GPS Your Ride

Cool!

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/47117460/

I just realised my Android is so much more powerful with the tool LOCUS. Locus is a mapping tool that allows you to do a lot of things, including download online maps and use them offline, with GPS, which was essential when I went touring.

Not only did I leave my GPS trail, heh, I left a PHYSICAL trail too!

Nice beautiful view of... whatever this is.

In this ride, I was testing out the new NE park connector again, because it has some slight off-road trails. Good for getting familiar with SPDs.

Ride More, See More

I rode - not a commuting trip, but a leisure trip. The things I saw really amazed me.

This is serious.

I rode - off road, on road, everywhere. But where I rode really mattered. This post is dedicated to the park connectors that are being developed all over Singapore. I was a sceptic (not "skeptic") about park connectors but found that they really have a purpose - for leisure riding, they are perfect. I tried the new Punggol park connector that links Pasir Ris to Punggol. It's really good when you are riding with your significant other or friend, and you want to ride and TCSS.

Interestingly, on the Punggol side there's this bike rack - it's a tube that goes round, round, round. A really good twist from the standard rails, but function-wise, it's a bit lacking. I'm not gonna write why, because here I am to laud the park connectors for being such a nice place for leisure riding... maybe it will have a purpose for commuters too? I'm sure it will, if you live in Sengkang and need to head to Pasir Ris, for example. Less cars to contend with too!

Pulau Ubin

I went to Pulau Ubin a few weeks ago to ride a bike. Ubin is rather interesting, it being Singapore, yet it, too, being a throwback to the last century. The moment I got to Ubin, I totally fell in love with the rustic environment, and the lack of government. It seems you can do all sorts of illegal things in here without getting caught. But I didn't try anything illegal, I just rode a bike I rented from the many rental stores there which tout endlessly.

The selection of bike from the rental stores there were quite good. Nothing like the ECP crap, there are quality bikes from Trek, Giant, Iron Horse full-sus, etc. Good stuff, saves me the hassle of bringing a bike, and it's a great holiday for people who don't own an MTB, but want to try the scary-like-shit trails here.

Ubin is quite large, it can take a whole day in here biking, riding and enjoying it most of the time. But as a result of this place being bo cheng hu, you have many groups of leisure cyclists which, as a result, go all over the road. Then a van comes in the opposite direction on a single track.

 

The slopes here are quite scary, especially if you go offroad! It's quite unsafe if you're not used to handling the off-road terrain. Of course, while it was quite ball busting, you just have to try it, and then get the adrenaline rush later. Really good stuff.

Go to Ubin! If you've not been there you don't know what you're missing. It's a great respite from the borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring 60km road riding weekend that is nothing but making circles with your feet. Road riding gets really boring once you try the KETAM trails!

Orchard Road: Heaven on Earth for the cyclist

Singapore has a very damn good way to manage traffic. While people from the West extol the benefits of saving time through bike commuting, over here, there never is enough traffic jams for such similar benefit to accrue to the bike commuter. Nonetheless, once in a while, when I head to Orchard, excrement will hit the fan when it comes to traffic. Like yesterday.

If you've read the Sunday Times, you'll know what I'm talking about even if you aren't there. Basically, it says that an 8-min taxi ride to Raffles City became a 42-min ride due to the traffic jams. It's terrible. Glad I didn't drive there!

I went on a bike, which was a good thing since I didn't expect the crowds/jams/crap. The road after the junction intersecting Scotts Road, all the way to Dhoby Ghaut was completely screwed. As if there were an accident or some fallen tree blocking the road. The traffic moved - but only by mere metres everytime. Such stop-and-go traffic is sure to annoy the car commuter.

The magic about Orchard Road is that it is perpetually jammed. I don't know why, but it is. It varies between seasons, but right now is the perfect time to go there on a bike. Never mind if you fold your bike and put it in your car and come from somewhere near Orchard Road, it's still faster than full-on car commuting. Where else in Singapore can a mountain bike beat a Lamborgini Gallardo or a Ferrari California? I certainly beat those two while riding in the bus lane. Their 500-thereabouts horsepowers were sitting in traffic with the rest.

Safety in Orchard Road is a big concern, though. There are massive amounts of cars. And in order to make your commute efficient, certain spots will lock you in, of which the old way out is to weave through cars going switching lanes at times. This can be rather dangerous. Should you want to do this, you should ensure that traffic is completely at a standstill, do not move when it isn't. Also, before switching lanes in stalled traffic, be sure to check if there is a motorcyclist heading your way before squeezing between the cars. Bicycles aren't the only ones who have this privilege of beating the gridlock.

I won't advise anyone who is new to bike commuting to go to Orchard Road. It's one of the most screwed places to ride because traffic is terribly congested. Ideally, you should have an airhorn, bright lights and a helmet for safety. But then again, how can you go there efficiently? Take public transport? Nahhhhhhhhhhh.