MTB_plus_2

Feature
Are you
on the
right
trail?
Bukit Timah MTB Trail
The oldest mountain bike trail in Singapore. Rated as
an Orange grade trail (moderate to difficult), the total distance
for the loop is 6km. The trail consists mainly of singletrack, with
super sweet climbs and downhill runs to satisfy all riding levels.
Access to the trail is available from the various trail heads along
the loop, but the most common starting points are at the Visitor
Centre Carpark at Hindhede Road, and at the Dairy Farm Car
Park where shower and washing facilities are available. Vending
machines and watercoolers are also available at these 2 points.
A favorite amongst the mountain biking community,
Bt Timah mountain biking trail is a 6km loop in the Bt Timah
Nature reserve with some steep climbs and exciting downs. One
can access the trail from the various trail heads along the loop,
but the two most popular trail heads are at the visitor centre
carpark at Hindhede Road, and meeting point 3 at Zhenghua
Park (Chestnut Ave).
The loop contains a mixture of singletrack, concrete,
and manicured trails through secondary forests of the Bukit
Timah nature reserve. It also includes couple of sections where
one has to hike, and carry the bike up over a long flight of stairs
and a very tricky initial climb over some slippery granite at the
start of the trail from the visitor’s centre carpark side. It is said
that some of these challenging sections exist to deter hikers, as
well as scramblers from using the mountain bike trails.
Due to the nature of some of the lung busting climbs, it
is not everyone’s favorite trail and most shun this to ride
other technically more challenging illegal trails in the central
catchment area which are easier on the lungs.
As of Oct 2012, Bt Timah trail is in much need for repair.
Many sections have eroded badly, and the trail is scheduled for
some major revamp work. Dirtraction has been appointed by
Nparks after open tender as trail consultant for this project, and
work is said to start in 2013.
The revamp work is said to have entire steep and fun
sections being redone with sustainability in mind, as these slopes
are also monsoon drains when it rains heavily, causing further
erosion. Having been the venue of several national MTB races
in the last decade, it is currently not in a race-ready condition
until the revamp works are complete. One could see the relics
of the past kampongs and human settlement around the area,
with water pipes and construction material being unearthed with
erosion making it technically challenging at parts.
The mountain bike trail still sees a high number of
hikers although it is designated as a mountain biking trail off
limits to hikers. Mountain bikers are urged to beware of hikers
on the trail, and to exercise basic courtesy to other trail users.
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