foreword

Linking back to an Instagram post a few weeks back  (Biking Singapore Instagram) , I have briefly mentioned about my race at Cameron Highland which is about 448KM from Singapore. It was an uphill race, all the way till the top of the mountain. Sounds tough? Despite that, we enjoyed the endless beautiful views and photo opportunities. 
Here are some steps I took to prepare for the race! 

preparation for the climb

To better prepare myself for the climb in Singapore, I have split my training phase into two parts, muscular endurance, and hill intervals.
Waking up early at 4 am just to ride 120KM around the island of Singapore or overseas ride to Johor Bahru to gain that muscular endurance so that I do not feel muscle fatigue easily during the actual climb at Cameron Highlands.
​Since it will be an uphill race, I have also undergone for  7 to 8 times hill intervals at Mount Faber and NTU.

Bike fitting can make or break the entire race; hence, not adjusting the saddle and handlebar two weeks before the race is crucial as it can affect the sitting position and might lead to discomforts.
​As this is an uphill race, it is necessary to have the correct gears set up. Such as having a smaller front chainring and a bigger gear at the back so that I can engage the hills better.  

Nutrition also played an important as part of my preparation for the race, one week before the race, I have consumed an increasing amount of carbohydrates such as rice, proteins such as beans, and fibre such as fruits at home. This is to ensure that I have stored enough glycogen in my body prior to the race. On the morning of the race at the Symphony Suites Hotel (starting point of the race at Cameron Highland), I have taken two shots of espresso and a light breakfast consisting of oatmeal and cereal. Additionally, if I am tired during the race on the mountain, I would take a caffeine energy gel. 

If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.
​– Benjamin Franklin 

As much as I prepared so much for the race, sometimes things might not always turn out the way I expect it to be. Stay tuned for my review of the actual race day!