Cycling

A few weeks ago I was introduced to a bike path that snakes along a series of splendid beach side parks (Pasir Ris Park, Changi Coast and ECP) and have since ridden along it on a few weekends.

Sigh... like almost everything else I write about here this is something I used to love doing. Back in Delhi, in those glorious free spirited days of youth, I used to ride along the banks of the river Yamuna. Setting off from home at a time that can only be described as late at night and watching the dawn break over the river after several hours of cycling. (Quite morbidly my favorite spot for watching the dawn break was on a pier jutting out from the compound of a cremation ground)

Back in the day (as this was before the time of MP3 players) the audio experience of the ride used to be intense with the song of the cicadas overlaying the babbling of the river in an otherwise completely silent night. The stirring of the birds before the dawn used to be a welcome relief and I would feel a smile on my face every morning, as if to greet the birds.

Cycling by the sea is even more exhilarating than on a river bank with wide sweeping views and a whole lot more wind. The mildly salty air even smells better. With my IPod now I get to set the mood of my own ride and can choose whether I want to feel soulful by the sea or pumped by the exertion.

It cannot get simpler to start cycling here with several bike rentals right by the beach that offer excellent rates and bikes of all sizes.