What so SPECIAL about CYCLING to you?

After so many accidents and near misses happened on the road, why do people still take up cycling as their hobby? Wouldn’t the gruesome accident pictures involving your fellow cyclists freak you out enough already? Wouldn’t the rudeness and ruthlessness from drivers scare you more than enough already? WHY? WHY are we still cycling on the road? Wouldn’t it be silly when you know your friends have died abruptly and suddenly during cycling to be able to deter you to get out from cycling and get into somewhat “Safer” sport? 

Transition during Xterra

This is Elaine Kar Yan, a.k.a. Sunny Bunny. I will give you my views and hope this article could be an interesting interactive piece for everyone to contribute your views beneath mine.

Waiting at the starting line.

 Cycling is a great sport to engage in, it keeps you fit , healthy and become more socially adapt to get to know more friends and people from all walks of lives. 

Cycling is such a wonderful Social Sport =) knowing all walks of lives.

Cycling is my transformation journey which makes me relate to what is happening in life – the ups and downs. From the start of learning cycling at the age of 30, the part of trying, and nonstop trying, I fell, then I got up and do again, it’s like what is happening in life. Once I grasp the balancing, and started my cycling journey, then I have to take up the next Cleat skills on road bike, then countless fell and getting up and re-do again till I am able to do so. The cycle keep on going as next is learning stage was MTB – MTB Cleats – more fine tuning of skills etc. etc. till now the mission is to bring out the message of “Share Our Roads” for more people to feel safer to engage in this sport. I believe there are much more challenges installed ahead for me as long as I keep on pedaling.

Cycling is unique in a sense that it took me to many places. I am a social / leisure cyclists (sports girl) which I do not chase the podium placing so much. I always value highly on my journey, the people I met, the places I am at and have been to, the food and drinks, the scenic views, the nonstop of so much greeneries. This is the Malaysia – Truly Asia which I saw from my eyes after I started cycling here. 

Training session during Langkawi Ironman Race 2010

Cycling open up my mind, my eyes of seeing the world. When I am on my Roadie or Mountie, the world seems so different. I am more in tune with my surroundings. I felt I am part of the earth which I live in. This is a sport which you can use as a mode of transport as it has zero carbon emission and my vision for our future to be able to still stay on planet earth instead of moving to Mars, we have to all go back to use cycling as our mode of transport and limit the use of automobiles and planes. Mother Earth needs us to save and we need more bicycle lanes, laws and regulations to ensure cycling is a sport which is safe enough for more people to engage in.

I treasure cycling and my cycling skills a lot, I never took it for granted as I do not have the privilege to own a bicycle and learn the skills when I was at a younger age. I learn the skills and own the bicycles while being in Malaysia, I never looked back even till our close cycling buddies died in front of us in the news. These news only strengthen up my mission to bring the “Share Our Roads” message out to as many people as possible and to create the impact so big that Government and authorities to take actions to ensure a safer place for all of us to engage in the sport.

When I first started cycling during my first Ipoh Century Ride 2008

I admire Malaysia Government trying to create many cycling events to promote the sport and even Tourism Malaysia is trying to promote Malaysia Cycling Tourism. But if during cycling races, cars can simply barge into the racing area to hit national cyclists, our cyclists got hit and harassed on the road, no awareness and proper planned education programs initiated by Government to ensure safety of cyclists, then how to promote cycling and cycling tourism further?

“Share Our Road” message is a MUST for everyone to spread out as much as possible as these are the immediate actions which we all must do.  Keep Support / Snap & Post your pictures onto facebook. I believe as “A picture speaks a thousand words; let our voices all be heard.” Remember only having a safer environment then only cycling as a sport, cycling tourism and cycling industry will flourish. I have pledged to support “Share Our Roads”, have you? Now is your turn to answer the question posted - What so SPECIAL about CYCLING to you?

I Pledge to support "Share Our Roads"