TOUR DE BINTAN 2012

FIVE INTREPID MEMBERS FROM TEAM CYCLOSPORE made the Ferry Trip from Tanah Merah to Bintan on 9th Nov   to 11th Nov  2012 for the annual event. This year's edition saw about 900 cyclists from 30 plus countries coursing thru the lovely terrain of Bintan Island.

Winston (our Pinarello stalwart)  took part in all three stages (273 km!) under the competitive category whilst the rest of us  mere mortals opted to do the GranFondo for the third stage only - 82 km of flats, downslopes and climbs! - for our maiden TDB.

The beautful thing about the event was the feeling that the whole island was in on it with the locals cheering the riders on almost every turn and sideline as we passed thru  towns and villages and anywhere with a kampong house or school. The vistas afforded were scenic with rolling hills, pristine beaches, ample road space with nary a pot hole; and clear directions from a whole army of volunteers flagging each turn, stopping traffic for the pelotons and even the sole rider passing thru that junction,  supportcrew with replacement wheels affixed on teh back of their trsuty m/cycles, fully stocked water/isotonic stops  (with bananas and delectable kueh lapis - and TDB logo bottles we cld keep!) en route , value for money pre and post race massages etc. Very well organised! Its a tropical version of the TDF! Will do it again next year once my quads recover LOL!!


Thanks to the great pple at Restaurant KAMPOENG NELAYAN (A shout out to Riyanto Tan here! Did u get your bike from  TOGOPARTS yet?) who fed us fried rice on all three days (yup - so gd we went back each time to ta pau!); the masseuses under the charge of Michelle Phan @ BINTAN NATURAL SPA where we had pre race aromatherapy bliss of 120 minutes smelling variously like coffee, lemon grass and  rosemary (and post race reflexology as well where our shaved smooth  cyclist calves were a  rare delight  that the masseuses beheld with 'lagi kuat' effleurage pressure!)

Last of all, thanks to the MAGNUM  (only 13000 rupiah! Cheap!! ) ice creams we slurped up   on all three days we were there in a  convenient justification process of pre and post race carbo load/recovery makan:)

RIDE IT LIKE U MEAN IT GUYS!! :)
Rupert