If you’re keen to get active but could use a touch more motivation, joining a sports club is a great option. In our feature on sports clubs in Hong Kong, we chat to representatives from three clubs. Here, we chat to cyclist RUPERT GRIFFITHS and find out more about the South Island Road Cycling club in Hong Kong. You’ll be donning the lycra in no time!
South Island Road Cycling Club
Name: Rupert Griffiths
Nationality: British
Time in HK: 50 years (with 6 away)
Tell us about yourself in a sentence or two.
Previously Hong Kong’s only professional falconer, I worked for years as a wildlife rehabilitator before discovering my inner-geek love of computer coding and taking up the more sedate life of web app development. I keep up my exposure to wildlife and the great outdoors through my obsession with cycling.
What is South Island Road Cycling?
SIRC isn’t a formal club but rather a friendly community of road cyclists with the common interest of cycling Hong Kong’s roads and sharing a laugh over a coffee. There’s a competitive backbone behind our rides, and members soon become motivated to push themselves. As the saying goes, the rides never get easier, you just get faster!
We formed in 2005 and today have a Facebook group with over a thousand members. Many are voyeurs or people that have left Hong Kong, but we get around 50 to 100 people at our bigger events, and our group rides tend to consist of around 10 riders. The SIRC, and cycling in general, was previously very male-dominated so it’s great to see more and more women join in recent years; we’ve had both male and female riders represent SIRC at regional stage races in Asia.
Who is a typical club member?
It’s an eclectic group but the majority are expats living on Hong Kong Island. Cycling is a great leveller and on a typical morning ride, you might find yourself riding with people from all over the world and all stations in life, opening up a great network of contacts. We also attract increasing numbers of local members.
What are some of the club’s activities and events?
We have five training rides every week – the core of all SIRC riding. Two or three times a year, we host the infamous SIRC Tour of Pain (TOP). This tough challenge typically takes eight hours and includes steep climbs totalling up to 4,000m combined ascent. The event attracts large numbers of riders, and finishers get the right to purchase a special version of the SIRC kit, featuring polka dots.
What are your three favourite routes in Hong Kong?
I think the most important route for a newcomer to cycling in Hong Kong is to do is the Peak Ascent, followed by a ride out to Shek O for breakfast. One with very different scenery is what we call the “Grand Tour”, a large 100km loop of the New Territories. And, to complete the full experience of HK riding, I would recommend a ride on Lantau, culminating in an ascent to the Buddha, before returning to Mui Wo for breakfast.
What is an essential piece of kit for cyclists in Hong Kong?
A well-maintained road bike, lights, a good helmet and a can-do attitude. And socks of an appropriate length are highly recommended.
We hope you enjoyed this article on the South Island Road Cycling Club. See more sports clubs and things to do in our Living in Hong Kong section.
This article first appeared in the Autumn 2022 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
