2011 OCBC Cycling Race

Hi guys,

Too bad but my trip to Algeria has been extended so I won't be back to Singapore on time for the race.

All the best for those going to the race!!!

geralddge wrote:

Hi guys,

Too bad but my trip to Algeria has been extended so I won't be back to Singapore on time for the race.

All the best for those going to the race!!!

oh shit! den our team race will be effected...possible to transfer the slot now? Mayb try to get 1 more rider to fill up and we can still proceed with team race.

can transfer and put in my name? 1 person can do both team & personal event.

w74406 wrote:

can transfer and put in my name? 1 person can do both team & personal event.

Melvin will stand in for Gerald slot.

Gerald, are u ok with this arrangement? but the timing Melvin clock will still be under your name.

Guys,

Meet up at Blk 363 tml morn 445am, will move off at 5am sharp.

We will do a warm up ride to event location and proceed with the check in etc etc....

Our 40km individual or team race will start at 715am and we got to be there not later then 615am.

a note from the Organiser:

Participants are advised to be at the F1 Pit Building one and a half hours before your event start time. Unfortunately, we will not accept latecomers to the starting line as start times will be strictly adhered to. We appreciate your understanding on the need to re-open public roads on time.

!!!!!PLEASE DUN BE LATE FOR THE MEET UP!!!!!

ck wrote:

w74406 wrote:

can transfer and put in my name? 1 person can do both team & personal event.

Melvin will stand in for Gerald slot.

Gerald, are u ok with this arrangement? but the timing Melvin clock will still be under your name.

Yes please go ahead!

geralddge wrote:

Yes please go ahead!

Thx Gerald!

Guys, since some of them dun have the Woodlands Team Jersey....we will all wear the new 2011 OCBC jersey tml.

We did 88km today. from woodlands to pitstop and back to woodlands. What a tiring day ......

w74406 wrote:

We did 88km today. from woodlands to pitstop and back to woodlands. What a tiring day ......

Tiring but worth it....most of you guys clock less then 60min with Peter coming in second placing for his age group.....well done all. (And Amir too...second placing)

Let's all wait for the official result and see......

But feel rather bad for Melvin....suppose to help us out but crash during the race....what a bad day for him.....hope he recover back fast and join us. Thx bro for the last min call and deeply sorry for the mishap u gone tru today.

Great race guys ! Recover well and looking forward to our next ride !

This was my first race in Singapore. I expected chaos, and my expectations were met. Start time 7:15 am, suggested arrival time at the start – 5:45 am. I arrived at 5:45 am after parking, changing and assembling my bike 3 miles away and getting a decent spin/warm-up only to have to wait/cool down for the 6:15 am start of the 60 km race. Due to the astute registration by my teammate Gerald Manceau, I was seeded in the first wave. We started a few minutes early, and I figured I would try to stay sane among the insane while keeping near the front. This strategy was conflicted as I soon found myself at 28+ mph and just barely gaining on the front pack some 500 meters off in the distance. After a few miles I’m gaining on the pack, hoping to seek refuge in the draft and recover after an enormous effort, but while entering the chicane after Kallang road, I encounter a two bike crash in the middle of the road which should have been easily avoided except one of the cyclists decided to jump up and run to the side of the road, directly to his right, directly in front of me… I’m in full skid mode, screaming “On your right!” and manage to pass him while only bumping my left shoulder into his back . After that near disaster, I look down the road and see the front pack off in the distance.. I reach into my suitcase full of courage and start chasing again… Fortunately some Commonwealther – maybe Brit, maybe Aussie pulls up alongside and agrees to work with me. We take turns pulling, pick up two more stragglers and we close the gap and get on the back of the lead pack about midway down ECP. Now I’m thinking I’m in tall cotton, and might be able to challenge for the sprint – some 13 miles later… And, in an alternate universe, that might have happened, but as we pass by the pond on East Coast Service Road, I encounter crash # 2 which causes me to again skid and come to a complete stop.. Now I’m back in chase mode, and starting to get discouraged when who other than training buddy and Ironman Alex Yeong comes from nowhere and pulls by me. This gives me new inspiration and we work together, along with other stragglers to gain ground on the peloton. After more suffering, we are back onto the back of the lead group coming into a barricaded turn sometime after Fort Road when some guy goes into the metal fence on the right and causes a massive crash taking down several riders. There is absolute mayhem, and I must dismount and tip toe through the carnage to the grassy median to get past the pile-up. I look up and see that somehow Alex has done a better job navigating the pile-up and he is 200 meters down the road from me. I began to suffer like I’d never suffered before, because I sure wasn’t going to listen to Alex bragging that he dropped me, and I reeled him in. At this point, I’m thinking the front pack has been shattered because I can’t tell where the front really is. We begin to pick-up many stragglers, including two chicks (whom I learned later were #1 & #2 women finishers) and we struggled on. There was still one more crash to navigate, in the final turn before the finish, but it is off to the side and causes no problems for us. Like a horse to water, the Scoundrel saw the finish line ahead and with visions of chasing down El Diablo, I launch a massive sprint. I manage to hold off all the challengers, and I’m glad I did as one of them was the top woman, who finished 4 second behind me. After putting my lungs and heart back in my chest, I learned later that the effort resulted in my first “podium” (I know, only age group) finish since 1989, as I ended up 2nd in the 50-59 age group (368 in age group) and 49th overall (5013 finished). Time 59:10, average speed 24.33 mph. I have to thank Alex and Eric for suffering through all those 5 am training rides, as I think it really helped!

Wa ang mo, long story line.. but end of the story is 'No Pain No Gain' and our timing are seconds apart. We should thank each other for the encouragement on our 5am ride.

Scoundrel wrote:

This was my first race in Singapore................. I began to suffer like I’d never suffered before, because I sure wasn’t going to listen to Alex bragging that he dropped me, and I reeled him in. .......................!

Angmo, since it is your 1st race in S'pore, it is only gracious to leave the bragging rights with you for the 1st year. Do watch out next year ! WAKAKAKAKA !

Wah...AngMo writing "American Tall Tales" ar??? Anyway, 3 of you train hard and well deserved the outcome. If only Gerald is around i think he will be in the top position too. Well done guys.

hehe...pulling angmo's leg lah....... he was definitely the better rider !!!

Guys,

Not only does Peter top the 2nd place (Age group), Amir overall top 2 but our very own Team race also manage to come in 3rd placing.

http://www.ocbc.cyclesingapore.com.sg/site_media/uploads/results/results_ocbcfeb11_40_team.pdf

Well done once again and thx u guys......the motivation in me is glowing again....

Three cheers ! Hip hip hurray !

so how are we going to celebrate this? do 36kmh at mandai loop morning ridr together!?

where have you been for the past week? see you on Tuesday morning!