Potluck picnic at Pasir ris park 15th May 2011

Pinic time! Photo credits : http://leaveittorandomness.wordpress.com/

 Got some time? Join me and my friends tomorrow morning 8.30 am at Pasir ris park for a nice picnic potluck. Oh, bring ur bikes too... this would be a good time to try out other bikes :)  And u can try my wife's super solid curry chicken..:)

Details here

http://lovecyclingsg.niceboard.com/t223-15th-may-family-day-potluck-picnic-ride-at-pasir-ris-park

Ride around Bukit Batok, CCK and Pengsua 8th May 2011

Lovecycling at little Guilin...   photo credit Francis Chu

Always get lost around Bukit Batok, don't know why but I do... so I was very glad this sunday ride was led by Steven, Bernice and Ahmad who knows the area inside out.  So here is the route we took...

The route we took, compliments of Steve

Steve briefing the group before we ride off... 

glorious morning sun... 

This is Little Guilin... right at Bukit Batok... Beautiful place

   We met at Bukit Batok MRT at 0730 and about 16 riders joined up... which is amazing given that we just had a very very exciting General Election yesterday...  Sooo glad to have "Teo chew muay" to eat still..haha..  Ok, back to bicycles... the weather was nice and morning sun bathing us in glorious golden rays,  as we rode along the park connector...I mentioned to Francis..."there is no way I can find this place with out the local goats... it is so beautiful.."  

let's ride!

One spot which I like very much is after Chua chu kang turn off, Peng sua PCN. It is a tricky turn off, which all rider will miss... and the place is totally under utilsed.... but it also means we have the PCN totally to ourselves. Double interesting was the small slopes which made every one work hard...

Francis cheering Elynn on...

Steven with Ipad 2 giving real time ride report

  .. I love this route and we should do this again. Perhaps the next time, we will stop at the old ford museum for some local history too..what say u?  Lastly, Many thanks to Steve, Bernice for the recce and making this ride so interesting and enjoyable!

This is the place I want to go next time..

Riding around Bukit Panjang

more photos here

Dragon Kiln ride in Paul's memory 1st May 2011

Prayers for our Friend,  fellow rider Paul Lim - photo credits Francis Chu

Lovecyclingsg at Thong Kwang Kiln

Happy Birthday Tiger!

The show must go on. Despite the sad news of our fellow rider Paul Lim passing on Sat, I know he would want us to continue the ride.  This time, we met at Lakeside MRT at 0730. A total of 36 riders came and dedicated this ride to Paul. The weather was excellent... it drizzled slightly as we started the ride around Jurong lake. We had a stop near Jurong point Mac donald's and then it was off  towards the highlight of the ride - The Thow Kwang dragon Kiln off lorong Tawas. We travelled about 500 meters offroad, muddy and slippery...and found this beautiful place, hidden from public view.

This is what u will see... when u reached the place

Mr Tan, 2nd Gen owner of the Dragon Kiln explaining the details

Steven,  resident Artist doing a demo... 

Mr Tan who was the 2nd generation owner, shared with the group on the layout of the Kiln and how it was operated. Sadly we missed the Kiln firing and apparently they only do this 2 times a year. This is due to the fact that they have to fill up the kiln with pottery and it cost alot to do the firing.  We were allowed to go near to the kiln, inside the kiln to appreciate the beauty and rawness of the whole setup. Also saw some really nice pottery which was recently fired, right here in Singapore. Steven, the resident artist also demoed for the group on the clay wheel and how clay can be made into beautiful objects... using just hands. Simple to look but definitely alot of skill there.

Hammer time! Zack looking worried

Francis and Andrew  digging themselves out of trouble   photo credit Francis Chu

Mr Tan and Mdm Tia with a recently fired creation. Look at the lovely glaze!

Another lovely suprise is meeting Mdm Tia and her friend Carolyn there. Mdm Tia is a avid potter and also does beautiful hand sketches and is also one of the leaders in Urban sketchers . If anyone wants to find her, she will be at the Dragon Kiln on the weekends... drop by, see, admire and say hello. And please do visit this place... because according to Mr Tan, the owner of the Thow kwang Dragon kiln - the whole area is facing relocation. This means many of the serene surroundings and stuff will be gone in the end of the year...  go visit it quick!

We conquered the NTU slopes!

After the Dragon Kiln and saying good by to the fine people, we headed to NTU to try out the fabled slopes. Huffing and puffing, the whole team made their way across the hilly terrain. We then retraced our route back to Lakeside MRT. Talking to Liak's Dad as the ride ended, I could see he enjoyed it alot like many others. This is great, we will do this soon again! Keep on spinning!
More photos here 

Goodbye Paul, RIP, I will miss u!

Paul, the legend and super nice guy. I met him several times on sunday rides and the last being the HP alumni Japan Charity ride. Where I had an honor to try his moulton and we chatted along the ride.... and there and then I made the decision to buy one... was so looking forward to show him.....as a surprise.... 

But today morning...Paul was sitting in a Van and was rear-ended by a car driven by a drunk driver this at ECP. He has sadly passed on.... His wake will be held tomorrow, 1st May, Blk 14 Toh Yi Drive 8.30pm.  Funeral is on Wednesday. My sincere condolences to his family...let's do what ever we can help for his family. 
Update on what happened on the fateful day

Dear Paul, thank you for ur wonderful chats on Moultons and bicycles. Your laughter and crazy ideas will be missed by all. I wished I had met you earlier, experienced your legendary hill climbs and see u spin on a Carryme, smoking a Dahon speedpro. Watch out for us fellow cycling kakis and I will always remember you sir! 

Paul the legend

Paul and his orange Moulton

2nd from left is Paul, with his riding kakis , Terence, Daniel, Gibson and Thomas 

My very own Moulton TSR

Originally a TSR 9, now is TSR20! 

Moulton looking at our laundry

Yes, I  finally succumbed to the Moulton magic....thanks to a ride on Paul's Moulton recently at the HP Alumni Charity for Japan ride. His bike changed my perception of Moulton. Thanks Paul for letting me try his favorite steel horse... I remember he said before I tried his bike... "it is fast but strangely comfortable" => that's a Moulton!

Space frame and cross link front suspension

old school handle bar by Soma

Specially built for my relaxed kind of riding by the folks from My Bike Shop (Tan, Kian Lin and Jai- thank you very very much!).  Featuring on control area - a Soma sparrow old school handle bar, with flatbar shimano shifters. For the cranks and derailuer, they are Shimano famed Ultegra range which makes the shifting so buttery smooth and shiokkkk.  It just rides like a magic carpet(for me)... but still need to pedal and the slopes are still tough haha :)  This is not a rational bicycle and I will not even try to justify it's existence... the feeling is just very unique ride.  I will stop blabbering..... and here are some photos of my new handsome burgundy friend.
More photos here

Oh, I forgot... I like to know what would be a good name for him? I guess I am getting mad...

Ting ting brass bell

Note: For further updates on Moulton, I also created a special blog called MoultonSingapore so I will not bore u on the crazy things people do with Moulton. Also pls contact me if u have a moulton, I like to know why u choose it and how u "soup" up ur ride... 

Reynods 525 tubing means a strong and light frame

purposeful and stylo

World Water way event videos and official photos

Nice parcel from the friendly PUB folks, thank you! It is very nice of you! 

Lovecyclingsg is a friends of  Water!

Fellow riders and friends, I recieved this nice present earlier this week from PUB and it contained CD footage of us riding along the Alexandra canel PCN. Also very surprise is a personal thank you letter and even a framed photo! Wow, thanks PUB! It is really nice to be recognized for our efforts... and this is all possible because of fellow riders friends like you!  Let's make Singapore a even better place for riding!
Now.. NParks if u are watching this... I want to do a lovecycling ride to the Bishan PCN when they are done...we are ready when u are ready :)

Pls click here to retrieve Photos by PUB photographers

Clarence, Gentle giant who loves to ride!

Gentle giant, looks fierce but actually very nice and helpful. This sums up Clarence for u. We met on the first Kranji ride and I guess he must think I was nuts to ride under the pouring rain... 

One of the regular riders on the lovecycling sunday rides, Clarence can be seen, hear in his MTB and techno music blaring away....  He is also one of the unsung heros who took their personal time to do a recce to Desaru /Pengarang, making sure it was all doable and finding out the nice spots to stop and eat. Thank you Clarence for the extra mile and efforts! 

Hong and Clarence at Pulau Ubin 

Clarence leading the flock at Alexandra PCN for the World water way day

chugging along... dun worry I block the wind!

Clarence performing water aerobics!

Lovecycling goes to Desaru - 22nd April 2011

Ready? let's go!

riding kakis

24 friends met at Changi Ferry terminal early morning for a group ride to Desaru. "Are u nuts to do this?" some of my friends asked. Probably but it should be fun.... I hope, fingers crossed. 

Bar ku teh... super!

Distance is estimated to be just under 60 km one way... with some slopes to make it more "interesting." Led by KC, Clarence, Mary and Andrew, we made good time riding smoothly to Pengarang town around. Stopping for some nourishment, we swamped the Bar ku teh stall... food tastes so good when u are hungry! 

bike train to Desaru...hop on!  photo credit Matt 

      Was thinking to myself... "hey it wasn't so bad". Mary looked on grinning.."the fun is just beginning" she smiled so sweetly. The later part was "fun"... I guess it is also due to the hot sun, which makes everything melt... As u pedal, u question urself...why oh why did I sign up for this torture?" I just keep telling myself , what doesn't kill u, makes u stronger.... go go! One crank at a time! The whole group eventually conquered the slopes, the heat and found ourselves at Desaru, Pulai beach resort around 3pm. Not bad at all! We dropped our stuff in the rooms and went straight into

the pool. Lazing around like beached whales... it was relaxing and nice. Ahhhhh... shiok! 

music while we eat

Dinner followed soon, we showed Desaru while we can cycle, we can also eat....more like hungry vultures we whacked everything in! Stressing the BBQ chap doing the beef satay.... Over dinner, we chatted and laughed... talking from bicycles, to bicycle parts to medical information on chicken rice, fried oysters and fried rice. It was wonderful to be able to chat for extended time with my bike kakis.... that nite, I slept like a log...  and my buddy matt had some middle nite snack of Poi chai pills... haha.. :)

going home

4 road kill

The next morning, we had a sumptuous breakfast of nasi lemak, with bread, omelettes, juices, sausages and many more. I tried to control myself as I know the going early on would be tough. Meeting at the lobby, we took our obligatory lovecycling "TW" pose and personal glam shots.. Then we started cranking away. I like to tackle the hills early morning as the heat is not so bad... anyway...groaning and cursing.. ....

the real reason why we ride..  Photo by Matt 

we managed the slopes. Very soon, the crew reached Pengarang.  Nice lunch of lobster, pork and all things good at the good luck restaurant. Highly reccomended place! We also loaded up the biscuits and pastry at the bakery shop for the wifey and girl friends.  Then we headed towards the jetty... detour to have a quick peek at a chinese village, have some coffee and eggs. I really like the feel of the kampong Jawa, sleepy and original. We made it to the ferry terminal very early. Sitting at the carpark, hot and sweaty....but fullfilled.   Many thanks, Mary, Vince, KC,
Clarence, David, Zack, Andy and many other for the efforts.. Wonderful ride with friends... I know I will back! 


More photos here 
taiwoon Flickr
Matt's Flickr



And specially for Mary...