OCBC Cycle 2016 Archives - Sengkang Babies

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Fun OCBC Cycle 2016, I loved this photo.

A stranger stopping to admire the Flyer, Gardens By The Bay or Marina Bay Sands (MBS), every one an icon. In our busy lives, as we drive around Singapore, we seldom have the opportunity to stop and admire our surroundings.

On normal days, expressways are off-limits to bikes, stopping to take photo would invite horns, stares and traffic police. Not today, the beautiful stretches of roads were exclusive for bikes, not cars nor motorbikes. We rode without worries, just enjoy 🙂

Last Sat and Sun, SengkangBabies got to participate at OCBC Cycle 2016.

# Day 1 – Mighty Saver kids Ride

Ready to start, one last warmup in car park rally.

“Mighty Saver Kids Ride” category, we had dispatched No3 and No4 to race 🙂

20 minutes plus and minus, we loop Stadium Drive (parallel to Nicoll Highway). We got riders of all capabilities, some fast some slow, and some reckless.

Kept encouraging kids to go round and round and it was soon over. Some near-misses and road-rage do happen in kids cycling too haha. The smaller the bikes, the faster they can zig-zag!

A good opportunity to teach my kids about road-safety.

Yeah! We got a medal after cycling round and round for 20 minutes. Adults only accompany the kids, no medals (tough luck for me and Winston).

(Background music – We Are The Champions!)

The cycling carnival was fun for kids and families alike.

Kids pairing, it gets harder if you cannot decide to turn left or right wahaha!
(A few concerned parents have asked why Ah Xin is Bigger than Ah Yee, it is camera angle)

Some of the Fun rides from #Bikes4Fun , adults can have a go too. No worry as the bikes are more sturdy and well-oiled (pun intended) then they look.

Trampolines and arts 🙂

The medal does not distinguish between children or adults, we are all champions 🙂

# Day 2 – Straits Times Ride 23km

Good Morning SportsHub! Our Fun OCBC Cycle 2016 continues into Day 2. We arrived around 5.30am and a lot of cyclists were already in full gear.

At 7am sharp, we headed off into the Central Business District (CBD).

Total freedom on the roads, no carbon exhaust 🙂

Love the patches of clouds as sunshine seems to cast different shades.

Tunnel ride (MCE) was cool, but we got a blast of hot air instead.

As we cycled towards the Flyer, the dreaded slopes await. Most will struggle, be it lack of gears or fitness, we could walk or cycle to reach the “summit” for selfies 🙂

The Uncles, fellow Dads (L to R), me, Nick, Winston and David 🙂

Benjamin Sheares Bridge is definitely the highlight (or meeting point) for most cyclists, catch our Fun boomerang! (link)

It was nice to enjoy a little bit of freedom with fellow Dads (buddies) without having to worry about my kids (for once). Zooming down the slopes for myself, pure bliss to just enjoy the breeze!

Fortunately, I had a few cycling warmups (blog link) before OCBC Cycle 2016, otherwise I might struggle to complete 23 km (+ slopes).

Road signs and speed markers up close, your usual expressway acronyms (MCE, ECP, ERP etc). No “TP Volvos” to catch us when we cycled in opposite directions.

The Dads are all smiling and recharged after finding the “elusive” water point and servicing (Shimano). We need 100 plus after conquering the slopes of Benjamin Sheares Bridge.

A big shoutout to the organiser and volunteers! The route was scenic and orderly. Loudspeakers reminded us about “Safety first”. Medics were very prompt to attend to those who fell (Thumbs Up!)

Beautiful City landscapes

On Benjamin Sheares Bridge, the Sun is up early too 🙂

The whole ECP is ours!

Love the feeling of FREEDOM! The roads belong to cyclists!

And we do not get to lay down on a busy expressway everyday.

More Landscapes and blue skies, love the greens and shades lining ECP, we soon realised that we had to mount Benjamin Sheares Bridge twice.

The sky threaten to drizzle as we cycled towards the last 5km. Workers were already preparing to let cars roam Nicoll Highway again.

Yes, we made it, now to wait for the team 🙂
Our only objective was to complete 23 km and have some Fun and photos along the way.

23km ride, pratas and kopi, we celebrated our sporty morning in style 🙂

Thank you OCBC Cycle for the FUN invite. It was a wonderful opportunity to hang out with friends and fellow cyclists!
Checkout OCBC Cycle updates on their Website, Instagram and Facebook.

Some of the Fun OCBC Cycle 2016 Instagrams from this morning, the ride would be less fun without these fellow Dads 🙂

– Nick’s OCBC Cycle review (link)
– Winston’s blog
– David’ blog review

We are all from #DaddyMatters 🙂

Our family cycling is pedaling further and further away 🙂
Bikes are getting bigger and we are getting fitter.

In July, we attended Car Free Sunday’s last ride in this series. We cherished the opportunity to cycle as a family on roads without menacing cars.
Family Cycling

It has always been my Dream to get whole family active in Sports. Be it cycling ,hiking, swimming, just do it together.

Final installment of Car Free Sunday (read our first ride here). We are eager for the next “season” to start.
carfree-sunday-cycling

Meanwhile, I am training for OCBC Cycle 2016 too. Casual cycling around neighbourhood in Uncle bike, is different from 23km category. Two smaller kids will join me in 20 minutes kids category.

Kids are generally fitter and more resilient, it is the Daddy who needs to kick-start his motor 🙂
If there is one thing which defines my cycling “orientation” journey, it is always full of adventures.

#Cycle Session 1 – Pasir Ris Park

Halfway to meeting Winston (Blogfather), my tyre’s inner tube burst, it was so loud I might have alarmed half the neighbourhood. Well, it is better to burst my tyre earlier than halfway through ulu farmway 🙂

Google map directions is embedded at this link, 15km one way. We start from Sengkang swimming pool to Punggol Jetty, pass by Coney Island, Lorong Halus bridge, Pasir Ris Farmway and uturn at Downtown East.

Roads in Singapore are always bright, and we might sometimes take this for granted. Try driving in Malaysia small towns where there are totally no street lamps, and lots of pot holes :p

We came across many eBikes and racers throughout the night. Fortunately, we did not run into any crazy wild dogs.

We started at 9pm and reached Sengkang after midnight, hungry. Supper perhaps?

I cycled with the undersized blue foldie and was struggling even before I reach Punggol! Back pain, stiff bum and calves which threaten to cramp. Fortunately Wei swap his 26″ mountain bike with me on the return trip.

I really over-estimated my fitness, one week of soreness followed after session 1 🙁
02sep-pasir-ris-30km

On the other hand, I am so proud of Boon Wee. This is his first night ride and he managed to follow our pace all the way, no complains. He has grown much and no longer “Ah Boy”, it was me who was struggling to catch up.

Really touched when he volunteer to swap bike with me for return leg hee hee.

#Cycle Session 2 – Woodlands Waterfront

Joined up with Winston again, we followed Npark Park Connectors North (PCN).

New bike for Woodlands, I upgrade to same 26″ bike as Wei ($159), but the cycling pedal shaft gave way after 35km! My cycling journey has not always been smooth ~~Sailing~~ pedaling :p

Our route, Sengkang, Seletar, Yishun Dam, Lower Pierce Reservoir (PCN), followed MRT track Khatib, Yishun, Admiralty, then another 20 minutes to Woodlands Waterfront (Map of Park Connector Northern Explorer Loop).
nparks-park-connector-northern-explorer-loop (image credit nPArks)

Just follow the PCN markings and you should find Admiralty Park and Woodlands Waterfront easily. Lighting is quite adequate and the main roads are illuminated. We must have missed a junction in the dark and detoured too far North to Woodlands MRT.

npark-park-connector-to-woodlands

Reached Woodlands Waterfront after 30km (including detours), what we did not expect is the horde of Pokemon hunters at 12 midnight!

Suddenly on cue, everyone dashed towards the jetty, #WalkingDeadSeason7Premier :p
cycling-woodlands-waterfron

Google map direction is embedded at this link, 24km one way.
On hindsight, from Yishun Dam, we should have cycle along Yishun Avenue 8, 6 and 7 to link up PCN along Canberra Drive (towards Sembawang MRT)

This is Boon Wee’s longest ride to date, I hitch a cab at 35km mark hee hee.
50km-sengkang-to-woodlands

Improving our health is the main outcome from more fitness activities (family cycling), having Fun is something tangible and valuable for us 🙂

Other feedbacks about cycling journey :

1) nParks Park Connectors (PCN) are cool, it allow families to cycle in safety, but we still need to look out for other park users. As PCN expands, we can cover various tracks, parks and nature in Singapore (and there are many in urban Singapore!). Looking forward to the day when all our parks are linked together 🙂

2) Why do some folks need SUPER bright blinking lights, impairing other cyclists’ vision. Please aim your lights down, everyone can see you from 100m away!

3) On the other hand, many folks are still cycling without illumination.
Some of the lights cost less than $3, good for safety.

4) When I was young and reckless, I used to race around town in my racer bike, with just a cap (no helmet). Kids must wear helmets if they are going for rides further from home.

5) Check out some Fun cycling routes recommendation here.

6) We are waiting for next season of Carfree Sunday to start again

7) Follow our cycling journey here –> https://sengkangbabies.com/tag/cycling and our Instagram #SKbCycles

Meanwhile, we are looking forward to the following cycling activities:

– 01/02 Oct OCBC Cycles (Registration closed)
– (Free) 15 Oct OCBC and Nparks Ride Safe campaign (Punggol Promenade)
– (Free) 05 Nov Millennia Kids Challenge 9km ride (Sengkang Health)

Perhaps Pulau Ubin for next Family Cycling 🙂

Tag: OCBC Cycle 2016

Fun OCBC Cycle 2016 for family and friend

Family Cycling updates #SkbCycles