LCSG 13th April 2014 Bike handling workshop

At Lovecyclingsg, we believe the best way of training is to learn by doing.  This effort was led by George Lim with many helpers for the common good of the community.  Have a look at the photos where the community learned the finer skill of bike handling specific to Singapore environment.
Some drills that was practised that day.
1) Learning to cycle slowly in the middle of 2 rows of cone. The intent is to simulate tight situation on the roads and also the pavement.  Moderating the speed with brakes and keeping a stable balance.
As the class progressed, the cones were moved closer to increase technical difficulty and give the riders confidence
2) S course. This helps the rider understand their bike handling and turning radius needed
3) E braking. Learn to use both brakes to stop cleanly and confidently.
4) Riding slow from one point to the other. This helps esp on pavement situation and tight lines riders face
We are also very happy to have the Nparks team coming and share more on what they are doing and also the signage that is common in the PCN.

Keens Sandals review after 4 years of use

This is my 4+ year old Keen Sandal

I first knew this brand Keen in a very funny way back 4-5 years ago. My army sandals broke as I was walking around the shopping centre. Just outside World of Sport Kovan. So I went in to get a pair of Keens Newport H2 sandals. It felt instantly comfy when I wore it. Very expensive purchase for me then... but trust me. Its damm good . They became my choice for cycling since then.
Here's one online reviewer that shows the full gammut of review

Mud or rain.. its all cool. ...........

@ green corridor 

Old compared with the new Sandal

My artistic sewing... at least I tried.. 

This is how it looked 4 years later. I glued and stitched it as the straps and sole came out a few time. With DIY, I was able to extend it for much much longer.  Uncle KC told me, better way is to use fishing line,heavy duty needle(Beach road market) and a pair of  pilers to muscle it thru.
Yesterday,  I got another pair of Keens as there was a big 50% discount at World of Sport. Only for the display items.  Not my fav color but hey... its 50%.  Go get them, they are good!

Best of all... u also get a free "tatoo" that says u are a Keen guy/gal! :)

cool tatoo. Photo credits  Lim Kee tiong @ LCSG FB

The last of the Trishaw repair man in Singapore

Donald's brake pad were giving him some problem and as fate would have it. He had it fixed at at non descript, totally unhip "Kar Chia tiam  (bicycle shop).  He chatted with the old man and he realised that he was the last of the trishaw repair man in Singapore.  His name was Mr Lee. 
Donald looked around....it was really grungy, but unpretentious. The sole purpose of its existence was to provide a service to the trishaw riders and folks who cycle.  This is not your "stylo milo" hipster shop/cafe. This is a real local Kar chia tiam.  Mr Lee is probably abit grumpy and cannot speak english.  The only kopi he will drink is kopi kau from the nearby kopi tiam. This is what he had done for over 60 years. 
How long will this shop last? Probably not long and when it goes away. Part of our local history goes away as well....
It is still there for now....598A Geylang road.  Everyday 3-9pm including PH 

All photo credits to Donald Goh.

Mr Lee, Hock Trishaw Trading 

Ride the Divide Documentary

I was chatting with my senior design director and he loves MTB. And he shared with me this.

Some ride for fun. some ride to find themselves. Some ride and ride and ride... hey I know one of my friend who does that haha.
 No ra ra and no cause. It you, your bike, the nature. If anything breaks, u fix it and go.  Wow!

LCSG visits 30 Lifestories and Levis Bikeshop -16th March2014

16^th March 2014, Sunday 

uncle enjoying a moment with Log horn 

What has Art, Design, Levis and Cycling got to do with each other? Everything! It's a celebration of art, life and just being in the moment!
1) Art and Design
30 lifestories is about using personal memories of the park and creating art/park installation. The materials are all donated by Nparks from wood log salvaged from the damaged trees at the park.  Its about giving the discarded wood another life. 
30 artists and designers participated in this very meaningful event. I am also very honoured to be one of them.:) 
Here's a look at all the artists 
More information and Photo link here 

you can't have a rainbow.. but this is close:) 

Mun Seng - Doodle 

Heavy Birds

Tiffany and her workup bench

2) Levis’s  Commuter Bike shop
It’s a pop up store where cyclist’s can get their tune ups and also have a fun spin race with each other.

3) Relaxing slow ride by Lovecyclingsg to slow down smell the roses.

Ride briefing before we roll off 

Toshi from Japan also join us for the ride. With the LCSG regulars, Steven Tang, Tiffany and George Kee 

On 16^th March Sunday morning,  we did all the above! 78 riders, young and old joined me for an easy ride to the event site. We started from Geylang PCN, slowly riding down to Tanjong rhu along the water line. It was a beautiful and nice weather.  The slow pace allow every one to take in the views, chat with one one another.  

Rolling and chatting with each other 

Smiling pass and waving nicely to people we met. Its was really nice.We very easily reached the marina barrage and rolled slowly to MBS, and then to fullerton hotel. 

Clearing the traffic junction at Fullerton hotel, it was road all the way via SMU and to Doby Ghaut Green. Where the 30 life stories and Levis bike shop was located.

Design by LCSG with Levis support!

Swamping the exhibit!

We reached our designated parking spot(very nice), a car rack shape design by LCSG Francis and myselfJ  Why car shaped if anyone asked? Its because we wanted to have people asking” whats a car doing inside a park and imagine how much space we can save if we cycle instead of driving.

 The bikes were very kindly valet by Levis team. It was fun and chaotic. I think Doby Ghaut Green never seen so much cyclists gathering in a single spot. 
Levis also very considerately provided a nice breakfast of subway sandwiches and drinks for the riders. Also very nice surprise gift of sticker and bike design buttons was given out.   Thank you Levis, for such a cool event!

nice touch Levis!

Burn fat not oil... right on!!

smooth operation by the levis team

It was about then the heavens opened and we cramped into the sheltered space of the amphitheatre.

LCSG team very sportingly waited out as the BYX crew got the spin machines ready. We then had a bike spinning face off.  The idea is to spin as fast as you can for 30 seconds and see how far you measure up. Sounds easy but I assure u its hell of an effort.  Here is some of the spinning action. 

Willip mashing

Robbie egging Yoke on... come on!

Xiao Siang spinning it too!

Esther even made Rojak!!! 

At the side, BYX also had a booth where cyclists could come and get their bikes checked.  It was really nice to see folks cheering for one another and also Momo cheering everyone on. So much so that Levis also gave her the “most on the ball supporter” award haha.. very cool Levis!

Momo jumping and cheering... 

Momo and Jessie of Levis 

Abit disappointing was the rain which became heavier and many did not get to experience the 30 lifestories fully…  Hopefully Nparks would  consider re-exhibiting them again.  

nice couple par tor-ing 

Hopefully this event would continue to be even more  fun come 2015 and LCSG will surely support it. 

Open letter to Mr Lui Tuck yew (SG transport minister) by Calvin Boo

LUI_TUCK_YEW@mot.gov.sg, francis chu , Royston Sim HQ , Jok Kwang Han , "MOH Muhammad Faishal IBRAHIM (MOH)" , "hock_yong_chew@lta.gov.sg" , "ireneng@iseas.edu.sg" , voices@mediacorp.com.sg

Dear Sir,

I read with great dismay your comments during the recent Budget Debate on road cycling, that "only a small group use it as their primary mode of transport" and "... it is a different thing altogether to get more cyclists using fast-flowing roads when other road users are not ready to give way". Your comments clearly shows a lack of empathy for vulnerable road users, a deficit of compassion and a lack of visionary thinking.

Have you so quickly already forgotten the two innocent young lives taken by a cement mixer driver in Tampines early 2013? Then, the Parliament Secretary for Transport acknowledged that "One life lost is one too many". Have we learnt nothing? 

Whenever a life is taken, it is not just one life that is lost - an entire family suffers, and the suffering lasts a lifetime. Can you quantify such a loss? In Tampines, was it two or is it more? Can you empathize with such a loss? 

Let us not forget the many who have been injured - we form part of the unpublished number. It is a lucky thing we did not make the death statistic, but the injuries suffered in various degrees of severity do place a burden on the family.

Cycling as a primary mode of transport is picking up new fans and growing in numbers, a trend I highlighted during the LTMP discussion in Oct 2012. Clearly the feedback has not been taken seriously. The rising vehicle population and the rising number of speeding offences* puts motorists and the growing population of road cyclists on a collision course, with tragic results waiting to happen.

With all due respect Sir, you do not wait for motorists to get "ready to give way". Did the government wait for citizens to get ready to not throw killer litter? Did the government wait for motorists to get ready "to not speed"? Do you think it is prudent to wait for more cyclists to lose their lives before taking action? Fifty more? A hundred more?

No, a good government does not wait. A good government leads by taking action before things spiral out of control, before more lives are lost, before more families suffer a lifetime of tragic loss.

Global green cities are taking proactive measures to strongly discourage car usage AND encouraging green transport alternatives, cycling included. Here, we hear the PCN being preached as the holy grail to Singapore's cycling woes, while continuing to pander to motorist whims.

The truth is, the PCN is a connected network of disjointed paths (even engineers who have worked on cycle path projects in Netherlands concluded so), and a rather terribly convoluted way of getting to work. The PCN is great for recreational users and good if one has all the time in the world to get to work.

Our roads are highly unsafe, and many cyclists ride on pavements where it is safer. But in the eyes of pedestrians and motorists alike, cyclists are nothing but cockroaches. All the cyclist angst captured on video (which you may have seen) are truly unnecessary, if only our laws and road infrastructure accord sufficient protection to road cyclists.

So dear Minister, where can we safely go?

Fix the compassion deficit. The cyclists of Singapore are real people with families, not just "a small group". Cycling is the future of transport - the revolution has already begun all around the world in cities that proudly call themselves global cities, and the MOT/LTA have been caught snoozing. The cyclists of Singapore are firmly united in support of Ms Irene Ng - the time for visionary thinking and leadership is NOW.

Sincerely,

Calvin Boo

Road Cycling Advocate

* 6.1% increase in speeding offences from 2012 to 2013. Source:SPF

2nd March 2013 sunday ride and visiting the accident site

On 25th Feb, a young army boy was a victim of a hit and run. More on the sad incident here 
We were all praying that he would recover slowly but it was not to be. I watched the video done by his school mates and my heart ached.  I don't know him personally but really felt that this shouldn't have happened. This is life. Gone in a flash.
With this sad incident, I deliberated with some of my friends if we should continue the Sunday ride(planned earlier) which would take us near the accident spot.  I was really feeling very bad about the whole thing...
The team conclusion was that we should and to stop at the bike accident spot. Offer a minute of silence.  As we stood there observing a min of silence.... I pray that the driver would have the courage to come out and admit his wrong doing. A son is killed and his mum is still grieving.
To the driver, if you are reading this. Don't make a wrong decision again.
To other fellow cyclists, if you want to go and observe a min of silence. The accident site is Loyang road (off Selerang Camp) - Lamp post 11-12

Photo credits - Andrew Wan 

Photo credits - Andrew Wan 

Photo credits - Andrew Wan 

Photo credits - Andrew Wan