Not surprisingly, I woke up before the alarm clock could go off at 4am.
Woke up at 3.30am and dilly dally till it is pretty late.
Starting off from home at 5.10am, I contemplate between meeting them at Longhouse or somewhere else.
I could have meet them at Mandai Shell, but it will be a long wait, so I took a gamble.
I am taking a huge risk, cos I am rushing there and today is my first ride on cleats!
I had just past Thomson Plaza when I saw the JoyRiders past me by on the opposite side of the road .
Quickly make a U-turn at the junction ahead, but I am too late. There are too far ahead for me to catch up.
Rather than doing a cat and mouse game, I decided to go on a solo ride.
Turning left into OUTR, I start doing a slow ride along the windy road.
Not long into the ride, I saw a few female runners.
Strange...how come so many female runners......
Out onto Upper Thomson Road, I had my answer.
They are the back markers of the Animilers.
The group consists of 20-30 runners running in a pack. These runners are pretty fast.
If you think cyclists are dangerous in crossing red-light traffic junction, think again.
Met Raphael Chong , who stayed behind to assist a stranded cyclist.
His intention is to cycle to Bukit Panjang, while my plan was to turn back at Mandai Shell if I dun tally-ho with the JoyRiders there.
Hmm....cleats really makes hills climb much easier.
Along Nee Soon Flyover and Mandai Road, all those hills that I used to hate, it seems much easier now. =p
Maybe it is a psychological effect?
When we stopped at Mandai Shell, Raphael offered to ride with me to Bukit Timah and I gladly accepted.
Hume Avenue feels like a pushover now, but I have to remind myself constantly that I need to be humble, cos pride comes before a fall.
I must not let those hills get the better of me now. =)
Onto Dunearn Road , we continue our chit chatting before parting ways at Adam Road.
Raphael will be doing the Bintan Triathlon, so yeah.... I have another kaki for my first overseas race. =)
After conquering the Adam Road Flyover, the ANZA pack zoomed past me.
Tried to keep pace with them, but they are just too strong for poor me.
Reached Longhouse at 7am. Had all my cycling kakis wonder what happen to me.
They thought I just arrived to do the 7am ride. =p
Without much of a rest, it was time to hit the road again for my ride home.
As Singapore Airshow has caused the Changi ride to be cancelled, everyone is doing the Kranji Loop this morning.
With all the riders turning left into Old Mandai Road, I decided to join them.
Cool, I could hang on to the pack during the climb up Nee Soon flyover, but once over the hill, I start to lose them as they keep pedalling away.... :p
Turning right onto Mandai Road, I meet Randy who is cycling home to Hougang.
As he joined the ANZA group for his ride home, I turned left onto Yishun Ave 2.
Home Sweet Home and onto my next appointment.
Conclusion.....
Cleats defintely helps by reducing fatigue as you generate power on the upstroke.
It is a theory that was preached to me time and again.
I was skeptical till I had the chance to really test it myself.
Now.... I am hooked.... :p
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