Chin: Cycling a balm for the soul

Slow and steady: Chin says cycling is all about the rider and the road in front of him.

PETALING JAYA: Cycling is good for the mind, body and soul. Take it from F&B entrepreneur David Chin who started the popular Dave’s Deli group.

“It can be an inexpensive sport, pastime or means of transport. It’s also environmentally friendly and cool,” he said.

“More Malaysians should embark on it.”

Chin, whose Dave’s Deli started in 1989 with a sandwich bar at Bangsar Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur, is a supporter of Ride for Malaysia.

Organised by Star Media Group and property developer Sunsuria Berhad, the July 30 event aims to encourage unity and patriotism.

Chin, 65, believes that cycling can help instill a multicultural spirit because it makes people interact with one another, regardless of age, race or social status.

“The slower pace and touring on a bicycle exposes one to different people and places. And you find that at the heart of it, people are basically the same everywhere,” he said.

Chin started cycling after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer four years ago.

“After the initial self-denial phase, I decided to take on a more positive attitude and deal with it. I was looking for some ‘heavy’ physical activity to compel myself back to normal life, a kind of self-healing process, to prove to myself that despite this setback, I could still do regular stuff,” he explained.

“A good friend who had taken up cycling asked me to give it a go. My only sport at that time was golf, and cycling was the obvious choice because I could just do it in my own time. As time went by, more friends joined in and soon, what was supposed to be a singular pursuit of self- healing became a group therapy,” he said, adding that his wife Maureen has also recently taken up cycling.

Chin, who is retired, owns three bicycles – a recumbent, a foldie and a touring bike.

“I cycle three times a week,” he said.

“Cycling is about you and the road in front of you. You feel the breeze blowing, and you absorb the sights and smells. It gives you time to think and be conscious of the beauty around you,” he said.

“I live part of the week in Kuala Kubu Baru (where I operate Kedai Makanan Basikal Stopover),” he said. “I would love to one day bike tour the east coast stretch and East Malaysia.”

Ride for Malaysia will flag off at 6.30am on July 30 from the Celebration Centre at Sunsuria City. There is a Fun Ride of 30km along nearby scenic routes. There is also a Family Ride of 5.5km. There will be lots of goodies up for grabs and fun stuff to win. For more info, or to register, go to sites.thestar.com.my/rideformalaysia/