AID - Hillturn - Balik Pulau ride

Date: 28/11/2009
Route : BJI --> Paya Terubong --> AID --> Hillturn --> Balik Pulau --> "Nasty Trail" --> Tun Sardon The View --> BJI
Riders : WoeiTong, WoeiChyang, Ang, MeiLing
Ride distance : ~25km
Noteworthy:
--> WoeiTong official AID climbing time revised from 40mins to 24mins
--> Learned Hillturn to Balik Pulau Titiserong cemented trail

We set out ride up Ngor Hean temple than call it a day, but it turn on a "so-so" riding day become a "exploration" day.

Of course, me have another target to set as well, I need to revised my "bad" official 40mins climbing up AID made 5 months ago. It turn out I able to do it in 24mins today, still shy from my brother 22 mins and Mr Ang 16mins climb, but I've narrowed the gap, still got works to do.

Through Ang persuasions, MeiLing agreed to try out down hill from Hillturn to Balik Pulau. While Ang have rode this down hill trail before, but his not famous for his "trail-sense", I also don't have my GPS with me. So when decision to made detour and based on Ang "memory", this trail should have some "nasty" down hill, there is some "worried" in the air, as none of us don't know what to expect. This down hill turn out become one of the smoothest down hill I've come across, in other word, there is no mud, no tree roots, no switch back, no pot holes; just a smooth well maintained cemented downhill track, we come out from TitiSerong without any drama.

After breakfast, we decided to try out "nasty" trail up to The View again, this is to avoid Tun Sardon scorching sun and also testing WoeiChyang and Mei Ling climbing power. I climbed better today but still a lot of pushing. While this "nasty trail" steep slope caused Mei Ling and Woei Chyang "cursing" a long the way while pushing their bike. Well, I think Ang and me achieved our hidden agenda, seeing peoples "suffered" in steep climbs.

Note: I don't know what "Nasty Trail" called, because it didn't "logged" in the GPS map I used and I can't find other Pg. mountain bike blog talking about this. I shall track this trail soon, so that others people can go through my pain as well...haha.

Round Island Ride

Date: 27/11/09
Distance: 68.8km
Time Taken: 5hrs
Ride Time: 3.5hrs
Rider: Ang, Mei Ling, Woei Tong, Freddy, Ch'ng & Chee Wei
Route: BJI - Relau - Bayan Lepas Coastal Highway - Jelutong Expressway - Gurney Drive - Tanjong Tokong - Tanjong Bungah - Batu Ferringhi - Teluk Bahang - Titi Kerawang - Sungai Rusa - Balik Pulau - Tun Sardon - BJI

Decided to do our monthly round island tour today, and also helping CheeWei "break in" for cycling again; this guy have stop cycling for ~2 months since his ankle injury. Secret mission is some of our group "fat guys" weight loss rate kind of slowing down, hopefully by doing long distance can boost the metabolism high again.

The ride pace is leisure, though most of us doing easily 25km/hr of flat through out the whole course. Regroup is easily, doesn't need to wait for more than 7mins for all members to arrive.

Noteworthy from this ride:
--> doing round island from Teluk Bahang toward Balik Pulau is much more easier. TitiKerawang climbing is much more manageable than up from Sg. Pinang.
--> Teluk Bahang roundabout "dried" noodles is one of the best I tested. We got photo to proved it.
--> Observed Freddy performance improved quite a bit, this guy have no problem to do 80km. (wonder when our group going to do a 120km ride?) -- Beh
--> doing one nasty steep cemented off-road trail from Balik Pulau Transit Pg Bus terminal to near Tun Sardon The View. Chng and Beh got beaten after first slope, they push their bike for the rest of the trail. As usual, our "Climbing King" Ang have no problem to tackle this nasty trail. This trail have not logged in Malaysia free GPS map yet, what we know is this trail is private owned.

Breakfast at Teluk Bahang


































































































































































Either the Noodle is good or we are very hungry....


















Balancing act....at Teluk Bahang DAM




































The 6 musketeers...






















































Man Over board....trying to see if his Full sus can go down ....


















Along the Titi Kerawang trail...




































Another pic before descending down to Sg. Rusa


















Petronas also got service bike ah?

AID 1200 Steps - Ngor Hean Temple Ride

Date: 11/15/2009
Distance: 30.5 km
Time Taken: 5hrs
Ride Time: 2 hrs 35mins
Riders : Freddy, Kok Seng, Woei Tong
Route: BJI -> Paya Terubong -> 1200 Steps -> Hilton -> Ngor Hean -> AID -> Paya Terubong -> BJI
Noteworthy: can tick off 1200 Steps, Hilton and Ngor Hean from my to do riding list.

Today ride distance only 30.5 km, but I've so much fun that total ride distance doesn't matter.

At 7am, Freddy and me head out to Kek Lok Si to meet up Kok Seng, he will lead us into 1200 Steps temple. I wrongly estimated the ride time, we just take 30mins to reached Farlim market, so I decided to have breakfast while waiting for Kok Seng. (He supposed meet us at 8am). During breakfast time I only found out Freddy misunderstood my SMS, he thought our ride today only go up AID, nevertheless, he agreed to try out 1200 Steps.

Straight away we're going into "up hill battle" when the trail begin, not that Kek Lok Si car park tar road climbing is easy to begin with. I start to serious doubt myself today I'am going meet the objective, since day before I just hike up Pg Hill, my leg muscles pain haven't go away yet. The trail head gradient is almost same as Carpet Single Trail, but much more longer. Me and Freddy already stop for catching our breath just ~10 mins into climbing, while Kok Seng still pedalling but as much slower pace.

So far I like what I see, the jungle is the "primary" forest instead of the usual Durian/Rubber Trees/Fruits plantation. I see different trees, colours and birds while I "climbing". Freddy already start talking want to turn back, but I encouraged him let do "hika a bike", while Kok Seng is far ahead of us. I start pushing the bike around 10mins, then see a stretch that I can jump on my bike. I think this is the mistake I do, leaving Freddy a lone while his two ride partners no where in sight.

I met up Kok Seng and waiting for Freddy to show up. I called up Freddy after ~10mins wait, he informed me that he will wait for us "down there". I feel very bad, my friend having a hard time but I didn't realized it, didn't give him any support at all. However, the "climb" still need to go on, may be because I feel have the obligation to finish this ride or may be the climb become easier. I ride non-stop up to 1200 Steps Temple or Cheng Kon Sze. AND, the suffering is worth it, the view look down with partly cloudy weather is magnificent, better than Gertak Sanggul view. Take me 1 hr 9 mins start from wet market.

Freddy informed me that he decided to pedal back to Relau while I catching my breath in Cheng Kon Sze. Then suddenly Kok Seng ask me if I want to try "off road down hill" to Ngor Hean Temple. He never try the route before, and should "only" take about 30 mins to reach there. I said "ya, why not". End out the first part where we need to carry our bikes on the shoulder to walk up probably 100 step stair case already caused us 20 mins.

Kok Seng and me have fall off from our bike and near missed few times while tackling the off road trail down hilling to Hilton. This down hill trail is muddy due to rains, and become dangerously slippery, but I have most fun in this part. My down hill speed probably not higher than 15km/hr.
Btw, in this stretch of off-road, I'm seeing multiple years of "Kayuh Lasak" direction board. I said to myself, luckily I didn't sign up for this year Kayuh Lasak, if not sure "chicken out" after first CP.

We reached a "pondok" which is a intersection between AID/Ngor Hean/Balik Pulau. I manage to pedal non-stop to reach Ngor Hean Temple, the climb is not tough and the cement trail is well maintain as well. Balik Pulau town ship and the coast line view from this part of the world is just stunning. Again, better than Gertak Sanggul View.

It is time to go home, time is ~11:35am and weather is getting hot. I end up suffering going up Paya Terubong, this small hill seem never ending. Can't even talk to Ang/Mei Ling/Chng (they washing their bikes) for first few minute when reached Park Views.

Overall, today riding experience is one of the my best MTB memory to date, just short of my first day riding up Carpet. However, today memory is "sweet" one instead of "pain and suffering" first day experience in Carpet.

Ride On.....

Green Wheelers New Members

We've another 2 member joining Green Wheeler, the important part is one of them expressed (haven't put into action yet) the intention cycling to work. So, welcome Ghani and CC Lai ( will post their pictures soon and yes both of them do bombarded by my cycling talk during break time)

I've bring both of them to Carpet on different day, both of them do showed better cycling potential than me if compared to my first day in Carpet. At least they didn't stop for the first 2km ride. I remember I at least stop 4 times to catch my breaths for the same stretch.

I've told them they at least need to pedal 150km per week for them to build their leg muscles and most importantly, to improve their power to weight ratio. ( read : both of their BMI is over the roof already). And do not afraid to go far-far away, said 80km ride.

Hopefully, through my persistent on cycling to work should inspired more peoples pick up cycling as a mean of alternative transportation.

WoeiTong's Full Suser

2009 Giant Anthem X1

Size 18
Color ORANGE White Frame GIANT MAESTRO 4" ALUXX SL
Fork ROCKSHOX SID TEAM T100
Shock FOX FLOAT RP23
Handlebar RACEFACE NEXT XC 31.8
Handlebar stem RACEFACE DEUS XC
Seatpost RACEFACE DEUS XC 30.9
Saddle WTB VL2067
Pedals EXUSTAR E-PM26
Shifters SHIMANO Deore XT SL-M770
F/R Derailleurs SHIMANO Deore XT FD-M770/ XTR RD-M972
Brake SHIMANO Deore XT M775
Cassette SHIMANO Deore XT M770 9S 11-34T
Crankset SHIMANO Deore XT M770 22/32/44T
Speed 27S
Wheelset
Hub WTB LASER DISC LITE
Rim MAVIC XC717 DISC
Tire MICHELIN XC DRY 2 60TPI 26X2.0
Weight 11.56KG-S

Reasons why want to burn a hole in my pocket:
a) back pain after long riding
b) getting sick on Malaysia road pot holes (remember I cycling to work some times, and to avoid traffic, I normally use less maintained by-road)
c) if can't beat others on riding, beat em' with equipments :)

so far this bike work like what I intend it to be, solved my back pain issue ( at least up to 90km ), plush ride. I've better flat road and hill climbing speed as well. Down hill speed sure improved a lot especially on trail ride. Best part is I can just let the shock on "active" mode while on climbing, don't need to turn on Propedal at all. So far very happy with this purchase. However, the price increase in 2010 model with exact same spec as 2009 might be difficult to swallow by a lot of people. We're talking about ~35% price increment here.

AND I called her "Slim Louise"!

Up close and personal: