Kayuhan Warisan Taiping 2009



Race Day:
Date: 27th, Dec 2009
Location : Kompleks Rakan Muda, Kamunting
Distance: 45km

Jersey/Goodies Collection:
Date: 26th, Dec 2009
Location : Kompleks Rakan Muda, Kamunting
Time : 12 noon to midnight

Check it out, some trail pictures uploaded.

Malakoff Interstate Fellowship Ride

This is STRICTLY a road bike event. NO HELMET NO RIDE.
Over 700 cyclists from around Malaysia are expected to brave the 210 km Malakoff Inter-state Fellowship Ride 2009 covering the three states of Penang, Perak and Kedah. The two-day Ride spans over 31 December 2009 and 1 January 2010, covering challenging terrains of 149 km and 71 km, respectively.

Visit Penang Mountain Bike Association (PMA) for more details.

Ride With CM (Campaign For A Lane)

Date: 25.10.2009
Distance : 80km
Route: G-club Ride With CM Campaign (http://www.pbb.com.my/node/100)
Riders: Ang, Mei Ling, Woei Tong, Woei Chyang, Freddy, Ch'ng, Weng Kheong, Kar Cheong
Noteworthy: (1) WoeiTong made a personal record round island tour time on his birthday, (2) WoeiChyang first 80km ride. (3) Freddy first 80km ride

Our group joining this ride with intention qualified for finisher jersey, for those that following our pre-rides, it should know that most of us finished between ~4.5 hours of total ride time. So when we meet up this morning around 6am at ParkView car park, most of us do showed the eagerness to finish under 5 hours, but at the same time the worries of not able to get the finisher jersey is there as well. Just that no body spell it out.

I woke up at 5:30am, intend to take breakfast in the car since I carpooling with Freddy and Ch'ng. I'm nervous for today ride, since this is first time I'm using a full-suser for long distance riding, a lot of peoples have negative comments on using full-suser on tar road long distance riding. But I intended to give it a try, see whether the added suspension able to "cure" or "delay" my back pain problem after prolong riding.

The event start off on time at 7am, but me and WoeiChyang have separated from the rest of the group. So I have no idea how the rest doing for the whole ride. I told WoeiChyang we should stay around 25 km/hr speed on flat, it turn out I can't maintain at that speed at all on Coastal Highway, I maintain around ~30km/hr instead, certain stretch even go up to 40km/hr!

Today I pedaled like I'm on steroid, beating my average flat road speed, beating my previous climb speed on Bukit Genting and TitiKerawang. Bukit Genting I'm climbing with 13km/hr vs 9km/hr previously. Climbing TitiKerawang with ~17km/hr vs previously ~13km/hr. And most importantly, beating my brother on the climb. I reached TitiKerawang peak just 5 mins under 9am.

WoeiChyang and me start to slow down when reach Teluk Bahang Dam, since we know we're going to finish the ride under 5hrs no matters what. But WoeiChyang start to slow down quite a bit when go through Batu Ferringi, myself also kind of hitting the wall, there is one part I just couldn't pedal anymore, so we decide to take a 10mins break in front of small stall to replenish our isotonic drinks.

That 10mins break do save me and WoeiChyang, I able to maintained around 25km/hr until I hit the finish line, while WoeiChyang able to do averagely ~22km/hr until finish line.

Kudos to our group, all of us able to qualified for Finisher Jersey. Ride time ranging from 3.5hrs to 4.5 hrs. First cyclist (not our group memberlah) finished the ride in 2 hour 19 mins. And look like I didn't made a wrong purchase decision on a full sus bike, today I didn't encounter any back pain until I need to stop to stretch the body, that why I made own personal record time on round island tour.

Thanks to G-club to have a well organized cycling event.

Gertak Sanggul Newbie Ride

Date: 24.10.2009
Distance: ~20km
Route: BJI <-> Sg. Ara <-> Teluk Kumbar <-> Gertak Sanggul Trail (just the pavement part)
Riders: TK Tan, Sazali, Ghani, Hamdan and Beh

This ride suppose a introduction of MTB hardships to Sazali and Ghani(both of them have not cycling for very long time). But it end up Sazali and Ghani complete the ride without any issue. (read: they are not suffering at all)

We've set the standard too low, Sazali and Ghani manage to pull through on the climb except the flat road pacing, they didn't bite my bait by pedaling up to 30 km/hr.

Guys, hat off to you on your first day out on MTB, but I shall plan "better" route for you next trip.

BM Mountain Bike Carnival

Date : 11/10/2009
Event : BM Mountain Bike Carnival 2009
Distance : ~50km
Riders : Hamdan, Ang and Woei Tong
Noteworthy : Ang first Jamboree and WoeiTong first completed Jamboree. WoeiTong get a pair of MVR glove from lucky draw.

Day before race day I sleep like a baby, end up woke up at 6am, Hamdan suppose pick me up at 6:30am. Rushing to ate breakfast etc, luckily I've packed all necessary items before I go to sleep night before, so made it to the door at 6:30 am. Greeted by Ang as MeiLing will bring him over to BM to join the event.

6:40am, Hamdan didn't sms or call me, I start thinking this guy must be on the way here. Ended Hamdan only pick me up at 7:10 am. He overslept. I like !@##$, how can someone overslept on a Race Day. We reached Mengkuang Dam at 7:45 am, and rushing set up our bikes and start pedaling to Starting Point ( that is ~1km away ). We just made it like 30s before the race horn blown, and we have like 900 cyclists in front of us to overtake, great!!!

CP1 > CP2:
We start moving slowly, my computer probably doesn't clock any distance, that how slow we're moving!!!

As usual in a Jamboree, if you not in the lead ( not that I will in the lead palaton anytime soon for coming Jamborees), you have to push your bike when reaching up hill for initial stage. My aim for this Jamboree is simple, play safe and complete the whole course. Don't want UUM history to repeat today, where I've fetch to hospital by an ambulance.

I am able to start cycle when reaching third red earth hill, not too difficult, since the organizer said this is more a "makan anging" trail. And the riders start to fall into small group.

CP2> CP3:
I stop about 5 mins at CP2 and start to pick up my pace after this, ran into rubber plantation where the marshals start yelling, "go slow! danger in front!". That is a DH section, and I already saw one rider in front of me "man over bar". That scare hell out of me, so decide to push down. While I stop for the crashed rider to pick up his bike, my bike knock by rider behind me, the funny part of it, is he keep yelling "I have only front brake, I 'cabut' my rear brake".

CP2 to CP3 is a long ride, it is pretty technical with DH sections full of protruded tree root or small pot hole. That really slow me down, as my back start to feel sore after absorbing all the vibrations.

CP3 > CP4:
I bounced to Sharon somewhere between CP3 and CP4, and at one junction, one marshal told Sharon she in 10th position for woman riders. I figured since Sharon doing 10th, than my placing in man category should not be too bad.

This sections all the riders become quite, no more initial CP's yelling and sarcastic comments. Look like everyone is getting tired. I also start seeing some riders laying flat on the ground. Since my computer is malfunction, I don't know what is my speed, and there is not much riders in sight also, riders are spread to very thin line at this point.

CP4 > CP5:
I stop for eating at CP4 and seeing Jane Lim in person. She is a "helper" in CP4. And CP4 guys keep encouraging riders saying, after CP4 is either down hill or flat trail. Blind also can ride. Yeah right!

Body fatigue is getting me, especially my back started to feel pain. I decided to ride slow, I start thinking how this ride going to be if I bring Anthem X today. My trip computer also went missing without I realizing it.

CP5>Finish Line:
Short after pass CP5, run into famous BM single trail, where everyone is cursing last year Jamboree due to technicality of it. I tried to ride, but give up after I hit my shoulder with rubber tree due to very narrow trail width. Hamdan even fall into steep cliff twice last year at this trail.

Just before reach CP5, there is someone selling chilled 100 plus, Milo, fruits etc. I observed almost all riders stop for buying from this ladies without even asking the price. Talk about doing business.

Experience gained:
--> Still lot more to learn, especially my back still can't take beating from pro-long vibrations
--> Stamina still not to par, can't maintain speed after ~30km off road riding
--> Need to trained on riding 50km with very short stop (not more than 5 mins with only one stop)
--> Happy to completed this Jamboree
--> Ride more....do not afraid go to difficult trails
--> Don't bring water bottle, saw too many water bottles bounced off from bike too many times!
--> DH speed need to be a lot faster than current level.

Result:
--> Ang completed in 4 hours with 157th position
--> WoeiTong completed in 5 hours with 458th position
--> Hamdan completed in 5 hours 15 mins with 488 position

Gertak Sanggul Ride

Date: 10/10/2009
Route : BJI > Sungai Ara > Gertak Sanggul Trail > Pulau Betong > Bukit Genting > Bayan Lepas > BJI
Distance : 44km
Time taken : 5 hrs !!!!
Objectives : Stretching leg muscle before BM Mountain Bike Carnival ( this might taking too long to stretch...:) )
Riders : Hamdan, Hamdan's friends, Ang, Freddy, TK Tan, WoeiTong, WoeiChyang
Noteworthy: TK first > 73km ride, WoeiChyang first > 66 km ride, Ang first Gertak Sanggul Trail

TK and WoeiChyang both showed up in front of Park View 7am sharp, one ride from J.Perak and another ride from Farlim taking Paya Terubong route. We departed 7am with a palaton of 5, heading toward Gertak Sanggul looking for Hamdan. It look like going to rain, but no bodies seem to bother about that, I figured may be my moto " rain or shine, the ride still on" may be taking effects....haha

As we pass through Sg Ara, the sky clear out, look like we're not going to get wet anymore. While reaching Teluk Kumbar, suddenly saw Hamdan driving a car at one of the junction, I yelled at him, " oooi, thought you suppose have a ride right now?", he just waive his hand. Look like we're going to wait for a while for him.

Since today ride suppose a relax one, so we take our time to discuss the weather, BM jamboree etc. Freddy asking me are we able to finish the ride in 2 hrs, he got other thing to do at 10am. I told him don't think we can meet the time frame, so he decide not to join us for the off road ride.

Ang and WoeiChyang leading the pack just 5 mins into Gertak Sanggul trail ascend, I'm trailing them, while behind me got Hamdan, Hamdan's friends and TK. This trail is the first for Ang, WoeiChyang and TK. Where Ang experience on other more technical trail let him don't have any drama, but that not the case for TK and WoeiChyang. TK Tan surely struggled to cope with the physical requirement and keep the bike in line with the ~3" wide single trail, WoeiChyang also fall down once while negotiationg one of the sharp ascend.

When half way through the trail, rain start pouring down, all of us were soaking wet, and TK keep asking me when the trail going to end, he can't cope up anymore. As usual, I do what most mountain biker do in the jungle, I repeating lied to him that we just need to cycle 1o mins than his pain will be over. ( Actually I don't want the trail to end, I'm damn enjoying riding off road trail in the rain)

Due to the rain, we choose to bike pushing for the first half Pulau Betong DH, this is to made sure nobody get hurt. We stop for breakfast at Simpat Empat before going up Bukit Genting, and find out nasi lemak with sardine can go very well together.

There is no drama and nobody puncit on climbing Bukit Genting. We just said to each other goodbye before heading our own way.

Side note:
1) The reason why TK can do 73km today is because his wife is not around to pick him up, so he have to drag his ass all the way from Bayan Lepas to J. Perak. Good for him, I think today he learned that if we really want to do it, we can made it happen. As long as we endure the "pain" while doing it.

2) WoeiChyang turn out over estimating himself, his muscles is in pain in the afternoon while he chose to use Paya Terubong route again back to Farlim.

WoeiTong

Relau <-> TitiKerawang Ride

Date: Oct 3rd, 2009
Route: Relau <-> Cherry Blossom <-> Bukit Baru <-> Tun Sardon <-> Balik Pulau <-> Sg Pinang <-> TitiKerawang Peak
Distance: Suppose 62km, but only ride 46.9km
Duration : 5hrs, Ride time : 3.5 hrs
Riders : WoeiTong, TK, Hamdan
Noteworthy: (1) hit Max speed of 66.8km/hr during Tun Sardon DH, (2) TK first >50km ride after 6 months into cycling.

Prior night only able to sleep ~3.5 hrs, get a work related call at 2:30am, only able to back to sleep ~4am. Big surprise from TK, this guy cycle to Relau all the way from J.Perak at 6am, look like this guy start getting serious about cycling. TK handicapped me 13km with one Bukit Jambul climb throw in. TK damn committed today....haha

I feeling pretty tired due to lack of sleep, want to call it off, but due to promised to friends and this time only 3 riders, I told myself I could pull it through. Me and TK headed out to Cherry Blossom trail, plan to climb up Bukit Baru, exit half way at Tun Sardon; north bound to Balik Pulau. While climbing through Bukit Baru, I know I ran into problem, I just have too much short stop even TK also noticed that, with comment: "how come I can beat you today, do you have any problem?". Well friend, look like yesterday work stress caught up to me today (this one is excuse nia, I think TK improved quite a bit)

I'm trailing TK start from Cherry Blossom up to Tun Sardon peak, I almost want to call it off at The Peak, but see today TK eagerness, okaylah, today I vowed with my legs to finish the ride where we start off....haha.

We stop for breakfast in Balik Pulau while waiting Hamdan to showed up from Teluk Kumbar. I feel a bit energized after breakfast, this must be the caffeine in working. After meet up Hamdan, we headed out to Sg. Pinang, I in front of the pack with just 25km/hr speed, Hamdan didn't wait too long to over take me, at that moment actually I'm cursing, "how come when I'm not in best form, everybody want to push hard, hai....". But I do play the catch up game, over take Hamdan and start pedal around 28-31 km/hr until hitting Titikerawang ascend.

To my surprise is I felt okay when doing the Titikerawang climb, I can do around 12km/hr, while TK/Hamdan at the behind pushing hard. I know I'm gonna pull away from them at this point, so I just kept the pace. TK is nowhere in sight after 15mins into climb, while Hamdan expressed his worried about TK, I offer myself to wait for TK, so that Hamdan can carry on, I think this guy is "lepas geram" after stop cycling for 4 weeks during Puasa month.

I made a decision not to continue our original plan where descend to Teluk Bahang Dam and climb up back, I don't think I want to test my limit today. So, TK continue descend to Teluk Bahang cycle back to J.Perak. Me and Hamdan will made u-turn to Balik Pulau. It turn out it is a wise decision, Hamdan and me 'pancik' when hitting Sg. Pinang, we only able to cycle 15km/hr on flats. Look like if we follow origingal plan, we might need to call "support" car. While after short break in Balik Pulau, Kasim Mustafa, Hamdan pointed Tun Sardon peak to me and said "Beh, are you sure you want to do this?", man, that is a scary sight to see with my current condition. But since I've made a vowed few hours ago, and with man ego, I told Hamdan; " if today I can made it through, I will be a stronger cyclist".

At the end of day, I use 45mins to climb up Tun Sardon as what I usually do, that proven if we set our mind on it, we can achieve that, but with consequences of, 3 hours of sleep in the afternoon, tired to death at the time typing this post.

WoeiTong singing off....Zzzzz