Cycling is seen by many as a good form of exercise that keeps us active. As Singapore continues developing more park connectors, there has also been an increase in people taking up cycling as both a recreational activity, and also a form of transportation.

Muhammad Rezal Bin Ramli, Co-founder of HappyCycle and an avid cyclist himself, wants to create new possibilities of cycling. Besides teaching children and adults how to cycle, he is on a mission to empower more Singaporeans to bond and explore new places in Singapore.

Happy Cycle – Turning His Love For Cycling Into An Initiative

An avid cyclist himself, Rezal believes that cycling is a physical activity that trains the mind to cope with fear, independence and acceptance. Putting his years of professional coaching skills – as a former coach of Women’s National Tchoukball Team – into good use, he started teaching his children to cycle over the weekends as soon as they reached the appropriate age. Despite his expertise in coaching, the idea of becoming a cycling coach did not occur to him until much later when he offered to teach ex-colleagues and friends.

With his Challenge Based Development (CBD) training method, he taught an ex-colleague’s daughter how to cycle within 45 minutes. Through word-of-mouth referrals and sharing his experience on Instagram, more friends came forward to approach him for guidance. And one led to the other, he set up HappyCycle alongside his Co-founder Tan Tse Yong with the intention of helping more people in Singapore to learn how to cycle.

Once A “Tiger Coach”, Now A Nurturing Head Coach

With a background in teaching and coaching, you may assume that Rezal is naturally gifted with the essential qualities expected of a head coach such as being patient and nurturing.  To our surprise, he revealed that he was in fact a “Tiger Coach” back in the early days of his career when he was coaching the women’s national Tchoukball team.

“My coaching style used to be direct and fierce. It’s in my nature to push my players and expect more from them. Until one day, my girls from the national team told me to spare a thought for them. Give more encouragement and say kinder words instead of pushing them so hard. That experience taught me to be more patient and nurturing.”

Rezal accepted the feedback he received with an open mind, and gradually adjusted his way of coaching the team. Through consistent effort and practice, as well as becoming a father of two, it is now in his nature to be patient and nurturing towards his learners. In order to pay optimal attention to them, he only conducts 1-on-1 hourly coaching classes. This has proven to work well, looking at the numerous good reviews on HappyCycle Facebook page.

“I now believe very strongly in communication. We don’t just teach the children how to cycle, we impart values like self-confidence and resilience. We also explain the approach we are taking to the parents to build trust and rapport.”

HappyCycle, A Path He Was Meant To Ride

Reflecting on his journey as a Co-Founder, he could not have asked for a better ride. While there have been hiccups and challenges, he came to realize how his past experiences have paved the path for HappyCycle.

A “blessing” in disguise was the pandemic. Like many others, his career was heavily affected. As safety regulations ramped up and sporting events came to a complete halt, Rezal lost the very reasons he loved about his job as a Sports Officer in Singapore Polytechnic and decided to make an exit. Although it was a period of uncertainty for him, it turned out to be one of the defining moments that led up to HappyCycle. And he could spend more quality time with his children.

There were other things that played out well. Being a former Head Of Department (HOD) for Character Development in the school that he was teaching at, he was tasked to visit other schools for cross-learning and gain insights about different character development models. It was this particular experience that inspired him to come up with the CBD training method, though it did not have a specific purpose at that point in time until HappyCycle was initiated. He is also a social media-savvy individual proficient in design tools, so the marketing aspect of HappyCycle has been well taken care of.

“I was talking to Tse Yong, my Co-Founder, about our journey and I can’t help but to be amazed by how the stars have aligned for me. The unexpected career change due to Covid-19, the things I did for my work and the random hobbies I picked up have all served me well at HappyCycle.”

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Riding Through Little Hits and Bumps

While Rezal did not face major roadblocks, he had similar concerns as every other entrepreneur at the beginning. Business sustainability. He was worried that he would soon run out of students, especially since cycling is a skill that can be taught within a defined amount of time. However, his concerns were addressed when he started realising how many people, including adults, did not know how to cycle or cycle well.

Without a company vehicle, logistics was also another major challenge. Given that learners of varying age groups and height require different bike and helmet size, it was hard to determine the right bike without meeting the student for the first time. He struggled to fit the chosen bike and spare bike into his personal car. There was even a funny episode when he drove to lessons with his slippers after having to make multiple trips to bring the bikes (thankfully the class was cancelled by the client).

Business aside, he noted that the biggest challenge was personal. He held on to the perspective that he was not good or experienced enough to be a professional cycling coach. Knowing how his judgment would eventually impede his potential and abilities, he was convinced to cast self-doubt aside and go for the ride.

“Be confident of your own abilities. Most people think they’re not good enough for what they want to do. Don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself, expecting things to be perfect right from the start. Give yourself space and time to explore and make mistakes. The real mistake is being afraid to make one.”

Sharing His Advice to Parents and Entrepreneurs

As HappyCycle continues to provide a platform for families to engage in a fun outdoor activity together, Rezal encourages parents to embrace cycling as more than a sport. Treat it as a mode of transport to travel between places, and a medium to discover new experiences.

“Don’t make cycling a mundane chore. Instead of just bringing bicycles and waiting for your children by the side, be involved. Start by cycling together to nearby parks or hawker centres. Make it a family excursion to explore new places in Singapore.”

When it comes to sharing his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, Rezal encourages you to “take a few risks and leave no regrets.”

Being someone who has experienced many goodbyes, including with his father almost 10 years ago, he believes in seizing every opportunity and taking new rides in life.

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