Never, would I ever, take up cycling.
That was clear as day before.
But one can only plan, and plans are meant to be broken.
Shinsplit happened, and rather than succumbing and depressing, took the next natural thing to do, find some other alternative where it can help you recover. And I got more than just recovered. I found new love.
Other than the normal constraints of it’s taking up a lot of your time and the companions needed (for good and bad reasons), cycling fits me perfectly as running would.
And I have to credit Yaya for it. If it was not for her invitation to ride at that time, I would have put the intention off, and cycling might not happen how it had. She offered to use her bike at that time. But I couldn’t and made an impromptu decision to buy a bike. A very cheap Tiagra, Lapierre, less than 10kg bike, costed less than 5k.
October 19, 2019. 1st ride happened in GCE with Yaya. Straight into 36km ride, 23.5kph with average HR of 148bpm. Pretty decent
The very next day, I was lucky enough that there was a cycling event organised by Allez and Peak Fitness. Where DD and Nickie was there. Good time to meet up and know other fellow female cyclist. Little that I know that getting acquainted with other people in cycling is one of the easiest thing.
And there was no turning back after. I treated cycling as analytic as I would, with running. I was passionate, even when it was just me and no one else and had my heart and soul in it. Running was a solo journey. It’s hard to do things solo with cycling. But at this point, the same constraints that I had with running, flows all the same into cycling as well. So, solo, as much as I possibly could. This is something that I have to deal with, with every interest I take on. Fitness or no, I should limit socialising as much as possible, especially if it has to include the opposite gender in.
Back to how things progressed for cycling.
- After that 1st GCE ride, exactly a week after, rode with hubs on his foldie at GCE. It was horrendous. Only then we realised that GCE is a tough route to ride. Feeling is still the same even now, exactly 2 years after.
- 3rd ride was a Deepavali ride, where I had my first Bunga Latar for 47km. Longest at that time, within 2 weeks after taking up cycling.
- 4th ride was with the cycling clinic crew. 2nd week cycling. Kundang and the first with food break. Wore my 1st Rapha kit. Sweet memories. And there were few Starobs as well, even Bulat. And this was 3rd week after taking up cycling. 52km total, 26.4 kph at HR 169 bpm. Wasn’t an easy one.
- Less than 1 month into, 3 weeks to be exact, I started wearing cleats. One of the important milestone definitely. That was really the case. Keep on pushing into new territory.
- 4 weeks into, had 1st puncture with Syura. Tried to figure out on our own. Which was not bad at all. But had to get some help to handle the CO2 nozzle.
- 6th weeks, first ride with Mira; Longest distance of 68km that time. 27.5kph, 167bpm. Yeah, so much effort there.
- Exactly a day after, accidental Gran Fondo. At 134km even, 27.3 kph, 156 bpm. With my 10 gear Tiagra. Proud moment. Thanks to DD and Nickie again
- 7th week, ride with Alif Satar. Joined with Yaya. 66km total, around 29kph.
- 1st week of 2020, went to Ijok via Latar. Very excited that time. Just us 3. So brave us ladies. I called it Ijok Half T. Been looking forward for that route map prior
- 2nd week of Jan. Had my first footie duty/cycling stint with U-turn at Paya Jaras. Looking back, didn’t realise I had this routine that early on. And I had a brick even since then. Had this for up until Feb
- Then few times of Ijok via Latar again. With ex-boss included.
- Then Fondo with the girls in March so International Women’s Day
- 14 March - 1st time to Perez. Then Covid striked. And everyone stayed indoors.
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