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The Road to the Taiwan KOM: a perfect mix of pain and pleasure

7/27/2017

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Picture
“Why on earth am I putting myself through this again?” I found myself thinking three weeks ago when I was 100km into the Road to Taiwan KOM cycling event, a sportive version of the famous Taiwan KOM Challenge.
 
The 5km-to-go sign had just appeared when I’d thought (or perhaps was just helplessly hoping) I was only 2km from the finish line at Wuling Pass atop the mighty Mount Hehuan. I’d been there before in November 2015 and the painful memory of that occasion came pouring back into my consciousness from the dark place where it had been safely hidden.
 
However, in most tough cycling rides or races, pain is only temporary, and sure enough, when 35 minutes later – yes, it took me over half an hour to complete those final 5km, which includes 1km of downhill! – I climbed off my bike at the end of our sport’s longest “hill” climb, the all-over ache was gone, replaced by endorphins flooding my brain as I basked in the glory of accomplishment, my eyes feasting in one of the wonders of the cycling world.

Click on this link to find out why Flat Spoke Media's Alan Grant believes the Taiwan KOM Challenge or its sister sportive events should be on every cyclist's bucket list.

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Singapore MTB nationals: Junaidi pushed hard but defends title

7/24/2017

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PictureThe king and his cubs
Junaidi Hashim (Team Awano Treknology3) survived a late charge from Anthony Brown (Cannasia) to retain his OCBC Cycle Singapore National Mountain Bike Cross Country Championships in a thrilling race at the Chesnut Nature Park yesterday. Tsalina Phang (Attitudebikes) was crowned the women’s champion after a dominating performance.

Perfect conditions greeted Singapore’s mountain bikers as they flocked to the new Chesnut North venue to race and/or spectate on a cracker of a course carved out by the team at race organisers DirTraction. A rare week of no rain meant the trails were bone dry and the racers took advantage by tearing round the roughly 3km course. The circuit was heavy on single track, some parts fast and flowing, others bits more technical, and the inclusion of a section of the gravity downhill course just after the start/finish line provided thrills and spills throughout the morning.

It was a very good day out for Team Awano with rising stars Riyadh Hakim (third, Men's Elite) and Arfan Faisal (first, Juniors) adding to their mentor's glory.

Click on this link or go to www.secondwindmagazine.com to read the full report, including a post-race interview with Junaidi.


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Junaidi holds off Brown to clinch 2017 MTB nationals

7/24/2017

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Picture
Junaidi Hashim (Team Awano Treknology3) survived a late charge from Anthony Brown (Cannasia) to retain his OCBC Cycle Singapore National Mountain Bike Cross Country Championships in a thrilling race at the Chesnut Nature Park yesterday. Tsalina Phang (Attitudebikes) was crowned the women’s champion after a dominating performance.
 
Perfect conditions greeted Singapore’s mountain bikers as they flocked to the new Chesnut North venue to race and/or spectate on a cracker of a course carved out by the team at race organisers DirTraction. A rare week of no rain meant the trails were bone dry and the racers took advantage by tearing round a roughly 3km course. The circuit was heavy on single track, some parts fast and flowing, others bits more technical, and the inclusion of a section of the downhill course just after the start/finish line provided thrills and spills for the spectators throughout the morning.

Click on this link to read the full story.


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Return to Wuling on the Road to the Taiwan KOM

7/5/2017

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Sitting here at Singapore's Changi Airport en route to Taiwan, the excitement is building as I contemplate my return to the Taroko Gorge, Mt Hehuan and the Wuling pass. I've been lucky enough to be invited by the Taiwan Tourism Board and the Taiwan Cyclist Federation to join a group of journalists on a week-long cycling tour that takes in not just the Road to Taiwan KOM, but also a visit to the famous Sun Moon Lake and a trip to Matsu Island, which lies just off the coast of mainland China.

First up is this Saturday's Road to Taiwan KOM, a sportif version of the annual Taiwan KOM Challenge, which sees some of the world's best cyclists tackle the world's biggest "hill climb" race – think 3,275 metres in a single climb! I took part in the 2015 Taiwan KOM Challenge and to whet my appetite I just re-read my account of that day. Here it is below and look out for lots of posts from what promises to be a fantastic week of cycling.

Click on this link to read "Taiwan KOM Challenge – epic as advertised"

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    What we do

    Welcome to Flat Spoke Media, which was inspired by its editor-at-large Alan Grant, a man who eats, sleeps and breathes cycling. As such our main aim is to explore and write about all things related to the pedal-powered world. 

    We also write social commentaries about life in Singapore through the eyes of an expat, as well as covering travel and the wider sports world.


    Editing services are also part of our remit. Our years of experience in the editorial production departments of various regional newspapers and magazines puts us well positioned to polish copy from any walk of life.

    We hope you enjoy Flat Spoke Media and look forward to your comments and suggestions on our content.

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