Cycling to Jurong Point and Back
18/12/06 15:29 Filed in: Cycling
Wanted to
find out if I still have it in me.
Woke up at 8am today. I thought, I'd go and cycle to Jurong/Tuas and back.
I've ever cycled to Tuas from home before. The fastest timing was 1 hour and 30 minutes flat. If I had a road bike, it would have been much faster. But hey, I prefer my Kona Mountain bike. But I seriously have to get a new bike if I want to survive Italy. More about that later.
Well anyway, cycling to Tuas and back was a regular thing back then. Way back in 1998 to 1999. Army days. But it was like cycling to Tuas, 33 kilometers from home, in 1 hour 30 minutes. The following day then I will cycle back home.
Never have I done 33 kilometers to and fro. Which means a total of 66 kilometers in one shot.
Well today is the day I prove myself.
Heh.
I set off at 830am. Went to Caltex near my place to get 2 bottles of H20 isotonic drink and pump my tires to 40 kPa.
I continued till I reached Bishan fire station. The sky looked ominously dark.
The route I took brought back good memories.
Anyway the road in front of Mount Alvernia Hospital leading to Lornie road is totally not bicycle friendly. But anyway I passed it.
You know taking photos along the way really slowed down my journey there. Thus I thought I'd just go easy. No speeding. Take my time.
Reached the junction at Bukit Timah. I'll be turning right, towards the road that leads to the McD that has a history of violence amongst customers fighting over Hello Kitty dolls.
And then I passed by SIM university. SIM is now a university? Wow that's impressive.
I can't remember where this is. I think I am approaching Sunset Way. I like the greeneries here. Nice.
Cycling through Clementi is a good experience. The road along the MRT tracks and next to Clementi Central Bus station is a nice place.
And I pedalled on forward.
And then I reached Chinese/Japanese garden. I have reached Boon Lay.
My thighs start to twitch. I think the perpetual paddling without stopping starting to take its toll on my thighs.
I reached Jurong Point. I am now at the Boon Lay MRT station. I moved on towards Tuas road. The time was 1030am. I took 2 hours to reach here. How much distance have I covered? Don't know. I don't have the cyclo-computer fixed to my bike. I definitely have to get it soon.
My intention is to reach Pasir Laba army camp. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately I cannot remember the route I took!
Passed by a field on my left. I think about 20 foreign workers from India were there playing cricket! Interesting.
I ended up somewhere along Tuas road. My thighs twitched again. The whole quadriceps contracted like it has a mind of its own. I had to stop. That was the worst experience ever. Stood up, still straddling the bike and tried frantically to reach the isotonic drink at the side pouch of my bag. Damn. I got cramps on both my thighs. Both my thighs contracted uncontrollably till it made me tiptoe! Hahahah. Funny now that I think about it again. But at that point of time, it was totally not funny at all.
The foreboding dark clouds could no longer contain those water up in the sky. It started to pour.
Damn! Good thing my bag comes with a rain cover and I had put it on from the start of the journey so I'm not too worried about my bag getting wet and all.
I cycled and stopped under the shelter of a bus stop. The cricket players came running to the bus stop where I was.
Waited for a bit, think it was for a good 15 minutes.
The rain came to a drizzle. I stretched my legs, did a few squats and short jumps to ease the thigh contractions. Guess I better head back home.
Picked the bike up and paddled slowly.
Reached Adam road. Had to stop for a while. The dark sky poured again.
The way back was alright. The tough part was the Lornie/Adam road. The stretch of road that has 2 filter lanes to PIE. The cars that drive by on this road really drive fast. And this part of the road is an UPHILL!!!
The road was wet. It was still drizzling. And my thighs feels like giving way.
This is really the challenge of the day. I passed by the first filter lane to the expressway by picking up speed and cycled fast to avoid fast approaching cars from behind that wants to filter out to PIE.
My thighs LOCKED UP! Fortunately I reached the peak of the uphill. I still have another filter lane to pass before this is over!
I stopped at the side of the road. Tip toeing again! I felt terrible. Wanted to throw up actually. Breathed in and out a couple of times, and then I reached for my drink. Terrible cramp.
After letting my legs relax for about 5 minutes, I felt I could carry on the journey. This time its a downhill. Thank god for that. Picked up speed and passed the second filter lane with no problems or accidents.
Phew. That was dangerous.
The rest of the journey was not too bad. Easy. But had to go slow. My thighs really can't take paddling fast anymore.
I reached home at 130pm. Which means I took 3 hours from Jurong/Tuas.
I felt satisfied. I can still do it.
Italy, here I come.
Woke up at 8am today. I thought, I'd go and cycle to Jurong/Tuas and back.
I've ever cycled to Tuas from home before. The fastest timing was 1 hour and 30 minutes flat. If I had a road bike, it would have been much faster. But hey, I prefer my Kona Mountain bike. But I seriously have to get a new bike if I want to survive Italy. More about that later.
Well anyway, cycling to Tuas and back was a regular thing back then. Way back in 1998 to 1999. Army days. But it was like cycling to Tuas, 33 kilometers from home, in 1 hour 30 minutes. The following day then I will cycle back home.
Never have I done 33 kilometers to and fro. Which means a total of 66 kilometers in one shot.
Well today is the day I prove myself.
Heh.
I set off at 830am. Went to Caltex near my place to get 2 bottles of H20 isotonic drink and pump my tires to 40 kPa.
I continued till I reached Bishan fire station. The sky looked ominously dark.
The route I took brought back good memories.
Anyway the road in front of Mount Alvernia Hospital leading to Lornie road is totally not bicycle friendly. But anyway I passed it.
You know taking photos along the way really slowed down my journey there. Thus I thought I'd just go easy. No speeding. Take my time.
Reached the junction at Bukit Timah. I'll be turning right, towards the road that leads to the McD that has a history of violence amongst customers fighting over Hello Kitty dolls.
And then I passed by SIM university. SIM is now a university? Wow that's impressive.
I can't remember where this is. I think I am approaching Sunset Way. I like the greeneries here. Nice.
Cycling through Clementi is a good experience. The road along the MRT tracks and next to Clementi Central Bus station is a nice place.
And I pedalled on forward.
And then I reached Chinese/Japanese garden. I have reached Boon Lay.
My thighs start to twitch. I think the perpetual paddling without stopping starting to take its toll on my thighs.
I reached Jurong Point. I am now at the Boon Lay MRT station. I moved on towards Tuas road. The time was 1030am. I took 2 hours to reach here. How much distance have I covered? Don't know. I don't have the cyclo-computer fixed to my bike. I definitely have to get it soon.
My intention is to reach Pasir Laba army camp. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately I cannot remember the route I took!
Passed by a field on my left. I think about 20 foreign workers from India were there playing cricket! Interesting.
I ended up somewhere along Tuas road. My thighs twitched again. The whole quadriceps contracted like it has a mind of its own. I had to stop. That was the worst experience ever. Stood up, still straddling the bike and tried frantically to reach the isotonic drink at the side pouch of my bag. Damn. I got cramps on both my thighs. Both my thighs contracted uncontrollably till it made me tiptoe! Hahahah. Funny now that I think about it again. But at that point of time, it was totally not funny at all.
The foreboding dark clouds could no longer contain those water up in the sky. It started to pour.
Damn! Good thing my bag comes with a rain cover and I had put it on from the start of the journey so I'm not too worried about my bag getting wet and all.
I cycled and stopped under the shelter of a bus stop. The cricket players came running to the bus stop where I was.
Waited for a bit, think it was for a good 15 minutes.
The rain came to a drizzle. I stretched my legs, did a few squats and short jumps to ease the thigh contractions. Guess I better head back home.
Picked the bike up and paddled slowly.
Reached Adam road. Had to stop for a while. The dark sky poured again.
The way back was alright. The tough part was the Lornie/Adam road. The stretch of road that has 2 filter lanes to PIE. The cars that drive by on this road really drive fast. And this part of the road is an UPHILL!!!
The road was wet. It was still drizzling. And my thighs feels like giving way.
This is really the challenge of the day. I passed by the first filter lane to the expressway by picking up speed and cycled fast to avoid fast approaching cars from behind that wants to filter out to PIE.
My thighs LOCKED UP! Fortunately I reached the peak of the uphill. I still have another filter lane to pass before this is over!
I stopped at the side of the road. Tip toeing again! I felt terrible. Wanted to throw up actually. Breathed in and out a couple of times, and then I reached for my drink. Terrible cramp.
After letting my legs relax for about 5 minutes, I felt I could carry on the journey. This time its a downhill. Thank god for that. Picked up speed and passed the second filter lane with no problems or accidents.
Phew. That was dangerous.
The rest of the journey was not too bad. Easy. But had to go slow. My thighs really can't take paddling fast anymore.
I reached home at 130pm. Which means I took 3 hours from Jurong/Tuas.
I felt satisfied. I can still do it.
Italy, here I come.
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