It all started a few months ago, after a regular Friday Night cycle. I was not even there that day.
We kept discussing and finally decided that we should organise a cycling adventure that would challenge us, and others. Who are “WE”? Here we are at the end of the event (from left): Wong, Freddy, Kar Hui (ESRC President), Eric, Ben and I, with our “Organisers” shirts.
Oh Yes – I forgot to say – the event I am talking about is an all night marathon: cycling 125 km around Singapore Island.
We managed to find a local group to help with the logistics and we actually were able to convince some 60 people to sign up for this, with the help of the ExxonMobil Sports and Recreation Club (or ESRC). ESRC paid for more than half of the total cost, which made this much more affordable for all.
We started on Friday 08/08/08 at 8PM – an auspicious date in Asia as 8 is a lucky number (Beijing did not chose this date by accident!). People filed in gradually
and Papillon was well represented
A lot of work went into making sure that all the bicycles were in top shape, and safe, with lights, brakes and a comfortable saddle. All riders were required to wear a helmet.
The participants were devided into 2 groups and after a short speech by the “Chairman of the Organising Committee”
yes, me! – with Derk (SCP Plant Manager) and Kar Hui (ESRC President) watching! – a safety briefing and a short warm-up, we were off just around 9PM. No there is no total eclipse, or meteor shower or low flying aircraft … we are just stretching our necks!
Group 1 led the way
soon followed by group 2
We had several stops planned along the way, with ability to refill our water botles, and some food. One of the first stop was at the Kranji Beach Park, on the North shore of the island, where the Japanese first invaded Singapore in 1941 while all the British guns were pointed South towards the open sea… The stop is also an opportunity to chat and see how well we are holding up. Eric and I, as organisers, can take some time out to pose for a memorable moment
As the night went on, we kept cycling. To Sembawang Park, than Seletar Air Base, than Pasir Riis and Changi Village, and ultimately, the toughest road in Singapore!
It is not tough becuase it is uphill – indeed it is perfectly flat. There was not much wind, and, at that time of night, no traffic. There are no muggers lurking on the shadows, and no birds just waiting to let go just as you pass under the tree.
It is tough because we arrived there at 4AM and it is long, straight, long, boring, long and most of all it seems to go on forever – did I mention it is long? It is a 5 km stretch right along one of the runways of Changi airport. At 4AM, and after 90 km, it is tough! Several people indicated to me that they almost fell asleep while riding; others said they were ready to give up. Ben and I broke the boredom by racing down the road, trying to catch a group that was ahead of us. While the rest of the trip was done at a sedate pace, mostly in the low 20 to 25 km/hr, I reached 42 km/hr on this stretch, just for fun…
We stopped at the Singapore Sailing Center along East Coast and finally at Labrador Park at 7 AM. The sun was coming up and it was a glorious morning. About 55 people had left the evening before; we gained one along the way, and only lost two so there were still 54 riders full of energy, ready to complete the adventure.
We made a ‘massive’ entrance into West Coast Park just before 8 AM on 09/08/08 – Singapore National Day!
Ben and I finished together, just like when we are rowing – him on the right, me on the left (as we are facing, so on the picture, he is on the left and I am on the right, just in case you have problems recognising me…)
And everybody else soon followed.
We were not through for the etnertainment. We had 6 people who celebrated their birthday in August, and so we had a cake for them.
A final family photo
And we went home for a well deserved rest.
I was actually full of energy. I did not sleep all day and only started to feel sleepy around 9PM that evening, after watching the Singapore Airforce doing a special show for the National Day Parade. I did sleep quite well that night, and did not do anything on sunday, other than take this picture of the odometer on my bicycle recording the distance we had covered!
Overall, a very, very nice night. Nobody was hurt, nobody got lost and everybody seemed to have a lot of fun.
I am sure that we will have more of these in the future
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The marathon I can appreciate. Doing in at night seems bizarre. I guess it would be cooler than riding in the daytime of equatorial Singapore.
The falling asleep while bicycling, I can sympathize with. I’m typing this from Helsinki, having arrived yesterday from Toronto. So, I left Toronto around 5:30 p.m., got to the hotel about 2 p.m., and snoozed about 4 hours on the plane. With a 7-hour time zone change, I went to sleep at 6 p.m., and now, at 2:00 a.m., and not sure what time zone I’m in!
I have learned that a laptop can be very useful in those cases. I have gotten into the habit of not fighting the time changes. When I am awake, I try to do some work and when my body feels like going to sleep, I go to sleep. It may take a little longer to adapt, but the adaptation period is a lot less painful.
I never felt like sleeping during our cycling event, probably because my mind was so busy with everything that was going on, and making sure that things kept moving, and stayed safe.