Today I read that 1 cyclist was killed last Friday and 2 other cyclists were seriously injured. 2 of these accidents involved lorries. Sometimes I wonder how many deaths must it take for people to realise that:
1) The person you cursed in the car for delaying you is a human with loved ones and life ahead of him or her. If you are in a bus, lorry or car, you are nothing more than just a regular person who are similar to him/her on the bicycle
2) Cycling is dangerous in Singapore.
3) The government has a responsibility and obligation to provide for cyclists as cycling is slowly becoming a recognised mode of transport for a lot of people and not a mere hobby anymore. It's not only about educating the public, it's also about creating the space and infrastructure for it. Singapore is a small country but it does not mean that Singapore cannot be made to allow safe cycling by allowing cycling lanes or designate such lanes during offpeak hours. Will the government listen? Well, perhaps not as the decision makers are driving any way.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Bumble Bee
Why Bumble Bee? Well, I set out to buy a Dahon Hammerhead 8.0 initially. After visiting 2 shops in Shanghai who claimed they have the Hammerhead (which turned out to be the Smooth Hound 6.0 which is unfoldable), I saw a distinct yellow bicycle hanging on the displayed window of the 2nd shop. The sales person recommended the bicycle to me and I decided to try just for the sake of it.
The folding was fast and easy and the ride is good as I tested out the bicycle. That was when I fell in love with the bicycle. While I was deciding whether I should buy the bicycle, Ivy exclaimed that I could call the bicycle Bumble Bee because it is yellow. I thought it was befitting as it seemed fated for me to buy the bicycle. I had earlier gave up on buying a bicycle there since I had pretty much made up my mind on the Hammerhead.
So I bought the bicycle after drawing SGD$1500/- (about $7500RMB) from an ATM near the shop because the shop did not accept foreign credit cards. The money drawing process was exciting as it is because every withdrawal was $1000RMB per withdrawal! I had to draw 8 times in a ATM booth! The consolation was I discovered that the bicycle cost SGD$2399 in Singapore and I actually saved SGD$800 on it.
Bringing it home via the plane was smooth and hassle free and I couldn't wait to ride it back home in Singapore...
The Beginning
Like most people (at least I hope), I started riding a 4-wheel bicycle when I was really little. At 7-8 years old, my Mum decided to take off the hind wheels of my bicycle 1 evening and I began cycling in a 2-wheel bicycle naturally in a void deck of Bedok Ave 4 without help. My Dad came back the same evening and found us at the void deck and it became the subject of conversation during dinner that night.
BMX was the rage of me growing up. My brothers and I would pester my parents to buy us BMX Bicycles when we were young. The TV advertisements about a really cool Japanese Guy ridng down the dirt in his BMX was our epitome of cool. My 2nd elder brother, James, got his BMX while me and my 3rd elder brother, VV, got a mountain bike each. It was not BMX but we did not mind because we were Mask Riders in bikes!
Childhood games in the neighbourhood of Bedok was pretending to be Mask Riders in bicycles. VV, our closest friends, Mong and Heng, and I would save the world (at least from Bedok Ave 3 to Bedok Ave 4!)on Saturday mornings. We would ride our bicycles around, avoiding land mines (leaves on the ground) to search for adventure. One night James came back and told us that he rode his BMX to Bedok Reservoir. We were in awe. That was 10km from where we stayed and I only heard of it in legends! The following Saturday he brought VV with him and VV came back describing his adventures to me.
Fast forward 10 years. We moved from Bedok to Toa Payoh and then to Balestier. My craving to ride bicycle was still burning strong. I forgot what happened to my bicycle after the shift but I was pretty grounded with the exception of taking buses and walking a lot. My Uncle visited us and told me that he did not want his bicycle anymore and I could collect from him. I was overjoyed. I had finally found my wings again (and my calling to be a Mask Rider!).
I visited him the following Saturday and collected the mountain bike from him in Boon Keng Road. I happily rode home only to find the rear wheel deflated and the brakes squeaky. It was a good ride nevertheless. Wind in my face, buses roaring by, the smell of car exhaust...
The following Saturday I fixed the wheels and decided to ride into the sunset. I ended up in Arab street from Balestier. It was not my idea of riding into the sunset but it was good.
Fast forward 5 more years. It was through the years of grunge, angst, death and the Dead Poet's Society. My bicycle was forgotten as I was too deep in my thoughts. Riding was limited to a few rides in Pulau Ubin but those rides were good. I would be liberated every time I ride the bicycle. Then I have to serve my country. Tanks, M113s, weapons and war took over.
After my stint in the army, I would ride my bicycle during my first year in NTU. The slope up to my faculty was a killer and I lost subsequently interest. Studies and the lack of money would occupy my mind. I have to succeed. I need to succeed. Cycling just did not come into the picture.
12th Nov 2009, Shanghai. I had worked for almost 8 years. Ivy and I was traveling through China. Prior to the trip, my Colleague Daniel, a cycling enthusiast introduced folding bicycles to me and re-kindled a long lost love. Work had occupied my life and I suffered a tightening of the chest in early 2009 when I was working in the office at 11pm. I worked 7 days a week for months before I embarked on the China trip and I decided to buy me a Dahon in China. After some searching, misunderstandings and haggling, I finally settled on the Dahon SpeedPro. (Ivy gave her thumbs up in the shop by saying that it's yellow and it's"Chio!")
This re-started my riding again and I hope this blog records my rides and the photographs that I took along the way.
BMX was the rage of me growing up. My brothers and I would pester my parents to buy us BMX Bicycles when we were young. The TV advertisements about a really cool Japanese Guy ridng down the dirt in his BMX was our epitome of cool. My 2nd elder brother, James, got his BMX while me and my 3rd elder brother, VV, got a mountain bike each. It was not BMX but we did not mind because we were Mask Riders in bikes!
Childhood games in the neighbourhood of Bedok was pretending to be Mask Riders in bicycles. VV, our closest friends, Mong and Heng, and I would save the world (at least from Bedok Ave 3 to Bedok Ave 4!)on Saturday mornings. We would ride our bicycles around, avoiding land mines (leaves on the ground) to search for adventure. One night James came back and told us that he rode his BMX to Bedok Reservoir. We were in awe. That was 10km from where we stayed and I only heard of it in legends! The following Saturday he brought VV with him and VV came back describing his adventures to me.
Fast forward 10 years. We moved from Bedok to Toa Payoh and then to Balestier. My craving to ride bicycle was still burning strong. I forgot what happened to my bicycle after the shift but I was pretty grounded with the exception of taking buses and walking a lot. My Uncle visited us and told me that he did not want his bicycle anymore and I could collect from him. I was overjoyed. I had finally found my wings again (and my calling to be a Mask Rider!).
I visited him the following Saturday and collected the mountain bike from him in Boon Keng Road. I happily rode home only to find the rear wheel deflated and the brakes squeaky. It was a good ride nevertheless. Wind in my face, buses roaring by, the smell of car exhaust...
The following Saturday I fixed the wheels and decided to ride into the sunset. I ended up in Arab street from Balestier. It was not my idea of riding into the sunset but it was good.
Fast forward 5 more years. It was through the years of grunge, angst, death and the Dead Poet's Society. My bicycle was forgotten as I was too deep in my thoughts. Riding was limited to a few rides in Pulau Ubin but those rides were good. I would be liberated every time I ride the bicycle. Then I have to serve my country. Tanks, M113s, weapons and war took over.
After my stint in the army, I would ride my bicycle during my first year in NTU. The slope up to my faculty was a killer and I lost subsequently interest. Studies and the lack of money would occupy my mind. I have to succeed. I need to succeed. Cycling just did not come into the picture.
12th Nov 2009, Shanghai. I had worked for almost 8 years. Ivy and I was traveling through China. Prior to the trip, my Colleague Daniel, a cycling enthusiast introduced folding bicycles to me and re-kindled a long lost love. Work had occupied my life and I suffered a tightening of the chest in early 2009 when I was working in the office at 11pm. I worked 7 days a week for months before I embarked on the China trip and I decided to buy me a Dahon in China. After some searching, misunderstandings and haggling, I finally settled on the Dahon SpeedPro. (Ivy gave her thumbs up in the shop by saying that it's yellow and it's"Chio!")
This re-started my riding again and I hope this blog records my rides and the photographs that I took along the way.
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