Flamingo prepped and ready!

Marathon Supremes 

 Going for the first overseas riding trip(Bintan) with some really seasoned riders tomorrow. I have prepped the flamingo with new tyres which MBS says is supposedly puncture proof... hope it does the job well.  For the past 2 weeks, i have being using it and it rolls well on the road and on gravel.. so it should be OK. Anyway to buy more insurance.. I got a portable hand pump and Patch kit/levers....

Touchpoint wise, I have finally got myself a Ergon Grips which was also comfortable and doesn't rotate as the original grips installed on Flamingo F1.

Rear rack, I just got the simplest version which is Topeak MTX V neck rack. It is secured by the seat post but sometimes it will rotate slightly. I added a rubber shim to increase the gripping force and the rack is now very stable. The bag is a very nice addition, which slides in neatly. It also features two light duty side bags which I stuff with my barang barang. To prevent the side bags from rubbing again the tyres.. i rigged a tyre guard which is made from all the spare parts from the baby seat... I hope it works..

rear rack with bag to hold stuff

Ergon grips

Ready to roll

   So there.. Flamingo is ready to roll and do some exploring!

Gopro HD video camera water testing

On the Woodlands ride, reaching Sembawang park, Thomas asked if we wanted to check the Gopro video camera is waterproof.. and the weather was really hot.. the water looked very good... so why not? And yes, the camera is waterproof, signed and chopped. :) 

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!

Best makan at woodlands route

ok, I hear u! We all need "motivation" and for many, that means food. Here's a selection from GL who swears it is good and we should all go eat... Al-Ameen @ Woodgrove. Let's ride!

icecream with cold milo...

Goreng pisang

Roti john

out of your comfort zone - we are going to woodlands!

I am planing the next ride and the usual suspects came up , the SG river ride, east coast park...those familar places.... One suggestion was to go ride at Woodlands and see admiraty park, which I heard about...but never been there.. I thought about it long and hard... Woodlands is abit far for many of the my friends and myself but again I remembered this advice from a friend of mine. "Get out of your comfort zone"   http://lifelessons4u.wordpress.com/2010/01/08/step-out-of-your-comfort-zone/

So....folks...let meet at Woodlands MRT, Sunday morning bright and early, 0730, ride and explore the area with an open mind.. u never know what u will find...  Map route for the ride.. we might detour to republic poly as well.. was told it looks very beautiful.

The route

Woodlands waterfront @ 0730 ( Clubsnap, by Azurebluee)

taken from wildshores.blogspot.com on Admiralty park, circa 2008.

National Stadium, MBS and Marina barrage ride -19th Sept 2010

Sunday again and time to ride! Joining us for the first time is GL on a Flamingo London and Boo on her Trek MTB.  Kudos to GL, who is from Woodlands and made the trip to national stadium. He was the first one there... and early he was.. 7am to be exact. Boo on the other hand rode all the way from Bedok.. and make me embarrassed. Me and Sitoh took the easy way there.. by MRT. If u haven't tried taking ur foldie to the MRT, u are really missing out a great deal. Anyway...

We had a quick breakfast at Kallang Mac Donald's and headed to the first place of interest. The great Kallang stadium.  As we closed in to the place, u can feel the "presence"... I remembered the crowds lining to go into the stadium and the bustling of activities. But today there was just Francis, Tah ching, Amy, Adrian, Sitoh , Boo , GL and Myself.  We loiter at the steps not know if we should go in... then GL just bumbled along and found a gate unlocked and we were in!  We rode around full perimeter and absorbed in all the details. Most of the stuff are already gone but the memories are still there,  triggered by the pillars, walls and big seiko clock. Inside the stadium, overlooking the soccer field, the wooden benches are stripped and piled in nicely on the ground( what was formerly the track) It was a sad sight seeing the great stadium being tear down. Well, I suppose everything changes and when it is time to go.. it is time to go.  Bye bye National stadium, Thanks for all the memories..  I will remember u! 

The next spot is the MBS. We snaked along the river and made abit of detour as the SG F1 race is happening and there are big fences around the town... this is not good for bicycles... but we will find a way.  At the helical bridge, it was another photo opportunity and we snapped away. I still can't understand the design rational of the helical bridge. To me it is a royal waste of steel and just horrible demonstration of design for design sake..  From the bridge, we could see MBS almost completed and rode towards the wooden broad walk. MBS shops are mostly open but it was more quiet as it was still early in the morning.  I am guessing that this place would look magical at nite... maybe another ride to see this. 

From MBS, the route to Marina barrage was uneventful. Not a nice ride here as there was quite a lot of trucks shuffling dirt...Add the sun to the equation.. we just hit it and reached the barrage quickly.  No one knew if we could cycle to the "top" floor garden.. but we all wanted to..  So we snaked in casually to the the quite corner and just rode up. The view was lovely and many kites in the sky. Sitoh was telling us that this is now the place for students to fly kite and eat home made bee hoon..  Well, if i can do this over again, I will time my ride to reach just before sunset... I think the city lights would look really nice from here.  It was getting around to noon and very hot.. we headed back by crossing the barrage and doing some MTB terrain riding.. and exited at Fort road junction. Then it was a quite zip to Kallang indoor stadium bridge and ended at old airport road food market.  Francis and I had the  superb Wanton mee, while Boo had carrot cake.. the rest just drink sugarcane as it was just too hot. 

Ok, think I must be boring everyone with the details..   Pictures of the ride and look forward to more friends joining! 

Live to ride, ride to eat! 

from Left, GL, Alvin, Boo,TC, Adrian,Amy and Francis

Got tickets? 

turnstile stopped turning

bye bye National stadium, "referee Kayu" will never be the same again! 

Bicycle rules!

Clock still works though

wahhhh...

GL and his Flamingo

a lap for all the memories!

GL doing a lap too.

Alvin in Hero Stance

inside the stadium, sans planks

Track is gone too

left this lonely piece.. what should I do? :)

Adrian and Fixie VS TC with MTB..see Fixies and MTB can co-exist!

Amy at MBS broadwalk

Boo with her Trek

the helix bridge I cant understand..

al fresco haircut

beautiful view at Marina barrage

Francis and Adrian at the 2nd level

kites in the sky

Francis and his Zen look

Roarrr!

yeah.. like army man..this is fun!

my motivation for the ride.. old airport road wanton noodles

I prefer carrot cake!

Chee cheong fun and sugar cane juice!

cheng teng for me!