In a collaboration with OCBC Cycle, Rock The Naked collected a round of applications for Project Training Wheels – a sponsored programme to teach people how to cycle. After going through interviews, selected applicants were put through four training sessions in the lead up to the OCBC Cycle event, where successful participants were then given complimentary slots to the event.
Two successful graduates of Project Training Wheels 2017 are buddies Janet Koh and Jolynn Teng. This was their application, sent in by Janet without the knowledge of Jolynn (LOL):
“I would like to nominate myself and my running buddy Jolynn . Both of us have been actively taking part in running events together for the past 5 years and we have now started to venture out into swimming.
“We are aiming to take part in a mini aquathlon in August to boost our confidence. Before we get any older (we are not young), we hope we can at least complete a triathlon event. However, cycling is the toughest for us because we have no confidence in that area of sport.
“Our spouses are hardcore cyclists and they would laugh at us when we tell them we want to attempt a mini triathlon one day. Hence, this would be the perfect opportunity for us to learn cycling and gain some confidence to prove to the men that we can do it!”
After completing the Project Training Wheels programme and the 23km The Straits Times Ride at OCBC Cycle 2017, this is what they had to say:
Jolynn and I have been running buddies since 2011 when we became colleagues at the same bank. We joined the bank’s running club and went on to run marathons together. Then one day I came across an IG post on RTNT where they were calling out for five participants to learn how to cycle.
To be honest, cycling never crossed my mind. When I saw the IG post, I thought to myself that perhaps I should just try for this and I nominated my unsuspecting running kaki. My husband has always been a cycling enthusiast and he never imagined I would cycle.
When I started the Project Training Wheels programme, I was telling myself at the back of my mind that if I get through the whole thing, I shall embark on cycling as my next sport and maybe (while kidding myself) attempt a triathlon some day!
After I submitted our applications, I decided to break the news to my squealing kaki, officially cementing my status as a’Saboh’ Queen. Guess what? We got selected!
What happened thereafter was a four-month journey of learning how to cycle. We had problems balancing initially and then we were struggling with turning. But we persevered!
Within two months of learning how to cycle, I mustered some courage to take part in my first duathlon, the City15 event which comprised of a 2km run, 11km ride and a 2km run. Crazy!
One month after that, Jolynn and I embarked on our longest ride ever at the OCBC Cycle 2017 – The Straits Times Ride (23km).
Looking back, it has been interesting to see how things panned out after chancing upon the RTNT IG post. If it was not for this opportunity, I would never have had the courage to take part in cycling events, let alone cycle. I’m sure Jolynn felt the same and I could tell she was secretly pleased I got her into this (haha!).
Around the same time we were learning how to cycle, we also joined ROCKrunners for their Saturday runs and we are happy to be a part of their group of happy positive runners.
Thanks to RTNT, Jolynn and I will continue our sports journey from here. She is also setting sights on OCBC Cycle 2018, while I am signing up for duathlons and taking up swim lessons, working towards my goal of completing a triathlon event. This is definitely something both of us never expected to do now that we are in our 40s!
