NEWS: OCBC CYCLE 2018
CAN WAIT TO SEE OUR ROADS RESERVED FOR CYCLISTS AGAIN? YOU HAVE HAVE THE ROAD THIS MAY!
OCBC Cycle 2018, Singapore’s biggest cycling fiesta to be held on 5 and 6 May 2018, was officially launched at orchardgateway on 22 January 2018. Besides a new corporate competitive category, they have established new partnerships that will offer greater deals to participants and enhance the experience of riding on closed roads. The new partners are Mobike, Robinsons, The Straits Times Run and Timbuk2. On the charity front, the well-received OCBC Cycle ‘Teach a Child to Cycle’ initiative, which benefited 26 children last year, will be extended to 48 youths with special needs this year, including eight youths from Hong Kong. The youths, after being taught to cycle by participant volunteers, will ride in a special segment on 5 May at the Singapore Sports Hub.
NEW CORPORATE CATEGORY – THE CORPOORATE CHASE
The Corporate Chase is created for companies looking for a more exciting platform for team building and bonding. Companies with employees who are serious cyclists looking to challenge themselves and have fun competing with their peers beyond the world of business will find The Corporate Chase a fun category. Companies can sign up a team of four employees to ride in the flag-off wave in The Sportive Ride (42km). The company whose team has the fastest combined net time completing The Sportive Ride will be crowned the OCBC Cycle Corporate Chase champion. The winning team will receive a champion’s trophy, prize money of S$400 and a champion jersey for each rider. The second and third fastest corporate teams in The Corporate Chase will receive prize money of S$300 and S$200 respectively.
MOBIKE
In a first-of-its-kind partnership with bike-sharing firm, Mobike, OCBC Cycle 2018 offers 2,000 bicycles for participants. This bike rental service is completely free-of-charge for use at the event at the National Stadium. This will, without a doubt, be wonderful news for participants who either face issues bringing their bicycles to the venue on event day or who do not own a bicycle. As long as they first create a Mobike account, cyclists who sign up for OCBC Cycle 2018 can redeem a free bike ride for use over the event weekend on 5 or 6 May. In addition, all participants of OCBC Cycle 2018 will receive a complimentary 2018 pass for Mobike bike-share rides until 31 December 2018. This allows participants plenty of opportunities to try out the Mobikes ahead of OCBC Cycle 2018 and familiarise themselves with the handling of the bicycle, thus ensuring a safer ride for one.
THE STRAITS TIMES RUN
Also, for the first time, a mass-participation cycling event and a mass-participation running event are joining forces to offer greater value to participants as the sports entertainment scene in Singapore matures with rising interest for unique experiences. The bundling of The ST Run with The ST Ride of OCBC Cycle aims to encourage people to have fun while keeping fit through two of the most popular sports in Singapore.
In an exclusive promotion with The ST Run, participants of OCBC Cycle 2018 can enjoy a special 5% discount off registration fees for The ST Run when it launches in March, with the run held on 23 September 2018. In addition, participants who pay with their OCBC credit or debit cards will enjoy a further 10% discount. Similarly, participants of The ST Run will enjoy a 5% discount off registration fees for OCBC Cycle 2018.
FRIENDS OF OCBC CYCLE
Referred to as the “Friends of OCBC Cycle”, corporate companies and brands who share OCBC Cycle’s enthusiasm in creating a vibrant cycling community in Singapore have come together to support the nation’s largest cycling fiesta.
In addition to Mobike and The ST Run, OCBC Cycle 2018 welcomes Timbuk2, which is sponsoring its signature cycling backpacks and messenger bags for the OCBC Cycle 2018 launch registration goodie bags. Both Timbuk2 and Polar are offering all participants a S$50 shopping voucher. Robinsons will sponsor a shoe bag (worth S$19 each) in the event pack and a S$20 shopping voucher.
Some of the returning Friends of OCBC Cycle are:
- 100PLUS – providing the hydration needs of participants at OCBC Cycle 2018
- Great Eastern – providing free personal accident insurance coverage for every participant
- Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Singapore – providing accommodation for the South East Asia cyclists participating in the OCBC Cycle Speedway South East Asia Championship
- NETS – providing each participant with a NETS FlashPay card comprising a stored value of $2
- Polar – sponsoring vouchers and fitness trackers for the OCBC Cycle 2018 launch goodie bag
- Volvo – sponsoring safety vehicles for the event
All Friends of OCBC Cycle 2018 will give participants great experiences and deals –from exclusive promotions for OCBC Cycle participants and prizes that the public can stand to win, to shopping vouchers and apparel for all participants.
Mr Samuel Tsien, Group CEO of OCBC Bank, said: “We are delighted to kick off OCBC Cycle 2018, which comes with new and exciting elements. On 5 and 6 May, participants can once again have fun with their families, friends and colleagues, riding on closed roads and appreciating some of Singapore’s most scenic spots. As we celebrate the 10th year of OCBC Bank’s involvement in the cycling scene here, we are so pleased to see the growth of partnerships with so many of our Friends and, at the same time, bring on board new ones over the past decade.
He added: “To double the fun for people who both run and cycle, we are tying up with The Straits Times Run this year. Expect special discounts and exclusive programmes. With the growing acceptance of a bike-sharing culture in Singapore, we have collaborated with Mobike so that you need not own a bicycle to ride in OCBC Cycle 2018. Or as we like to say: No bike? No problem!
“In the past 10 years, we have received outstanding support from a whole range of parties, without whom our annual enjoyment of riding on closed roads would simply not have been possible. Of the many local authorities who have made a difference, we particularly want to thank the Land Transport Authority, Singapore Police Force and Sport Singapore. We are also grateful to non-participants of our event for bearing patiently with the inconvenience brought about by road closures, albeit for a limited time.
“To our partners and Friends, thank you for always finding new ways to enrich and enhance the participants’ experiences with your contributions. Most of all, our heartfelt appreciation must go out to all participants of OCBC Cycle. Your support over the past 10 years has allowed OCBC to continue supporting this largest mass cycling event in Singapore and contribute to promoting community spirit and activities that we can all enjoy.
“See you on 5 and 6 May!”
A SPECIAL WAY TO RIDE
The OCBC Cycle ‘Teach A Child To Cycle’ initiative under the #OCBCCares programme will be extended to 48 special needs youths. Forty Singapore youths are beneficiaries of the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) and SG Enable. Eight Hong Kong youths are beneficiaries of The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation.
Participants of OCBC Cycle 2018 can volunteer to teach the youths to cycle on bicycles with training wheels, guided by coaches from the Singapore Cycling Federation.
On 5 May 2018, these 48 youths will ride in a special segment of the event. This initiative gives these special needs youths the opportunity to ride at the Singapore Sports Hub like anyone else.
REGISTRATION AT ORCHARDGATEWAY ON 22 JANUARY 2018
Three hundred goodie bags were up for grabs for participants who signed up for OCBC Cycle 2018 at the launch event at orchardgateway. The first cyclist to register at the event launch received a registration gift bag worth $758, including orchardgateway shopping vouchers worth $200, a Timbuk2 cycling bag worth $209, a Polar fitness tracker worth $299 and a Polar voucher worth $50. The next 299 cyclists received registration fee discounts of up to 25% and goodie bags containing Polar fitness trackers, Timbuk2 bags and vouchers.
In addition, at the launch event, the first 300 registrants got a chance to win an angbao comprising cash of up to S$88 in a special OCBC Cycle Sure-Win Ang Bao Lucky Dip.
Online registration for OCBC Cycle 2018 opens on Tuesday 23 January 2018 at 10am. Between 23 January and 28 February, participants can enjoy special ‘early bird’ registration fee with discounts up to $14. Visit www.ocbccycle.com for more information.
All the popular ride 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 Asia and Club Championships – will continue to feature in OCBC Cycle 2018.
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All information and photo by OCBC Cycle