Northern Star Sembawang ride

Northern Star is a cycling group spun out of Lovecyclingsg. They are folks who stay mainly in the Northern part of Singapore.We are talking about places like Woodlands, Sembawang and Yishun. Led ably by Thomas Tan and with his friends, the group consist of all age and sizes just like lovecyclingsg.  Last Sunday, Northern Star brought over 65 riders around Simpang Kiri PCN, visiting a very old Mosque and also the woodlands water front.
The route was mainly PCN and had lots of stop junctions which was  not a problem as they have split the folks into more manageable packs.
As we rode and felt the crisp morning air along Simpang Kiri, Urner (a first timer) and riding beside me exclaimed .... "so heng har!  I came.. otherwise I couldn't have know such beautiful place exist!"  Exactly the point we were trying to make. When you get out of your usual routine, visit another route you never took and take the time to slowly appreciate the environment.
It really made me very happy to see another cycling group offshoot, with the same ethos of Lovecyclingsg. Their motto is "Discover SG on wheels" . I like it and I like it alot!
So if you are staying around the north of Singapore and want to meet a group of fun loving folks. Pls do join Northern Star cycling group and you will surely have a good time!
More photos here for ur download! 

Team Northern Star!

Thomas Tan, Leader of Northern Star

Daniel Foo, Designer of the Northern Star logo, webguy and all. 

Before ride, Route and safety briefing

Eager beavers ready to lead and sweep. Their passion is infectious! 

LCSG and Northern Start for a group shot at Woodlands waterfront

nice and quiet at Simpang Kiri PCN

Shelby, Cayla and Desmond riding as a family

Esther angry as someone took her fishball... 

How can a sunday ride be without food.. here's mine! 

Ride northwards, boil an egg 6thFeb 2011 sunday ride

Gong Xi Fa Cai! from the crew

32 folks met today morning 0730 at Yishun MRT. All eager to burn some calories from the excessive feasting from the past CNY week. First stop was the Sembawang hotsprings...to test if it really can cook eggs. I was looking forward to this as I have heard about this but never able to locate(lazy to search) the entry point. The hotspring is fenced up and is located inside an army training area(Gambas) where I have "pleasant" memories of army life.... the defensive exercises was conducted here... trench digging.  Back to the hotspring... the setup was spartan. Concrete flooring with exposed plumbing and steaming hot water running constantly.

No he is not dead. This gentleman was lying on the floor as there was hot steam seeping from the cracks.

We filled up one plastic pail with hot water and placed the egg in... GL was the brave soul to try the first and was only semi cooked. He ate it anyway and convinced Mary, Vince and Zack to do the same. I just took photos. Then Andrew told us more about the hotspring history. That the place was once owned by F&N and the boss son found this hotspring in 1908. It used to be very popular with people until the army took over the place and sealed it off. In usual SG fashion, many complained and it was reopened for public use.

how many bikers does it take to boil and egg? 

Egg makes me strong!

Next stop we took a newly built PCN off Admiralty road which was beautifully quiet... and pleasant breeze. Rolling and chatting, we reached Sembawang bottletree in no time and rode toward the black and white houses of Sebawang.  Andrew took us to some interesting sight like the Naval base Cinema, American/Aussie Barracks and the Naval base look out point. Beautiful old buildings and quiet roads means an easy and stress free ride.

Andrew telling his childhood stories of Naval base and Badrul looking confused

According to Andrew, the nice building behind us is the old Naval base Cinema... 

Next we rode to somewhere nearby for a quick bite, then to Woodlands waterfront, returned via Republic poly and then mandai road. The more on the ball riders.. went for a longer ride toward the Mandai zoo while half of the crew headed back. Nice ride with nice friends. What a great way to spend a early morning!

vince 

Mary 

more hires photos of the rides here

Information on Northern park connector Network Cycling Trails

I saw this at NParks website which was pretty well done in my opinion. It is a route on the newly opened Northen Park connector routes. One area near to the zoo, heads into a forest which is nice and is paved with small gravel. It makes for a interesting ride and have to keep speeds low due to foldies small wheel. But definetly doable for foldies as we have shown on the last week ride. Looks like someone at NParks have been working hard... and I am looking forward to more routes to explores the Ulu parts of SG. Good on you NParks!

http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=191&Itemid=172

MBS, HP Alumi and Lovecycling group riding together

We had a wonderful ride with friends, alot of them..coming from Mybikeshop, HP Alumni and of course -- lovecycling.sg team. More importantly, we had a special "guest" appearance - Andreas, all the way from Amsterdam! The route started from Yishun Stadium, using PCN to reach Woodlands waterway park. There was some carnival and booths with some crazy dancing demonstration. Frankly, it was too noisy and busy for my liking so we took it easy and just strolled around the waterline. Really nice and pleasant weather made the ride so much more enjoyable. We ended the ride with makan at Khatib food centre, created some commotion there too...Lastly, thanks Eddie for the Video, Clarence, Andy, GL and others for making it easy and safe for all!  

TC and Andreas

Kenneth looking cool

we are off!

lovecycling team smiling enroute

Jimm,Vince, Ryan and Brandon

Andy making sure no one gets left behind

overlooking is Johor Baru, from Woodlands waterfront park

20 + bikes parked at the market place...

"this my friend, is the real deal... heartlander style!" says Tao to Andres

more photos of the event here

Wonderful Woodlands ride....

Fall in at Woodsland Mac

Joining us for the amazing ride, Mr Teo, Andy, Mac, Thomas, Francis, Sharon, Sitoh, Boo,GL, Rodney(early breakfast) and myself. The star of the ride must be Mr Teo Pugsley... this is a bike with hummgous tyres like 4WD that can roll over any thing... Everyone wanted to try it.. I did...it felt like a Sherman tank and surprising rolls very well.

Sitoh and Pugsley

Boo and Pugsley

Pssst... sianz

Murphy also struck early this time... we had breakfast at Mac's and we about to roll off... then Rodney Fixie had a flat. 3 guys whipped out portable pumps and offer to him.. we tried all..but it stlll psst.... leaked air... after 5 guys took turn to try and check, take out the tyre tube.. it was a leak.. All had a pump but no inner tube/patch kit... Only Mr Teo had it and he gamely offered it to Rodney... Then it was happily pumping up... yay!! Well, then.. pssst.. it leaked again. The patch kit needed time to set and we were all too anxious... and after trying another time.. the problem was due to the rim design and hole location(too near to valve stem) and very hard to patch... what a shame... Rodney had to go back and get it fixed. I learned a important lesson today.. get a pump, get a patch kit with levers.. it can save ur ride. Pictures of the heroics...

lets fixit!

Rodney..trying his best not to scratch his lovely camo rims...

GL, our Woodlands top tour guide!

Once that was done, GL led us to a nice leisurely ride along the PCN, thru Admiralty park.

Mr Teo and his Tank Pugsley

Steady Andy

Some gravel roads which made the MTb folks, Mr teo very happy.. but Sitoh with his road tyres, Francis and Sharon in the foldie-single speed pressed on gamely. Soon we reached Woodland broadwalk which overlooks JB. It was really nice and some time spent snapping photos. Like I was saying getting out of our comfort zone... paid off handsomely. I never knew Woodlands has such nice views! We rolled along toward Sembawang where we snaked into some residential areas with nice old houses. It was lovely and Boo commented that "wah.. doesnt feel like SG..more like bali ubud..."



It is really amazing what u can see with a bicycle...get out ur comfort zone... and slow down and smell the roses!

Mac and his Giant

Andy covering our rear and sporting a cool rear rack

big or small...all the same..just ride!

Thomas at Woodsland jetty, showing monkeys how to wheelie

mummy and baby monkey checking us out at Woodlands pier

photo time!

trying to be funny

From left, Andy, TC, Taiwoon, Boo, Thomas... this is Singapore!

old houses at Sembawang stretch

Thomas providing entertainment

Mr Teo and Puglesy riding on the sand...

Me and thomas even had a quick dip at Sembawang beach to cool off and test his camera.. hopefully it still works :) Wrapping up the ride, we had some makan at a location reccomended by GL and we split off at the MRT station. Woodlands, I think I will be back to say hello to you again!



More pics my flickr account - http://www.flickr.com/photos/taiwoon/sets/72157624913600969/

Swimming at Sembawang waters..

Riding pass old neighbour hood

Thomas riding on Mr Teo ten footer..taken by Boo sitting shotgun. Thanks Mr Teo!