MY BYKE Stories: Wong Siew Yong

My name is Wong Siew Yong and I’m 50 years old. I work in the car beauty industry. I’m from Johor Bahru, but I’m currently living in Kuala Lumpur.

🚲 What bike(s) do you ride (and which is your favorite)?

• The Specialized SL6 Road bike.

⌛️ How many hours do you cycle per week?

• At least 4 hours.

⭐️ What inspired you to start cycling, and how did you get into it?

• I started cycling with a bunch of friends who used to play badminton together. I continued to cycle because I found inspiration in a community of older runners and cyclists. Riding alongside friends who share the same determination and perseverance gives me strength to continue cycling.

🚦 What are your favorite cycling routes or trails, and why do you enjoy them?

• One of my favorite cycling routes is the “Dai Bao Ride,” which starts from Leisure Mall and goes to Lekas. I really enjoy this route because it is both fun and fast.

⚒️ What are your go-to tools and gadgets you can’t cycle without?

• CO2 and patch.

👔 Is there a cyclist who inspires you? Why?

• Tsen Seong Hoong because he won a gold medal for Malaysia during the 1995 SEA Games in Thailand. Despite being older than me, he is still very strong and determined.
  
  Ng Yong Li because he is very strong and trains very hard. Whenever I ask him a question, he doesn’t answer; he just keeps pedaling.

🎯 How do you train and prepare for long-distance rides or races?

• For the upcoming June Powerman, I will start training one month before the event. I usually alternate between running 10 kilometers one day and cycling 60 kilometers on another day. 

💡 Can you share a memorable experience or adventure from one of your cycling trips?

• My first Malaysian round island cycling trip (except Kedah due to lockdown) with 3 friends in July 2020. We rode from Kuala Lumpur – Air Tawar – Sitiawan – Penang Island – Kelantan – Terengganu – Kuantan in 18 days. We cycled along the seaside, and the scenery was awesome.

🤝 What advice would you give someone who wants to start cycling but doesn’t know where to begin?

• Buy a cheap bicycle and ride around the neighborhood.

🏆 Who should we interview next and why?

• Zac Kong because he really has the heart to improve in cycling. He is very good at calculating power input.

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MY BYKE Stories is a new feature article series by YAS that highlights the amazing cyclists of Malaysia and their stories.