OK! Here you are...
I had a puncture on the 1st turn after the start line. I heard a hissing like noise coming from the back and I thought how come I had a leaf or some kind of paper stuck in my frame?
So I choose to stop at the very first turn and Gab and How followed suit.
Thanks to this 2 fabulous bros for accompanying me for quite a while. In fact How pointed out to me that my chain was making a noise of sorts but it turned out when I stopped I saw to my horror a huge staple stuck in my beloved tyre! When I stopped, I could hear the hissing was constant and I immediately knew that air was escaping and I was so sad.
How pulled out a tube and It was a sigh of relieve. Next we tried to figure out a way to unmount the tire from the rim without any tire levers. I made do with a heavy heart using the rear skewer as it was tapered on one end. It did the trick very well surprisingly and I was still happy that I could change the tube.
The happiness was short-lived as I did not remember that I was using a deep section wheel and hence needed a tube with a long valve to make to make up for the deep section of the aero-foil. So no choice, I told Gab and How to push and soldier on without me. Thank you once again Gab and How! You guys are champions!
Marshalls were useless as they could not even tell me what or where to go for a replacement. One of them then called I guess their leader and then I was told to go back to the start line to get the tube replaced. So I walked back to the start line with a heavy heart.
I had to line up as there were some other people waiting to get their bikes tuned and tubes changed as well for the 20km race due to start in half an hours time.
I knew about the cut off time for the 39km ride and that it was at 8pm that they will close off a section of the route.
The Shimano neutral service did not have my tube and had to improvise by using a borrowed valve extender to pump up my tire and then remove it again. I paid $10 for good service with a nice guy changing my tire and a smile on his face as he called for the next person in line.
I then heard the announcement for the riders taking part in the 20km community ride to make their way as they had only 10mins left to the start. I thought to myself, gosh! I better make it to the same place where I left off before I get caught in a sea of riders. Not a nice thing. So I had to walk to the entrance of the carnival and then worm my way in and out of crowds of people coming in and Im trying to get out. 5 mins gone there!
By the time I reached the place where I had a puncture, an official stopped me and I begged him to let me through as I wanted to carry on and the 2 marshals confirmed that I was indeed there earlier on with a puncture.
So the official was kind enough to let me through although he suggested that I wait for the 20km guys to start and move off together with them. He then told me that if I don't mind the route has gone "live" meaning to say that it has been opened to public and some sections are not fully closed anymore so I had to ride at my own risk.
I took the risk and went on and I powered on through the MBS area flying though over the slippery terrain of metal covers and holes here and there. Not to mention the hoards of foreign workers crossing the roads. Once on the Nicoll highway stretch I could see in a distance the back markers and I powered on from a constant 30kmh plus speed to about 54kmh all the way through ECP and managed at some stretches 60kmh plus speeds. Afterwhich I had to do 30kmh and below once inside ECP park vicinity. A little daunting at first as I had to keep slowing down then powering up to get pass the slow ones. It was really energy sapping and I had also at one point before the hydration point drafted an ambulance for about a good 2km reaching speeds in excess of 40km plus. Then came the climb at Benjamin Shears bridge where I had to make my way through a maze of cyclist. It was so tight and at some point I almost had to unclip and walk as the guy in front of me suddenly got down. I hopped onto the cemented part of the shoulder and continued powering up and then back on to tarmac and picked up the pace upslope again.
After that, I was so happy to see the downslope and I managed to clock 73kmh according to my speedo as I cranked up the gears with the big chainring and the smallest cog at the back. Thank you TREK and SRAM! What a lethal combo! The bike was amazingly swift with superb handling and I did not feel for any moment that the bike was unstable at all. I knew what TREK did was worth it in all the research they put in. The drivetrain did not fail me too.
I literally whacked the bike over the ECP stretch over rough surfaces and pushed it over the humps and speed strips too! So comfortable. I only have sore hamstrings as I believe I pushed too hard!
I finished the "race" in 1:54... minus a couple of mins and I think Im satisfied with my performance this year.
The puncture made me achieve something I could not achieve if I rode with the pack.
For all I can remember I was always overtaking people and no one passed me at all. Not bragging but just sharing my experiences la!
All in all I would like to thank Gabriel and How! A big heartfelt Thank YOU! Bros! And thank you to Team Cyclospore! A good fruitful outing indeed!
Ride safe!
Matt
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