Coastal Breeze Tigger
Somehow trip a fuse within myself today. I guess i am just frustrated. Why? They are various reasons which is not appropriate to reveal. May U r the ONE that causes it?
It was a bad run littered with "water" blessing in the morning. This is one of the day where i rather run alone.
For one i would have continue with the run even if it is a wet day. Secondly, minor problem, like slight fever, flu, cold, headache, i would still continue with the workout. Of course i would continue exercise with care or cut short the distance or reduce intensity. But giving myself the excuse not to workout is definitely NOT ME! Everyone have his/her choice which i agree it is up to individual.
It was a wasted effort this morning. Somehow, somewhere, something have trigger a need for a spin on bike. I have decide to go for a coastal spin in East Coast! It was one of the thing i have been looking to - Solo cycle, no need to worry about other, i cycle, i set the pace, i slack, i stop, i have ice-cream(if possible) and do whatever i like.
After dropping sweetheart off at Novena area, i proceed to East Coast. Reached there around 2pm and rent myself a mountain bike for 4 hours and start my first solo ride at 2:15pm.
I carried a backpack along, with some of the essential - $, Mp3, caps, knee guard, HP and water. I do not know what is in store in front, but i will like to keep myself prepare. I hope the stuff i carried are sufficient.
The aim for today is to get use to cycle on the road. I wanna cycle to Changi Point. Learn what is necessary to survive on the road! It will be a orientation cycle and hopefully put some speed behind it(not going to be leisure pace) and see how i fare.
Once i hit the road, i was delighted that i do it! The wind blowing on my face as i race(i am not cycling leisure) through the East Coast route towards Changi, which is something i do not get to experience often. Since normally i will cycle in a group or with sweetheart, the pace is slow(not that i am cycle very fast now), but the speed of which i cut across the wind is nothing to compare as what i am experiencing now.
It is definitely much better than compare to the gym, where air is stale and the view is limited to the TV. I find it easy to cycle on the road compare to the stationary bike at the gym.
The route took me from BK(ECP) to SAFRA country club. Hit coastal road, turn left to ECP junction, went across the road - head towards Carpark 1 at Changi Point. 2 sets each way of coastal road before heading back to East Coast. Reach end of ECP(Ford Road) and back at BK(bike shop).
Total time taken(riding time)
BK - SAFRA - 21:33
Changi(Carpak 1) - 56:15
Coastal Road (ECP junction) - 1:27:54
Changi(Carpak 1) - 1:58:36
SAFRA - 2:30:25
ECP(Ford Road) - 3:01:15
BK - 3:11:20
Actual time return of bike at 6:07pm
Estimate distance cover: 60km
Journey to Changi Point(Coastal road)
Heard so much about the coastal road, long and demoralising! But somehow i don't find it demoralising or long! On bike, i do not think it is long and definitely not demoralising! Maybe on foot, it will be a different scenario. It is 10km(i reckon) and the endless stretch view is definitely boring.
Cycle in East Coast Park is okay, nothing much to be alarm of. Bike are the big bully here! Just make sure you don't bang to anyone, especially those in groups or couple, which somehow did not realise that the road do not belong to their grandfather!
Out on the main road, where bike are the ants, it is a different environment. I was struggling on the road initially, as i am not use to cycle on the road. Alot of concern start to surface, i better don't do this/that, what if...touch wood...etc....
I did a overnight cycle with the gym last year, which have us cycle from Jurong to East Coast. The report is here. I have learned valuable lessons then and it help me today! I am glad that i am always adventure in all kind of sporting activities given the opportunity, you won't know you might require the usage of this skill somewhere in the future! FYI, the gym is organising the overnight cycle on 26th May 07. I can't take part as i have an event on that particular weekend. For those that are interested, let me know and i can provide more details.
I was suppose to turn right at the junction of coastal road, going towards changi point, but i was force to go left, as it is dangerous to cross over road junction that have no traffic light to assist! I cycle in between the double yellow lines(if there is one) or close to the edge, but not too close to go into the small longkang gaps! I was very conscious of cycling with decent speed(don't want to burn myself out), while learning how to cycle side by side with other vehicle on the road.
I race again the airplanes(flying off), go around searching for ice-cream vendor(evil), sitting by the seaside, watching the kids playing water sports, casting net/fishing, looking for doreamon magnet(7-11 no more leow, after i have to buy stuffs that added more than $5!). It was fun.
HR is okay, easy ride, not chuan at all. Leg/thighs feel very well, no ache, nothing during the cycle. Only issue is that buttock(ouch!) that cause me to slow down. Must think of a way, paddle cycling short? Although it is a 3 hr cycle, longest i did so far, i feel good. That being the case, i can push up the intensity in future, as my body can handle it! It was a breeze for tigger.
What i have learnt?
- Generally vehicle tend to be wary of bike on the road and will keep a distance apart.
- Fingers will get numb, must rotate the gripe
- Speed humps and speed reducing stripes are painful for the buttock!
- Lift buttock and glide through those humps will do little good.
- Stand up and paddle forward over speed humps are good.
- How to read and send SMS on the bike! Hehe
- I can sing out loud while on the bike! Nobody care about noise pollution!
- Drink on the bike is not difficult. Maybe at a areo manner will be difficult.
- Turning is difficult as still need to get use to the speed/turn of the bike.
Things to try on the next bike
- Bring along a speedometer
- Use MP3
- Get a padded cycling short(Karching crying for it!)
- Put in more speed
No comments:
Post a Comment