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Pulau Ubin Ketam MTB Trail
Ketam Mountain Bike Park, located in Pulau Ubin, is
the first in Singapore to meet international standards for mountain
biking competitions. The 45-ha park features 10km of mountain
bike trails catering to both leisure cycling as well as international
competitions. The construction of the cycling tracks was based
on International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA)
standards and there are five ratings of difficulty, namely, White
Circle, Green Circle, Blue Square, Black Diamond and Double
Black Diamond. White Circle is the easiest and Double Black
Diamond is the most difficult track to engage.
The design of the mountain bike tracks had been
carefully chosen and constructed with regards to the International
Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) standards. The
Singapore Amateur Cycling Association (SACA) was roped in
as well, to provide consultation and expertise. The mountain
bike trail at the park is designed such that it can be enjoyed by
leisure cyclists and competitive cyclists alike.
The trails at Ketam Mountain Bike Park include the
following IMBA ratings:
• Blue Square – Trails with a combination of some steep
slopes, narrow track with poor traction.
• Black Diamond – Trails with a combination of long step
climbs, drop-offs and tricky obstacles
Double Black Diamond – Trails with a combination
of very steep climbs and drop-offs, sharp corners and tricky
obstacles
Access to the trail requires a short boat ride from
Changi Point Ferry Terminal along Lorong Bekukung which
will cost you SGD$4.50 (one way) and then another 15mins
ride from the access road in Pulau Ubin Jetty straight into the
trailhead. Shelters are strategically located along the tracks.
These shelters double as resting points for tired cyclists. They
are also good spots where one can capture a good view of the
surrounding landscape around Ketam Quarry. To guide cyclists
around the island, signs are positioned at the key locations such
as the intersection points.
The Ketam trail is Singapore’s first purpose built
mountain biking trail, located on an offshore island around a
disused quarry. One would need to hop on a bumboat at Changi
Point Ferry Terminal, and pay $4.50 for a one-way trip to Pulau
Ubin jetty, and ride for about 15 min Westwards to reach Ketam
bike park (follow the road signs). This is probably the best
mountain biking trail in all of Singapore, and going to Ketam is
always an adventure.
Conceptualized in 2003, Ketam was designed with
IMBA standards in mind, with trails rated green circle, blue
square, black diamond and double black diamond to reflect
varying technical difficulty to better guide and challenge cyclists.
The bike park was built at a cost of $1m, and consisted
of 10km of MTB trails of varying difficulty, with the main 5km
plus loop being extremely nice and flowy, with some lungbusting
climbs such as ‘lactate’ and rewarding downs such as ‘china
bowl’ as well as ‘Black cobra drop’. There is also a skills park,
which sadly, is little used these days.
Ketam bike park is a glowing example of how a
proper MTB trail should be done, with proper riding flow and
sustainability in mind.
Located at Pulau Ubin. To access Pulau Ubin, you will
need to reach Changi Ferry Terminal. Carparks are available
there so driving is not an issue. The ferry ride over to Pulau Ubin
is $4.50 ( $2.50 for a person and $2.00 for the bike ). The return
ride will also cost the same amount.
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