Mountains
For a country without mountains, we sure do have some pretty good trails here, particularly those at Bukit Timah Hill or Pulau Ubin. Specially designed for mountainous trails (and easier on the wallet than the others featured here), the Explorer 2.0 features lightweight shocks and disc brakes—unlike bicycle brakes that perform poorly when wet, this baby performs equally well in all conditions.
$795 from Bike Plus.

Roads
Our best choice for road biking is the Madone 3.1—a carbon performance bike that offers riders better handling with its lower headset bearing design that improves control. The intuitive responsiveness of the bike is also designed to win competitions.
$2,799 from Treknology3.

In Town
Created for leisure, Pace Pure & Style is a stylish lifestyle bike designed to cater to a wide variety of everyday terrains in comfort—think leather handles, a deluxe cruiser saddle and high roller pedals (that improve form and aid smoother riding).
$2,495 from The Big Country.

Trails
Dirt track cycling is similar to that on mountain terrain—only more accessible. Tampines bike trail and Mandai Track 15 at Chestnut Avenue are easy trails, while  that’s even suitable for advanced trails such as the Ketam Bike Trail in Pulau Ubin (Double Black Diamond is the most difficult) and the renowned Putrajaya Challenge Park in Kuala Lumpur.
$3,495 from Bike Plus.

It’s the time of the year again—roads will be closed and crowds gather to point at lycra-clad cyclists racing against the bright lights. It’s the OCBC Cycle Singapore 2012, a two-day event (See event details here.) that this year includes 60 of the world’s top professional cyclists racing at the F1 Pit Building. If you didn’t register for the races, you can still park yourself at the landmark areas and be part of the festivities. Or you can do what we plan to: take a shot at these indoor cycling classes, all of which promise as much of a workout as the real thing.

Kranking
Our arms and thighs burned like hell the last time we tried this so believe us when we say that the Krank Cycle is one of the most effective pieces of cardiovascular equipment out there. Start with the Krank & Restore class, which will raise focus and awareness of your upper body, then move on to the Krank Fusion—a combination of “arm” and indoor cycling. Once you’ve got the basics under control, you’ll be ready for Power Kranking, which tests your endurance with speed drills. Available at Physique 360.

Peloton
There are several draws to this indoor cycling class. One: It’s offered by new kid on the block Celebrity Fitness, which is a big hit in Malaysia and other parts of the region. Two: It’s really intensive—interval training, flats and mountain peaks are drilled into a non-stop piece of choreography that’s revised every two months so you don’t get bored or complacent. Available at Celebrity Fitness.

Polar RPM
Serious about spinning? This class makes sure you don’t slack off by flashing your heart rate on the screen for everyone to see. Each participant straps on a Polar heart rate monitor during the class so that the instructor can see how well you’re doing and provide individual coaching. Great if you take a special interest in monitoring any lapses in intensity and performance. Available at the newly opened Pure Fitness Asia Square.

RealRyder Indoor Cycling
This one involves the use of an exercise bike with a spin (excuse the pun)—it mimics a real outdoor bike by allowing you to steer, tilt and lean as if you were riding outdoors. The versatility of movement requires a higher level of control that works your core muscles more than traditional spinning and also makes the whole experience a tad more enjoyable. Available at Urban Fitness Lab.

Fun Facts: OCBC Cycle Singapore 2012

Chris Robb, the managing director of Spectrum Worldwide, which organizes the race, shares with us some interesting tidbits about this year’s event.

1. New routes with wider roads have been designed so there’ll be more space for cyclists, fewer bottlenecks and safer U-turns.

2. The longest amateur ride, the Super Challenge, is no longer restricted by entry criteria and has seen close to 1,300 signups.

3.The Business Times Corporate Charity Ride will be introduced this year as part of The Challenge (39km).

4. 2012 is set to be their biggest event yet with almost 11,000 signups.

The Brompton

One of the most renowned foldable bikes in the world, the Brompton bike is London’s pride and joy, with a steel frame that can take weights of up to 110kg and its own exclusive range of front and rear luggage options. Comes in single to six speeds, three different handlebar options, three sizes and a myriad of colors. $1,750 upwards from Diginexx.

The Strida LT

This one’s an excellent entry-level option, especially since you don’t have to clean it—it runs on a Kevlar (synthetic material that’s stronger than steel) belt system, and is therefore chainless (and greaseless). This single speeder runs on 16-inch wheels and folds and unfolds in under 10 seconds—seriously impressive. Available in four colors alongside accessories such as a bike stand, aluminum pedals and travel bags. $750 (excluding accessories) from Diginexx.

Dahon Vector X10

If your ride to work takes you off the pavement and onto the tarmac a lot, this model by the world’s biggest manufacturer of folded bikes is probably your best bet. Its strong frame (the result of a hydro-formed design) and 10 speed options mean the quality of your ride isn’t too far from that of a road bike. $2,799 from Life Cycle.

Alex Moulton TSR 2

Alex Moulton models are touted as the Rolls Royce of foldable bikes, what with the classy brown leather saddle and excellent features. This one, for example, has a kick-shift two-speed gear and an integrated back pedal brake for ease of switching from one terrain to another. We also like how the bike is designed to be compatible with most cycle parts. $2,500 from Life Cycle.

YikeBike

We’re not going to lie—we’re a little wary of this one. Its design and built mean you probably won’t get much exercise out of it and it works more like a Segway than a bicycle. But damn it looks cool. At 10kg, it’s possibly the lightest electric folding bike in the world, and collapses up real good too, so you definitely won’t have issues with taking it on the MRT. $4,988 from EV World.

Quit making excuses about the heat. As low impact, high style modes of transportation go cycling’s hard to beat. Ditch the granny bike and take things up a gear.

The Bike Boutique

Possibly the first “bike lodging” shop in Singapore, the centrally-located outlet houses two shower rooms and even a juice bar/lounge area. They also provide shampoo, shower gel and fresh towels so you don’t have to lug these things with you all the time. And you’re not the only one who gets to clean up either—every full month of lodging earns your bike a free servicing. The Bike Boutique also stocks bikes and accessories from some of the word’s top brands like Shimano and DMT.

Life Cycle

At first glance, Life Cycle looks just like any other bike boutique—impressive-looking gear is lined up against one side of the store, with some propped up on wall racks. A display platform in front of the entrance also showcases some of their collector’s items, including a range of Alex Moulton bikes ($2,000-2,800), which are known widely as the Rolls Royce of bikes. But step further in and you’ll see a cozy gathering space where cycling enthusiasts from Bandung and Japan are known to meet up for a chat. At Life Cycle, you can also grab really cool accessories such as laptop carriers, leather saddle bags, a bike mount for your iPhone and even a torchlight with a built-in mp3 player ($128), as well as bike accessory labels including hipsters’ favorite Po Campo.

Tokyobike

This new kid on the block, opened its Southeast Asian flagship store here in May. The minimalist nature of its bikes means you can easily match your outfits with your ride and there’s a nice array of accessories to make your commute more comfortable. We like the Bisou ($950)—which comes in a range of colors such as saffron, blue-grey and white—for its unique brown saddle, light wheels and upright handlebar, which allows for a more relaxed ride.

Vanguard

The customized and restored classic bicycles for sale in this gallery and workshop are truly impressive—a new arrival is the [HG] WELLS Velocommute bike, a three-speed collector’s item meticulously restored from a 1960s Raleigh Superb sport model. Featuring handmade leather grips, drum brakes and a set of matching hand pump and keys for front and rear locks, this head turner’s made for city roaming. Vanguard Design also stocks slick Brooks saddles, helmets from Danish label Yakkay, as well as other accessories by Cerchio Ghisallo.

Pedal Pals

Clubs and hangout joints for every kind of cyclist.

Joyriders
Apart from dedicated Saturday rides for beginners, there are weekday rides for the initiated.

Anza
One of the largest cycling clubs in Singapore, Anza organizes rides every day of the week, but on Saturdays, they meet at Thomson Road and go cruising through the city—everyone, experienced or not, is welcome.

Bikes & Bites
Probably the only place where you can relax with a coffee and check out exclusive brands such as Zullo and Storck at the same time.