Father and Son in NEW Joyriders shirts

Malaysia this week so reduced opportunities for training.  Three rides this week, Fri, Sat, and Sun.

Sat, I again undertook the early Joyriders Mandai loop followed by the Changi mass group ride and managed to convince Nick (and Charlie for part) to join me on a reverse Kranji.  Shortly after leaving the East Coast, the skies look extremely menacing.  The run down the busy Keppel Flyover was a tough one as the wind was awesome.

 10k later, on leaving the flyover, the heavens opened and we were forced to seek shelter in a bus stop.  It was 20 mins before we finally decided to continue our ride, rather than give up.  We were glad that we did as 20 mins later and the sun was out again.  A quick pit stop for ‘Crunchies’, thanks Nick, and we were soon spinning through a sunny Kranji jungle.

 5K before the end of this 160K ride, Nick having just turned off for home, I was almost knocked off my bike! A white Toyota drew up beside me, pulled ahead and then, without indicating, turned left in front of me, just missing my front wheel and forcing me to brake from 30kmh.

 Fuming, I chased the car 100m up the side road and through the security gates of her apartment complex, shouting and protesting all the way.  I managed to pull up alongside the car and bashed heavily on the side window.  The apartment security team came running up to see who this mad man was!  Reluctantly the woman got out of her car, held out her hands, shrugged her shoulders and said ‘I didn’t hit you!’.  Strong words were exchanged but the woman didn’t care and wasn’t the slightest bit sorry.  She hadn’t hit me and hadn’t seen me, so what was the problem – unbelievable!

 I cycled home still fuming, wishing that I’d insisted on filing a police report.

Charlie, myself and Justin at the East Coast

Sundays ride started well but Sam (my son) who joined the ride and was struggling today so we cruised to the breakfast rendezvous where he devoured 2 helpings of roti prata, 3 drinks and a bowlful and fruit before everything was Ok with the world again!

Alison explaining how big things are to Tom!

Fri  29th May    Joyriders – Fri run                            49km      1.47hrs   28kmh

Sat 30th May    Joyriders – Mandai, Changi, Kranji       158km    5.31hrs   29kmh

Sun 31st May    Joyriders – Sun breakfast run            76km      2.42hrs   28kmh

Have a good week

Chris

Ah!!!

Saturday was our 22^nd wedding anniversary but as we had evening plans and the training need continues I crept out of bed at 4.30am and managed the 5.30am group start.  The 5.30am Joyriders Sat ride is a quick 35K loop starting and stopping back at Longhouse ready for the 7am main ride – the 80K Changi loop.  Feeling good at the end of the Changi ride – Murli, Larry and I opted for a further 50K or so, taking the reverse Kranji route.  160k and back home for 12pm – not bad - ready for a pleasant evening celebrating!

Just two other rides this week, a short one on Friday morning before work and the relaxed breakfast run (that somehow wasn’t that relaxed this week!) on Sunday.

Traveling this week so I’ll have to make it up next weekend.

Fri  22nd May    Joyriders – Fri run                        49km    1.42hrs   29kmh

Sat 23rd May    Joyriders – Mandai, Changi, Kranji    158km  5.15hrs   30kmh

Sun 24^th May    Joyriders – Sun breakfast run          78km    2.34hrs   30kmh

Best Regards

Chris

Four rides this week.  3 quick, 50K, rides in the week plus a longer ride Sat am before nipping off to the airport for a 3-4 day trip with Alison to Cambodia.

Tue is sprint day.  Felt strong today but after staying with the big boys (and girls) for the first sprint I resigned myself to watching them accelerate away into the distance, I guess I was 200M behind by the time they crossed the line.  Unusually there was no re-group after the sprint, (if you don’t re-group then you are out of contention for the next sprint) this only occurred to me as I approached the next sprint, keeping my mouth shut (not really fair, I know) I accelerated away and crossed the line to claim my first victory.  Even better, still no regroup after that sprint, I was careful to ensure that everyone caught me from behind and then steadily turned on the gas to claim second in the final sprint of the day. 

Wednesday is a busy ride now, 50+ bikes.  Quick drink with 10 or so of the group before heading home and off to the office for 8.30am.

Wanted to go Thursday but it was too wet.

Fri morning I followed young Shane up Bukit Timah on the way to the start. Sadly he hit something on the road and fell just before we reached the start. Some grazing to his hands and a bashed derailleur meant blood on his bar tape and a noisy bike! 1km down the road and he pulled up, struggling with the gears. I stopped to assist and the peloton slowed while we did our best to sort his bike out.  A quick sprint and were back together as a group. Relaxed pace today.

Sat saw a 5.00 depart for the 5.30 Mandai loop followed by a Changi – felt really good today and enjoyed sharing the lead with the Malaysian boys for the charge down the airport straight.  125K this morning, happy with that, especially as we have to be at the airport for 12.30pm for our trip to Cambodia.

Tue 12th May   Joyriders – Tue Sprints                50km     1.41hrs   29kmh

Wed 13^th May   Joyriders – Wed run                    50km      1.40hrs  28kmh

Fri  15^th May     Joyriders – Fri run                       50km     1.41hrs   27kmh

Sat  16th May   Joyriders – Mandai Loop, Changi   125km    4.10hrs   30kmh

Have a great week

Chris

The Squires and Spires event this was a very good sportive, weather not as good as the previous year. The 1st 30 miles are very fast, with a very difficult up and down for the last 50 miles, with quite a few people even deciding to walk the last hill. Anyway after cycling the 80 miles ALL BY MYSELF in very windy conditions I managed to get round in 4hrs and 11 mins, followed by a 30 min run session.

Just had another busy weekend cycling and running, with doing 87 miles on the Saturday, with a hard 40 mile section on the way back, again strong winds with lots of climbs. On Sunday I did the 15 mile charity Kelmarsh run, which is a very hilly course, not what you need on a SUNNY day. Did the run with my sister to help her get round in a PB, but after going up the 1st hill, she knew this would not be on. I ran the 12 1st 12 miles with my sister and then decided to go for a blast, clocking just over 19 minutes for the last 3 miles (6.39, 6.25 and 6.14 for the last mile). Training for the TTC and Ironman is all starting to come together now.

…it’s all in the family! Congratulations to Sam and the Marshall family!

Commentary from Chris plagiarised by yours truly:

He started playing rugby when he was 4 years old and played for the same club side (Northampton Old Scouts) for 10 years until we left England.  It has always been Sam’s ambition to play rugby for England and when he left the UK 12 months ago to come and live in Singapore he had progressed through several regional levels in order to get into the Young England Academy, still a long way to go in order to get into the full team but he was certainly on the right track.  Leaving this behind was a tough ask for Sam but he accepted the fact and started to make a new life here.

His school (Tanglin) plays rugby and he quickly settled into the school team and he also found a great local team to play for at the weekends (Centaurs).  He clearly enjoys playing rugby here, the standard is high and his coaching has been excellent.  After a number of trials where the numbers were reduced at each stage, Sam was finally confirmed into the final squad of 25 players to represent Singapore.

Mum Alison and Dad Chris are obviously very proud!

Sam’s first match will be a warm up game (not a full international) on Friday 15th May against the best club/school side in Malaysia – Sekolah Menengah Sains Selangor from Kuala Lumpur.

And here are pictures:

From this...

...to this!

Friday was the day off for us in Singapore (back to work on Monday).  Took advantage of the day off and joined the Joyriders gang for a great 130k ride – a Kranji followed by a reverse Changi (sounds like a somersault doesn’t it!).  The Boy Wonder (Sam) came with me but gave up after 50k having played rugby every night this week (in the last 40 for the Singapore National U16 squad – he finds out if he’s in the final squad of 25 in a few days time).

Felt good on the bike and was really looking fwd to more long rides on Sat and Sun but the early morning weather (unusually) has been horrible, heavy rain and violent thunder and lightning.  On Sat morning I opted for Hot Yoga with Alison, instead of biking, when we came out of the class at 10am the weather was perfect so as soon as I got home I nipped out for an hour.

Same again on Sunday morning but instead of yoga we opted for the duvet.  After two huge bacon butties (feeling guilty) I went out for a couple of hours on my own – iPod assisted.  By now it was past midday and the heat was oppressive – still, felt good but enjoyed taking it easy soaking up the sun and the tunes.

Wed 29^th May     Joyriders – Wed run            49km     1.44hrs   28kmh

Fri 1^st May         Joyriders – May Day ride      130km    4.34hrs   28kmh

Sat 2^nd May       Solo – West Coast run         30km     1.06hrs   27kmh

Sun 3^rd May       Solo – Kranji                      50km      1.55hrs   27kmh

Have a great week.

Chris

Pit Stop at the Old Airport Hawker Center

Second pit stop - Changi Village