MTB_plus_2

the entire trail. There are certain sections [such as the Belukar
Track] which are really good for beginner’s to practice on but if
they want to do the whole lot in one push, they might find they
have to walk some sections.”
He also cites caution during or after a big storm.
“BT tends to get a bit slippery in wet weather, so it’s maybe best
to stay off the trail in such conditions,” he says.
While we love BT, those line choices that Low mentions
aren;t exactly the best marked out in the world and be aware
of one spot in particular. About halfway in just before what is
probably the most difficult section of the trail, a fork offers a left
and a right option, with a sign stating “right path recommended”.
This leads directly into a series of Double Black Diamond rated
(ie, super difficult) rock garden drop-offs, where a high level
of skill and confidence is required. The “unrecommended” left
option also leads to a series of rock gardens, but of nowhere near
the same level of difficulty. While the trail builders are obviously
highly skilled exponents of the art, we think that the left path
would be the preferred choice for the majority of those riding
BT.
Another thing to be aware of in BT is roamers. No,
we’re not talking about zombies from The Walking Dead, but
errant hikers. Despite an extensive network of hiking trails in
the nature reserve, the single dedicated mountain bike trail has
always been plagued by walkers, hikers and runners, so care
should always be taken especially coming out of fast downhill
sections and coming in and out of blind corners.
What was previously an occasional annoyance has now turned
into a full-time hazard with the medium-to-long-term closure of
the BT hiking trail network for renovation and upgrading. The
mountain bike trail is still supposed to be for bikers only, but
with nobody to police it, the best course of action right now is
ever-more defensive riding rather than confrontation.
Track 15
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.
“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.
If Track 15 has a downside it’s that it’s a two-way
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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