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Singapore Sports & Adventure

Why do we travel?

I guess the reasons are as varied as there are languages in the world. Aside from peer pressure, I guess the main thing we all travel is to experience something different from what we are used to. This experience is simply a form of recreation and as the name suggest, to do some thing new.

For a lot of people going through Singapore, it may be a case of practicality, after all you are already doing a stopover and why not just get out of the airport to experience a new country and get that immigration stamp on the passport.

Unfortunately, a lot of visitors to Singapore have preconceived notions of what to expect in Singapore. Generally, thinking that this ultra clean and uber modern city with draconian laws and placid cultures. Where do they get these ideas from? Hmm… mostly guide books, media and forums.. It this true? As a traveler, we are on a quest of discovery; it’s really up to the individual to decide.

Try something different?

What do you normally like to do on the weekends when you are at home? That single question does reveal a lot about the personalities of people and the reasons why they travel.

Here are some of the few things that you can do:

Camping

Rather than spending a night in Singapore over concrete roof, why not spend it under the moon and the stars?

Camping is one of the ways that Singaporean spends their weekends. A ground sheet, a tent, and a sleeping back with some food will just make the night. Things to do while camping include fishing, kite flying, trekking etc

Some of the popular places that you can camp are Sentosa, Pulau Ubin, Changi Beach & East Coast Beach.

Wakeboarding

How is the feeling of standing on top of water with a board underneath your feet?

Wakeboarding is a new craze and a new sport in Singapore. Although the sport is new, but there are a lot of people doing in at the water in Singapore.

Wakeboarder Singapore Forum

Wakeboard Association (Singapore)

Cable skiing

A new gadget in town, located at the most popular park in Singapore, the East Coast Park.

It offers a different level of challenge in a pool itself. If you think you can overcome the challenge, go there and give it a try.

Ski 360 Degree

Kayaking

Set sail in a kayak, or canoe is one of the favorite past-time of the outdoor Singaporean.

On the island, there are a few companies that offer kayak rental at relatively cheap price. Do try the Singapore water and experience the waves that are created.

Paddle Culture

Cycling

There are many cycling paths within park areas around the island although there is no designated cycling lanes on the public roads itself. Cycling on pavements is allowed but please know that you are sharing the sidewalk with pedestrians. By law, you can't cycle through tunnels and bridges; you need to get off the bike and push it across. Parks with longer cycling trails include East Coast Park and Pasir Ris. There are even Park Connectors that allow the cyclist to move between parks.

 

SINGAPORE BIKE HASH
WildSingapore Ubin Visitors Page
NParks Info on Cycling

 

Off-road trail riding

There are a couple of decent off-road trails that is fun to explore. Top of my list is Pulau Ubin island, to get there, you need to take a ferry from Changi Village Ferry Terminal. Please note that theres an additional S$3 charge to carry your bike on the boat. On the island itself, there are number bicycle shops that does rental bikes. The condition of the bikes varies and get there early if you want to have choice. Second on my list is Bukit Timah Hill and Nature Reserve. There is an adjacent Mountain Bike trail which can get pretty slippery in rainy weather. You can rent performance bikes at the base of the hill on weekends with Nice B.R.. Last on my list is Tampines Mountain Bike Trail. Now, I haven't done this trail before, so, I better not comment about it...

On-road riding

Here's a decent loop ride about 80km long with breaks for lunch and sightseeing. Fitness level: above average and strong cyclist.

 

Cycling and Touring to Malaysia & Indonesia from Singapore

We do see a number of tourers on bicycles in Betel Box. Some are doing it for the adventure, others are doing it for personal achievement. Regardless of their reasons, bicycle tourers do need to plan abit more for their journeys ahead. BTW, if you haven't realised yet, Changi Airport is connected only by a motorway which bicycles are explicitly disallowed to travel on.... the safe way if you wish to bike immediately is to pop onto the taxi and tell the driver to drop you at the East Coast Lagoon Hawker Centre. Here, you have shelter and food while you fix up your bike. You are already on the East Coast Park cycling trail and you can make your way into the city!

Bikes on Trains & Buses

The local SMRT Train and Buses have verified that they allow for foldable bikes on the MRT Trains and Buses only during non-peak hours (although they didn't specify the exact hours). In addition, the foldable bikes should not have any protruding parts and the dimensions of the folded bike needs to be within the following measurements..

 

Cycling into Peninsular Malaysia

2 main routes, either across Causeway 1 or by ferry. You can get through on Woodlands Causeway Checkpoint but remember that this is a very busy route and not very comfortable. Through the Woodlands Checkpoint, you will be riding alongside thousands of motorbikes if you are unlucky and get caught in the peakhours. Alternatively if you need to get in through the Woodlands Causeway is to use the Malaysian Train system. If you insist on getting through on your bike, watch out for the peakhours of 7-9am and 5-8pm; weekends traffic is erratic on all hours as we have alot of local tourists going across the borders. By ferry, you have a few alternatives, recommended is the route from Changi Ferry Terminal (behind Changi Airport, off Changi Coast Road).

Cycling into Indonesia

If you do not yet know, Indonesia has thousands of islands and you need to decide which island you want to start from. From Singapore, it is easy access to Batam and Bintan islands and from there, you can get connecting ferries into the other islands.

Cycling training in Singapore

There are 2 routes that the local groups train on.

1. The East Coast Route
2. The Kranji Route

The East Coast route will take you on East Coast Beach through to Changi Coastal Road to Changi Village then back down to Upper Changi Road.

The other route is more involved. You start from Thompson Road and then up towards Kranji near Sungei Buloh, then back down to Upper Bukit Timah (Woodlands Road), then back through Dunearn Road eventually to Newton Circus. This route is a lot longer about 65km and including distance from us, about 80km.

Anyways, here are the map resources that you can print from for the sections that are abit difficult.
http://www.can.com.sg/
http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg

Online resources for Bicycle Touring in Singapore & Malaysia

Here are some online resources that should assist in your planning, training and meeting other 2wheelers in Singapore.

Size of foldable bikes allowable on Singapore MRT trains & buses
Cycling in Singapore - http://www.cycling.org.sg/
Bike routes within and to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia - http://user.chollian.net/~boonstra/cindex.htm
SinGeo links on all things for bikes and cycling http://www.singeo.com.sg/index.php?tag=bike
Johann Annuar's bike trip from Europe to Singapore - http://www.joetheman.net/
Cycling web directory - http://www.bikesutra.com/index.html
Learning about Gears and Shifting - http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/gears.htm
Cycling Performance Tips - http://www.cptips.com/toc.htm
Cycling Tours around the world - http://www.iexplore.com/activities/bike_resources.jhtml?activity=Bicycle%20Touring
Cycling Community Tips - http://www.danenet.wicip.org/bcp/makers.html
TwoWheelAction Bike Shop in Singapore and Singapore Bike Hash - http://www.twa.com.sg/sbh/index.html
Cycle Craft, a knowledgeable bike shop down the road from us that stocks decent bikes - http://www.cyclecraftsg.com/Contact.html
http://www.fallfactor.com/ (for paniers & bags)
List of Singapore Bike Shops and Bikes Classifieds - http://www.togoparts.com/
Interactive Bikes Trails/ Routes in Singapore - http://www.bikely.com/
Cycling Tourers Home Stay in Malaysia - David's Bicycle Touring Home Stay in Malaysia

 

Ferries from Singapore

From Harbourfront Centre & Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal
From Changi Ferry Terminal

 

 

Rock climbing

Rock climbing is becoming a more popular in Singapore. With more rock gyms created, there are more people picking up the sport. Few climbing events/competitions are held in Singapore through out the year. And Singapore is the host for Climbing World Cup 2006.

Some of the places where rock gym can be found: -

Climb Adventure (Pacific) Pte Ltd
10, Hoe Chiang Road #01-04/05
Keppel Towers S (089315)
Tel 65-62203305
http://www.climbadventure.com

Climb Asia Climbing Centre
117 rangoon road, Singapore 218395
http://www.climb-asia.com

Safra Adventure Club
Safra Yishun
60 Yishun Ave 4
Singapore 769027

Nature & conservation

Do check out our Singapore Nature page

Paintball & Laser Gun

Need to vent your fustrations with a semi-automatic? Try Crossfire or CombatLazer

 

Outdoors Adventure

Forest Adventure runs a series of outdoors ropes course for kids and adults. The rope courses are weaved around trees and a water reservoir.

 

More coming. Drop us a note if you have something to add...

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