When being a Pro is just not enough

The cool morning breeze permeates the bedroom ever so lightly. The skies are turning a copper gold and the sun just peeking out over the horizon into the clouds. Suddenly the distorted noise turns into what we recognise as music. The radio awakes the less than well rested body coupled with repeated snoozes of the cellphone alarm clock. Annoying but necessary are these 'wake-me-ups' for the ride which is to follow.

Every Saturday morning in my life is met with a memorable thought of getting up early and looking at the clock and reminiscing of the days when I used to ride it like I meant it (Well, at least to our rendezvous point - simply because I was always oversleeping and running late).

I couldn't explain the tiredness which I endured carried forward from the day before - thanks to working late. I do sometimes wish that I had that little extra push in each pedal stroke that I made when it was time to ride with the guys of Cyclospore. Mind you, being a 28year old.. or young (if you want) avid cyclist doesn't qualify you as a "fit" fella in Cyclospore, which consisted of really fine and fit chaps with an age band as wide as the Grand Canyon... but oh my these guys can make you think twice to ask yourself if the thousand dollar machine you invested in was indeed a sound decision!

Drugs and sports are notorious and have always had a part to play at even the highest level of sporting glory. They somehow seem to come together very well back in those days.

These days, it's still rife and very much present, albeit in a more sophisticated and structured way. Cycling is not spared and doping has done more damage to the sport than good. It's almost like saying once you've added too much salt to the dish, you cannot save it no matter how much you try. Well it also raises the question of how prominent a figure you are in cycling, so much so that the more of the limelight you see, more people tend to take notice.

Cycling has become more popular over the years internationally and it's no different in Singapore as more people pursue an active and healthy lifestyle and coincidentally it happens to be that cycling is one of the most commonly accessible sport. As many learnt to ride a bicycle in their childhood. Well let's not go there but just ponder on the thought of if people here in Singapore have even heard of doping scandals in cycling. Im sure that many have read in the media but try asking a weekend warrior and chances are, he/she will tell you - HUH?

What Im driving at is the fact that we all have our times when we constantly wish greedily for that little advantage over our fellow team mates within our little factions. This cant be helped as it's the nature of which we and the soceity we live in.