Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Sundown at the Calypso


I was headin' home for one of our DirTraction meetings held at the Calypso, when lo and behold, there were a gazillion creative hands and eyes raiding our bedroom!

The Hivelocity and Adidas folks were using
our bedroom as the backdrop for the Sundown Marathon poster (thanks to Janice who was raving about our bedroom), and of course the star of the photoshoot was none other than Angela of ALG MTBing Downhillin' fame! :)

For a
peek at the behind-the-scene shots for the shooting of this poster, click here.

I love our bed
: an art piece from Kenneth Cobonpue.

Friday, April 18, 2008

I mountain bike on an island with no mountains, and I'm proud!


What inspired me to design this Bukit Biker T-shirt? Well, I was thinking to myself, "hey, there are zilch mountains in Singapore (with the tallest hill being all of 164 metres high), yet some of us Singaporean "bukit bikers" managed to keep up, and even do pretty well, in the epic PCC and Penang rides, and even in mountaineous regions in Himachal Pradesh in India or Sabah".

The tallest hill is none other than our famous Bukit Timah Hill, which we're not even allowed to ride up because it poses a danger to hikers if we should slip and fall!

Anyway, the word "Bukit" (meaning "hill" in Malay) came to mind, and it just so happened that the major mountain biking trails we have in Singapore had the same initials as BUKIT, with the exception of the "I". B = Bukit Timah, U = Ubin, K = Kent Ridge and T = Tampines! What a coincidence?

This image of one of the alcoholic anonymous meetings came to mind where you'd hear the victims say, "Hi, I'm Jane. And I'm an alcoholic."...So why not, "hi, I'm Ling, and I'm a mountain biker who lives in an island with no mountains." I mean, how does one "mountain" bike in an island with none of those huge knolly things?

Anyway, I think that Max and Huimin from DirTraction have really done so much to increase / improve the mountain biking trails in Singapore! And a whole bunch of other DirT folks like Nik, Peiling, Jason, William, Ming etc. who helped out from time to time with the coolie work. And of course, not forgetting NParks, their trail contractors and especially the banglas who toil day and night to make the trails a better place! Oh, and not forgetting Joey Klein's tutelage on how to create sweet and flowy trails. IMBA rocks!

Of course it goes without saying that creating a flowy trail is loads of hard work! Wished I could have done more to help, but alas, a desk job does not leave a lot of time during the weekdays, and weekends are all that I can offer. Anyway, check out the blood, sweat and tears that goes into constructing a new trail : http://kentridge.eaglet.org/

There are so many good reviews of Ubin, Kent Ridge and Tampines, it's unbelievable that even some Malaysians (who are spoilt for choice back home where trails are concerned) would come all the way down to Singapore to ride our trails! Makes me feel really proud of what they have done to make Singapore a better place to ride in! :)

Check out some of these reviews of our trails :

Fakawitribe's Singapore Lampoon Road Trip (they were headed towards Tampines for the Bike Asia 100 MTB race, but ended up in Ubin instead!)

Kenneth Koh's Blog Review of the Ketam Bike Trail in Ubin

Here's a little something about how the Tampines MTB Trail came about (extracted from the DirTraction Bike Asia 100 Handbook) :-

The original Tampines Mountain Bike Track was an approx 3-km long gravel track with slight undulation. It was the flattest beginner mountain biking track and the fastest off-road racing venue Singapore had to offer.

In 2006, DirTraction worked hand-in-hand with Peter Cheng and RMC Pte Ltd, the contractors at the Tampines trail, to create an additional 4km of off-road trail extension. A man-made, “teletubby-like” knoll was created on top of a flat piece of land, and a winding, multiple- switchback singletrack was carved out of that hill. A short jungle section allowed for some cool relief from the majority open-field course, followed by a long straight dirt track. Plans were underway for the creation of a 4-cross track.

In 2007, DirTraction and RMC got their hands dirty again in the construction of yet another 3 km of off-road trail. A sister knoll was added with more signature short climbs and downslopes, s-curves and long switchbacks that pattern the hill slopes. Certain sections of the mud-thirsty jungle sections are now elevated on northshore-style platforms, while certain branching grassy paths were created along the gravel track, some parts even skirting around a picturesque pond.

In April 2008, a refreshing new 10-km Tampines mountain bike track was born, although parts are still slightly raw on the edges. With pet names like Horizon Hill, Banana Berm, Ziggurat, Descender, Moonscape Climb, The Ridge, Kidney Stone, Pond Curve, Wooded Wonder-The Shore, Breakwater Flat and Monster Mud Madness, DirTraction can only wish all Bike Asia 100 participants happy thoughts when you’re taking on this new challenging 10-km trail!

As part of our continuing education on trail building, Max, Huimin and I are heading down for the IMBA World Summit 2008 held in Utah in June....and Chi is tagging along for the epic rides! Am sure it would be fun to meet Joey Klein once again and the rest of the IMBA crew!!!

If you're interested in gettin' one of 'em Bukit Biker drifit shirts, DirTraction is selling them in the DirTShop. Wear 'em, and wear 'em proudly!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Tinker-Ling sensation of meeting a legend

TINKER JUAREZ, US

4 Time US 24 Hour Solo Champion
3 Time NORBA XC Champion
2 Time Olympian
Gold Medallist, Pan Am Games
ABA BMX Hall of Fame
Mountain Bike Hall of Fame
Three top 10 finishes in World MTB Championships
Singapore Bike Asia 100 Mountain Bike Race 2008 Men's Solo Champion

Helping out with the organisation of a race has its perks. If you're lucky, you get to meet your guest stars in the flesh...and even hang out with them!

Before the race, we attended a talk organised by ANZA. Their members wanted to know Tinker's darkest, deepest secrets on how to become a world champion!

There was a post chill out dinner at Fabricca, Dempsey, organised by the folks at Bike Asia. In ze photo, Tinker's on me left, followed by Nino and BitBit:
SURBAN NINO, Philippines

2007 SEA Games Bronze medalist - XC
2008 Singapore Bike Asia 100 Mountain Bike Race Men's Solo Runner-Up

BABY MARITES BITBIT, Philippines

2007 SEA Games Gold for XC
2005 SEA Games Gold
2003 SEA Games Bronze
2001 SEA Games Silver
2008 Singapore Bike Asia 100 Mountain Bike Race Women's Solo Champion


And finally, we met up with Tinker at Microbrewery, Clarke Quay for farewell drinks on Sunday....Jive Talkin' dedicated a Queen song to Tinker, sponsored by Cannondale! Groovy, baby!

Definitely a Tinker-Ling and Humble-Ling sensation being in the presence of Mountain Biking royalty! :)

Photos of Singapore Bike Asia 100 Mountain Bike Race 2008 available here and on the DirTraction website :
Clubsnap Photos 4
Togoparts

Hope to see ya again next year, Tinker!

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Chronology of SufferLing @ 2 June 14 (to be updated)

EXPEDITION RACES

Event : Godzone 2012
Date : [ ]
Venue : South Island, New Zealand
Teamname : Team Little Red Dot Teammates : Yung Khan + Jason +Ho Fai +  Merciless
Organiser : [ ]
Write-up : [ ]
Photos : [Ling Facebook Albums 1 - 17]

MULTI-DAY ADVENTURE RACES

Event : Sabah Adventure Challenge 2005
Date : 25 - 27 March 2005
Venue : Sabah, Malaysia
(Start) Mersilau Nature Resort
(Day 1 night) Kampong Tambatuan (Kota Belud district)
(Day 2 night) Kampong Sayap
(Finish) Kampung Taginampur
Teamname : Team S&M 1
Teammates : Lopez + Becks + Merciless
Fella Singapore Teams :
Team S&M 2 = Mingloid + Chiku + Winnie.
Team Golite = Wilson (Adventure Racer) + Qi Xiang
Support Crew : Nik + Pling + Kang Wei + Kim
Organiser : Sabah Adventure ChallengeWrite-up : Sabah Adventure Challenge 2005
Photos :
Kang Wei
http://www.clubphoto.com/reward.php?id=3186955&mid=members10_chong974319&pwd=
Kim
http://members10.clubphoto.com/kim983199/owner-176c-1.phtml
Nik
http://community.webshots.com/album/307291283SqGNrg
http://community.webshots.com/album/307293707lGvIDg
Zizach
http://community.webshots.com/user/sabahchallenge
http://community.webshots.com/user/ziczach
Category, Position : Adventure, 10th out of 17
In a nutshell :
Learnt about this race from Adventure Racer Wilson, who needed another partner, when he already had super strongman QiXiang! Thankfully I was in the middle of a filming and couldn't commit. Later, managed to con the rest of the gang to taking up a multi-day race.

This was my first multi-day race, and instead of our usual all-girl team "The Angels", Rina was not available to race, so Lopez took her slot (Lopez happens to be a guy, or so he claims)! There was absolutely no advantage fielding an all-girl team as there were no mens, mixed or womens category; only "Extreme" or "Adventure"!

Our navigational skills (or lack thereof) were tried, tested and with negative results to show for! We got severely lost on day 1, which set us back by quite a few positions, but we did alright on day 2 and 3. Camped out at the village head's house on night 1, and experienced some spooky howling at the witching hour of the night!

And with buffalo-riding as a race discipline, what's not to like?

Event : Sabah Adventure Challenge 2007
Date : 6 - 8 April 2007
Venue : Sabah, Malaysia
(Start) Monsopiad Cultural Village
(Day 1 and 2 nights) Kaiduan Valley
(End) Padang C (Football Field C) opp Penampang Police Station
Teamname : WTF
Teammates : Mingloid and Lopez
Organisers : Sabah Adventure Challenge
Write-up :
Sabah Adventure Challenge 2007
Sabah Adventure Challenge 2007 - Photographic Evidence
Sabah Adventure Challenge 2007 - The Results
Photos :
Christian Stauffeur
http://picasaweb.google.com/christeamstauffer/SAC07#
Ling
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=ay6vt6r.2aavrrzv&x=0&y=-ik7k1y
Liying
http://picasaweb.google.com/liying.lee/SabahAdventureChallenge#
Articles and Blogs :New Sabah Times Article : http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/6822
Charlene's Blog : http://lenediane.wordpress.com/2007/04/12/my-busy-week/Trekearth link : http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/Malaysia/East/Sabah/
Yiling's Photos : http://picasaweb.google.com/liying.lee/SabahAdventureChallenge
Category, Position : Adventure, 9th out of 24
In a nutshell :
With the superior navigational prowess of my teammates, we managed a 9th out of 24 teams (excluding those that DNF) in the adventure category! It was hot, Ken almost died from heat exhaustion (eh, this is not Honky weather la dei), and we will ALWAYS remember that 11km abandoned railway track where rumour has it that Wilson stuck his head in a pool of mud to hydrate himself!

Event : Sabah Adventure Challenge 2008
Date : 21 - 23 March 2008
Venue : Sabah, Malaysia
(Start/Finish) Kundasang Homestay Village
Teamname : WTF (II)
Teammates : Kenny Lopez + Merciless
Fellow Singapore Teams :
Racing together with us, Team (I) = Foo + Becks
Later adopting navigational expert, KC from Dom and Pei Shunn's team.
Organisers : Sabah Adventure Challenge
Write-up : ................
Photos :
HK team video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owIl_jAurHU
KC
http://picasaweb.google.com/neuvocielomaniac/SabahAdventureRace08#
Category, Position : Adventure,22nd out of 30 (with 5 teams retired)
In a nutshell :As if we hadn't learnt from our past mistake of not reading maps, this race was the ultimate FUBAR when it came to navigation! We lost a total of over 20 km and 4 hours getting majorly lost twice. My partner, Ken, wanted to quit the race every evening, but I managed to persuade him NOT to surrender. Eventually, his near-fainting heat stroke episode on day 3 forced him to take a rain check. Becks followed shortly after with a bad knee strain. So, it was Foo, KC and myself who pushed on to the finish line as a 3-man-3-team finisher!

Event : Sabah Adventure Challenge 2009
Date : 10 - 12 April 2009
Venue : Sabah, Malaysia
(Start/Finish) : Kampong Lobong Lobong
Teamname : Team FliK (FooLingKen)
Teammates : Kenny Lopez + Da Foo
Organisers : Sabah Adventure Challenge
Write-up : ................
Photos and Videos :
Ling's Blog
http://lingthemerciless.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html
Ling Facebook Albums
Articles and Blogs :
Hisyam's blog
http://opdochisyam.blogspot.com/2009/04/sabah-adventure-challenge-2009.html
Lih Shiun's blog
http://vavroom.livejournal.com/20366.html
Category, Position : Adventure, 7th out of 15 (think quite a few teams DNF)
In a nutshell :
The most scenic race with diverse terrain, ranging from fast-flowing rivers (river-rafting) to hot and dry mud-packed uphills (pushing bike), to leech-infested rain-soaked rainforest (jungle trekking), to slushy pineapple plantation slip-slidin' (team biathlon) and finally, a killer tarmac uphill ending with a navigation trek along the foothills of Mt Kinabalu Park.

Foo died on day 1, and so Ken and I offered our bike and bag portage services....something that we will never let da Foo live down! However, da Foo was resurrected on day 3, coming out stronger than before, whilst my energy levels dropped as my back aches set in! This was Team FliK's first race together, and we discovered we work well as a team!

And tuna never tasted so heavenly!

Event : Sabah Adventure Challenge 2010
Date : 2 - 4 April 2009
Venue : Sabah, Malaysia
(Start/Finish) : TVRC (Tambuan Village Resort) in Tambunan
Teamname : Team FliK (FooLingKen)
Teammates : Kenny Lopez + Da Foo
Organisers : Sabah Adventure Challenge
Write-up :
................
Photos :
Click here
Category, Position : Adventure, 14th out of 35
(5 teams DNF)
In a nutshell :
Lost map on day 1, got lost at a few sections and lost time resolving lover's quarrel over map-reading (probably lost about an hour), Ken's tiretube sprung a leak during the tubing section and Foo's face plant on the last day. Despite our misfortunes and the fact that our mountain biking skills were hardly an advantage given the influx of the young and skillful Sabah Cycling team participants, we had a hell of a fun race!

Event : Sabah Adventure Challenge 2011
Date : [date]
Venue : Sabah, Malaysia
(Start/Finish) : ...
Teamname : Team KennyLingers
Teammates : Kenny Lopez + Merciless
Organisers : Sabah Adventure Challenge
Write-up :
................
Photos :
Ling Facebook Album
Category, Position :
25 out of 55 Extreme teams (no more Adventure category)
In a nutshell : ...



SINGLE DAY ADVENTURE RACES

OUTWARD BOUND ADVENTURE RACE (HONG KONG)

Event :
BT Outward Bound Adventure Race 2014
Date : 9 March 2014
Venue : Hong Kong
Teamname : The Forty-Something Thieves
Teammates : Lopez + Shankar + Richard + Merciless
Organiser : Action Asia
Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album
Category, Position : Master Mixed, 3rd (out of 6 teams)
In a nutshell : [ ]

ACTION ASIA (SINGAPORE)

Event : Action Asia Challenge Singapore 2004
Date : 25 October 2004
Venue : Singapore
Teamname : Team Ming-a-Ling
Teammates : Mingloid + Merciless
Organiser : Action Asia
Write-up : ................
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : ...............
In a nutshell :
T'was the first time I joined a 2-person team event, and teamed up with Mingloid for the first time. Also, my first Action Asia challenge! We didn't get anywhere close to podium finish, but just gettin' to do the multiple jumps into quarries and the finale zipline down from the big durian was all worth it! Oh, we also learnt how to squid and that my partner's best friend is Ms Cramps!

Event : Subaru Action Asia Challenge Singapore 2006
Date : 2 September 2006
Venue : Singapore
Teamname : Team Ming-a-Ling
Teammates : Mingloid + Merciless
Organiser : Action Asia
Write-up :
Subaru Action Asia Challenge 2006 (as seen on TV)
Action Asia Challenge 2006 - da video!
Action Asia Challenge 2006 (extended ver)
Action Asia Challenge 2006
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : 3rd (Mixed 70+ category)
In a nutshell : Despite Team MingLing coming in 49 out of 110 over teams (i.e. after a few misadventures along the way), we still managed a third prize for our Mixed 70+ category! Think at this age, sadly, age group races is the way to go!


SAFRA AVVENTURA (SINGAPORE)

Event : Safra Avventura - Rough and Rumble 2009
Date : 11 June 2009
Venue : Singapore
Teamname : Team Ming-a-Ling
Teammates : Mingloid + Merciless
Organiser : SAFRA
Write-up : Ming's accountPhotos : ...............
Category, Position : 10th out of [ ] teams, Mixed Open Category
In a nutshell : Read Ming's account, but oh btw, being a self-declared topo Queen, I let Ming do all the navigating...at the start of the team bi, Ming took one look at the map and said, "I know the way"! About an hour later, we were still searching for the next CP! After gaining all the lead, we're losing time...big time! Sigh....

My suggestion of following some other bi-athletes was met with skeptism, but at least I offered a solution instead of running around in circles! After picking up map 2, Ming dropped that map somewhere in the jungle! Double sigh....

Why do I always get stuck with teammates who like to drop important things? Perhaps it's retribution for having dropped the race passport in my very first adventure race! :P

Event : Safra Avventura 2010
Date : 24 January 2010
Venue : Singapore
Teamname : Team WTF
Teammates :
Kenny Lopez + Merciless
Organiser : SAFRA
Write-up : ................
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : 8th out of 18 teams, Mixed Open Category (2 teams are unranked)
In a nutshell : Was supposed to partner Ming but I had to bail last minute coz I was booked for an ice climbing trip to China. Ming found Winnie as a substitute. It turned out that both Ming and Winnie couldn't make it as they were moving house (being born on the same date, must be due to the alignment of the stars)...Ken was to partner Angela, so I asked Angela if she'd like to team up with Andrew, so that I could partner my trusty partner Ken. And so Angela partnered Andrew, and I partnered Ken - how's that for complicated?
Anyway, we didn't set our hopes high on coming in any good position - our one goal was beating mens team Foo and Walter in our own personal challenge. Loser buys the other team steak and wine at the Tavern.
Being poor runners, we took our time on the initial run but caught up during the tire pumping section. We beat Walter and Foo! But they eventually caught up on the team biathlon (ahem...shall not say how)....we finally caught up when Foo was having difficulty with the monkey bars, and was one position shy of them during the jumaring and abseil station! Shucks! I could almost smell the beef! Walter and Foo scooted off but Foo suffered a bout of cramps. Ken, who was already suffering from a stiff shoulder (even before the kayaking started) picked up the cramp disease....and we walked all last 6 km! Sigh....
We ended up about 15 minutes behind them...but hey, a men's team challenging a mixed team to a dare? Have they no shame? hee hee!

Event : Safra Avventura 2012
Date : 13 January 2013
Venue : Singapore
Teamname : Team Angels
Teammates :
Kee Leng + Merciless
Organiser : SAFRA
Write-up : ................
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : 2nd out of 18 teams, Ladies Category
In a nutshell : ...

Event : Safra Avventura 2014
Date : [ ] 2014
Venue : Singapore
Teamname : Team KennyLingers
Teammates : Lopez + Merciless
Organiser : SAFRA
Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album
Category, Position : 4th, Ultra Mixed Category
In a nutshell : ...


NOMAD ADVENTURE RACES - ECO-X SERIES (MALAYSIA)

Event : Eco X-Capade 2001
Date : 30 September 2001
Venue : Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia
Teamname : ???
Teammates : Becks + Nik + Merciless
Organisers : Nomad Adventures
Write-up : ................
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : Mixed, ???
In a nutshell : My first Nomad race! Becks dropped the team passport, and we had to backtrack several times! Sigh....This was the first and last race of Nik's adventure racing career!

Event : Eco X-Capade 2002
Date : 7 July 2002
Venue : Bukit Takun, Selangor, Malaysia
Teamname : Team SLY
Teammates : Shanker + Ling (aka Merciless) and Yap (aka Giddiyap) (hence, SLY...duh!)
Fella Singapore Teams : Becks + Swee Haw + Mun Yew
Organisers : Nomad Adventures
Write-up : ................
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : Mixed, K3 (wonder what that means? Think it has something to do with "Kiasu" or "Kiasi")
In a nutshell : Lost some distance pee-ing at different times. Giddiyap sprained ankle 10 mins into race, and freaked out at climbing sections! He hobbled to the finish line, in the arms with his teammates!

Event : Splash Eco X-Treme Selangor 2002
Date : 3 - 4 November 2002
Venue : Selangor, Malaysia
Teamname : Team Sixxis 1
Teammates : Giddiyap + Ronnie + Merciless
Fella Singapore Teams :Team Sixxis 2 = Becks + Colin + Swee Haw
Organisers : Nomad Adventures
Write-up : SPLASH Eco-X-Treme
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : Mixed, DNF after 17+ hours of torture (although our teams were unranked and placed 3rd and 4th after the only 2 mixed teams that did make it)!
In a nutshell : Only 7 teams (5 mens and 2 mixed teams) finished this race. 6 other teams were like us cut off at gunung hulu semangkuk after 17 hrs of non-stop racing, the longest race I've ever taken part in. Best thing was, this race was aired on AXN channel and NTV7. This was also Ronnie's first and last race in his adventure racing career. Think he'll rather stick to triathlons! Read our joint write-up! I still chuckle when I read it!

Event : Eco X-Capade 2003
Date : 4 May 2003
Venue : Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia
Teamname : Originally Team SARSeeeeeee (not politically correct name - ahem), but eventually changed name to Team T-R-Y (spell out the letters T, R and Y in case people think we're trying to be yaya papayas).
Teammates : Becks + Swee Haw + Merciless
Organisers : Nomad Adventures
Write-up : ................
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : Mixed, 7th
In a nutshell : First race teaming up with Swee Haw. Being the weakest runner, Swee Haw helped to push me mentally to the finish line. That was when I realised my speedy running days were over!

Event : Eco X-Capade 2004
Date : 22 February 2004
Venue : Sungkai, Perak, Malaysia
Teamname : Team Hydrapak
Teammates : Swee Haw + Becks + Merciless
Organisers : Nomad Adventures
Write-up : In memory of a great teammate, Swee Haw
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : Mixed, DNS
In a nutshell : A wonderful prelude what could have been a great race, first time sponsored by Basecamp Ian as part of Team Hydrapak. It ended in the tragic demise of my teammate, Swee Haw, who fell into a hidden hole in the road while we were headed towards the kayaking test. :(

Event : Eco X-Capade 2005
Date : 17 April 2005
Venue : Gopeng, Perak, Malaysia
Teamname : Team Angels
Teammates : Rina + Becks + Merciless
Organisers : Nomad Adventures
Write-up : Part 1 + Part 2
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : Womens, 1st
In a nutshell : Team Angels did it again! Super Rina's presence almost always guaranteed us a top position for the ladies category!

Event : Eco-X-Capade 2006  
Date : 18 June 2006
Venue : Hulu Langat, Malaysia
Teamname : Team Angels
Teammates : Rina + Becks + Merciless
Organisers : Nomad Adventures
Write-up : ................ / Fellow Team Grrrrrrr comprising solo Chi
Photos : Janice's Album (some of Ming's photos too)
Category, Position : Womens, 1st
In a nutshell : This was the last of Team Angels' racing for a while as Rina heads onto Shanghai for work, and Becks take a sabbatical from adventure racing to make babies! I am left all by me lonesome! Boo hoo! [By the way, Becks has popped but she's training for her first comeback race during the Eco-X in June / July 2010!]

Event : Eco-X-Capade 2010 
Date : [ ]
Venue : [ ], Malaysia
Teamname : Team Angels
Teammates : Becks + Merciless
Organisers : Nomad Adventures
Write-up : [ ]
Photos : Ling Facebook Album
Category, Position :
Womens, 1st
In a nutshell :  ...


Event : Eco-X-Cape 2014Date : 31 May / 1 June 2014
Venue : Gua Tempurung, Gopeng, Perak, Malaysia
Teamname : Team Chilli Crab Bikers
Teammates : Becks + Merciless + Lopez + Foo + Yew Weng (aka Broken Arm)
Organisers : Nomad Adventures
Write-up : [ ]
Photos : [ ]
Category, Position :
Team (21 km Run) - 1st
Team (50 km Bike) -1st
Overall (both events) - 1st
In a nutshell :  ...


ACE ADVENTURE CHALLENGE (SINGAPORE)

Event : Ace Adventure Challenge II, 2004
Date : 18 July 2004
Venue : Singapore
Teamname : Team Angels
Teammates : Rina + Becks + Merciless
Organiser : Ace Adventure
Write-up : Angels Report
Photos : Ling's Facebook Album
Category, Position : Womens, 1stIn a nutshell : Team Angels prove their mettle once again by being the first ladies team to cross the finish line.

Event : Ace Adventure Challenge (Dusk to Dawn) 2005
Date : 15 October 2005
Venue : Singapore
Teamname : Team JAFT (Just another F***-ed up Team)
Teammates : Mingloid + Becks + Merciless
Organiser : Ace Adventure
Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling's Facebook Album
Category, Position : Mixed, ???
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Event : Ace Adventure Challenge IV 2007 (From Dawn to Dusk)
Date : 11 - 12 August 2007
Venue : Singapore (large part on Ubin)
Teamname : BechaKennyLingers
Teammates : Becks, Lopez and moi
Organiser : Ace Adventure
Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling's Facebook Album
Category, Position : Mixed, 4th
In a nutshell : Team BechaKennyLingers (note the change from Lingus to Lingers) only trained once, though we were familiar with each other's weaknesses and weaknesses (did I say that twice)! Seeing that we were up against super strong competition, Ken, Becks and I decided it would be a "fun" race! From being the last in the pack after the team biathlon leg, we slowly overtook the competition on the biking leg in the darkness of sanddunes, and eventually made our way to 4th position for the mixed category! Not bad for a 2-gal, 1-guy team, though it was debatable whether we should have joined the all-girl category given Kenny's preference for dresses! Haha! This was also a first 2-part overnighter race for us.....the extreme running route at Ubin was definitely something I'd rather forget! :P

Event : Ace Adventure Challenge VI, 2010
Date : [ ] 2010
Venue : Singapore
Teamname : TeamWTF
Teammates : Lopez + Yung Khan + Merciless
Organiser : Ace Adventure
Write-up :
Photos : Ling Facebook Album / Chi Photos
Category, Position : Womens, 3rd
In a nutshell : [ ]

Event : Ace Adventure Challenge IX, 2013
Date : 21 September 2013
Venue : Singapore
Teamname : Team Angels
Teammates : Rina + Becks + Merciless
Organiser : Ace Adventure
Write-up : Angels Report
Photos : Ling's Facebook Album
Category, Position : Womens, 3rd
In a nutshell : [ ]

SINGAPORE ADVENTURE RACE (SINGAPORE)

Event : Adventure Quest 2001Date : [ ] 2001
Venue : Singapore
Teamname : Fubar (Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition, coined by other fella male teammate, Colin)
Teammates : Becks + Rina + Armageddon Cassie + Merciless
Organisers : People's Association
Write-up : ...............
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : Womens, DNFIn a nutshell : DNF coz I dropped the team passport *slap head* and upon catching up, got caught in a thunderstorm!

Event : Singapore Adventure Race 2007
Date : 16 June 2007
Venue : Singapore
Teamname : Team WTF
Teammates : Lopez
Organiser : Adventure Singapore
Write-up : ................
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : Mixed, 9th out of 27 teams
In a nutshell : We started from being one of the last few to emerge from the start of the running leg, and then went on to take the Mixed Category lead when others got severely lost (hee hee)...but then my dear topo king teammate led us astray at MacRitchie, and so we had to settle with being 9th out of 27 teams!


PENANG ECO-CHALLENGE (PENANG, MALAYSIA)


Event : Penang Eco-Challenge 2007
Date : 29 July 2007
Venue : Penang
Teamname : WeeKennyLingus
Teammates : Lopez, Teck Wee and moi
Organiser : KOTRT
Write-up : ................
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : Only 1 category, 1st
In a nutshell : The first KOTRT-organised adventure race, and first time Ken and I teamed up with super-athlete Teck Wee of SART-TITUS fame! What were we thinking???? Team WeeKennyLingus (try pronouncing that while trying not to grin) managed to clinch the surprise champion trophy....thanks to 2 lucky breaks - first, the Malaysian commando team missing a checkpoint, and secondly, our twin-engine engineer, Teck Wee! Woot!


CITY CHASE (SINGAPORE)

Event : Pan Pacific City Chase 2007
Date : ...............
Venue : All over Singapore
Teamname : Team MingLing
Teammates : Mingloid
Organiser : Sporting Spectrum
Write-up :
City Chase Press Release
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : Mixed, 2nd or 3rd; 9th OverallIn a nutshell : We came in 9th overall (and perhaps 2nd or 3rd for the mixed category - didn't even know there was one). This was the closest I've ever gotten to joining the Amazing Race!

Event : Nat Geo City Chase 2008
Date : ...............
Venue : All over Singapore
Teamname : Team MingLing
Teammates : Mingloid
Organiser : Sporting Spectrum
Write-up : .......
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : Mixed, DNFIn a nutshell :
Don't even ask! But since you did, here's our pathetic account!
Enroute to CP1 in the east, Ming lost his bus card, IC, cash etc. etc in some MRT station...just so happened to get to CP1, we chose to go via Tanah Merah MRT station and we had half a mind to go have some kopi. But WTF....let's get on with it! CP1 was the drink beer-ride slippery horse challenge. Ming downed his alcohol, tried and failed. I said I was allergic to alcohol, so they allowed me to do the horsey. I didn't last past 5 seconds! Sigh....
CP2 : Paddle out on a surfboard and come back. Since Ming was still feeling tipsy, I volunteered. I fell from the board, hit my head and a baluku rose from my temple! But I made it back in one piece!
CP3 : Cable ski! Arghhhh! After 2 attempts by each of us, we gave up! Skiiing was never our thang!
To get to the rest of the CPs, we waited for the bus along the East Coast service road for what seemed like hours!
The next few CPs were too embarrasing to even mention - but at least we stomached the worms with curry powder!
All in all, great fun!
I was just thinking that considering the 2008 winning team (Greg and Cameron) DNF in 2007 coz they took the wicked road to the east instead of the west (which we took then), we shall reconsider heading eastward next time, even though we live in the East! Everything just seems a lot harder to do in the East!


MULTI-DAY MOUNTAIN RACES



Event : BC Bike Race 2011
Date : ...............
Venue : ...............
Teamname : Sas & Tobz
Teammates : Maximuzz + Merciless
Organiser : ...............
Write-up : ...............
Photos : Ling Facebook Albums / Blogspot
In a nutshell : ..............

Event : MTB Himachal 2006
Date : ...............
Venue : ...............
Teamname : Amoeba (that's me solo)
Teammates : None
Organiser : ...............
Write-up :
MTB Himachal 2006 - The Himachal Bull-etin
MTB Himachal - Official Press-ed Releases
MTB Himachal 2006 - Himachal Pradesh calling....
MTB Himachal 2006 - A true Cock-n-Bull story!
MTB Himchal 2006 - "A Load of Bull****" series
Photos : ...............
In a nutshell : Was in the running for second or third position for the ladies category, but the whole Singaporean team pulled out after day 5 for several reasons, one of them being the safety of the riders (read me accounts, and photos which I'm still posting 4 years later)...

SINGLE-DAY MOUNTAIN RACES

KL MOUNTAIN BIKE CARNIVAL (KIARA, MALAYSIA)

Event : KL Mountain Bike Carnival 2003
Date : 28 September 2003
Venue : Kiara, KL, Malaysia
Organisers : Quick Release
Write-up : ................
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : Women's Age Group, 1st
In a nutshell : Aced the Women's 31-35 category (and actually, the whole age group ladies categories, but didn't join the Ladies Elite category - didn't wana get my ass kicked by ladies like Risa with extra-ordinary biking prowess)! haha...

Event : KL Mountain Bike Carnival 2004
Date : 22 August 2004
Venue : Kiara, KL, Malaysia
Organisers : Quick Release
Write-up : ................
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : Women's Age Group, 1st
In a nutshell : Once again, aced the Women's 31-35 category and the ladies age-group categories, but once again, stayed clear of the Ladies Elite category (chicken me)...

Event : KL Mountain Bike Carnival 2006
Date : 19 - 20 August 2006
Venue : Kiara, KL, Malaysia
Organisers : Quick Release
Write-up : ................
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : Women's Elite, DNF
In a nutshell : This time round, joined the Women's Elite category coz I wanted to ride with the rest of the MTB gang on a Saturday...and ride, I did on Sat...which left me totally winded by the time I joined the race! Hence, DNF....plus racing against the likes of Risa! Yikes! Eventually, I joined the riding gang again after the race. The Kiara race course is only part of the whole Kiara experience with over 10 km of challenging terrain just waitin' to be ridden! Also, there's no way I could have caught up with the national ladies elite riders...those spring chickens compared to the old hen!

Event : KL Mountain Bike Carnival 2008
Date : 29 - 30 November 2008
Venue : Kiara, KL, Malaysia
Organisers : Quick Release
Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album 1 / Ling Facebook Album 2
Category, Position : Women's Sport, 3rd
In a nutshell : Now I know better now to even touch the womens elite category and ride against the young national riders! Stuck to the old ladies category and managed a 3rd, which isn't bad I guess considering we went riding in the morning and all...and after the race, once again! I never learn, do I?


DIRTRACTION RACES

Event : Singapore Mountain Bike Carnival 2011, 12 Hr MTB Marathon
Date : 4 - 5 June 2011
Venue : Tampines Mountain Bike Trail
Organiser : Dirtraction  Write-up :
Photos : Ling Facebook Album
Category, Position : 3rd, Women's Solo
In a nutshell : [ ]


TOGOPARTS RACES (SINGAPORE)

Event : Togoparts Challenge 2004
Date : 21 March 2004
Venue : Bukit Timah Nature Reserve area
Teamname : Olaf's Angels
Teammates : Rina + Becks + Merciless + our bossley, Olaf
Organiser : Togoparts.com
Write-up : Olaf's Angels Report
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : Only one category, 1st
In a nutshell : The first time the Angels raced as a team (with our Bossley, Olaf), and to our great surprise, we clinched the champion trophy! Unbelievable!

Event : Togoparts Challenge
Date : 11 June 2006
Venue : Yew Tee Community Centre and Choa Chu Kang / Lim Chu Kang area
Teamname : Chi's Angels
Teammates : Becks + Merciless + Athena the Han (also known as Judas to Team COTE) and our bossley, Chiku
Organiser : Togoparts.com
Write-up : ................
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : Only one category, ???
In a nutshell : This was quite a non-event as it started to pour towards the end, and we were going back and forth around the same tarmac route, visiting graveyards! "Chi, take your hands off the brakes", Rebecca bellowed! Hahahaha...

Event : Togoparts 11
Date : 11 November 2007
Venue : Tampines MTB Trail
Teamname : Dirt Addidaction (either 1 or 2)
Teammates : Mingloid, Angela, Birdman Eric and moi
Organiser : Togoparts
Write-up : ................
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : Mixed, 2nd
In a nutshell : We started the day with "aiyah, u can forget about it! look at the competition we're up against! Let's just ride and have fun!" We did exactly that and got one big fat unexpected bonus at the end....a 2nd place! hee hee! Our women to men ratio was 1:1, with every lady getting 1.5 laps for every lap that the men completed. So we sent in our ammunition - the lady bikers! :)


CRANK 6 (SINGAPORE)

Event : Krank 6MTB 2007
Date : 29 September 2007
Venue : Lor Halus, Singapore
Teamname : Team MingLing
Teammates : Ming and whaddayaknow, Ling
Organiser : SART (in memory of Ian)
Write-up : ................
Photos : ...............
Category, Position : Mixed, 2nd
In a nutshell : Despite a sprained ankle and fitness befitting a carrot, Mingloid forces Lingers to form Team MingLing and relishes in torturing her in her most unfit state! It was pay back time! This was my most ill-prepared race, but somehow, we managed to ride into the night and took home the 2nd place medal for the mixed category (if I'd been a man, we may have come in 4th in the mens open category)! Riding on trash felt....trashy, but I'd gladly do it again for the late Ian, whose visions of this enduro race finally came true!


NON-COMPETITIVE MOUNTAIN BIKE EVENTS

PENANG JAMBOREE (PENANG, MALAYSIA)Event : Penang Jamboree, The 1 Hill Ride, 2002
Date : [date] December 2002
Venue : Penang
Organiser : KOTRT
Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album
In a nutshell : We learnt the meaning of "ai gao liao (almost there)" and learnt to multiply any distances given by the locals (no matter how good the intentions) by 2! :P Also, still have nightmares of "Stairway to Heaven"! Gulp!

Event : Penang Jamboree, Expect the Unexpected, 2003
Date : [date] 2003
Venue : Penang
Organiser : KOTRT
Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album
In a nutshell :

Event : Penang Jamboree, See You Dare? 2004
Date : 4 - 5 October 2004
Venue : Penang
Organiser : KOTRT
Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album
In a nutshell : KOTRT presented me with the "Queen of Pain-nang Hill title" (engraved on a wooden plaque)! awwww....how sweet! It was meant to be for the 1st lady up the hill, but we all knew that was not true. The title went to Linda, but KOTRT probably felt bad and decided to give me that title as second best! :P

Event : Penang Jamboree, Ready for More? 2005
Date : 3 -4 December 2005
Venue : Penang
Organiser : KOTRT
Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album
In a nutshell : KOTRT once again presented me with the "Queen of Die-ger Hill title"! hee hee

Event : Penang Jamboree 2006
Date : [date] 2006
Venue : Penang
Organiser : KOTRT
Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album
In a nutshell : The year that I got majorly lost while chasing the front pack! Sigh....I saw this killer hill and without thinking, followed the bikers who were pushing up that hill! Thereafter, I blindly followed red and white tape (instead of the sunkist ones) which led me from CP 1, down all the way to....somewhere close to CP4 or 5! Major FUBAR! And I missed all the major switchbacks! Arghhhh!!! But at least I made new friends out of those who were lost with me!

Event : Penang Jamboree 2007
Date : [date] 2007
Venue : Penang
Organiser : KOTRT
Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album
In a nutshell : The numbers are growing...750 riders up Penang Hill? Imagine that! We were also told KOTRT was gonna take a raincheck and stop organising the Penang Jamboree indefinitely! Oh no, what do we look forward to next year?

Event : Penang Jamboree 2009
Date : [date] 2009
Venue : Penang
Organiser : KOTRT
Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album / 2009 Ling Facebook Album
In a nutshell :
Yay! The Jam is back! So glad to be back....with yet another busload of Singaporeans! The food and company made it all worthwhile, but I was complaining about Cobra, my new carbon Trek bike (which wasn't very light for a carbon bike after all). My pet favourite was Blue Bones (hardtail which has seen me through thick and thin)...so I promised myself that I will give Cobra (nickname : Cobey) a chance and ride him to the best of my abilities! He may be slightly heavier than Blue Bones, but he is more efficient when it comes to climbing, and no the downhills, he's absolutely a sweet young thing! And so I dedicate the "Juara Kayuh Lasak" award to Cobey and Maximuzz who gave it to me as a pressie. I didn't know what "Juara" meant til someone translated it to be "Champion"! *grins*

Event : Penang Jamboree 2010
Date : [date] 2010
Venue : Penang
Organiser : KOTRT
Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album / 2010 Ling Facebook Album
In a nutshell :


Event : Penang Jamboree 2011
Date : [date] 2011
Venue : Penang
Organiser : KOTRT
Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album / 2011 Ling Facebook Album 1 / 2011 Ling Facebook Album 2 
In a nutshell :

Event : Penang Jamboree 2012
Date : [date] 2012
Venue : Penang
Organiser : KOTRT
Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album / Ling Facebook Album (specific)
In a nutshell :

Event : Penang Jamboree 2013
Date : [date] 2013
Venue : Penang
Organiser : KOTRT
Write-up : ................
Photos : ...............
In a nutshell :

PLENTONG EPIC RIDE

Event : Plentong - The Epic Ride 2010
Date : ...............
Venue : ...............
Organisers : Cyclemotion Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album
Category, Position : ...
In a nutshell : Top 100 Riders (85 out of 700+ riders)

Event : Plentong - The Epic Ride 2011
Date : ...............
Venue : ...............
Organisers : Cyclemotion Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album
Category, Position : ...
In a nutshell : ...............

Event : Plentong - The Epic Ride 2013
Date : ...............
Venue : ...............
Organisers : Cyclemotion Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album
Category, Position : 2nd, Women's Category (167 overall)
In a nutshell : ...............

PCC PRESIDENTIAL RIDE (KAJANG, MALAYSIA)

Event : PCC Nexus Presidential Ride 2009
Date : ...............
Venue : ...............
Teamname : ...............
Teammates : ...............
Organisers : ...............
Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album 1 / Ling Facebook Album 2
Category, Position : ...............
In a nutshell : ...............

Event : PCC Specialized Presidential Ride 2013
Date : ...............
Venue : ...............
Teamname : ...............
Teammates : ...............
Organisers : ...............
Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album
Category, Position : 3rd, Ladies (no prizes given though, only lucky draw)
In a nutshell : ...............

RACE ORGANISATION 

DIRTRACTION RACES

Event : Eneloop MTB Carnival 2009
Date : ...............
Venue : ...............
Organisers : ...............Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Albums
In a nutshell : ...............
SINGAPORE AMATEUR CYCLING ASSOCIATION (SACA) RACES

Event : ...............
Date : ...............
Venue : ...............
Organisers : ...............Write-up : ................
Photos : ...............
In a nutshell : ...............
COMMISSAIRE 

RACES

Event : Youth Olympics 2010 Date : ...............
Venue : Singapore
Organisers : ...............Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Albums
 In a nutshell : ...............

Event : 8th BMX Cycling Championships 2013Date : ...............
Venue : Tampines BMX Track
Organisers : ...............Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album
In a nutshell : ...............
DIRTRACTION RACES

Event : ...............
Date : ...............
Venue : ...............
Organisers : ...............Write-up : ................
Photos : ...............
In a nutshell : ...............

VOLUNTEER

Event : Salomon X-Trail Run 2011Date : ...............
Venue : Tampines MTB Track
Organisers : ...............Write-up : ................
Photos : Ling Facebook Album

In a nutshell : Lead Biker


Monday, April 07, 2008

Bike Asia 100 Mountain Bike Race


I can't believe I've only posted once for the whole of this year! Shame on me!

The start of this year has been rough - dealing with errant contractors, assuming the role of an ah-long in trying to recover moneys lost to errant contractors by going to their houses and knocking on doors.....lots of instability in the house-moving front! Now that the move is more or less complete, it's sorting out the junk that will take up time...and spending as much time as possible with the little smelly one, Saskia!

Completed my first adventure race this year - my third Sabah Adventure Race, but also the only one where my team DNF! Sigh....long story...will tell you all soon, coming to a blog near you!

Right now, am concentrating all my efforts on helping to make the Bike Asia 100 Mountain Bike Race a great success...and meeting Mr Tinker Juarez in person! :) He seems like a really cool dude from the writings on his blog!

For all of you out there who are taking on the Tampines Trail, remember to enjoy riding the new trail and have heaps of fun doing it!

Chat laterz!