Fixed Gear
On The Ride with HolyCrit
HolyCrit Co-Founder Zulkifli Awab and Race Director Saeful Hakim tell us what drives their passion for fixed gear criterium racing.
Zulkifli Awab, HolyCrit Co-founder
© Dean Koh
Arguably the most exciting cycling race format, criterium racing sees a field of cyclists try to clock as many laps as possible round a closed circuit within a fixed period of time. It’s a little bit like Formula One racing for bicycles, with the same amount of thrills (when riders take the corners at blazingly quick speeds) and spills (when they can’t quite maintain control and inevitably crash) keeping spectators engaged.
Now imagine doing it on a fixed gear bike, sans brakes, at night.
Fixed gear bikes are simple, but really quick.
© Dean Koh
Clocking up speeds of in excess of 55km/h, besides riders needing to take corners quick, maintain an optimum racing line and have the tactical nous to know when to attack or defend a position, they also have to control a bike that demands real skill and physical prowess to handle. The races are fast, the action is thick, and it’s been gathering pace right here in Singapore thanks to the guys from HolyCrit.
Building A Community
More than just about looking slick and being fashionable, HolyCrit was born out of the idea that fixed gear riders should get a platform to come together, ride together and even push themselves together. It may have been inspired by the Red Hook Crit races in Brooklyn, New York, but where HolyCrit’s Co-Founder Zulkifli Awab is concerned, it’s all about bringing the community together, for some good, clean fun.
“Co-founder Eric Khoo and I were sitting down in his shop, Fixup Yourgear, in Arab Street and we were talking about how despite having sold so many fixed gear bikes, we have yet to see a big mass ride. We eventually decided to organise a race event where people can get to know each other and share the spirit of what fixed gear riding is about,” said the 42-year-old who is better known in the cycling community as Zul.
The name was inspired by a mosque’s call to prayer
© Dean Koh
“That was how it all started in 2013 and we announced our first race in Yishun, in a heavy industrial carpark where trailers and prime movers had been parked... It was freaking dangerous, but it was fun. We had some 20 riders participating in a 25 minute race round the compound,“ said Zul.
Engaging Youth
Community aside, HolyCrit was intended as a platform for youths to develop their riding.
“Kids who are buying a fixed gear bike wouldn’t want to be paying $80 to $90 for a race they cannot win. At the HolyCrit events, they’re only paying a minimal amount of money that will go into the prize pool where the winner takes all. You’re challenging yourself with the mentality: ‘can I do it with my bike?’ regardless of the cost of the bike,” he said.
Not one to compromise on standards, HolyCrit slowly built a reputation for the standard of its organisation, attracting overseas competitors from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and even Spain. There have also been overseas editions of HolyCrit races in Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh.
Zul shared that his proudest moment was receiving a compliment from a representative from a fixed gear bike company called 8bar bikes who said that the standard of the HolyCrit race event was even better than that of Red Hook Crit’s.
A place for young cyclists to challenge themselves
© Dean Koh
Accolades aside, Zul remains focused on youth in Singapore. “The objective now, is to get kids riding and participating in our events, and to give them the exposure and experience and platform to cycle. And through this, be able to see how they can continuously push themselves, improve themselves and get better each time,” he said.
Overcoming Challenges
While the races were popular, organising them for the community didn’t come easy. As HolyCrit events were not-for-profit, the costs for logistics were borne by the organisers.
“Everyone involved in HolyCrit, from the media guys to the logistics guys, most of them we knew from many years back.
Fixed gear bikes always had a special draw for Zul
© Dean Koh
“It started from friends supporting me, volunteering their time or resources such as light and sound equipment (Shoutout to Richard Ong from Audio Resources). For us, Holy Crit doesn’t follow the typical sponsorship model for events; rather, they’re people who we know personally, and are involved in the event,” shared Zul.
As the early HolyCrit races didn’t have the necessary permits, the founders found themselves rapped by the authorities.
“There have never ever been regrets on this journey. For me, it is always about progression, progression, progression. No hurdles will stop me and my team from running HolyCrit. I would go through everything all over again, just for the riders to have a platform to race. As long as the races are safe, and well organised, that’s all that matters,” he shared.
When asked what drives him, Zul answered: “I do this for passion, for the love of fixed gear bikes, fixed gear riding and for the love of seeing young riders having an opportunity to come together to race. The aim is to create a world standard fixed gear criterium race here in Singapore—and we’re now known around the world.
Despite what he’s been through, Zul has no regrets
© Dean Koh
“The only time I would stop organising these HolyCrit events and races is if I’m paralysed, or if I’m not around anymore. Those are the only two things that will stop me doing what I’m doing. That has always been my thing. The case was a blessing in disguise. I will pave the way for a new generation of fixed gear riders, to help develop some of the boys’ potential, and to give young riders the same opportunities,” said Zul, adding that despite the races not being officially sanctioned, parents of the participating cyclists have expressed messages of support for Zul and the HolyCrit events.
“For me, the dream doesn’t stop once I’ve achieve a certain milestone. The dream will continue to get bigger and bigger. You have to take calculated risks to make things happen, to achieve your dreams. There will be a line of risk. However thin or thick that line is, you have to go past it in order to achieve your goal,” he said.
The Deeper Drive
Zul may have been a cycling aficionado for as long as he could remember, but fixed gear bikes holds a special place in his heart after getting his first fixed gear bike in 2012.
“The love builds up every day when I ride the bikes. Then came the messenger bike riding videos from the US, and we’d try to pick up the little tricks, technique and even style, where riders would sticker bomb their bikes. It felt really cool,” said Zul. “And without any need to maintain gears or brakes, maintenance is really low and it got me hooked. And I’ve since collected 12 bikes,” he added.
Fixed gear bikes are super sleek.
© Dean Koh
When asked what keeps his fire burning, Zul said: “It may be my innate angst. Organising such races helps calm me down. I have to transfer this very intense energy somewhere. So when I met Eric, this was that opportunity.
“It’s not about the glamour, but about seeing how many youths are interested in joining these races. I tell them that it’s not about winning or losing. Getting lapped is fine, they can always do better next time. I’ve got parents showing me their support, and participating because it promotes a healthy lifestyle with good company,” he shared.
Eye on the Future
When asked to weigh in on Singapore’s growing bike scene, HolyCrit Race Director Saeful Hakim said that there’s a lot of potential. “The number of races and events we have does not justify the number of cyclists and the amount of interest in cycling here. It’s a bit sad that there are not enough cycling routes or events to justify the interest,” he said.
Saeful Hakim is HolyCrit’s Race Director.
© Dean Koh
Despite limited resources, Saeful believes that there can be more creative ways to organise more HolyCrit races and other cycling events in Singapore.
“One of the ways we are looking at is through collaborations with companies or co-organisers. For example, a factory may have a lot of road space which we could possibly use. Our recent race at Jalan Benaan Kapal was not a ‘live’ road, and we rented the road from the Singapore Land Authority for use. So we try to be creative in that sense,” he said.
As for future plans, Saeful said: “This year (2017) is the first full year in which we’re doing this legally, so we are still finding our footing. In the long term, we want to do a whole race series where riders can accumulate points with a championship at the end of the season. For now, it is all about building confidence within the community, for Zul and I especially.”
To keep abreast of upcoming HolyCrit events, visit their website.
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