S’pore alternative nightlife: Night cycling at its best

SINGAPORE — In the quiet of the night, opposite the Singapore Expo MRT taxi stand, a group of shadowy figures gather. Suddenly everything jumps into motion, forming one long neon peloton that just as quickly glides off.

Meet Cycle Siow, a group of cycling enthusiasts from all walks of life and ages who mostly ride at night. And as member and avid rider Le Messie affirms, it’s really a different kind of cycling experience.

“You really get to enjoy the coolness of the night and the decrease in motor vehicles on the road,” the tech entrepreneur said. “I do my group rides around 9pm and the best thing is truly how cooling it is in the night. You get to ride your bike with a group of friends, have an amazing work out, keep fit and have a good night sleep after. There is no bad thing about night riding.

“Plus, it’s a good alternative to trying to wake up at 4am to catch the weekly cooling 5am rides,” he added with a laugh.

The number one night-cycle route on the 35-year-old rider’s list is also a road cycling enthusiast’s favourite: “Seletar Loops, followed by the popular Coastal Road that has been home to many road cyclists for many years. Many avid road cyclists also do the weekly Round Island (route) covering the outskirts of Singapore in under five hours.”

All that said, one of the most important things to note about night cycling is road safety, and Le Messie reiterates those all too familiar tips for both new and experienced riders.

“To ensure a safe road cycling experience in the night, it’s very important to make sure to have both well-lit rear and front lights, as well as reflective wear such as cycling jerseys, bibs and road cycling shoes,” he advised. “And of course, to protect your melon with a proper road cycling helmet.”

For those interested to embark on night cycling, there’s an array of groups that anyone from beginners to intermediate cyclists could join. There’s the West Coast Riders for those in the west, Joy Riders Club for those in the north side and Easties have Team Cycle Siow.

“We have around 60 active riders in Cycle Siow, with our youngest being 16 and the oldest almost 60! Cycling is a great sport for everyone and we’re just everyday people wanting a healthy lifestyle through cycling,” he shared.

Newbies need not worry too much about fitting in. “As you progress to more advanced cycling, the same groups have more advanced divisions to better suit your ability,” he said. “Do stay around to chit chat after the rides to get to know the group. We aim to create a fun, friendly and most importantly safe environment for all to train in.”

RIDE ALONG

Cycle Siow meet at Expo MRT Station every Monday and Thursday. The ride starts at 9pm and ends at 10.30pm (covering approximately 50km and going on an average speed of 35kmh). The route will take you through Changi Coast Road and the end point is the Shell station at Loyang. For more info, visit Cycle Siow’s Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/cycle.siow)