CP1 – Fun & Fitness at ZH Park

ZHENGHUA CHAINRING MASSACRE

It was a breeze to get there but the way was littered with other bikers going up and down. Being our first station, fresh with energy and enthusiasm, we chased the poor perspiring marshall to attend to us. 

We picked a card indicating "B" and had to roll our bikes to the fitness corner 30m away, maybe cursing that we should have picked "A" and remain at the same place.

Our first task was to hang ourselves and the bikes on a tall monkey bar. The 3 Angels looked helplessly at Bosley, who without a word, got to work hooking the seats on the bar one by one, while we climbed the side ladder in preparation to hang ourselves there, as the Marshall's stopwatch was clicking away. There was very little space and as Rebecca was climbing up beside me and Olaf hanging the last bike, I heard Rebecca's squeak and a sharp pain on my right calf as Ling's bike came crashing down. Due to our doubtless enthusiasm to finish in the shortest time, I didn't think twice about the pain and helped Olaf to quickly put back the bike. As we hung for 10 seconds, thoughts of slight worry flashed across us if every station require such physical activity, we are definitely handicapped.. I felt my arm ached, maybe because not warm up yet but more of my whole sheer weight….

Thinking that it was over, we wanted to get the next clue for the next checkpoint, but the marshall pointed out our 2nd task is for everyone to squeeze onto the park table with our bikes for 10 seconds… that was not too tough but are we done yet??

"Nope" went the marshall again... we had to go back 30m again to answer a series of questions from another marshall… 

Despite our rush, the calm and compose lady marshall gently handed a card of 10 questions without giving much instructions. We were shocked at the how "chim" the questions about biking and the sponsors were.. to me, it was like trying to read foreign language. Again the 3 Angels turned to Bossley with the "Damsel in Distress" look. But this time… 

"Hey, I know everything about road biking not Mountain biking"

A series of "discussions" started, delegating each other of who to call for help.. we were just about to call when we realized that maybe we can't do that in a race… the quiet lady marshall confirmed that..and every wrong or no answers adds 3 mins.

Realising we are wasting time thinking as well, we decided to move on with our lives, accepting the additional 24 mins for answering 2 answers correct… 

Pushing our disappointment aside, we quickly asked her for the next checkpoint but she looked blankly at us. Moments of confusion followed while we insist she sort out for us.. Finally the poor guy marshall came running back saying we have to call the hotline for the next clue! Duh! Maybe we didn't pay attention to the instructions??

Meanwhile, Bosley noticed the blood and oil on my calf and despite my insistence to leave it, he quickly whipped out the first aid kit to wipe the wound with the antiseptic, which obviously didn't sit very well with me, especially when he tried to dig out the oil…. Sizzling..