FAQs
What do I wear? How fast do we ride? Can I keep up? Are aerobars allowed?
This FAQ attempts to answer those questions.
If you are not sure whether you can keep up, the best day to start out is on Sunday.
Sunday Breakfast rides are one of our most relaxing rides of the week. The true recovery rides averages 27kmh only. The faster riders may break into a separate faster group that goes maybe 30-31kmh, but seldom any faster.
How is the average speed measured? No, it does not take the speed of the speedometer at any point in time, but rather the "average" of the whole ride, i.e. there should be a setting on your speedo that says "Average Speed". That's the speed we take as measurement.
Why don't you take the speed measured at any point in time? Due to differences in terrain, the speed may vary. We travel slower when going uphill and faster when going downhill. Even on flat roads, the speed may differ when there is traffic. There may be headwind and other factors affecting the ride. Generally, the actual speed should read 2-5kmh faster than avg speed.
Can I ride with aerobars in the pack? Sure you can, but NOT when you're in the middle of the pack where you may require quick access to the brakes. If you're in the front or right at the back where you're not drafting anyone, feel free to use them. Our rides are meant to be draft-legal and it'll be easier if people took turns at the front to do their turns of pulls.
What must I have to ride with the group? Helmet & lights are mandatory. This is because we believe a helmet can help prevent certain common injuries during accidents that may be inevitable. It may not help if a truck rolls over you, but if you do crash at 40kmh, and your head is rolling across the tarmac, the helmet may just be that difference between making a comeback and doing a PhD (permanent head damage).
You should have rear and front lights if you are riding with the group in the early wee hours of the morning. A red light at the back alerts cars approaching you from behind, while a white light in front lets cars coming from sides or from head-on to know you're there too, else they may just make a turn without knowing you're there. Reflectors are not effective and does not replace lights.
I'm a newbie. Can I join? Of course you can! While it is generally recommended that one knows how to draft, we've ridden with new riders and more are joining us all the time. We have a dedicated newbie Saturday ride that starts out at 5:30am and we have Guardian Angel Joyriders who lead and tail the group to help new riders along. The weekday rides are catered to specific cycling objectives for the group, and they might be too fast for a new rider. However, due to the growing numbers, we've now got a Wednesday ride at 5am for new riders.
And as you get more comfortable riding with Joyriders, you can subsequently join the Wednesday Recovery RIdes and the Friday Spinning Rides. These generally don't go above 29kmh and someone should wait with you to ensure you get back home in one piece. Of course, there's also our Sunday Breakfast ride where we have a 6:40am start for "advanced newbies" who are comfortable with the distance. Check with
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and
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for more info about the ride programmes. So we can look out for you.
What if I puncture or have some mechanicals? We will generally wait for everyone, if necessary until you manage to get a cab. During weekdays, some of those rushing for work may leave first but there will normally be someone with you.
How fierce is the group? Do we bite? No, not even on sprint day Tuesday. You'll find that this is a real friendly group. Which is probably the reason why a number of newer riders have been joining us.
What happens on Tuesdays? There may be a group surging to try to break away from the pack. If this is not your cuppa, just stay with the pack at the back which will be going slower. Due to the needs for some riders to stay sharp for races, this is a necessity for them but it may not be what you need.
During the beginning of the year and sometimes midyears, there may be turtle rides (as opposed to the surging Ninja rides) that focus on base training. These are steady paced rides even on the fast days.
Who are the ride leaders? The Snail Queen Joyce is generally acknowledged as the patron of the group. She's always there to take care of the newer and the slower riders. Sunday Breakfast and Newbie rides are taken led by our experienced ride leaders who will do their utmost to take care of everyone.
What if I am a team member of another cycling club? That's the good thing about Joyriders. We're just a group of people who share a passion about riding early in the morning where traffic is nominal, and in time to get you back for work. As such, we have team members from PCRT, Ascender, FWNR, Trifam, even ANZA and Cycleworx. Riders not affiliated with any club can, and do ride under the Joyriders/LH5am group name. Anyone can join us. All we ask is for you to ride with us!
How do I join Joyriders? As mentioned, just ride with us! Click here to register yourself as a member.
What are the privileges if I join Joyriders? You get a funny nick name, like Snail Queen Joyce. Plus our company for your rides. Which is a lot of fun; just ask anyone in the group. Oh, and you get to wear our cool jerseys!
Why are you called Joyriders? Because we're a happy group? It's also a play on our Snail Queen's name (who named the group).
Why are you also called the LH5AM group? Coz we start almost every weekday morning from Longhouse at 5am in the morning. Except Monday. Everyone rests on Monday. Well... not really, but most of us do anyway. Coz it's a boring day.
We also ride weekends, but normally 5.30am to fit in an extra half an hour of sleep. From Longhouse, of course. Check out the ride schedules.
Where is Longhouse? Along Upper Thomson Road before Thomson Plaza. It's an eating place, directly opposite Thomson Community Centre. Click here to view location map.
Are there traffic rules governing bikes in Singapore?
- Front AND Read lights are mandatory in the dark
- Helmets are MANDATORY
- We are allowed to ride 2 abreast (but no more)
- We are allowed on the road (I had to check!), but must keep to the left and out of the way of faster traffic
- We cannot use the road if there is a dedicated cycle path along the same route (watch for the construction out the back of the airport!)
