We had a date again this morning, 6am, to complete the ride that was washed out last week. Today I experimented with the lighter gears and higher cadence. Of course I was still the last, a distance away from the pack. Sometimes I wonder why I bothered to run or ride in a pack when I am never with them. Sigh.
We started off from Upp Thomson and headed to Mt Faber. With great trepidation, I attempted my very first ride up Morse Road and the MF loop. I knew almost every turn and turf along the way up, it was not for nothing that we ran countless loops during Safra trainings. But it was my first time up on 2 wheels instead of 2 feet. *shudder* I started off Morse Road when KM came alongside and told me to drop a gear. Ok done. It felt easier, although I had an inherent fear that I would have no gears left to drop on a steep slope. I managed to pedal, and pedal, and pedal. Thankfully it was still early in the ride and my legs were still fresh. Click, click, click, the gears dropped. And yeah! I made it up the loop! *yoohoo!* First time was always memorable. :)
Next challenge, South Buona Vista 99-turns and NUS. Again, a route that I have run for years but never cycled up. Surprisingly it was not as tough. Of course Lynn and the guys stormed ahead. George was kind enough to wait and check on me. So I tried my best to draft him and followed his cadence. SBV done! Now into NUS. Rolling slopes checked. Past the Alumni House, I thought that we were turning right onto Clementi Road. Alas, no! We turned left onto another long slope towards the Admin Bldg. Uh oh, mentally flipped and was caught unaware. Dug in my heels and pushed up. There, done! Yeah yeah, 2 major 'climbs' completed. My very first attempt and broke my long-held psychological barrier of me tumbling backwards because I could not complete the slopes! *Whew*
Continue on to West Coast Hwy and Tuas. I was still on the small front chain throughout. On hindsight, I should have switched to the big chain on the flats. No wonder I was dropped, further and further away. The rest were all flying on the heavier gears. Ok, next time I must try harder!
NTU slope. Huff and puff and overtaken all the way. And we were done. Unfortunately, the road leading to Lim Chu Kang was jammed because of the cemeteries and people paying their respect. We decided to switch our route and turn right into Tengah Airbase and Brickland Road. To do that, we first had to weave through the traffic to the road junction. I had never cycled so close to the kerb and to the left of the double yellow lines, gosh! I was surprised that I could actually balance since I was typically scared of being near vehicles.
The rest of the way back was straightforward. Winding through Bt Batok Rd and Bt Timah. I was so near home, like 2km away, yet had to get back to my car. Ehh.... It was also the first time I cycled along Bt Timah to Lornie Road, all that rolling slopes. Ok, getting near, the end was in sight. Done!
Total: 91km. Time: about 4ish hours.
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