Women in Malaysia meet for group bicycle rides to connect with nature and each other, exercise and stay sane amid the coronavirus pandemic
- Cycling is a good way to exercise while experiencing the great outdoors, and has physical and mental health benefits
- Kuala Lumpur-based group Bike in Nature gather every week for rides to keep fit, socialise and enjoy the jungle around them
On a Wednesday morning in Janda Baik, a lush, hilly area around 40 minutes from the Malaysian capital city, Kuala Lumpur, a group of women start unloading their bicycles from their cars. They check their tyres, chains, gears and lights and don their gloves and helmets. The sun is out and the jungle surrounding them is wide awake.
As usual, this Wednesday’s route was announced in the Bike in Nature group chat the day before.
“We meet at 8.15am sharp and we start rolling at 8.30,” the message read. The spare 15 minutes are spent in the traditional “circle” – a pep talk and information session led by their coach, Guadalupe Cernusco.
“Let’s start off by applauding ourselves for making it here today,” she says as the group assembles, “for we could have stayed in bed, slept in and not gone through the hassle of loading our bikes and sweating uphill today.”
One of the women present is Bike in Nature regular Su-Shuin Kam. Despite being a keen athlete, the Kuala Lumpur native hesitated for months before joining the group. She was afraid of riding alongside cars, but thanks to the persuasion of Argentinian friend and fellow cyclist Maureen Clarke, she joined and has never looked back.
