IN MANY parts of the world, the bicycle is an essential part of the vehicular menagerie in towns and sometimes cities but in Brunei Darussalam, it is a rare breed mostly confined to tracks, recreational parks and forests reserves. Considered “ancient” mode of transportation, its practical use in every day life appears to have dissipated into a means of maintaining one’s fitness or even losing weight especially when a car is still the best way to get around.
The Brunei Times caught up with a group of Mountain Bikers in Sungai Basong Recreational Park, Tutong, early in the morning as they took advantage of their day off. They were hitting a trail over 5km long in anticipation for a competition at the end of the month.
Among them was 60-year- old Hj Osli, who was the group’s role model and someone they all hoped to aspire to. He took up cycling as a sport 40 years ago and has so far been in numerous competitions and even triathalons. He revealed that when he was much younger, he used to cycle to work from Tutong to Bandar, covering the distance of over 70km in about two hours. But now retired, he still cycles almost everyday to keep his performance up. On top of eating right, he suggested that a person aims to cycle 80km three times a week and run 10km once a week.
Hj Ahmad who is 46 years old is recently retired and looks up to Hj Osli. He started cycling from his home in Tutong to Muara and back, which took him a total of about four hours, almost daily after he retired.
Having been in Brunei for the past three years, 31-year- old Ysmael Felipe from the Philippines joined the group for the first time that day. He shared that he typically would ride in Berakas Forest Reserve but is glad to know that there are other places he can confidently go to and other people he can cycle with. Last year when he was staying in Kg Sungai Tilong and did not get a car yet, he found himself cycling to his workplace in Serusop. But still the 30-minute ride was always one that worried him since there are no bike lanes catered for cyclists.
Remembering how he would weave through traffic in the Philippines easily with a bicycle, he finds that on top of infrastructure that needs improvement in order to support cycling for transportation, drivers’ attitude and greater care towards cyclists are also important. The Head Music Teacher at PJC Virtuoso chose Mountain Biking for the thrill and hopes to make it to future competitions with the support from his new-found like-minded friends.
Though understandable that these cyclists prefer offroad mountain biking due to the increased safety, cycling has its share of accidents and injuries but as one of the men said it, “You fall down and pick yourself up. But if you’re run over, that’s the end of you.” Also part of the group was Omar Ali Ibrahim, 45, who is a member of the Brunei Darussalam Cycling Federation and an admin of a Facebook group, Cycling Buddies. He explained that while the former was set up to cater to professional cyclists but the latter is geared towards the more casual rider.
As a teenager, he played around with BMX but when Mountain Biking was part of the 1999 SEA Games held in Brunei Darussalam, his interest was perked. And a decade later, he is still going through trails. Omar Ali admitted that previously he jogged but the high impact was slowly getting to him and found cycling gave him the exercise he needed.
Content with the trails in Berakas Forest Reserve, Sungai Basong Recreational Park and one that runs from McFarm in Rimba to Jerudong, he added that there is still much that the authorities can do to facilitate cycling and mountain biking as an activity in the country. As an officer at the Department of Youth and Sports, he feels that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports has been highly supportive of cycling activities but in terms of infrastructure, things could be improved.
He also felt that offroad cycling could also be a part of Brunei Darussalam’s contribution to sport tourism, attracting more energetic young tourists who would be interested in riding through the country’s pristineforests.
Cyclists both young and old may be reaping the benefits of their hard work but it is more than fun and games, or even good health. It is environmental. And most importantly, there is a fair amount of friendship andcamaraderie involved.
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