Great Outdoor Cycling Club: November 2006

Ro@d Ride 23rd Nov

As usual, a mass sms send out for a humble weekday ride, but was limited to a few who could only make it. But cycling isn't a group sport, but the company does make up for any straining exercise that especially needs motivation. The meeting was at 8pm, and with some delay, everyone got there almost on time, not bad for a start.

Our bicycles seem to attract alot of attention to the elderly folks, as often one would stop and admire our rides, with a casual pick up line "How much ah, got worth $1000?" Not often, they will tell us of their great days when they used to cycle a bicycle, i guess back in their days, it was to some the only mode of transport. I'm sure they have as many pleasant memories riding their then bicycle as we do, or maybe even more.

Deciding a route we chose one that would lead us to Bishan Park and maybe find that said cycling track leading to East Coast Park. Knowingly, we had to go through Lornie Road, a gradual uphill with highly engrossed traffic weaving to get on to the PIE, but we manage to skim by. A group of roadies over took us, those roadies have bigger wheels and lesser contact to the road, which makes them real fast. True to form, we prefered the pavement, it only gave us elbow space but freedom from abiding traffic. On a stretch of descend, the whole pavement was blocked up, apparently a tree fell, and was covering the entire pavement, we had to slam on the brakes at pretty high speed just to avoid visiting that lumberjack.

On to another descend on the pavement, the overgrown bushes was creeping more and more into our path. Being the first one upfront, i could see the pavement shrink right before me, not long after that i was lying on a soft bed of bush, pretty comfortable except for that slight over moisture. YES, i have fallen off my bicycle, and it all happened in slow motion but thankfully i slowed down. The guys were soon peering to see what happened, but i was fine, not a scratch, maybe a tarnished ego but a quick check on my beloved bicycle and we were on our way again.

Tour De Ubin

23rd September, we crossed over the mighty sea to an island called Ubin. Surprisingly, we almost had full strength, but one member wasn't able to make it, it's rare to get GOCC on full attendance, but being 90% is good enough. This wasn't only a GOCC only ride, everyone and anyone amoung our friends were invited. One of them knows Ubin inside out, and he was gladly made our guide, and were in good hands. A total of 9 bicycles was ferried over and another 11 was rental, total head count, 20!!!

Now with 20 of us on 2 wheels, away from civilisation, it was gonna be one hell of a ride. It's been years since i came to Ubin with my own bicycle, and there are too many memories here that being there was a nostalgic flood gate bursting open. Soon we were digging in, getting dirty and smoothening the trails as we pedal along. Ubin has indeed changed alot, since the last i was there, but if anyone managed to keep it as it is, its doing a good job about it.

The off road trail wasn't as tough as i thought they would be, and we all covered the entire island, on 2 wheels of cause. It's probably the most laid back, stress-free environment, but not until you need the toilet urgently. With mozzies bites and sweat stains, the day was coming to an end. No mishap, no major fall, and time well spend, it was an eventful day that got us all home safe.

The Creation!

GOCC was created during our secondary school days, merely the early 90s and the idealism of forming a cycling club was a form of identity and belonging. We even had our own membership card that was signed and endorsed by the original creators, themselves(i still have mine). All we did was cycling, through roads or pavements, we will only get there on 2 wheels, even if we meant bleeding along the way. There were so many unforgettable rides, through rain or the shine, we would make it through together.

The journey was tough but it was always fun, and soon more and more people got into it, but it never did became big, although we did had some riders represent GOCC as a team in a MTB race at the old BB trail, and he won first place. For sure, the memories of our cycling trips will never be forgotten, the time spent on endless nights of pedaling, motivated everyone for that other venture that might come on the next corner.

The only regret, to the establishment of GOCC, is the lack of documentation, and all thats left, are fading memories. Even together, GOCC was left to fall apart, all leaving the biking scene for years and some for good, but as we are back the journey continues. As of any bicycle, that one would own and cherish or that one would bleed to learn to just get on, it will last you a lifetime.