Ofo introduces geofencing capabilities to control parking for its shared bikes in Singapore

Ofo, the bike-sharing company, has announced updates to its geofencing technology. Developed in-house, the Noah geofencing platform will help encourage users to park at preferred parking zones. The feature creates a virtual boundary that will be able to detect whether users have ended their rides within the geofenced area, also known as the preferred parking zone. Users who park within the preferred parking zones will be rewarded with one extra credit in their app.

The move is in line with guidelines set out in an agreement announced earlier this month among the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in Singapore, all five bike-sharing operators, the National Parks Board and all 16 town councils, ofo said.

To date, ofo has geotagged 1,400 locations across Singapore primarily around bus stops, MRT stations, and under HDB blocks. It is set to geotag up to 2,000 of these preferred parking zones so that they show up with a ‘P’ sign on the mobile application that is required to operate an ofo bike. Noah is able to detect if ofo bikes with Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled smart locks are parked within one of the 1,400 preferred parking zones.

"The true differentiator lies in our rewards system, which helps inculcate long-term, positive riding habits in our users,” said Alan Jiang, ofo’s latest hire as Regional GM, Southeast Asia. The company will be introducing an incentive programme that allows users to exchange their credits for a reward at selected merchants at the later stages of implementation.

The company is gradually replacing the old bikes with mechanical locks in order to make way for greater effectiveness when dealing with errant parking. In September, ofo announced that its latest fleet of bikes have GPS-enabled locks that are certified safe by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) Singapore. At the time, ofo said that it is the first and only bike sharing company that has filed for and received this machine-to-machine (M2M) certification in compliance with the Telecommunications Act.

Each GPS-enabled lock contains a SIM card which allows users to easily locate and unlock the bike. While a GPS-enabled lock increases location accuracy, allowing users to find and use the bikes easily, an uncertified lock brings with it a host of cybersecurity threats, ofo explained.

A girl scans the QR code at a street corner in Shenzhen, China to unlock an ofo bike ride.

Coast Cycles launches Coast Cycles Ruckus

Source: Coast Cycles. The Coast Cycles Ruckus.

Singapore's homegrown lifestyle bicycle brand, Coast Cycles, has introduced the Coast Cycles Ruckus, billed as 'a tandem without the bulk'. The bicycle won the Taipei Cycle d&i Award 2016.

The Coast Cycles Ruckus has a retro cromoly parallelogram frame and fat tyres, plus an extended saddle seat to allow a passenger to sit comfortably behind the cyclist. "In a world where people are bowing their heads to smartphones and tablets and getting not just neck pain and less social closeness, there is a real need to return to real human interaction. Conversations are important, and that was my motivation in designing the Ruckus," says Jansen Tan, founder of Coast Cycles,

The Coast Cycles Ruckus comes with a range of accessories, including a frame bag and bespoke front rack.

Interested?

The Coast Cycles Ruckus is available in three colours: Fire Department Red, Stealth Black and Glacial White. Prices start from S$1,138 for a SRAM X4 8-Speed Chain model. Demo models of the new Coast Cycles Ruckus are available for test rides and photoshoots.

View the product video for the Coast Cycles Ruckus

Explore Clark on a bike at the CLARK BIKE TOUR this July

Source: PDOT. 

The Philippines Department of Tourism (PDOT), in cooperation with Clark Development Corporation, has announced the CLARK BIKE TOUR this July. The bike tour is aimed at creating widespread awareness on the value and importance of health and wellness as a lifestyle and at the same time promoting travel and tourism. It also aims to promote Clark as a bicycle-friendly community.

The event on July 30 at the parade ground seeks to gather some 400 road bikers (divided into 100 teams at four members each) to participate in a day-long non-competitive tour of the various attractions around the freeport zone. 

Teams should have a bicycle and helmet for each team member, and wear a uniform of their choice. They will then visit 15 pit stops for 15 minutes of hydration, ‘groufie’ pictures and snacks courtesy of sponsors. Capping the day-long event will be a party for the teams plus the distribution of certificates of participation, raffle draws, and prizes for various categories. 

The Clark freeport occupies over 33,000 hectares of prime land in Pampanga province, the Philippines. Recommended hydration pit stops include the Clark Museum, Nayong Pilipino, Clark Dinosaur Island, Air Force City Aircraft Park, Berthaphil III (Giada’s Breads, Pastries and Deli), Clark International Speedway, DECAwake Clark Cable Park, El Kabayo Riding Stables, Paradise Ranch/Zoocobia Fun Zoo, Fontana Water Park, Widus Hotel, Royce Hotel, The Villages at Global Clark, Park Inn by Radisson Clark, Matam Ih Restaurant, and Koko Buri Restaurant. 

A BIKE EXPO on July 30 and 31, 2016 complements the tour with a showcase of products and services. There will also be outdoor events on July 30 such as an on-bike tutorial for kids, lessons on bike safety and maintenance including how to fix a flat tyre, and an exhibition of bicycles. 

Interested?

The CLARK BIKE TOUR will be held on July 30, 2016, 5am onwards at the Clark Parade Ground. There is no registration fee. 

The bike expo is at SM City Clark from 10am. 

For further details, contact the Department of Tourism – Region III, +63 45 625 8525 

OCBC Cycle returns for second year, with many more activities

Source: OCBC Cycle 2016. Samuel Tsien (second from left), Group CEO of OCBC Bank, Lim Teck Yin (third from left), CEO of Sport Singapore, and Jeffrey Goh (extreme right), President of the Singapore Cycling Federation, officiating the launch of OCBC Cycle 2016 at orchardgateway, Singapore.

Singapore's largest cycling event, OCBC Cycle, returns for its second edition on 1 and 2 October this year. OCBC Cycle 2016 promises more exciting experiences, more interesting activities and more great deals for participants.

Targeting 8,000 cyclists, OCBC Cycle 2016 will see cyclists riding out from the iconic Singapore Sports Hub and onto a city route that boasts an outstanding view of the city skyline. Samuel Tsien, Group CEO of OCBC Bank, said: “Last year’s event was very successful, with strong support from the cycling community, the authorities, Friends of OCBC Cycle and – most importantly – from over 7,000 participants. That support has encouraged us to create the even more exciting OCBC Cycle 2016. There will be new highlights like a fitness boot camp, a strength-and-conditioning workshop and a family carnival specially organised by NUH Sports Centre.

"Our goal is to build OCBC Cycle into the gold standard for cycling events here. We will work hard to give participants many exciting experiences, many healthy activities and many great deals. So during the weekend of 1 and 2 October, do join us at the Singapore Sports Hub for the safe and enjoyable activities we have specifically arranged for all cyclists to enjoy with family and friends.”

There are 13 pre-event workshops and activities, including a Singapore Sports Institute Learn to Cook Healthily workshop on 14 May, and a Volvo Route Familiarisation Trip on 10 September.

From 14 May, for a donation of S$6 to charity, participants can sign up to learn how to prepare healthy meals in a cooking workshop at the Singapore Sports Institute, reach out to less privileged children by teaching them how to cycle, or join a café bike crawl in the North-East region of Singapore. New lead-up activities in 2016 include: 

 A fitness boot camp conducted by Polar 

 A strength-and-conditioning cycling workshop at Singapore Sports Institute’s new training facility  An OCBC Cycle 2016 family carnival organised by the National University Hospital Sports Centre 

More Friends of OCBC Cycle 2016 

There are six new Friends of OCBC Cycle this year: 

 Polar, a brand with a range of heart rate monitors and sports watches 

 Millennium Hotels and Resorts 

 2XU, a leading brand in athletic performance wear 

 Borsch Med, a Singapore brand specialising in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and health supplements 

 Loue Bicycles, a Singapore brand that provides professional bike fitting services 

 Wattbike, an indoor British cycling trainer solution to high performance cycling 

All 21 Friends of OCBC Cycle 2016 will offer participants promotions as well as prizes that the public can stand to win. 

New charity partners 

OCBC Cycle supports the underprivileged through The Business Times Cycle of Hope Programme, which aims to create awareness of, and raise funds to support, selected charity partners. A significant portion of the registration fee for this ride category goes to charity. This year, the organisations that OCBC Cycle will support are: 

 The Dyslexia Association of Singapore (new) 

 NUHS Fund (new) 

 The Business Times Budding Artists Fund 

 SportCares Foundation 

Besides fundraising, OCBC Cycle participants are also invited to volunteer to teach underprivileged children cycling as a life skill. This year, Friend of OCBC Cycle Millennium Hotels and Resorts will partner OCBC Cycle to support the Teach A Child To Cycle programme, with its hotel staff serving as mentors for one session of the programme. OCBC Cycle participants can volunteer for a separate session.

The Expo @ OCBC Cycle, which brings together some of the biggest names in the cycling industry across the region under one roof, will take place at OCBC Arena from 30 September to 2 October, offering participants and the public great deals and promotions on cycling gear. The first 300 cyclists to register at the event launch will receive discounts on their registration fees and a special goodie bag.

Interested?

The finale ride is on 1 and 2 October at the Singapore Sports Hub. Register

OCBC Cycle 2016 will retain its four main event categories – The Sportive Ride (42km), The Straits Times Ride (23km), Mighty Savers Kids Rides for families and children, and the OCBC Cycle Speedway South-East Asian and Club Championships. The OCBC Cycle Speedway Club Championship is the final road cycling event in Singapore for riders looking to accumulate points in a first-ever structured ranking and points system, announced by the Singapore Cycling Federation in February this year.

Companies that are keen to involve employees in OCBC Cycle 2016 can sign up for The Business Times Cycle of Hope Corporate Bike Ride or The Corporate Bike Ride. Participants who register for the corporate rides can choose to ride in either The Straits Times Ride or The Sportive Ride event categories. The company whose participants clock the most mileage – adding up the total achieved mileage from both corporate rides – will win the OCBC Cycle 2016 Longest Distance Award. 

CruCycle gives unique spin to Singapore fitness scene

Krewfit has launched the latest spin concept and studio CruCycle in Singapore to local fitness and fun enthusiasts. CruCycle's classes revolve around the mantra of 'Riding with the Pack' - encouraging friends to work out in a group, focusing on teamwork and fostering camaraderie with a Cru workout, and adapts very well to corporate bonding situations. 

Source: Crucycle.

Founded, owned and operated by the Ding siblings - Valerie. Calvin and Beatrice - who took their inspiration for CruCycle from the Los Angeles (LA) community where they grew up, the 50 minute CruCycle spin class is an all-rounded experience for spinners. The signature class not only involves indoor cycling. but also incorporates exercises for abs and arms. 

Beatrice, Instructor and Co-founder CruCycle and also an Apparel Designer, conceptualised the idea with Calvin, Co-Founder & Managing Director of CruCycle, while they were studying in Los Angeles, where there are many fitness options available. Calvin picked up indoor cycling from the spin studios in Los Angeles, finding it a natural fit for his athleticism, having competed in rugby, tennis and bowling competitively in high school.

"Coming back to live in Singapore. we quickly realised that there wasn't a spin studio here that was anything quite like what we loved in LA," Valerie, Director and Co-founder of CruCycle said. "This realisation of what we enjoyed from indoor cycling classes in our LA experience spurned us to create the CruCycle brand of indoor cycling. In CruCycle classes, we want to share with the Singaporean community the LA vibe - one that is not only high-energy but also first and foremost, fun and community oriented. We want friends to come in a group to workout. to encourage each other and have a good time while keeping fit." 

The Ding siblings are highly involved in every aspect of the class by ensuring every bike is prior-fitted to each rider's unique measurements. They personally curate playlists for each class, setting the tempo and mood for the high-powered sessions, which target both mental and physical strength-building.

Cru's sessions are suitable for all levels, says the company. The 'pack' promotes togetherness as they ride close together in a dark room, in sync to the same beat at all times. Four types of rides are offered:

• Beginners: introductory rides that allows riders a chance to learn new methods and exercises involved in indoor cycling. 
• The Pack Ride: Ride with the Pack. This signature class is for riders of all levels who wish to challenge themselves by riding hard and heavy. Light weights and core exercises are incorporated into the 50-minute ride. 
• Charity Event Ride: welcoming riders from all levels of fitness, Cru will be organising charity events throughout the year, whereby proceeds go to a foundation of choice. 
• Private Rides, which are suited to corporate bonding events: PRIVATE RIDES - All levels Cru is open to private rides at your convenience with your own pack. Suitable for private events, birthdays and special occasions. 

Visitors to CruCycle may bump into Bandit, CruCycle’s Brand Ambassador and resident husky mascot. Bandit loves meeting new people and inspiring them to give it their best in each spin class. Together with the Ding siblings, Bandit helps champion awareness for Woof Infinity, a community project that Valerie founded to help support animal welfare in Singapore.

At Woof Infinity, Valerie aims to raise awareness for the many problems that exist within the industry of puppy mills – overcrowded housing, unsanitary conditions, inadequate food and water and no water nor veterinary care. Through Woof Infinity, she hopes to eradicate this problem, promote adoption of these abused animals and at the same time, help with donations in aid of medical bills needed to keep the pups in shelters happy and healthy, ready for adoption.

S$1 from the fees from each rider at CruCycle goes towards supporting this project. The money will be donated to a local shelter partner monthly to assist with their medical bills.

Valerie also co-founded Send A Light, which donates inflatable solar lamps to households in Myanmar and Ladakh, India without access to electricity.