A six-year-old Singaporean boy named Ryan, under the guidance of his parents, Benjamin Soon, an associate professor at the Singapore Institute of Technology and a physiotherapist, embarked on an inspiring cycling journey around the island. The young cyclist, together with his family, completed a 129km circuit, taking a remarkable 14 hours to finish. This incredible feat surpassed the previous national record set by another six-year-old and saw Ryan becoming the youngest individual to achieve such a distance in Singapore within a day.
The event, which took place beginning at 5:30 am on the first of June, kicked off before sunrise in Jurong. Accompanying the Soon family was a close family friend, 56-year-old Christopher Peh. Despite the challenge of persistent rain throughout the day, the determined group pressed on. En route, strategic breaks were taken – first at Kranji, then Punggol, followed by a lunch recess at Changi, with subsequent rests at East Coast and West Coast. They concluded their journey around 7:30 pm, just as evening set in.
This spontaneous adventure had its origins in jest after the Spons and Ryan previously cycled to and from the East Coast, covering 52km earlier in the year. Upon realizing that a record was within reach, they engaged in two months of weekend long-distance cycling to prepare, particularly aiming to build Ryan’s endurance.
Ryan, who started riding at the age of two and graduated from training wheels by four, had gained considerable experience by the age of six. The family’s choice to cycle as a main form of transportation around Singapore also contributed significantly to Ryan’s stamina.
Throughout the record-setting day, Benjamin Soon often found himself lagging behind his son due to the additional weight of carrying repair tools and water. Family friend Peh looked out for Ryan’s safety on the route and took photos during down times.
Benjamin Soon expressed both pride and a desire to cherish these family moments, realizing that as Ryan grows, he may prefer the company of friends to family activities.
The $12,000 raised from this cycling initiative was donated to charity, benefiting individuals with intellectual disabilities. The Spons hope their experience will encourage other parents to undertake extraordinary endeavours with their children, strengthening bonds and creating lifelong memories.
