Cycling imitates life with its ups and downs. The focus of the ride is the journey and not just reaching the destination. Both the challenging steep climbs, the rough and rugged terrain as well the sweet downhill and flat sections are all part of the ride, conquered one pedal stroke at a time.
Cycling was a childhood hobby that I rediscovered about five years ago. It’s kept me healthy, smoke-free and sane.
I can’t thank my good friend, David Teng enough for getting me started along this road in 2009 when I was living in Bintulu. He was kind enough to hand pick and send me my first mountain bike, a Fuji Nevada 1.0. It was a gun metal grey hardtail that arrived flat packed in a box from Kuching by express bus. I was as excited as a kid on Christmas day waiting to put it together and go for my first ride. My life has never been the same since.
Five years on, having moved four times across three countries and six bicycles later, I am still going strong. There is nothing that beats the feel of the wind in your face as you pedal and move forward under your own power. It takes you back to your childhood and the joy of play, the freedom to go anywhere and do anything. Exploring new territory and challenging terrain is all part of the adventure.
I have had the opportunity to take my adventure on two wheels to Bintulu, Kuala Lumpur, Doha, Cape Town and now Canberra. It has given me the opportunity to stop and appreciate the beauty around me.
Canberra is a great place to cycle with dedicated bicycle lanes and laws to protect cyclist. Drivers will watch out for you and are used to sharing the road with cyclists. You can confidently ride along the main roads in Canberra with the assurance you are not going to end up as roadkill. Of course, safety rules and caution apply. Cyclists are not exempt from following the Road Rules and must ride responsibly.
I love cycling here because you get to enjoy some very beautiful scenery, hills, mountains, lakes, wide green open spaces and bush. It’s beautiful terrain with lots of possibilities and places to explore, a delightful change from the flat desert plains of rocks and sand in Qatar where I spent two years.
The 28km cycle loop around Lake Burley Griffin is one of the must do’s rides if you visit. My favourite is the 16km Western Loop which will take you past a number of landmarks and give you a feel of this city. It’s a nice leisurely ride. My favourite spot is to start at Black Mountain Peninsular. You can park and ride from here and it’s also a great place to have a BBQ or picnic.
There are many other spots to go cycling and if you are into mountain biking then Stromlo Forest Park is a must. This world class cycling facility caters to all levels of riders and is a great place to brush up your skills.
Thought I would share the pictures of my rides so they can do the talking and let you get a feel of what it’s like cycling in Canberra. Hope you visit soon.
Exodus 