48 Hours
August 1, 2013
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True grit Illustrations: Oliver Raw
Challenge yourself by cycling on Hong Kong’s rougher trails, writes Jeanette Wang
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CYCLING IS A GREAT workout, but you can make it even better by taking it off-road. Not only does mountain biking give you more of a full-body workout, riders say it’s also safer than riding on the street. With all the country parks in Hong Kong, there’s no reason not to go. “It’s one of these places that you can ride year round, and you’re never more than half an hour from a trail even if you live in the city,” says Steve Coward, who offers mountain bike lessons and tours through his company, Crosscountry HK. “There’s fantastic terrain and many mountains,” he adds. “You can get out
and not see anybody for hours sometimes – it’s that quiet.” A growing number of Hongkongers are discovering the thrills of mountain biking in the territory. Last year, the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department (AFCD) issued 7,311 mountain bike permits, a 130 per cent increase from 2009. The permits, which are free of charge and valid for two years, are compulsory for anyone who wants to ride on designated mountain bike trails in Hong Kong’s country parks. Lim Hui Min, an International Mountain Bike Association trail specialist, says it’s
important to grasp basic skills such as slow speed control, steering, balance and braking. “Mountain biking is 70 per cent fitness and 30 per cent skills,” Coward says. “It’s a much tougher workout than road cycling, working more of your upper body and a bit of the core as well. If you get tired, you tend to make a lot more mistakes.” Coward usually takes beginners to Tai Lam Country Park. The majority of Hong Kong’s trails are too challenging for them, he says. “But at the same time it means you have a steeper learning curve. It certainly helps if you have some instruction and a