Dilemma Dileeema

[deeaimond]

Ok, so i have some issues here.

First one, I haven't been cycling as much as I want to, but I think i'm a little bored of cycling. It's hard to explain, but Singapore is really really small. there aren't that many places to go. And my job keeps me really busy. I have a two foot tall pile of papers to grade currently sitting on my desk. (I've put on 8lbs in the last year)

Second one is the dilemma, its really much more interesting than the first.
I'm supposed to go on a ride in Malaysia this weekend. It's a two day thing, we go there and back, about 100miles each way. So thats like a double century. It's planned by a grp of fellas i ride with, and we have no support vehicle.

the thing is, i'm kinda out of shape, I've been riding like.. once a week. Also, I'm recovering from the flu... (I did the same ride while equally out of shape 2 months ago, but there was a one day break between the rides, took me about 9 hrs each way)

I'm kinda guessing I shouldn't go... in case i can't make it halfway then i'll be stranded and i'll inconvenience everyone... (but then i'm also thinking, I'll probably be alright...and i'm just being a bum)

What do u ladies think. (I don't even know why i am posting this, but I think i am just looking to see what people would say about this...)

DEe

[Biciclista]

you're talking about riding 200 miles in two days and you're not in shape?
How old are you?
how far is the farthest you have ever ridden in one day?
i just re read your post. You did it 2 months ago. How was it? You might just take it slower, and have fun.

Personally I would not do it.

[Cataboo]

Can you draft behind the guys that are going? If you're good at drafting, you could possibly have one of them pull you when you are getting tired.

[redrhodie]

It's an out and back, so would you feel comfortable stopping somewhere halfway (if such a place has lodging and food) and letting them continue on, then you rest and meet again the next day for the ride back?

[deeaimond]

you're talking about riding 200 miles in two days and you're not in shape?
How old are you?
how far is the farthest you have ever ridden in one day?
i just re read your post. You did it 2 months ago. How was it? You might just take it slower, and have fun.

Personally I would not do it.

I'll be 25 next month. Farthest was 196miles in 24hrs (including a 6 hr nap) it was a charity ride.

2 months ago, it was just 2 of us, it was very hot and some stretches were tough. lots of hills and such (small hills, but we're not used to those) It's mostly the heat that was tough to deal with. this time round its... 14 other guys.

I can draft on flats, but I'm not sure how to draft up a slope...

[Biciclista]

ah, you can do it then! have fun. (and if you don't want to, stay home!)

[shootingstar]

If you think you might not be able to make it all the way and go only halfway, do you think you could find your way back on your own by bike?

True that Singapore seems like city-country and this may make it very small as a country. But the same area of Singapore conceivably is similar in size for whole areas that some of us where we live in the U.S. or Canada where we confine geographically most of the time, our solo cycling within same area as Singapore-- except our local region covers multiple cities/municipalities adjacent to one another. And in some areas there's bush areas, natural water bodies and other natural barriers sprinkled all over the region with different road grades and widths, which require some route planning or exploration.

Occasionally I curse that Canada (and U.S.) are so geographically huge that on bike, sometimes it feels as if it takes eons to cycle to get out of the big city to experience a totally different region of Canada.

Obviously you know Singapore very well geographically or else you wouldn't be bored cycling in Singapore alot. Or what it is that bores you about cycling in Singapore that maybe we don't quite get?

After being and cycling regularily in Vancouver for over 7 years, I still feel I only know less than 25% of Metro Vancouver (which includes City of Vancouver plus 22 other municipalties all around us). One can cycle a round trip in our region for a 100+ km. trip and you would have passed through 8 different municipalities some of which do have a distinct "flavour".

For me, there are whole chunks yet to be explored locally on bike and I'm not even talking about the local mountains (of which that would be more hiking. I'm not a mountain biker.) that we can see when looking out from our home.

Unlike you, I'm guilty that I STILL haven't cycled our own region thoroughly to understand the whole general street/road layout. After all, I don't drive.

But I'm not bored by cycling some set routes that I do regularily, since the seasons change and same scenery changes as well as surroundings look different at different times of day.

Cycling helps me see/appreciate the same thing in different ways. Or maybe Singapore has too many people along certain routes to make it comfortable?

[tctrek]

Doesn't sound like you have any goals? You have to figure out what you want to do and why you want to ride. Is it to relieve the stress of your job, or to get in shape, to enjoy the outdoors, to have social time with the friends you ride with... you have to find the "soul" of your ride. I can think of all these goals, because they are all mine :D:D...

I think that where you ride is just a logistic. Why you ride is more important.

[deeaimond]

Ok, so i decided to go. I figured the flu doesnt feel so bad anymore, and If i don't go i will just stay in this 'work sucks all my life is work and its making me turn into a fat lump' runt which I am obviously in.

about the other issue shootingstar,

I think I'm seeing it in at least 2 other ongoing threads, this lack of inspiration/motivation to ride.

I am not saying that I know my entire country well, in fact, i know only a small fraction of the roads. The problem is, all the roads are so damn busy. There is never a nice quiet place to ride. and sometimes, after work, u're exhausted and tired and brain dead, the last thing u want to do is to go battle traffic. or even stay alert on the semi-quiet roads, where the drivers think that having less cars around is reason to be less careful. riding here is stressful i guess.

as for why i ride, to destress, to exercise, i like feeling the wind in my face, the acid in my muscles, the sweat and grit on my skin makes me feel alive.

6 weeks into my highly stressful new job, it was kinda getting to me i think. I just need to get disciplined again.

thanks for helping me sound all this out. I think actually typing out why i wanna ride helped significantly in the refocusing.

[deeaimond]

Singapore has an area of 693 sq km (268 sq mi). Comparatively, the area occupied by Singapore is slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C. Singapore Island extends 41.8 km (26 mi) ENE – WSW and 22.5 km (14 mi) SSE – NNW and has a coastline of 193 km (120 mi)

current population - 4.5 million residents
vehicles registered - 894,682

[shootingstar]

The problem is, all the roads are so damn busy. There is never a nice quiet place to ride. and sometimes, after work, u're exhausted and tired and brain dead, the last thing u want to do is to go battle traffic. or even stay alert on the semi-quiet roads, where the drivers think that having less cars around is reason to be less careful. riding here is stressful i guess.

as for why i ride, to destress, to exercise, i like feeling the wind in my face, the acid in my muscles, the sweat and grit on my skin makes me feel alive.

THat would be a problem if most of your roads aren't safe or there aren't paths/lanes for bikes where you could be part of the time, if the traffic died down about at certain times.

Post some pics of your ride into Malaysia later.

[Tri Girl]

Singapore has an area of 693 sq km (268 sq mi). Comparatively, the area occupied by Singapore is slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C. Singapore Island extends 41.8 km (26 mi) ENE – WSW and 22.5 km (14 mi) SSE – NNW and has a coastline of 193 km (120 mi)

current population - 4.5 million residents
vehicles registered - 894,682


Well dang, that sounds like a teeny tiny overpopulated place. No wonder it's not so much fun to ride. :(
I can understand why you don't feel much motivation. I might feel the same. I guess there are no parks or trails (even if only a mile long or so?).
I'm glad you decided to go. I think it might be good for your soul to get out and put in some long miles. I hope you have a great time!!! I remember reading about your last trip. I can't wait to hear about this one. :)

[deeaimond]

I'm back!

and i survived very well (asides from the group drama, as is always, and the huge egos getting hurt- all men, i was the only girlie)

hills were tough, but slow and steady wins the race. at the end of the 2 days i moved from last in the pack to first few :D not because i got faster by too much, just the rest were too tired.

as well as the ego and hunger fuelled dramas, (big male egos and poor planning meant missed meals!!) one group member got stung by something while riding and had a massive allergy reaction... he swelled up like a balloon, in the middle of nowhere, fortunately, someone's dad was driving behind us for the trip there and could drive him to the next town.

for me, there was just one point where i almost bonked, fortunately i always have a bottle of Tang+sea salt drink on the bike. that saved me till we found the banana stand(small roadside shack selling of all things, bananas! really amazing coincidence, just what the pack of us needed most!. ! never been so glad to see a banana stand in my life.

I forgot to bring my camera home from work, but my friend was taking pictures so maybe another time i'll try to get some from him.

total distance clocked - about 310km / 192 miles
not too shabby for a once a week rider! :D

[Tri Girl]

Congrats, deeaimond! Yeah, men and their egos. :rolleyes:
I'm glad you went and that you had a good time!! If you get some pics, we'd love to see them.

[colby]

Good to see you made it back and had a good time!! I agree with Tri Girl, pictures would be awesome. ;)

[deeaimond]

Congrats, deeaimond! Yeah, men and their egos. :rolleyes:
I'm glad you went and that you had a good time!! If you get some pics, we'd love to see them.

someone was really quick and put up some group photos on the group forum
http://woodlandz.road2us.com/forum.htm

for scenery pictures, it will have to wait :D

[shootingstar]

Am curious, do you think there are many women in Singapore who cycle long distances /for fitness vs. functional/leisurely/recreational cycling? Have you heard of a local racing oriented group of women? That would be one indicator.

[deeaimond]

i would think most women in Singapore who cycle do so for fitness. Few people do it for functionality etc.

I'm not sure iff there are women specific groups, most are mixed gender. Most of the women i do see out on the road are with large groups of men. I guess there aren't enough women in one location to form a group of just women.

personally, i like mixed groups better, its not putting down women or anything, just my personal feeling. As it is there are alot of group politics in cycling, esp one that is based on location (people all live in the area) and even among other groups I know. It would be harder to distance yourself from group politics if it were an all women group. I just want people to cycle with. I do not need extra drama in my already very busy life. And trivial drama at that. With a men's group, just pretend you don't know what the men are saying and then let them deal with their own issues.

Female cyclists in Singapore are mostly looking for a fitness sport, or tagging after their boyfriends/husbands. former group can be extremely competitive, latter group can be plain annoying.

I've yet to meet any female cyclist i've enjoyed riding with (well there was one, but she lives on the other tip of the country... so i havent ridden with her in a long time) so, i just enjoy riding with the men and stay away from group drama :D

edit: oh yes i do recall seeing a one group of women, they looked very competitve and were speeding along one sunday morning. it was in a location far away from my home so i bet they're some pro athlete types and i'm happy trundling along at my 25km/hr pace. so i'll leave that alone. hhaha...