Rider Profile: Chan Mun Yew (Full Tour)

For posterity, tell us your full name, age occupation and anything you’d like to tell us about yourself.

Chan Mun Yew. I’m 38 and a project manager in Singapore. I think I might be the first Asian to have done this tour, definitely the first female Asian.

Do you have any favourite ride that you do there?

We have Mount Faber and I like to do the loop from Pierce Reservoir up to Mandai Area.

Why did you choose the Silk Route bike tour for your next adventure?

Oh, because it’s exotic and to visit all the Central Asia countries. I like that TdA only does it every two years and it keeps changing.

What made you a little nervous about this trip?

The distance. On the forms they asked are you able to cycle 200km for several days? I answered maybe and I didn’t know if they were going to accept me.

What has been highlights so far and what are you still looking forward to?

I’m definitely looking forward to the food in Turkey! I love going through mountainous areas and being away from big cities, seeing the simplicity of how people live here so the Pamirs were special. I was also amazed at seeing how different every country in Central Asia is, they’re totally different.

What kind of bike did you bring?

Surly Long Haul Trucker, the smallest one they make. I’m very happy with it, I wish it was lighter sometimes but it works so well. I want to thank Greg from Harpers in Muscatine, Iowa for putting together the bike for me; I didn’t have to do anything!

How did you train beforehand, did you feel prepared?

I cycled many loops in the park but I wasn’t prepared at all. I told myself I can prepare from Shanghai to Xian. I think I should have done more though, I got stronger during the trip but initially I was struggling. It helped when I got lighter too!

If you could give one piece of advice to someone going on their first tour with us what would it be?

Expect the unexpected and come with an open mind. Let go and have fun.