Adman puts mettle to the pedal in 130km bicycle ride home

 

Mars Ong, a Johorean working in Singapore, all geared up on his 130km journey home to Batu Pahat.

PETALING JAYA: An advertising executive based in Singapore cycled 130km from the island to his hometown in Batu Pahat, Johor, just for fun when border restrictions were lifted on Friday.

Mars Ong, 40, who has competed in cycling competitions before, said it was not much of a challenge for him, barring rough conditions on his way there.

“I would usually drive back, but this time, I thought why not cycle back to Batu Pahat? I’ve been cycling as much as 130km at any one time in Singapore anyway.

“There is not much difference in cycling all the way to Batu Pahat,” he said in an interview with China Press.

He began riding at 7am to the Johor Bahru checkpoint, surprising immigration officers when he said he would be riding his bicycle all the way home.

Ong said he had cycled for four hours straight at one point. He took a break for a meal at Pontian, and other small breaks along the way.

Mars Ong cycled 130km from Singapore to Batu Pahat.

He said he was going back to celebrate his birthday on Monday, but also wanted to surprise his family that he made his way home purely on pedal power.

However, those who wanted to emulate his feat should tread carefully, he said, as such a journey required stamina and experience in long-distance riding, which he has had for the past six years.

“There can be many hazards along the way, such as flat tyres and muscle cramps, so you have to be careful,” he said.

Ong said he would not be cycling back to Singapore but would ask his wife to drop him off at the Causeway, from where he would continue on his bicycle. -FMT