTTT???",
you get the picture). Good thing is we didn't feel
exhausted and so the journey to Casuarina was done
in record time.

But this ride has some expensive casualties, namely,
one Shimano sunglasses and one iPhone4 hehehehe.

#213 - Sunday Ride

Randy and Deck

Long time RC friend Jack

My u-turn point in T15 was blocked by trees.

Efren

My friends know me very well now. They knew I won't

be able to make the 7AM meetup at Velocity. However,

they started calling me at around 10AM knowing that

I'll just be around the trails by then hehehe.

Anyway, Randy, Deck, Rey and Efren joined the

MTB Brothers' group ride that started from Casuarina.

Once they got into the trail they all went in the direction

of Reverse Rooty Trail. I think it was at the end of

Reverse Rooty Trail that they separated from the

MTB Brothers as they wanted to do a u-turn,

go into Rooty Trail again and exit back to

Casuarina.

While they were on that group ride, I cruised

T15, did a u-turn near Mandai and did reverse

Flowy Trail. By the way, thanks to the guys who

cleared that newly fallen tree near the end of

reverse Flowy Trail.

I then went on to do reverse Rooty Trail

and it was here where I met Efren, Deck, Randy

and Rey going the opposite direction. Apparently,

they have been calling me! But I couldn't hear my

phone, Anyway, they told me to abandon my sissy

route and go with them to have lunch at Sembawang

Hill Hawker Centre... and that was what we did.

Also, there's some logs missing in Rooty Trail

today. Whoever, did the clearing of those logs,

thanks guys!

#210 - Sunday Ride

Pic by Hup Leong Mechanic John

Sunday and I woke up late again. Good thing there
seems to be no group ride today. I was thinking of
taking my own sweet time in the trails.

.. and so being late already, I skipped the Bukit
Timah loop and headed straight to Zheng Hwa Park ...
only to find Efren, Sugar Rush Rey and Stair Rider
Deck waiting there with the rest of the MTB Brothers!
Arrghh they caught me!

The MTB Brothers group seem to be getting more
members? There are lots of new faces. After the
obligatory group pictures, every one went to Rooty
Trail. Everybody stopped for a regroup under the mango
trees and when we asked where they are going next,
everybody answered they're all going to Esso to clean up
their bikes ... and no doubt that will be followed
by the obligatory drinking session hehehehe.

So the four of us, Efren, Deck, Rey and myself went
to that trail that leads to Casuarina and had our lunch
at Sembawang Hill Hawker Center.

By the way, just before the trail exit, I almost
fainted when I saw people hiking and going the same
direction as us. I wanted to tell my buddies to do
a u-turn. But as I drew nearer to the hikers, they
turned out to be people playing with remote control
1/10 4wd crawlers. Whew!

#206 - Sunday Ride

It rained very hard during the night and it only let
up around 6:30 Sunday morning. I asked StairRider
Deck if we're still going to Pulau Ubin ... the answer
was a positive ?! Crazy!

Anyway, we had to cycle fast because when the
Eastern boys set their meeting time, it's always
at 7:30am. ... and of course when we show up
at 7:30am, none of them are there. As usual.

So, people started trickling by 8:30am and by
around 9am, our group is complete and Team
MTB Brothers are also in attendance. This would
be a big group ride.

The group attacked Ketam trail and some even did
four laps non-stop. Me? Hehehe I don't like this
trail. I once did four laps non-stop but doing laps
isn't my thing. That what I like about the BT/Mandai
area. You can do laps if you want or you can do
a point to point ride.

Enough excuses! I just did one lap and then
a few of us went to get drinks while we left
the more hardcore ones to do their four or five
laps. By the way, Hup Leong mechanic, John,
lost an argument with a tree and he is sporting
some new scars on his right shoulder as a memento.
I told him to wear sleeveless jerseys from
now on as chicks dig scars hehehehe.

#183 : Sunday Ride

One for my InstaGram page while waiting for the peloton to arrive

This pic courtesy of NoLights Louie's FB page

Sunday came and luckily for me I woke

up feeling more energised than yesterday.

There were 10 cyclists in the peloton including

myself. There was also Ryan and Rummer

who went for their first ride at Bukit Timah.

There was also Efren, a 'returning' cyclist

who did not touch his MTB for at least

2 years? I remember he was with me when

I first had an endo at BT !

As usual, after a leisurely breakfast at

6th Ave, we all went to enter BT trail

from RRR. From there we went on to the

Visitor Centre Carpark and off we went to

continue the BT Trail.

We then went left to ZH Park, Rooty Trail,

Personal Challenge, Reverse Flowy Trail, Summit,

then on to Streams #1 and #2. While at the #2 stream,

there was a brewing mutiny as there are members

of the peloton who cringe at climbing back the

same way. The mutiny was quelled with me

saying that climbing back is 'part of growing up'.

I think SR Deck even promised to let them

have 'vengeance' next week.

So after appeasing the peloton, we then made a

u-turn and went to T15 via that grassy singletrack

I found yesterday. I deliberately went to that

shortcut because every time the trail points up,

the peloton would say 'climbing again?'.

Too bad Bal was not around. He would have

had a nice time jeering everyone with :

"You want to mountain bike right?"

Lunch was at Bukit Panjang and after that, we

continued with the rest of the BT loop (stairs)

and had our bikes washed at Esso.... surprise

surprise, when all was said and done, it was already

4pm !

At first, SR Deck and I did not like the

idea of having Fast Paolo being the point man for

the cycle trip home. However, seeing the time,

we let Fast Paolo loose and we got home

to Balestier in 20 minutes' time hehehehe.

Until next group ride [wave wave]

Saturday Group Ride

New bikes ! Ibis Mojo, Titus ElGuapo, Giant Trance

somebody left an Ibis Mojo @ Ketam

How do you know if there's a roadie in your MTB Group Ride?
He's the guy who left his hydration pack in the boat LOL.

Roadie Rio missed the first lap of Ketam because he forgot his
CamelBak in the boat that brought us to Pulau Ubin. Good thing
it was a weekend and the boat came back within 10-15minutes
after it left the pier.

Anyway, today's group was quite big. I think there was a total
of 14 people who left for Pulau Ubin. The only bad thing was that
since the range of fitness levels in the group is soooo wide,
it was inevitable that the group will separate.

Three superbikes were 'revealed' today. Chris' Ibis Mojo,
Leomar's ElGuapo and Bal's Giant Trance. I rode all three bikes
and the early verdict is that the Giant Trance is by far the best bike.
Maybe next week, I'll ask Bal to let me ride the Trance for
a while :-)

Ok, I digress, I'll sing praises for Giant Anthem and Trance
another day. For those who were not able to come today,
 here's a short video of what went on.

Saturday Ride

Wheeler frame, RST Gila fork, 8 speed

Sometimes all you really need to go mountain biking are a decent bike,

stamina and balls! A 16 year old boy joined us today for our group ride.

It was his first time in Bukit Timah and first time mountain biking.

But he passed the Bukit Timah test with flying colors. After the ride,

everybody was telling him to train for the upcoming races... he might as

well since he is training on road anyway.

Today's group ride saw just five riders going for the Bukit

Timah trail. The ride was quite fast as we went in to BT @9AM

 and we finished 'S' trail at T15 by 10AM.

Since it was still early, we went to this very muddy trail

which terminates at the foot of Gangsa DH track. That brought

us to near 12noon and since we have a school boy with us

who is supposed to go for tuition @2pm, we

went for lunch @bukit panjang.

NoLights Louie has 120mm Epicon and now Gavin also has

the 120mm but with remote lock version of said fork.

Since Gavin had a F1RST before, I asked him what he thinks

about the two. Of course, the Epicons are much nicer in

suspension action overall.

I haven't tried his bike yet but judging from what I saw

today, it looks like this fork should be all that you need for BT.

I'll borrow Gavin's bike next week and check it out....

I just hope it still is the same bike as from last week

to this week saw him change the fork and the wheelset!

Yesterday I went to Takashimaya and saw that they are having

 their Post-CNY Sale! I grabbed this hydration pack for just 49$ !

It's small, it's light and it's cheap. The straps are all just mesh and

it holds a 2Liter water bag. There are no other pockets but your

wallet and tools would fit in the compartment for the water bag.

Ok all good points there... now comes the annoying part. If you get

a camelbak, even if you somehow spoil the part where you drink from.

There is a lock that you can twist such that the water won't drip.

That lock is not in the design of this hydration pack....

So you could imagine, after I drink, if I leave the spout

hanging and pointing downwards : drip drip drip drip. Annoying!

It looks like the designers made the hose long and they also

gave a small hose clip so that you could attach the hose to

 that clip when you are not drinking. The hose forms a 'U' in front

of your chest if done properly.

If you don't do this... drip drip drip ...

It was also my first time to use my Diadora on the trails.

Grip when pushing your bike uphill in mud is good!

Hehehe not like my Shimano M086.

Also for those wondering, I have had Shimano, Specialized,

Diadora shoes and I just bought 661 shoes. The sizing seems

to be the same across these brands. My size 41 Shimano,

corresponds to the same size for Specialized, Diadora and 661.

Anyway, I'll be wearing the 661s tomorrow since I'll be riding alone.

No need to be fast and furious :-)

 

Group Ride

A nice picture that was NOT taken at Chek Jawa's quarry

If you went with us for today's group ride at Pulau Ubin,

you would hear lots of scolding going on inside the forest.

First, all uncles scolded NoLights Louie for not bringing her helmet.

Unbelievable! She came down, cycled from Bedok, met with the rest

of the uncles (errr ... i mean riders) and only when the others pointed

out that her MBUK 'BUFF' is not strong enough to take the place of

her helmet did she realise that there was nothing perched on top her

head.

Good thing Uncle Ronald has a spare Fox Flux. Anyway, NoLights Louie

got more scolding when she said she couldn't feel the difference

between having a helmet and no helmet. Sure is good advertisement

for Limar though.

Next one who got scolded was Paolo who lost the rear screw of

his new Thomson seatpost (he only got it last week). Uncle Deck

scolded him because it was unbelievable that a screw that long

managed to slowly unscrew itself and yet Paolo did not feel anything

until the screw finally came loose.

Paolo's seatpost was repaired with 4 zip ties. He had to cycle

more conservatively today as Uncle Deck told him that if the

four zipties come loose, he will get more scolding... and no more

zipties.

Thanks for Boom, Mer and Don for helping us fix the seatpost

and giving us more zipties.

Brother Louie on the way to the deliver the news that NoLights Louie's chain
has given up its ghost and that she was last seen using her bike as a push scooter.

Next in line for a scolding was Brother Louie who complained to Uncle

Ronald that his tires are not gripping. Uncle Ronald could not believe it

as Brother Louie's tires should easily find traction in today's dry Ketam

track.

Upon inspection, Uncle Ronald found that Louie's tires were pumped up

as if it belonged to Roadie Rio's Colnago roadbike. Fresh scolding was heard

in the forest due to this. A sermon on correct tire pressure followed

soon thereafter.

Paolo after getting some scolding from Uncle Deck

 Last scolding of the day went again to NoLights Louie. We were

pedalling up to this observation point that was finally open and she

managed to twist her chain while shifting down and pedalling at the

same time.

If you were a 'normal' girl riding with five macho guys, what would you

have done? Yesss, you call one of said macho guys tell him your problem

and all five macho guys should come to your aid.

But no, she did not do that. She U-turned, went back to the road and

used her bike as a push scooter to go to the Pulau Ubin jetty to wait for us.

Brother Louie informed us of what she did and everybody went down

from the observation deck and cycled to the jetty. Once there, she got

scolded for not calling us as soon as possible. All macho uncles also

told her that she hurt our feelings because it was clear that: 1. she thought

we did not have tools and 2. she thought we don't know how to fix

chains.

Anyway, all's well that end's well and it was later found out that

today was Paolo's birthday. I don't drink and Uncle Deck used

that as an excuse for a raincheck as Paolo was getting

ready to treat everyone to a drinking binge!

No videos for today :-P  as you will not hear anything but scoldings LOL.

Today's casualties : Paolo's Thomson seatpost, NoLight Louie's gouged calf and
twisted chain

Group Ride

Fallen tree @BT

Big group. 8 riders including me.

Hah! I did not forget to take pictures :-)

There's a fallen tree in the BT loop today no doubt

due to the heavy rains we have been experiencing

lately.

The proposed route today was a killer. We will

be entering BT loop via the carpark at BT Visitor Center,

go to Zheng Hwa, Sc, 3rd stream and then turn back

to complete the rest of the BT loop. Just typing that

sequence has already given me leg cramps hehehe.

However, when we got to the trail entrance, it became

evident that I was not going to do any long trail rides today.

The mee pok that I ate for breakfast at 6th Avenue wanted

to come back out of my mouth (arrghhh) !

Good thing Roadie Rio and StairRider Deck did not

show up or else I'll be really doing the full trail. So since those

two slave drivers are not around, I went with the rest of the

group and had lunch @Casuarina.

Immediately after lunch, it rained heavily! All of us

decided to go home even if we were being pelted by the

heavy rain. The logic was that the cold wind and rain

will 'wake' us up and make us pedal faster.

A lot better than employing the mindless pedalling

technique.

By the way, since I was 'sick' today (euphimism for slow),

our cameraman for this ride was AirTime Mark.

He's surprisingly fast given the fact that the trails

were very slick today. Click here for the video.