How I Started Cycling Journey In Singapore 🚴♀️
It’s all started when the lockdown begins because of the COVID-19. Doing work from home for months slowly becomes boredom since we can’t go to any places, even inside Singapore.
It was required to spend some time outside the home. But how? The only way we can spend time outside is while doing the exercise(Without mask).
Coming to exercise the default choice is Running and Badminton, As most of the people in Singapore do. We couldn’t able to play the Badminton for a long time because of the circuit breaker and social distancing(Also COVID fear).
Running is a good choice of exercise, I started feeling bored to run on the same paths every time. Afterall I am staying in the same place for five years(Punggol) .
The reason I chose to stay in Punggol is because of the parks and park connectors surrounded by the Punggol. While running in the park I realized that with the bike I can explore more places via the park connector and its fun too😀. Because every time I can go to new places🚴♀️.
While discussing this with my spouse she promised to buy me a bike. Then what!! decided to buy a bike. Humm riding the bike is fun, riding a bike with your best friends is even more fun🚴♀️🚴♀️🚴♀️. Started to convince my friends to buy a bike and explore other parks. Finally decided to buy a basic bike first and try for a few days.
It takes around a few weeks and finally bought a bike together same day and in the same shop. Thanks to Santhosh for recommending the shop. By looking at the Santhosh recommendation on bike specification its was impossible to buy a basic bike. Since the wife was sponsoring the bike decided to go with a good bike.😜
Cycling is the most common thing in Singapore. I used to do cycling very occasionally by hiring the rented bike. It was fun!! The real excitement started when I started riding the brand new high-end bike, that to a own bike.
Started slowly exploring the parks around the Punggol with friends and it gives a very nice feeling when we are ridding inside the PCN and explore the new park.
It feels like we were missing the best part in Singapore. We always feel like Singapore is a very small place and there is nothing much to explore. Now we realized that there are a lot of places that can cover in Singapore via PCN by enjoying nature.
After a week I have decided to buy a bike for Prathika Umesh(My Spouse). Now we have 2 bikes in the family.👨👧🚴♀️🚴
Owning the Bike is one of the best investment so far in Singapore. I regret that I should have to buy a cycle far earlier. It’s Never too late…!!
Parks covered so far from Punggol
- Coney Island.
- Waterway park.
- ECP.
- Changi beach.
- Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
Parks and places in the queue.
- Rowers bay park.
- Ferrer parks via Central Urban Loop to have morning breakfast.
- Central Urban Loop.
- Chesnut natural park.
- Coast-coast trail from jurying lake garden in west to Punggol.
- Mandai loop.
- Eastern Coastal Loop.
- Punggol water way -> Pasir Ris -> Changi Beach -> ECP -> Punggol water way.
Mountain bike trails
The following are the places we can get the mountain bike trail.
- Bukit Timah natural reserve.
- Kent ridge bike trail.
- Paulav ubin.
PCN loops
There are multiple PCN loops are created across the Singapore.
1.North Eastern Riverine Loop
2. Central Urban Loop
3. Eastern Coastal Loop
4. Northern Explorer Loop
5. Western Adventure Loop
So far we explored North Eastern Riverine Loop, Central Urban Loop Eastern Coastal Loop parks, and beaches.
Thanks to Singapore to create the amazing bike paths around the park connector(PCN). The bike loop will give a long stretching biking session for hours.
My common bike path is North Eastern Riverine Loop, covered with beach, river, park, and nature. It always gives the joy to bike in the loop with friends.
Inspiration for long bike ride.
The objective we set while starting the journey is to have a coffee or light food nearby once reach the destination. Also to see the sunrise.
The best part is shopping the cycling gears as part of realisation in long trip.
The Ultimate Goal
The main goal is to cover the whole of Singapore by bike. Round Island Route which is around 160K.
Routing
For Routing can use:
BikeMap app will provide the direction between two destination.
Singapore Maps from streetdirectory.com app, follow the green and yellow dotted path to explore the park connector.
I prefer using Singapore Maps because of the park connector route. it is just perfect to explore the destination parks via PCN.
