Good things come in twos

Yesterday was our second attempt to do the reverse island loop that was aborted the previous week. Happy to say that we completed it, the second time around, just in the nick of time before the rain came. This was in spite of me getting two flats - one at Kranji/Mandai and the second at Punggol. Thanks to JN, YP, CL and the rest for helping out.

Good to have SC-Cervelo join us up till Bt Timah/Clementi. He's a strong triathlete training for AP Phuket as well.

Highlights of the ride was going down Lornie at 49kph, trailing YP on his brand new Speed Concept, storming down LCK at 37 to 45 kph, and swooshing down Yishun Avenue 1 at 40 - 45 kph. Most agreed that the reverse loop was easier than our usual anti-clockwise loop.

Speaking of highlights, we were very impressed that YP and CL had the privilege of being transported to the RV point by car. Couldn't ask for better support from our spouses than that!

Thighs were tight after Sat's 140km ride, but held up relatively well, although my left calf felt tight as well. Thanks to MBH who gave me good massages over the weekend, I was able to complete the 100k yesterday.

The week that was (not)

The week started out pretty well. Easy 8km run and swim on Monday, bike-run brick session on Tue, gym and swim with SportInc on Wed (I actually enjoyed the swim session!). Then came unlucky Thu. Just a casual spin with TC, my good friend from VS who wanted to take up cycling. I had arranged for him to buy a second hand bike, and went down with him to test ride, buy cycling gear, and Thu was supposed to be a confidence booster for TC before he went on the roads.

Silly me decided to go on my tri-bike and was spinning along the PCN wooded park when I hit a depression (which I couldn't see) and down I went. As SC reminded me later, wasn't it Lance Armstrong who said that it is not whether we'll crash, but when. Thank God nothing serious. Some abrasions on the arms and right knee. Just a bloody mess, which my sons squirmed at. The right wrist was a little tender.

The fall meant that I missed the Sat 100km ride (sigh) and two swim sessions and another 12 km run. But on Sunday, I felt good enough to go back on the bike.

And what a ride that was. About 5km into the ride, up along Bartley viaduct, we heard a loud bang. I thought it was my tire, but it was IN's. His second puncture on the 1080s. Good thing CS was on hand to show us how to change a tubular tire (his spare). Took about half an hour. Sounded familiar? Last week we had a puncture as well.

Three loops of KB, and the rest were cursing me for picking this route. Then two more loops of Selarang/Loyang. Of course it was not fair that I had fresh legs. I remembered how dogged tired I was at the end of last week's second long ride.

There were 9 of us in all. The first time we had our two ladies with us. Would have been 11 had JN and Jodan been able to make it.

We cut short the ride to only 75km on account of various factors - tiredness, time constraints, etc. But it was certainly good to be back on the bike, bandage and all.

After breakfast, I discovered to my dismay that my front tire was flat. Two punctures in one day. CS to the rescue again. And this time, he showed us how to use pit stop. We should pay CS for the tire changing lessons!