King of the hill 2012 - highlights

Briefing by Encik on the route ...  no cheating..       Photo credits Soap Drinker

The day before King of the Hill (KODH), it rained the whole day and I was really worried that it would be a washout. Luckily for us, the rain stopped early morning.  Encik George Lim even went for an early morning recce to check the full route, just to be sure that it was passable and debris free. This is awesome testament to his thoroughness and passion for LCSG team. Very big thumbs up. 

As 85 cyclists gathered at Labrador open air carpark early morning to take on the KODH.  They were briefed by Encik. This time the route was to be from Labrador park >>NUS Slopes>> Kent Ridge>> Bukit Chandu>> Telok Blangah Hill>> Mt Faber and followed by nice makan at Telok Blangah food centre for Shark mee Lor mee.

I was down with flu for KODH 2012 but really enjoyed the wonderful updates via Facebook.... Judging from the constant CNN updates, it was fun fun fun, groan groan groan all the way.  The bicycles zigzagged. Some cursed, some pushed... some pedalled all the way up.. and all smiling, driping with sweat. All this, happening in our "tiny" little island.  I guess, for awhile at least we would know Singapore is not all flat after all. :)

It was amazing to see the LCSG Angels coming to support their friends, loved ones. Angels like Serene Gan, Soup Drinker, Bernice and many others who cheered loudly, ran around giving out bananas and drinks. They really deserved a big thank you!

Here are some of the awesome highlights taken by all the LCSG angels.  More here by Soap Drinker

King of the Hill 2012

Eddie hamming up for the camera                photo credits Soap Drinker

KODH 4th Sept 2011 ride account

Team Panda

Team Turtle

your are my sunshine

Fixe King Francis

40 riders turned up for this event. Amazingly, George Lim who did the Army half marathon earlier morning, made it for the start too!  The meet point was at Front area of Vivo City and as usual a motley of MTB, foldies and roadies.

For this ride, we will go visit Mt Faber, Bukit Chandu, Kent ridge and NUS slopes, reach West coast road Mac donald's before repeating the slopes again. Wah... how wrong we were.... to know.. read on.

After the safety briefing and pack detailing, Team Panda led by Clarence and Vince moved off first, followed by Team Turtle.  We decided to spilt the pack so that the group is more manageable and not cause traffic jam at the narrow roads.We spin slowly to Labordor park and U turned towards the first hill, Mt Faber. The first section was gentle and most were alright. As we neared the mid levels, the slopes made cycling up abit tougher. Tough for some as they used 60teeth front chain ring. Grinding and zig zagging.. every one reached the Cable car station and had a good rest. Talking to Desmond who rode a tyrel equipped with 60 teeth.. he was smiling and shaking his head at the same time- "siong har" .... but shiok..

The downhill portion was fun and the wind blowing on the face was a nice reward for the climb. Bukit Chandu was very doable and provided some laughter as the folks made their way up. Many cheered as their friends cranked up slowly.. faces red with effort but smiling...with sweat dripping.  The next "friend" was the most challenging. Kent Ridge, Vilantate drive.  From South Buona Vista road, we turn into Vilantate drive. The slope simply stared down on us, no run way to getup to speed. We had to drop to our big rear and power up. When pedalling, I could hear the bikes creaking and metal to metal parts rubbing. Riders were now straining and maxing out. At the same time, our LCSG angels - KSL, eman, Kevin and Gwyn appeared from no where and started to cheer us. It was the boost needed to overcome the slope. Reaching the top of Kent ridge, our Angels had prepared a nice surprise of bannanas and H20.

What a nice gesture and a very timely one in a tough time.  Thank you my Angels!

Clarence and Panda train!

Encik George pacing Esther at Kent ridge slopes - Joeel Lee

LCSG Angels and Pungol Temple medium  - Photo credits Joeel lee

As the descent from Vilantate drive was too steep for my liking,  we went down from Pepsys road which is  nice walk on the tree top broadway and we could see the nice green scenery while walking.  And we met Team Panda at Bukit Chandu. Clarence wanted to make it even more enjoyable for his crew... so included Telok Blangah hill as well :) ha ha... steady.

John @ tree top broadway on the way down from Kent ridge via pepsys road

Pump it baby.. pump it!  Photo credits Francis Chu

NUS was a blurr and most were visibly tired.. downslope towards Mac Donald, Many zoomed past me eager to have their well deserved Mac big breakfast. The chatter and laugher about our new "friends, Kent, and Faber" could be hear at every tables.  I had to do the unpleasant task of asking.. "eh how... one more loop?" And I was out voted 39 to 1.... Enough slopes for a day... ha ha.. I thought so.  Thank you all for the company and laughter on King of the slope ride. Maybe the next time we can complete the course!  Till the next time!  More photos here and here and here

KODH - Together, we can make it! let's go!

Fabulous art for Joeel

5 min job with Ah mo Crayons!

Tomorrow will be Lovecyclingsg King of Da hill ride. It is funny how it all started. The story goes when  we(me, Darren Seow and Lun)  were just chatting over coffee. We had all completed the Iron butt 128km and feeling very good about ourselves. And I got a similar feedback from the LCSG riders...like..."yeah!!!.. I can do anything... any more tougher rides? - bring it on man!" So from that, we came up with taking on the 4 steepest slopes and repeating it 2 times. Huh!!! That will be a challenge! And the amazing thing is that 43 people are actually going to do it together!  No prizes, no medals.. just the simple fun and company of friends!
To some, this will be chicken feed. But to those mere mortals, this will be a challenge. A challenge we will take it on. Together, brudders and Sistas. We will over come! Let's go!

King of the hill (KODH) ride recce

Wanna know how it feels to ride up Singapore steepest slopes? Think foldies can't do slopes? Think again. We will do KODH next week. http://lovecyclingsg.niceboard.com/t329-4th-sept-king-of-da-hill-ride-come-see-that-sg-is-not-flat
It is not just about just making up the slope.. we will do this as a team, sweat it out, laugh it out... I know it will be a damm tough ride but we will make it! Yeah!!
Come on by to cheer ur friends, Wife, hubby, Boyfriend/gal friend. They will need it!

King of da hill ride coming up in 1 month time (4th Sept 2011)

Design by Joeel Lee

They say what don't kill u, make u stronger. As per requested by the fellow Iron butters for more challenge. I present u the King of Da hill ride!  Okie dokie... u got  1 more month! Details here:

http://lovecyclingsg.niceboard.com/t329-4th-sept-king-of-da-hill-ride-come-see-that-sg-is-not-flat