MTB_plus_2

Mandai Track 15
Running parallel to the Bukit Timah expressway for
the most part, T15 stretches from Chestnut Ave to Mandai Rd
(5.8km one way). It is a vehicle accessible double trail narrowing
at certain parts with gentle climbs and downs. Considered
a beginner’s trail and relatively non-technical. It is connected
to Gangsa hill, a freeride area adopted by local freeride group
Se7en with jumps, berms and slopes for big air time, Gangsa
hill is recommended only for expert riders, and use of appropriate
protective gear (guards, helmet) is mandatory.
With the proposed Chestnut Nature Park due in the
next few years, with proposed trail additions, there should be
more trails for mountain bikers in the pipeline.
There are two entrances to T15. The first entrance
brings you from north to south. At the junction of Mandai road
( where it leads into the zoo) there is a park connector. Follow
the PCN and it will take you to T15
You may want to enter through Chestnut avenue. Follow
the road which will take you under the BKE and back up
a long road climb. On your left you should see a green barrier.
Carry your bike over the barrier and that would lead you to the
southern entrance of T15.
“It’s definitely a great place
for more experienced riders
to hone their skills too. There
are a few features where
if you push your pace on
Track 15 a lot of the corners
can be more challenging and
you can actually get a bit of
air on some of the hills,” he
says.
For those not skilled or confident enough to enjoy the
BT experience, a worthwhile and close-by alternative exists
in the form of the Chesnut/Track 15 route. This 5km long trail
starts near the end of Chesnut Avenue where a waste-high
metal barrier marks the entrance. The simple act of lifting the
bike over the barrier leads into a fast and fun mixture of dirt,
mud and broken concrete that comes out at Mandai Road at the
junction of Mandia Lake Road, aka Zoo Road. Out and back
provides a fantastic 10km adventure.
Just anybody can ride this trail and while it undulates
frequently, the only real technical challenges are sections of
gnarly tarmac/concrete and the odd muddy bog during wetter
spells. The Track 15 trail is probably the best place in Singapore
for beginners to build their basic skills and confidence
but it’s also popular with the faster riders as it’s one of the few
places they can truly let go.
Says Low: “It’s a great point-to-point trail to explore,
it links to a lot of other trails and it’s manageable even for most
beginners, indeed I would say it’s definitely the best place for
beginners to practice in Singapore. As long as they keep their
pace down it’s a very predictable trail and all rideable. The
climbs are OK and the descents are not sketchy at all.
But he concurs that Track 15 is not just for the newbies.
If Track 15 has a downside it’s that it’s a twoway
trail meaning it’s most likely that a few bikes coming the
other way will be encountered, especially at the weekends. It’s
also a shared trail so watch out for hikers and walkers too.
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