Last weekend, I followed Randy to cycle West Singapore for 80km. Slowly but surely, I am training towards 100km and first RTI ( 125 or 150km Round the Island).
(RI trip completed May 2021, read here. You may wish to read our North 50km and East 80km cycling trips too)
Our route covered 80km (90km for Randy) and includes four short breaks. We did take some photos at scenic spots. (Must enjoy your ride journey and have happy memories)
Cycle West Singapore 80km
RIT for me is not for personal glory, but sort of a bucket list.
We know we can do it physically, but we need to commit the time (actual day and mileage) to achieve our goal.
No need set time limit, nor personal best, just aim for completion and a sense of achievement.
On that note, East side (Tanah Merah Coastal road) is definitely easier to navigate compared to the slopes along Kranji, Lim Chu Kang or old Choa Chu Kang. East side (From Pasir Ris to TMCR to ECP) has beautiful and wide pavements (PCN). TMCR has dedicated bike lane too!
Relive video:
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*Strava and Relive to capture your bike trip
West side some sections do no have pavement nor PCN (yet), and you will encounter more trucks and dogs too!
01 Break at Causeway Point
Our ride brought us from Sengkang-Seletar-Yishun-Canbera-Woodlands-Kranji-Lim Chu Kang-Jurong West-Bouna Vista-River Valley-Bugis-Kallang-Macpherson-Sengkang
For first timers to west side, you should attempt Kranji and Lim Chu Kang only during weekends. There are no pavements and a lot of trucks will be playing the roads during weekdays!
a)Vehicles wise, roads there are relatively quieter Saturday or Sunday but expect hundred of cyclists 🙂
b)Beside the trucks, the slopes along LCK are killers and will really whack your calves. Better ensure you have enough water (hydration and no full bladder). I did not spot any public toilet or coffeeshop for a good 20km (Kranji to Jalan Bahar).
c)Hardcore folks will cycle 3am or 4am too, but the cemeteries look spooky at night
d)There is higher chance of being chased by dogs rather than ghosts. If you do encounter dogs, some experts will recommend out-pacing the dogs by cycling above 40kmh! My foldie max is only 30kmh so I can only go for next options.
Slow down, and dogs will find you too-boring to chase. Otherwise, dismount and pretend to throw a rock. (PRETEND only, otherwise someone might complain dog abuse)
Disclaimer. Please do not blame me if above dog-panic steps fail. I would panic too if a crazy dog threatens to snap at my heels
Fyi. Lim Chu Kang road will become a runway for F15 and F16 during an emergency, do read our 2016 Ex-Torrent blog post.
Back to two wheels, just cycle straight along LCK towards Jalan Bahar, Jalan Boon Lay. You can break at Lakeside or Chinese Garden area. We continued to Jem.
Turn left towards Lakeside Garden (and MRT) at this junction (GPS 1.337888, 103.710052). Just cycle under 10 minutes to reach Lakeside MRT, and you can head towards Jem (Jurong East MRT).
After Jem, turn right at this junction along Boon Lay Way (GPS 1.328629, 103.749727) and just follow the canal ( Ulu Pandan Park Connector)
With respect to Bouna Vista direction, the right side path of canal is more “scenic” and cooling.
03 Temporary path next to Chinese Garden, and Jurong East MRT (2nd break)
Special mention to garang Randy. He keeps motivating me and is my navigation guru, and he does not need Google Maps!
Really helpful to have him around as I am quite poor navigating the West Side of SG.
Follow canal all the way towards Bouna Vista and Holland Village. Go straight towards Queenstown. Ulu Pandan PCN is about 6km.
Turn Left “small path” (GPS 1.294833, 103.806194) before Queenstown MRT to go along river “Alexandra Canal Linear Park” PCN.
Follow river to Clarke Quay and Boat Quay, look out for pedestrians. There are at least 4 or 5 small junctions to cut across, but route is quiet and cooling as you cycle in between flats and condos.
Colourful Alkaff bridge
From here on, we cycled towards Bugis and Kallang Park Connector.
We were fortunate as the day was warm and not too hot. Nevertheless, 80km took me 7 hours to complete (including breaks).
Back to Sengkang Neighbourhood
Referring to the coast-to-coast map below (credit Straits Time url), we are excited about new upcoming trails across Singapore.
-Does it mean Kranji and LCK will be more cyclist friendly?
– Looking forward to RIR (Round Island Route) as it means we can explore more without cycling on roads
Singapore new coast to coast trails
While we ride, do not forget to enjoy the ride and scenery. Every kilometre is a milestone, a memory.
This post shares Cycle West Singapore 80km, next posts will share Cycle East side 🙂
Sharing some other related posts to trails or Lim Chu Kang below:
-RSAF Ex-Torrent 2016 (LCK runway)
-More details and landmarks about Park Connectors (PCN) at nParks link
-Coast to Coast Walk 42 km from Lakeside to Punggol
This is part 2 of my foldies (foldable bikes) selection experience. I will be sharing some Tips for foldies selection. Bear with me, as this post is written from a newbie’s perspective.
I have only tested Crius Master, Java Neo2 and Tern C8/D8.
Please share your knowledge and tips with me too.
You may read post 1 here where I shared the benefits of foldies.
With Covid19 and circuit measures. Everyone felt confined and wanted to explore more of Singapore! Be it Jog, Cycle, Hike, you should see the Meetup groups bookings. So many folks are queuing to walk the 36km Coast to Coast walk :p (photos here)
I guess these sudden active lifestyles are good for individuals and families. Besides the health and sporty aspects, Singaporeans get to appreciate our freedom, nature and PCN (Park Connectors) more! We are busy exploring all corners of the island!
But tough luck if you are buying foldies :p
Supply is struggling to meet demand.
Covid19 has disrupted supply chains. Be prepared for Parts shortage, long waiting time for your “ideal” bikes. Bike prices have easily appreciated by 20 30% over the last few months.
Everyone will have their priority. Shall we start with Budget?
a. Afterall, a foldie can start from $150 all the way up to $5,000. I set $1,000 for my bike, which is considered mid-level. (But I told the Mrs bike is under $500)
You should always ask for test ride opportunity. Only you know which bike feels right for yourself.
b. The second most important criteria is your riding style and behaviour? PCN or road? Or you prefer off-road and gravel? Maybe you are going for RI (round-island) 140km rides?
c.Wheel size? 16″ or 20″ (20″ more cushioning on road, perhaps more comfort for longer distance)
d.Weight -Anything around 10kg should be ok. Too heavy (12+ kg) and you might struggle on public transport
e.Brands (Zoom in on a few brands. At the point of writing, FnHon, Crius and Java is popular)
f.Models and parts. Even same model might have different parts, resulting in price difference! (super confusing for newbies during shortlisting)
g.Warranty and servicing (Buy online or real bike shop?)
Most online shops would not provide maintenance or servicing.
h.You might need to take your height and weight into consideration too. Not all foldies are suitable for those 1.9m or weighs above 100kg.
2.Brands and Models
After shortlisting, I can guarantee you will have more questions.
When I first started, I did not even know about established brands like Dahon, Birdy etc. I only know Decathon and Aleoca (SG brand but recently out-of-business)
Then you will hear about brands like Dahon, Tern, FnHon and many others. Where can I touch and test ride?
As you do more research, suddenly more Brands pop up!
Vert, Crius, Rifle, Mint etc. Some of the bikes are actually OEM and replicas, that explains why some frames look identical.
Is Dahon, Tern, FnHon, YnHon related? Is Travelo, Crius, Litepro related?
Surely Java and Sava must be from the same factory? Yes/no
Then there is Police brand too haha.
It might be harder to buy a bike than a car :p
Brompton and Birdy is out of my budget as these rides cost $3k plus easily!
3.Initially, I shortlisted either travelo or tern
Then the list quickly expanded!
Price listed below is 2020 Sep to Oct estimation, and price went up again in November.
1)Crius Velocity (9 speed) $800+ or Crius Master V or D $650+
(Why got V and D?)
Fyi, Crius is a sub-brand under LitePro. Yes, the same brand which sells popular light accessories and parts. LitePro also label their bikes with their own brand.
2)Tern link c8 $750+ (8 speed)
I tried C8 and D8 ($1000), but prefer C8.
3)Travelo FS-S $900+ (9 speed)
Heard Travelo came from the same family as Crius. Travelo is not the cheapest but their parts are good. Sold out! (OEM, but sold as SG brand)
4)Java Aria $1200+ or Fit $700 (Some Java models got 18 speeds?), Xelo $400 or Neo2 $800+
Not related to Sava Z $1200+ :p
5)FnHon got different models like Gust $800+ and Blast $700+
Once you have shortlisted a few models, go for test rides. Head to distributors, or borrow from friends. You can then compare apple to apple, bikes parts, ride feel and gut instinct.
The experience gained will help you to prioritise your wishlist.
But, testing might be hard to arrange, due to shortages or Covid19 measures.
4.more research, more questions!
There are tons of information on Facebook, YouTube and WWW.
I would recommend you to shortlist a few models first, then dive deeper. (Otherwise, you will be overwhelmed by all the brands and replicas)
IG Crius Hashtag
It is a chicken and egg thing.
How do I shortlist, when I am not sure of my requirements :p
More information can sometimes lead to more confusion, especially for newbies. If your budget is similar to mine, do try to research more about these brands Crius, FnHon and Java. They are quite popular for their price points.
You will definitely adjust your criteria as you learn more.
If Brompton is too expensive, you can try replicas like 3Sixty and pikes too!
I did warn you about the tons of groups online haha!
5.Where to buy?
The whole research process took me one month plus.
I could only test ride at three outlets/shops. Most shops no stock or do not allow test rides due to Covid19 measures.
In the first blog post, I shared where you could test or buy your bikes.
-Traditional bike shops
-Online Taobao (eg, without local “presence”)
-* Online Carousell bike shops (with local warehouse)
-Second hand
I would not be comfortable buying a bike which I cannot see, touch and test. But we know traditional shop fronts might not have the brand and model which you need. During Covid19 period, our choices (bike and parts) would be limited.
Would highly recommend you to head down to test ride the bike. This investment is not cheap and you must feel comfortable. With touch, you can prioritise and understand your requirements better.
For the same reason, I would hesitate to buy from 100% online distributor. If part is delivered faulty, it is hard to fight for recourse and warranty.
A $500 bike is not exactly small change 🙂
The next best option might be Carousell, identify reputable outlets (research again). Once confirmed, you can pop by their warehouse or shop-front.
Carousell outlets (At least 20 shops all over SG! Headache):
-BZ Sport Cycles (Gavin)
-Cyclogic (not on Carousell)
-Bike Republic
–BikeWarehouse (I got my Crius Master here)
-Bike companion (Or OutdoorFollows)
-CyclicWorkz
-WheelOnFireSG
I only visited one “real traditional” bike shop. MyBikeShop (Yishun Branch). Tested Tern C8 and D8, and encounter friendly chap Anthony.
If you have a few brands in mind, it would be easier to identify the distributors and find out the reputable outlets. Link up with them, and go for test rides, clear your questions. (some would not bother to reply via Facebook messenger). This is where online peer to peer resources prove invaluable.
Lastly, I might not recommend second hand bikes for first timers.
You need to be aware what to look out for, and the quoted prices can be on the high side too. This option could be ideal for seasoned bikers. So grab a guru to go “second-hand shopping” with you.
Cycling Jurong -> City- > Sengkang (50km)
6.Warranty, servicing, tuning and accessories
Given a choice, I would feel “safer” if bike shop offers servicing and warranty coverage, ie I can “see” the shop, and know the owner’s reviews.
But it is hard to find a shop which sells your ideal bike (ex Stock) and also provide maintenance.
95% of those under Carousell will only provide limited warranty. And no servicing. Better test and ask all the questions before you cycle off from shop :p
I am still new to accessories and servicing, so my recommendations are limited. But these few outlets have received good reviews.
–Alliance bike shop (friendly boss and Mrs). Knowledgeable and reasonable pricing.
– UCIG (Yishun) – No hard sell, friendly boss and mechanic. Would go back again for accessories.
Lew Bikescooter (Popular in Sengkang Hougang, need to queue)
(Updated 2022, service has drop, grumpy Uncle)
–308 Cycology (Punggol, by appointment only)- Tuning and servicing, and they seem to be popular in Facebook groups. Will bring my upgrades over for them to fix and tune (soon)
–Jet Cycle (Changi Road) – Like a bike minimart, with plenty of accessories
– Minimotors (Woodlands, parts and accessories)
– New Era Cycle (Macpherson)
* Cyclogic (Friendly mechanic and boss, no hard sell. They entertains your queries!)
More accessories shops are listed online portals like Carousell/Shopee/Lazada/Taobao. Do buy with caution, not all parts are genuine!
7.First tip. Do not think about Upgrades first
Poison is never ending, 没完没了.
Some well-meaning folks will tell you to buy the best bike you can afford.
The best bike is the one you are riding with today
For newbies, take the time to understand your bike, the parts and mechanics. You will then know what is your wish-list and upgrade accordingly. No rush.
One good example is the lack of Shimano groupset now. Mid-level bikes might only have China-made Sensah groupset.
But my SenSah is good enough for newbies. Yes, the gear transition might be less smooth than Shimano, and there is no resale value.
But my 9 speed Sensah brings me to places effortlessly!
If I do upgrade to Shimano eventually, I would better appreciate the differences. (even Shimano has different grades from Sora, 105 to Ultegra!)
Another example would be wheels profile. Some will start with 20″ 406, then upgrade to 451 (thinner profile) for speed.
Upgrading (aka poisoning) is very subjective, and expensive.
Some hardcore folks will only buy the frame, and everything else piecemeal!
Some will upgrade all parts to titanium, to shaved an extra kilo off the bike.
Other folks will mod until their foldies cannot fold (my neighbour haha :p )
In short, get the bike which has options to upgrade in the future. (eg from 9 to 10 speed), and within your budget.
First priority for me is to use my bike for exploration, enjoy your ride.
8.Best Tip. Wait for supply to stabilise
If you can wait, please wait a few more months. Supply (bikes and parts) will slowly catchup, offering more variety and price points.
But to wait, means I would lose months of Cycling joy. I convinced myself that the upgrades can come later (dilemma haha).
9.Gears and Speed
7, 9 10 or 11 Speed?
How much speed is enough for me?
With low speed, can I climb hills easily?
Eg my Btwin foldie (6 speed) struggled with Sentosa’s hilly terrain, and I had to push. But my Crius Master (9 speed) scales the slopes much more effortlessly.
This is the part where the gurus will come in and urge you to train your legs and stamina first :p
I believe 8 and 9 speed is more than enough for newbies and PCN rides, 50 km rides and slopes. Foldies generally do not have as many gear\speed selection as Road bikes.
Train your legs and stamina, then upgrade the bike. Some would say bike is only 40% of the equation, and human power 60% !
10.Tyres and Brakes
Then you might also think about tyre profile differences between 406 and 451.
For travel and sand or mud, a 20″ bike (406 with minimum width 1.5) would be easier to ride than a 451 profile! 451 will keep slipping in the sand.
V Brakes are those traditional brakes. Easy to maintain, cheap and effective. Disc Brake provides better braking, but might require more maintenance.
Last Tip:
If two bikes feel the same, choose the cheaper one.
11.What is next?
I will continue to explore more of SG on bike and MRT. This mode allows me to ride beyond my physical and time limitation! MRT and Grab cabs can ferry me home in the event of thunderstorm.
I hope to roll my foldie oversea too (in a 29″ suitcase). Would be super contented if the Mrs joins more of my wheels journey.
Do pop by our other related hiking and cycling posts too:
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Do pop by my Round Island cycling adventure too
Disclaimer : I am sharing my bike shopping experience as a newbie. I hope the Tips for foldies selection would be useful for your own research too.
What is your Tips for foldies selection? Please share.
Do follow my family’s cycling experience here . The best trip was 4D3N Hualien to Taitung . Choosing between Mountain, road or foldable bikes, read here.
