Go speed racer!

Today was exciting. After training some stayed behind at Bedok Reservoir to catch Hydro Sapiens, though strangely the water body remained quietly vacant at 1930hrs and the show was expected to start in another 30 minutes.

Anyway Jerome went off to Tampines Mall with SS instead, and finally got his haversack and sandals! Hopefully the footwear doesn’t abrade his skin again. BW, who happens to be an army regular, came along for dinner at Fish and Co. Haha I remembered him for his original and self-deprecating humour last time at Bugis Junction’s Swensens. He was kind enough to give us a treat though it's only my second encounter with him. What’s more, I got a ride back home on his bike! Haha. Helmet on, paddle bag slung behind my back, and off we went! I was practically smiling the entire journey home. The rush of the wind on exposed skin, and the howling echoes in the helmet covered ears, were invigorating. And it was the first time I could experience what squeezing in between cars was like! Hair was still standing on end after the ride, not because of jitteriness, but because of the constant gusts of wind while on the road. A little uncomfortable, and this makes me want to get an Adidas windbreaker for Dad when his birthday comes up in a couple of months.

Catch me if you can!

After being through A&E, Jerome knows very well that biking is a dangerous way of travel. Yet, not everyone is able to afford a 4-wheel drive. More often than not, bikers are middle to lower class workers who pretty much just want an independent means of travel without busting the bank account. And biking is tough. The exhilaration from the cold winds will probably wear off after the 3rd journey down the same expressway. And they have to brave torrential downpours and negotiate slippery roads when the skies get angry. Jerome still remembers a time with COE for bikes is only $1, and now it is well above $1K. Owning a vehicle is getting prohibitively expensive these days. Rising fuel levels, agonizing jams, and exasperating ERP charges continue to burn motorists’ pockets and intimidate Jerome as he takes his first step towards car ownership. The onus is now on the relevant authorities to improve public transport and encourage more to adopt this environmentally friendly means of travel. Initiatives, such as Iris and increasing peak hour train frequencies, are a good start. Here’s looking forward to more improvements on our public transport system, and smoother traffic on the roads.

On a side note, Jerome doesn’t mind another bike trip to stimulate his senses again! (-_-)v