Bike
MTB
On The Ride at Ketam Mountain Bike Park
Put your skills to the test in this offshore trail on Pulau Ubin.
Put your riding to the test on Pulau Ubin.
© Dean Koh
The great thing about the main network of mountain bike trails on mainland Singapore is that the majority of them are located in and around the Central Catchment area. From cross-country Bukit Timah, with its steep lung busting climbs, to the smooth flowing trail in Chestnut South, and Mandai’s Track 15 in between, there’ll be a trail to suit any mood and a feature to practice your techniques on.
Challenging features are aplenty on Ketam.
© Dean Koh
But should the mood for an adventure strike, consider hopping onto a bumboat and head on down to Ketam Mountain Bike Park on rustic Pulau Uban for a ride that will allow you to push your mental, physical and technical limits.
A Ride Through Rustic Singapore
The great thing about any ride out to Ketam Mountain Bike Park is that it takes you through good old Ubin village. Pulau Ubin may only be 10-minutes away by bumboat from the Changi Point ferry terminal, but the difference between the island and mainland Singapore is drastic. The moment one hops off the boat, one is immediately greeted by an idyllic laid-back Kampung vibe, complete with buildings that look exactly like they did back in its heyday.
Pulau Ubin is just 10mins away by bumboat.
© Dean Koh
Perfect as a base to fuel up with snacks and a coconut or two, the village is home to a number of bicycle shops offering rentals and facilities for simple repairs. For those looking for a post-ride indulgence, there’s even a seafood restaurant with hearty fare on the menu.
The village is a great base to start and end.
© Dean Koh
The Trail Appeal
Located approximately 3km, or a scenic 15-minute ride westwards, Ketam Mountain Bike Park features a 10km-long trail that snakes around the fringes of the disused Ketam Quarry on the island. Opened for riding in in May 2008, it was the first bike park to be built to International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) standards. In addition to race-grade features, the trail was also designed as a conservation area for the area’s natural flora and fauna. Keep your eyes peeled and you’d be able to spot many bird species rarely sighted on mainland Singapore.
Every ride promises to be a scenic one.
© Dean Koh
Comprising marked Blue Square trails, Black Diamond and Double Black Diamond segments, the riding at Ketam will challenge even the most seasoned riders with its combination of technical climbs and rock-littered descents. In this case, it made us want to ride even more to improve, so as to better handle what Ketam has in store.
The going may start easy, but it gets tougher.
© Dean Koh
The start might have been simple enough, with easy but narrow, flat single tracks that cut through the tall lalang fields. This soon extends into switchbacks and steeper climbs as the trail leads into the quarry’s surrounding hillside. The riding may here may be manageable, but where the Blue Square sections end and the Black Diamond runs begin, the challenge and intensity increases. Ketam may be designed as a cross country course, but the going is a lot more demanding than what the picturesque views of the natural landscape and quarry lake suggest.
Many opportunities to put your skills to the test.
© Dean Koh
Power and gear planning might be one of the ways to conquer the many switchbacks and climbs, but keeping your weight balanced and maintaining a sharp eye out for smoothest riding line is key to navigating the numerous rock-littered sections of the trail.
The trick is to maintain balance and speed.
© Dean Koh
Technically challenging, the course’s many rock gardens and rock descents can be unnerving. Taking it slow is one way to cope, but keeping your composure, maintaining some pace and keeping a regular cadence will help you roll most of the obstacles. Depending on how hard one intends to push physical boundaries, there will be many sections along the way that will offer opportunities to stop, catch your breath, and take in the vast panoramic views of the quarry.
Opportunities for nice photos along the route.
© Dean Koh
Getting there
Cheaper than two hours of parking in the CBD, each way to the island costs just $3, with an addition $2 surcharge for each bicycle. But getting to the island is the easy part. Finding a spot to park at Changi Village is where it gets tricky. Given the appeal of the area, parking near the jetty can get scarce later in the morning, although roadside alternatives can be found along Netheravon Road. For this writer, that proved to be the more convenient option.
BMW 2 Series Grand Tourer was our ride.
© Dean Koh
Driving out in the spacious family-friendly BMW 2 Series Grand Tourer, we not only got to enjoy a drive that was economical yet sporty, but make the most of its ample 1,820litres of boot space with the seats folded down flat. That was more than enough to allow us to place two bikes and two boxes of safety gear and clothes without having to think twice if it’ll all fit.
Hone your technique at the Freeride Skills Park.
© Dean Koh
The descents can be tricky, so keep your weight back to maintain balance.
1 min
The descents can be tricky.
The descents can be tricky.
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