2019 OCBC Cycle Straits Times Ride

2019 OCBC Cycle came and go. Once a year, a group of Dads from DaddyMatters would gather in the morning to cycle with OCBC Cycle. Some will go for 42km, but most of us participate in the 23km route.

If you are interested in the family category 5km, we did the Mighty Savers with two kids too (blog post).

(L2R Nick,Lawrence,Randy,Randy,me,Ashvin,Son)

Missing two regulars for 2019 OCBC Cycle edition, both Winston and David could not make it.

Lawrence and Ashvin are new birds. Happy that no1 Boon Wee treat this event as an annual Dad/son event too 🙂

YouTube OCBC Cycle Video (Link):

I park two bikes overnight for the Sunday event. This meant I need not rush to load the bikes on Sunday itself.

The Dads are all smiles, we got to hangout and chill. And thank you to the Mrs for the permits, it was Mother’s Day :p

IG images credit the Dads 🙂

Two Randy Lims 🙂

We mentioned the family segments (for 2019 OCBC Cycle) on Saturday was lukewarm due to exam weekend.

However the Straits Time (ST) and Sportive category, 23km and 42km respectively, were popular and packed with enthusiastic riders.

The route is always the same. Starting and ending at SportsHub, bringing  cyclists along the Marina Bay and CBD area of Singapore.

However, it is tougher to reach Fort Road Youturn point in recent editions. ST category meant riders only have 30 minutes to dash from start to reach Benjamin Sheares Bridge (assuming you are in Wave 1).

Technically still possible, but we would need to rush through and conquer the slopes at Benjamin Sheares Bridge.

Casual cyclists like us would miss out a lot of photo opportunities!

Enjoying our freedom on the highway !

I suspect a significant group of cyclists did not meet the cutoff timing too, and were redirected to a shorter route. I guess some of us are happy that we only need to scale Sheares Bridge once haha.

We call ourselves #OCBCUncle too.

2019 OCBC Cycle
2019 OCBC Cycle

All smiles, although we are tired.

After collecting our medals, we head off to our regular breakfast place.

We treasure the Dads bonding (and of course Prata) more than the cycling 🙂 Did Someone mention there would be a Mum group soon?

Thank you 2019 OCBC Cycle for the FUN invite and well organised event. Many cyclists (families and friends) left with beaming faces.

On hindsight, we should have more warm-up cycling sessions but everyone is busy with commitments 🙂

I got two feedback for the organisers:
– Extend the cutoff timing at Benjamin Sheares bridge (Fort road). Part of the fun of OCBC cycle is the thrill of speeding (ok rolling) down Benjamin Sheares Bridge

-Please allow cyclists more time to soak in the finishing moments (and selfies) inside the Stadium. Security folks and ushers were insistent that cyclists clear the stadium ASAP, it was a turn off. Stadium is the perfect venue to end and celebrate our rides!

Additional Points:

You can try to spot your family at OCBC Cycle Mighty Savers Family ride on their Facebook album (link).

This is the fourth year we are joining OCBC Cycle, checkout our episodes from 2016 to 2018 at this link https://sengkangbabies.com/tag/ocbc-cycle

Do pop by OCBC Cycle updates on their WebsiteInstagram and Facebook.

Do checkout all our cycling adventures (including Thailand and Taiwan) https://sengkangbabies.com/tag/cycling and our Instagram hashtag #skbCycles .

ps.. our rides were sponsored by OCBC Cycle.

OCBC Cycle 2018 with son and kakis

This morning, #OCBCUncle was dancing and enjoying ourselves at OCBC Cycle 2018. This is the third time #DaddyMatters has joined OCBC Cycle.

**David’s Floss Dance video is up, link at end of page.**

 

OCBC Cycle 2018
OCBC Cycle 2018

Smiling faces even though we are tired after climbing Benjamin Sheares Bridge.

We got opportunity to take nice photos with chiobu 🙂
.. but cycling and brotherhood is always our top priority.

Winston and Randy woke up at 0300 to complete their 42km route! (0515 flagoff)

Gadget King David has many fancy camera tricks to capture our Fun haha.

 

20km route for Straits Time route, I will be sharing why we got a discount. Otherwise, I would like to congrats OCBC Cycle 2018 for a well organised event.

Those participating 23km Straits Times Ride were flag off at 0700.

Participants queuing up, with dawn breaking in the background. We noticed crowd is smaller this year, perhaps this is exams week.

.. and DaddyMatters are ready to rock and roll again. Happy for Boon Wee to join me again.

Sun rising behind us, we prefer the Sun over Rain any day 🙂

Under Sheares Bridge (ie F1 Track) towards Singapore Flyer.

OCBC Cycle 2018 is our third time cycling with OCBC. And many folks are still fascinated by cycling up close to Singapore’s landmarks.

MBS (parallel to Helix Bridge) is the first hill for cyclists.

Video : OCBC Cycle 2018 Fun Cycling (YouTube link)

Cycling through CBD on dedicated lanes, we felt like Kings of the road.

Down and up MCE tunnel. This slope is where some cyclists will have to dismount and walk up the short but steep incline.

Making up for good time, everyone is chirpy.

Did you noticed the tons of Orange Mobikes cycling around us. Some cyclists are using Mobikes for the Sportive Ride 42km route too!

Due to time restriction, cyclists who could not clear Sheares Avenue by 0815 would have to detour to a shorter route.

It means you will not roll down Sheares Bridge towards Fort Road direction (and Youturn up Benjamin Sheares Bridge again).

We thought we had cleared the cutoff timing as we crossed around 0800, but alas Sheares Avenue stretches up till half of Benjamin Sheares Bridge!

.. we had to detour down Ophir Road towards Suntec City direction.

Image credit Google Map

First photo point for us, Benjamin Sheares Bridge summit.

We did some selfie.
We did some dancing.
I did not sleep on ECP (read OCBC Cycle traditions)

But we still had fun, and our legs were spared extra agony “crawling” up Benjamin Sheares Bridge twice.

But we can be considered fortunate too. Boon Wee’s pedal broke down and we had to Flintstone 1km from end point.

Hard earned Finisher Medals 🙂

As usual, we end our Cycling Tour with pratas.

I would like to share two OCBC Cycle 2018 related news too.

  1. [Sneak peak]

Some talented Daddys did Coincidance in 2017 (Daddy Matters clip link). Stay tune for 2018’s epic dance!

I can only hint now and share behind the scenes choreography.

Daddy Matters: The OCBC Cycle Coincidance

Some of us can really dance. Most of us though… #ocbcuncle #ocbccycle #coincidance.Follow us at Daddy Matters!h/t David Sim of Life's Tiny Miracles for all your effort coming up with this.

Posted by Daddy Matters on Sunday, 19 November 2017

In general, any movements which require “limbs coordination and shaking” is tough for Uncles. Especially when you have sore bums.

My kids gave me thumbs down for rehearsal #SoBrutal !
But the dads had fun relieving our childhood dreams again.

Man, this is serious. These folks will dance in the RAIN too!

.. and Winston doing Shampoo advertisement? I am curious how this will fit into our Fun video.

2. Updated 20180511

*Epic Floss Dance Video is up, thanks to David @LifesTinyMiracles blog  (YouTube link)

We Dads are not dancers but we sure know how to have FUN!

3. Did you know about OCBC Cycle 2018’s “Project Training Wheels session“? OCBC Cycle team had to train some folks to cycle from scratch, and hopefully most of them will be able to do 23 km 🙂

This is meaningful as cycling is a life skill and no one should miss the freedom and fun which comes with cycling 🙂

Project Training Wheels 2018 – Session #3

The final Project Training Wheels session had our participants taking on new challenges: Riding uphill & downhill on hybrid bikes. What advice do you have for our participants taking part in the Straits Times ride? Tell us in the comments below and stand a chance to win one of 3 Timbuk2 Tandem Pannier Bags worth $209.T&Cs apply: https://bit.ly/2I8lp8h#PSA: Mobikes are available free to all OCBC Cycle participants for the ST and Sportive Ride. Alternative bike options like the ones featured in this video are available from our bike rental partners.

Posted by OCBC Cycle on Wednesday, 2 May 2018

Kudos Dads! Although everyone is busy with work and family, we make an effort to come together for OCBC Cycle 2018.

Cycling is always fun with these folks (Instagram handlers) :
-Winston @blgfthr
-Nick @nickpan
-David @Doting_Dad
-Randy Lim
-Isaiah @Isaiahkuen
-Me and no1 @SengkangBabies
-Chin Wei

Meanwhile, me and Boon Wee (no1) will upgrade to 42km for 2019. If mobikes can last 42km, our mountain bikes should be good!

 

Do follow OCBC Cycle on their Website and Facebook for latest updates and photos. You may visit our Ocbc Cycle 2017 “Traditions” blog post too.

Follow SengkangBabies cycling adventures :
Blog – https://sengkangbabies.com/tag/cycling
Instagram #SkbCycles