7 am we set off. Can imagine a huge scene and the attention we get where 300 plus pple cycle at the same time. Cycling on public roads is a new experience. We had to follow traffic rules just like any other drivers. We also had to constantly look out for vehicles on our blind side. Dunno this time are we scared of vehicles OR the vehicles scared of us. HAha. Somemore, due to this event, we have one lane of the road to ourselves and one police officer following us, helping to "clear" the way for us. hehe. :) A bit tiring is that, we had to stop everytime the traffic light turns red. It distrupts our momentum, especially after stopping, and u need to pick up the speed again. Its even tougher when its a upslope . Sometimes, we just 干脆闯红灯！:D And because of these traffic lights, one big group is spilt into several smaller groups and so on..

Along the way from ecp to ntu, are mostly crowded roads and many traffic lights. By the time we reached NTU SRC(2nd checkpoint only), my buttocks and legs already hurt like hell. =.= We had cycled only abt 40+km and 80+ km to go. Ahh..thats like 2/3 of journey left. A BIT feel like giving up le~ :P At every checkpoint, we had snacks and drinks but not proper food like lunch. Lack of "food motivation" :( Next on the way up north to kranji checkpoint, the scenery view is much nicer! Got pass by Muslim cemetery, Chinese cemetery(if u r scared, tat gives u more motivation to cycle faster!), poultry farm(With a signboard that says:" Cycle FASTER to AVOID the stench!) and vegetable farms. And the best view of all, the kranji beach! :D Along the way, there are few cars but seemingly endless roads. We can only see rows and rows of lamposts that seemed to stretch infinitely... When is the next checkpoint?

Next checkpoint is at Yishun stadium. Dislike this part of journey the most.(mandai road?) So many ups and downs. This is also the time where i "played" around with my gear the most. Peak after peak. there are some parts where pple just get off their bikes and pushed them up the slope instead of struggling with gear 1. Smart choice! After all, we need to conserve energy. We still have a long way to go.. By the time we reached yishun stadium, melvin already set off to the next checkpoint. Wow..hes fast! By this time, i already half dead le...Once i sat down, dun feel like getting up le. :( Legs and buttocks aching like hell... YISHUN STADIUM! So TEMPTED to just turn around and go home....

Next is our 5th checkpoint, at Serangoon Stadium. This is where Disaster Struck. About halfway, it starts to drizzle and then raining HEAVILY. Damn. We rested at a bus stop and waited a while. I and mango still continued for a while until that the rain is so heavy that it is almost impossible to see and cycle. Because, for those not wearing specstacles, the rain will keep hitting ur face and eyes as u cycle at a fast speed, making u almost impossible to open ur eyes and see where u cycling, especially for mango. It can be very dangerous. However... i still continued without him. After all, i was already wet, what for being a bit more wetter?

At first i can still find a few other fellow cyclists to cycle with me along the rain. But as we cycled, either they give up and stop at the bus stops, or they are too fast and disappeared within my line of sight. Somemore, the rain got worse at this time that visiblity is very low. Worse, i WAS ALONE. I dont deny that that was PANIC in me now. To continue or not? I am not afraid to continue cycle in the rain, the worse thing is that i afraid i will GET LOST. 进退两难. What will u do if u are me? By this time, some of the road marshals along the way are also gone, seeking shelter. That left only the road signs that they posted. My only GUIDE. If i missed one, THATS IT.

I cycled for some time and feels a bit regretted. The rain keeps hitting me until i had a HARD time opening my eyes and see the way. At last, i stopped at a shell station. 2 other cyclists are there too and they are also waiting for transport to fetch them to next checkpoint. Luckily, they knew this area very well and knows where is the next checkpoint. Sorry, i not the one to "sit down and wait" type, especially when i was already halfway through. I decided to take the risk and continue. ..

And...i AM lucky. Along the way, the signboards lead the way. Cant help thinking how USEFUL they really are until now! *feels like hugging the lampost with the signboard attached to it* Further on, and to my surprise, i saw a couple of marshals standing in the heavy rain, holding a umbrella shouting "Go STRAIGHT!" Words cant describe my gratitude! Really GRATEFUL to them! *Salutes!* Seeing them is like SEEING LIGHT. REALLY. Somemore, along the way, there are also trapped cyclists seeking shelter at the bus stops who shouted: "加油!" to me as i cycled past them. Great motivation! :D Once in a while, i can see a few cyclists who cycled past me too. Now i know, i am NOT ALONE. :D:D:D Cant imagine how happy i was when i saw the signboard:"Next checkpoint 3km" :) When i finally reached the stadium, the rest were already there. They are sooo dry, man. Seems like i am the only CRAZY one to cycle in the rain. (garang!) =D

While waiting for the never ending rain to stop, we decided to go over to the nearby kopitiam to eat our proper lunch: Botak Jones! :D Hehee...our "reward". The organisers decided to send us back to ecp by bus. We are still allowed a choice to continue cycling from changi checkpoint to ecp but it was already almost 6pm, so late. No point. Those who cycled faster like Melvin before the rain poured are able to complete the race. Therefore our 5th checkpoint became our last checkpoint. Haiz. Dunno should i be happy or not. I had only cycled about 80+km instead of 128km. At ECP, we waited for anticipation for the lucky draw, hoping we can at least struck "rich" here. :):):) But just like what zhicheng says, "whats yours is yours". The first prize goes to a friend of one rsphi senior. Wow. A bike worth $900+! Never mind, we still reward oursleves with a hearty dinner at Carl's Juniors. Haha. :D Next year, lets join bike rally! ;)

FOOD

Food in vivo itself is generally expensive, even the food courts such as kopitiam and banquet. Went in there once to eat and i swore never to go there to eat again. One malay mixed rice meal can costs me $6! i am not ordering fastfood leh... Luckily across the road, got a food centre, at the bsu interchange there. Popular dishes there got the $2 nasi lemak, 鱼片米粉, tom yum noodles, nice vegetarian food at around $3. Can try the malay teh tarik too! :) Just that it always get too crowded and cant find seats at lunchtime.

Harbourfront Centre
Always get neglected and overlooked place. MAybe its too near to vivocity and thus pple seldom noticed it and go there. Not much to see too, except for the 2 big models of the luxury cruise ships. There is a Dragon gate restaurant well hidden in one of the floors. Went there to eat before, especially its dim sum buffet. Nice! Must order its dessert. :)

While the other end is my workplace and SENTOSA...So near yet so Far...