Singapore is fast. Fast cars. Fast money. Fast progress. And for the cyclists who live in the centre of this booming city-state metropolis, with its stunning combination of corporate high-rises and legacy colonial architecture positioned cheek by jowl, their ride schedules and route choices are reflected in not just the hustle and bustle of city life, but their quest for quiet and cooler times on the bike.
MAAP ambassador, Sufyan Sairi lives in Singapore, is a father of two, a husband, and works full-time. Every minute is precious, and because time is in short supply he begins every morning before the sunrise to get the most out of his day. On the weekends, while he may not need to work, he still endeavours to maximise each moment, combining quality family and social time with quality training.
“My day typically starts at about 4:30AM, except Mondays. I enjoy having a good early morning routine. Contrary to what others think, it actually keeps me energised for the rest of the day. And it’s a beautiful feeling having completed your workout (including coffee) before 8AM.”
This kind of rigour takes dedication.
“It takes a lot of commitment and discipline to get up that early every day, but it keeps me grounded. I’m not competing with anyone but just trying to do better each day. And that’s progression by my own terms.
While they may not choose the bike themselves, Sufyan hopes his kids will see his commitment as a source of inspiration as they grow older and discover their own passions.
“Personally, besides the love for the sport, in doing so, not only does it push me to be a better version of myself, but I hope to set a good example to my kids (and maybe others). That it is good to be passionate about something. Putting in time, dedication and commitment. These are traits that’s important to have in life. If one day my kids find something they are passionate about because I inspire them, then I’m contented. Same way many others have inspired me.”
While most of the riding he does in Singapore itself is road, he started out riding mountain bikes 15 years ago
“I always have and always will enjoy off-road adventures; be it 4x4 off-roading or mountain biking. Thankfully, there are some gravel options locally, or a short drive across to Malaysia. Or there’s always the Beechworth Granite Classic for some Aussie dirt fun.
And even though he rides around 250km a week, Sufyan does not race – instead, he focuses on self-improvement and bringing his community together through bikes.
“I’ve always been big on bringing the community together. I try to put in some time to ride with different groups. Some people are not really keen on that idea, they want to ride with people they’re familiar with, but given that Singapore is so small, I think it’s nice to be able to bring the cycling community together.”
As a lifelong resident of Singapore, Sufyan has seen his city change momentously in the past two decades in terms of “physical and economic infrastructure”.
“From the onset, Singapore was already a multi-racial, religiously open society. The economic stability brought a lot of foreign investments and businesses and – naturally –people from all over the world set down roots in Singapore.”
On a macro scale that means Singapore continues to be a meeting point for many different cultures, with a fantastic mixture of home and foreign cuisine. At the micro level, the cosmopolitan make up of Singapore is reflected in the groups Sufyan rides with.
“From a cycling perspective, even though it is a small island, it still attracts a lot of riders from around the region especially neighbouring countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines. We have many foreign riders rolling with the different local clubs. For example, my group has a good mix of riders from Indonesia, South Korea, Spain, Malaysia, Russia and the Philippines. This is simply a reflection of Singapore in essence. Many of them have set up roots here in Singapore.”
Sufyan leads group rides of varying abilities, speeds and terrain during the week. Groups meet at 5-6AM to avoid rush hour traffic as well as ensuring there is time for that all important coffee post-ride.
Positioned just 85 miles north of the equator, Singapore is invariably already hot by 9AM, so not only are riders aiming to beat the traffic, but the heat as well.
“Group rides generally start and end in central Singapore to accommodate riders who stay in every corner of the island, and last between 30-50km on a weekday. We’ll do longer rides at the weekend, between 60-100km, and ride in packs of a maximum of 10.”
Like any group of diehards, Sufyan and his crew have a set of tried and tested routes.
“During the week, a typical route might be what we call the Mandai Loop. It’s just over 40km, and has the right amount of rolling hills, flat sprints and fast descending sections including the Mandai Sprint Strava segment. Do it right, and you beat the traffic and get the workout done in under 90 mins. Generally everyone ends in the city centre for some fresh brew and breakfast.”
The island on which Singapore is built is small. You can ride around it in a couple of hours. Despite its size, Singapore has varied terrain upon which to ride. Coastal roads often miss out the busiest areas, and there are plenty of flatter routes for riders to spin the legs with some easy miles. Perhaps not an ideal training camp destination for the pros, but certainly a place with character, and thanks to riders like Sufyan, a burgeoning community.
Sufyan Sairi’s top six rides around Singapore
The Buroh Loop
Perfect for that weekday smash, this 40km route starts in the city, runs through the West Coast Highway towards an industrial precinct and back. Minimal traffic lights and cars, but maximum adrenaline. You also hit some nice segments like the Buroh Bridge Sprint.
Western Countryside
Being a metropolitan city, Singapore is full of skyscrapers – residential, commercial and offices. This route takes you around the north-western part of the island, through the mini countryside (industrial, farm lands, etc). Fewer cars, especially on the weekends and a good change of scenery and fresh air. Rolling hills, with nice long stretches of flat sprints and ending in central Singapore. A nice segment – RT Final Sprint – awaits at the end of the ride.
Singapore Round The Island (RTI)
An essential route for visiting friends / riders from abroad will be the Round The Island or just ‘RTI’. As the name suggests, this route takes you around little Singapore (yes, you get to go around almost the entire island in a couple of hours). It has good mix of rolling hills, long straights and a variety of landscape scenes. Plenty of segments to list and this is just one of them, the Nicoll Highway Rush.
Mandai Loop
Another popular weekday option, with the right amount of rolling hills, flat sprints and fast descending sections (Mandai Sprint is my favourite). Do it right, you beat the traffic and get the workout done in under 90 mins. There are several small variations to the route made by different cycling groups, but generally everyone ends in the city centre for some fresh brew and brekkie. This is also one of the best training routes and definitely one of my personal favourites.
Southern Climbs
A combination of several climbs along the southern coast of Singapore. Starts off with a nice stretch on the highway before a punchy climb via the winding roads up South Buona Vista. The way down is equally exhilarating with nice mini switchbacks. Route also includes the Mt Faber climb segment, the highest rideable peak, approx 1.52km, with elevation gain of 76m and an average gradient 5%( via Morse Rd). You can do 5x or 10x loops for a good climb sesh. I personally know some friends who have done the Everesting challenge (8,848m) on this segment, which require them to do about 115 loops! Before ending the ride, riders go around the small island of Sentosa, connected by a bridge from the main Singapore landmass. Plenty of punchy hills to whet your appetite before breakfast.
Coast to Coast (East-West)
A personal favourite for that long solo fondo or base ride. Night or day. Minimal traffic lights. This takes you from the eastern coast to western coast via the city centre. Generally it’s a flat route with a few flyover climbs. For days when you wanna ride solo and free your mind. And just ride.
