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