Kayuh Pot Diksen

Dengan semangat berkobar hasil dari excitement LeTua100 ride, kaum telah sebulat suara menyahut cabaran selanjutnya. Mula-mula ada yang lambung Broga! Memang yang dah mula meghoyan, akur aje. Tapi kami kena cater untuk kaum yang masih nak build milage. Oleh yang demikian, route yang sedikit kurang mencabar mental telah dipersetujui. Port Dickson that is. Rolling into the west coast, tanpa menyedari kepanasan yang bakal membakar jiwa.

As usual UNIKEB menjadi tempat permulaan. Dok collect kaum, ramai jugak yang join tolak tepi yang ponteng atas alasan kesihatan mahupun urusan atau isu ‘domestik’ (visa tak approve). Ngeh ngeh ngeh. Yang dok meghoyan nak last minute training untuk KL Marathon pun ada gak. Itu bahana cari penyakit nama dia. Aku pun tak faham. Tak serik-serik agaknya. Hmmm…dah tua-tua ni aku tak mampu nak cari penyakit memandangkan urusan keluarga yang lebih utama perlu difikirkan. Kot dah kengkang seminggu hasil penangan 42km, saper lah nak jadi super supir, saper lah nak layan dobi, saper lah nak terpekik-pekik kat budak-budak? Apatah lagi kalau kurang training?! Ishk! Stretch Jalan Ipoh mengimbau kembali. Sakiiiit…

Tanpa segan silu, kami memulakan kayuhan dengan control pace. Ada sorang newbie yang tanpa rasa penyesalan telah dijemput untuk meratap 120km untuk kali pertama. Kompom bentan macam orang bersalin anak sulong. Takpe, janji rock.

Memang selagi boleh, kami cuba maintain group tapi sekali sekala bersepah jugak hasil dari Rolling in the Deep & How Deep is Your Love dengan bukit bukau yang dihidang. Kena pulak Bukit Pelanduk yang dirasakan semakin subur kecuramannya.

Kadangkala kebijaksanaan dikaburi dek excitement kayuh. Begitulah tragedy yang menimpa newbie Nuhi pabila tayar pancit beberapa kilometer sebelum sampai Lukut. Oleh kerana group terpecah dua, rombongan Cik Kiah telah bergotong royong melakukan kerja-kerja menukar tiub yang terpaksa dipinjam di kalangan kaum sendiri. Moral nya, si Nuhi ni spare tube & pam pun tak bawak daaa…

Bukan aje berpeluh ketiak mereka yang membantu, kami yang menunggu di simpang Lukut pun berpeluh tengkuk. Nasib baik ada Caltex old skool untuk berteduh walaupun sekali sekala kami menerima jelingan sinis dari uncle touke. Garang pulak dia.

Maka berduyun-duyun lah kami memasuki pekan Port Dickson diiringi lagu Poei Pokan nyanyian beramai-ramai. Checked in dokek gerai dulu “Kapla Jingga” yang mungkin orang Penang migrate ke PD. Sumbat kerongkong dengan apa yang patut, walaupun plan asal hanya untuk quick pit stop tanpa santapan berat. Tapi tunggu punya pasal, perut jugak sudah berdendang.

Akibat dari nyanyian pic terlalu tinggi nafas semput, kayuhan keluar dari PD telah dibasahi hujan coastal. Amik ko! Tak pasal basah campur pasir masuk mulut. Alwin juga mengalami kepancitan tayar, tapi disebabkan skill me-repair was second to nature for him, kerja pembaikan dilakukan begitu pantas macam orang tebar roti canai aje.

Sebaik kami meninggalkan pekan Lukut, hujan coastal juga melambaikan senyuman dengan pesanan ‘padan muka korang lepas ni main panas panjat Bukit Pelanduk’. Memang benar & sebenar-benarnya cuaca tidak menyebelahi kami. Sekali lagi igauan Rolling in the Deep & How Deep is Your Love bertukar ke How Deep is Your Dig. Aku telah mengambil kesempatan dengan performance Ziff yang semakin menjadi-jadi apabila dia memulakan misi menarik di depan. Dengan Det yang mengekori (drafting) Ziff, aku telah disediakan dengan peluang mencangkuk peti ais 2 pintu berkembar lagi. Duduk diam di belakang memang terasa macam duduk depan freezer. Kagum dengan prestasi Ziff cecah 48km/j tuh!

Konsep ‘saper ajak dia babysit’ masa ni walaupun susah nak ditelan kenyataannya terpaksa jugak akur. Anuar dengan muka ibarat kena starlet terpaksa babysit Nuhi yang semakin mengalami sawan tak cukup milage.

Kami regroup di port biasa Shell Sungai Pelek & cuaca panas sudah mula bikin jiwa bergelora. Nuar checked-in sejurus kemudian tanpa Nuhi. Atas dasar sahabat Nuhi telah dengan rela mengizinkan Nuar mengejar impian lari dari momok hitam.

Kami bergegas meninggalkan Shell dan Nuhi, dengan persetujuan Nuhi akan tunggu di Shell untuk Nuar datang collect dengan kereta. Stretch LBJ macam biasa dibalun macam Pelesit Kota gigit handlebar tukau-tukau tarik cecah 40km/j. Ayob tercicir gerabak keretapi & terpaksa akur dengan kehebatan mentari, telah memilih untuk bertapa di Petronas pekan Sepang sementara Nuar pi balik amik kereta.

Dengan belen-belen kederat yang tinggal, kami kasi perabih kayuhan sampai simpang Bangi Lama di mana lamunan tengahari dilakukan beramai-ramai bawah gerai jeli kelapa. Sorang bedal 3 cawan, brader laki bini kaya RM30 dalam masa 15 minit. Lamunan Terhenti pabila kelihatan Nuhi melambai-lambai dari dalam lori 3 tan tersengih-sengih kegirangan.

Memang benar sangat keterikan matahari sejak dua menjak ni agak sedikit over. Hasil dari itu, badan setengah abad ini mengambil masa untuk recover. Begitu jugalah masa yang diambil untuk update blog.

Weekend yang berikutnya aku buat keputusan untuk chillax aje dengan family. Tambah pulak cuti sekolah, so kami perabih masa chillax di kawasan-kawasan berhampiran & di rumah. Sambil-sambil tu, since dua anak bujang aku dah aku sign kan untuk Putrajaya Junior Tri, aku pun sama-sama berdugong dengan depa dua hari berturut-turut. Sekarang kepak aku tengah sengal…

And...Nothing Else Matters

LeTua 100 - Nothing Else Matters. It may sound a bit fanatic or hardcore for some but overall, IMHO, it was an awesomely planned and organised event. Thumbs up to LeTua team for the formidable effort.

I was kinda prepared for the ride after the KCR face plant. My mindset was to treat this one just like any other weekend rides. Hence, there is no time targetting but to just finish it with the whole gang stress free and enjoy the camaraderie.

Since the UiTM Puncak Alam venue is a bit far from us TOK, who lives on the other side of Selangor state, we had to arrange for an early morning schedule. You know la with all the convoys and wake-up calls la & of course our solat.

Surprisingly after back calculating from the event start time, we had to leave home as early as 5.30 a.m.! This brought me back to the good old days of having to wake up in this hour for LSDs on Saturdays. Dah lama tak buat kerja ni rupanya.

Our RV point was Shell Batu 3. Ziff willingly to help with the goodies collection a day before and passed it around that morning. And the travel to Puncak Alam took us about 30 minutes with scenes of more cyclists driving to the same destination.

UiTM Puncak Alam (Pic by Shirat Azree)

Definitely the campus looks awesome. A newly opened campus with new buildings and new facilities.  Still with vacant lots for more schools. How I wish that my kids could study here in their time, kalau tak dapek pi obersi lah. Hehe. Konon.

We prepared ourselves and made way to the back of the line. Merely 20 minutes mingling and cam whoring while waiting for the flag-off. Ni kes VIP bangun lambat la ni. Puiii

The usual TOKs suspects

I was made to understand that the participation was limited to only 250 pax, but I was wrong. Somebody told me it was 1200 cyclists! Wallauwey! No wonder la pakcik yang beratuq kat trafik light dah mula tarik muka ketat sebab takut nasik lemak gerai dah habih tunggu bebudak kayuh beskal ni habih lintas. Among ourselves, the gang itself already counted to about 20 of us. Such a growing number that is.

The rolling of 1200 cyclists (Pic by Shirat Azree)

The first 50km of the ride was winding up and down through Batu Arang quiet town and headed out to Batang Berjuntai. The twisting and turning didn’t quite allow us for a full pack riding pattern, plus the road was not in a pretty shape too. However, the best part of the ride was when we reached to a 20km stretch of flat & straight road between Jalan Rawang and Ijok. The open road with padi fields on the sides were awesome. The highlight was we managed to gather almost 40 cyclists to form a peloton! This was rare. We simply shouted at any lone cyclists or small groups and invited them to join in. The cruising reached to an average speed of 40 where we took turn driving it. It was a splendid attempt until the first water station located at the end of it. How I wish we had photos of it.

Among the buddies & new buddies

Dragonback awaits as we exited from the uncharted route zig sagging through kampong road, which was very similar to Batu Pahat, Johor road. Junctions upon junctions and patches of uneven surfaces.

The legendary Dragon (Pic by Shirat Azree)

As anticipated, the climb up Dragonback was individual business. Nobody cares anymore about tagging along in a peloton and such. It was a personal war. And the sight of war casualties started filling the roadsides. Nursing cramps and walk-the-bike was common.

The ride back to UiTM through the new Puncak Alam road was nothing casual too. With two long climbs plus headwinds and tired legs was enough as adding herbs and spices to the ride. We were thankful that the weather was kind unlike our previous rides here.

We regrouped a lot for this ride. I noticed a few new faces willingly decided to tag along with us, after knowing of our strength and fellowship. Too bad we didn’t had the chance to chat more

LeTua managed to throw in a final surprise for us. A very steep climb up to a water tank to complete the 100km and it was a curse for the weak. So I heard.

Thankfully, there was no mishaps throughout the event. Overall, it was great plus the food after the ride was kambing after kambing followed with more kambing. Hahaha! The best thing was, everybody enjoyed the event especially our ride buddies.

To name a few, there were:

Alwin	Det	Jaja
Anuar	Ayub	Khai
Nizam	Azahari	Akmal
Affendi	Husni	Jai
Ziff	Shuk	Azlan (member kg Selama)
Hisham Fahro	Azmar	Boon Foo!
		Godzilla Cycle Gang

And one for the upcoming KISS album!

Ijok oooo Ijok - Labour Day Ride

Agak aku ni dah kemaruk la kot. Asal nampak peluang aje, akal ligat aje mencari helah untuk projek ngayuh. Ishk! Padahal baru aje Sabtu 28-April pi kerabat sampai Kuala Pilah, selang 2 hari dah nak bertenggek lagi.

OK. Plan asal supposedly tarak kayuhan. Sebab seperti tentatif asal jugak, wifey bertugas, so tugas aku sebagai ayahanda harus dipikul. Out of nowhere, Monday evening wife asked me a favor untuk drive her to work. Dalam masa yang sama, kaums dok ligat jugak untuk plan kayuhan Hari Buruh. Aku setakat buat derk aje bila dengar ketika di meja persidangan teh tarik. Menjelang event LeTua 100 dua minggu lagi, Ziff & Shuk ada gak bercadang mau kayuh route belah-belah situ pada Hari Buruh jugak. Aku rasa tertarik untuk mencangkuk depa. Lantas, request wife untuk chauffeur her perlu di adjust towards kayuhan di Shah Alam. I'll send her to Jalan Klang Lama, drop the kids at their cousin's and mohon jasa baik kaum start kayuh lewat sikit at 8.00 a.m. Voila!

Lama bebenor aku tak kayuh dengan dua orang penting ni. Al-maklum masing-masing sibuk. Tambahan lagi lokasi GPS kami terlampau berbeda dipisahkan oleh kepadatan Lembah Klang. Tapi, kalau nak seribu daya, ye tak? Lantas segelintir kaum TOK telah berpaling arah untuk sama-sama join kayuhan Jalan Paip ini.

Sampai di DeBayu, Bukit Jelutong, tempat parkir dah penuh! Rupanya geng LeTua pun kayuh gak hari ni. Route depa aku tak sure tapi kami bergerak sekali menuju ke GCE sebelum split up di Persimpangan Subang. Sempat la jugak aku menyapa sorang dua yang dikenali.

Ziff membawa kami sampai ke hujung GCE dan cilok masuk LATAR Highway pulak. Kat GCE masih dalam keadaan kayuhan siuman disebabkam laluan sikal yang tersedia senantiasa membuat rasa segan silu. Tapi tidak di LATAR. Ia diibaratkan seperti 'no speed limit' road atau dengan bahasa ibunda yang lebih brutal...'macam kambing lepas kandang'. Terlalu mudah cyclist akan membesit tak hengat dunia di sini disebabkan bahu jalan terbentang luas & kapasiti trafik yang kurang. Bahaya untuk cyclist yang mempunyai enjin berkapasiti kecil seperti aku. Ngeh ngeh ngeh.

Sampai hujung jumpa Jalan Kuala Selangor, lalu depan Kota Puteri (ooo...sini rupanya) dan berehat sebentar di Petronas Ijok (port biasa cyclist jugak macam Petronas Kuala Klawang). Kebangetan cuaca sudah mula terasa, lantas setiap teguk Coca Cola melalui kerongkong mengatasi segala nikmat dunia tatkala itu.

Mesyuarat Coke mencongak saki baki distance yang tinggal untuk menghabiskan kayuhan. Iyo lah tu. Tadi dah puas kayuh laluan tanah pamah, next half ialah kayuhan pecah buah pinggang menawan Dragonback & bukit bukau Alam Budiman.

Sejurus kami khatam Jalan Kuala Selangor hingga ke simpang Jalan Puncak Alam, headwind menanti. Memang sebijik kenangan letua100 tahun lepas berulang kembali. Then masuk Jalan Bukit Cherakah atau dikenali dengan nama Dragonback itu. Naik dan turun di jalan yang luruuuus Pak! Sayup mata memandang bukit bukau nuuun jauh di hadapan yang bakal di kerabat. Pelan-pelan aku rezab kan minyak gearbox jangan sampai overheat. It's all about zoning.

Macam biasa, sesi photoshoot ahli bandboy Junction tak boleh belah. Yang tadi muka senget macam kena sawan, dah boleh senyum kambing depan camera. Ishk! Belum habis lagi. Aku rasa bukit Alam Budiman itu lebih demanding.

Benar sangat. Ilmu geografi benar menyatakan bukit-bukau tersebut lebih menyayat hati. Boleh bikin hati sebak cuba memikirkan keringat yang bakal ditempuh. Paneh ateh kepalo dah tak boleh dijangkau dek akal. Aku terpaksa juga rev-up RPM untuk kawtim kan bukau bukau tersebut dengan sekali hadap. Sriaaap! Pap! Maka tercungap-cungap lah aku setibanya di persimpangan Jalan Batu Arang - Sungai Buloh tanda kepuasan.

Setibanya di parkir, masa tersangat elok untuk aku memunggah segalanya ke dalam kereta, membersihkan diri & bersedia untuk fetch wife & kids & bergegas untuk agenda selanjutnya bersama famili. Rehat?! Mana ada jalan bro! Selagi pinggang ni tak berlabuh atas tilam di rumah, selagi tu ler definasi Hari Buruh diisi.

Posing memang tak boleh belah

Junction - Akan Ku Kenang :]

Cyclist dari 'Langit' dengan perwatakan berbeza.
Sorang tu teringat zaman KISS :P

Cangkuk PCC Interstate 2012

Alhamdullillah. Kalau rezeki tu Allah kurnia gak untuk ngayuh, pusing tang mana pun InsyaAllah dapat.  Minggu lopeh memang kepala ni tak dapek nak tune untuk plan kayuh weekend sebab orang rumah kena bertugas hari Ahad. Peluang hanya Sabtu, itu pun agak tipis memandangkan tugas kebangsaan super supir tidak boleh diabaikan & juga kekurangan kaum yang available untuk kayuh.

Puas aku perah-perah otak ni untuk mencari akal. Tentatif terbaik ialah untuk cangkuk PCC Interstate 2012 yang akan bermula dari Kajang pada Sabtu pagi tu & akan berakhir di Kuala Pilah. Akan tetapi, aku perlu fikirkan isu logistik, iaitu cara nak balik Kajang. 

Cilok sana sini mikirkan saper lah yang available untuk join sekaligus dapat provide transport balik. Tadaa! Terus aku sms Lias atas sebab-sebab berikut:

1.  Dia memang kayuh Sabtu aje sebab Ahad cannot

2. Setiap kali long ride, mesti orang rumah akan drive support car. 

Keh! Keh! Keh! Dan Lias jugak amat gemar kayuh dengan aku sejak kisah Ipoh Century Ride tahun lepas. Begitu lah adat resam manusia, kita buat baik sampai bila-bila orang ingat. Kita buat hampeh sekali, sampai bila-bila orang mengata. 

Lias responded dengan positif. Terus ku khabarkan kat orang rumah & mintak favor dia amik alih tugas supir. MoU la konon. Aku kena cover dia untuk 3 hari yang berikutnya. Dia pun faham aku dah gigil la tuh. Muahaha!

Dah syiok layan senyum sorang-sorang sambil recce route map Kajang - Kuala Pilah, Jumaat petang Lias call bagitau ride kena cancel sebab member kena kerja. Argh! OK bro! No problem. Letak phone, aku sebak. Uhuks! Takpe lah, apo kan daya bukan kita yang menentukan. Terus aku buat peta minda untuk aktiviti-aktiviti backup bersama famili untuk sepanjang weekend.

Waktu dinner yang agak lewat dengan famili di luar, tetiba Lias call lagi. Ler....jadik pulak kayuh sebab kerja cancel. Sedikit cemas aku meng-kompom-kan kembali sebab satu apa barang pun aku tak prepare lagi sedangkan dah masuk pukul 10.00. Maka, berlangsunglah pencak silat pulut menghumban basikal & yang sewaktu dengannya ke dalam kereta tatkala anak bini dah masuk tidur.

Routine pagi macam biasa lah & met up dengan Lias & Azahari sebelum check-in di Prescott Metro Inn, Kajang untuk tempat berlepas PCC Interstate 2012. Macam tahun lepas, masih ramai. Registered 250 orang, campur dengan lanun macam kami, maybe cecah 300 kot. Huru hara la kejap pekan Kajang yang dah sememangnya huru hara itu. Melopong je motorists Kajang bila nengok kan beratus cyclists membanjiri Jalan Kajang - Semenyih tu seawal 7.00 pagi.

Maka bermula lah sesi catching up dengan kawan-kawan lama dari PCC Interstate tahun lepas. Mana yang sempat aku perasan aje di sepanjang jalan. Geng Penang. Geng KL. Geng BJCC. Geng Singapore. Tu yang syiok nya sebab merata geng ado!

Route hari pertama depa susun & set sebagai route gunung ganang. Maka telah terpateri dalam minda aku ni pendakian Bukit Mandom di Kampung Mandom selepas pekan Lenggeng dan juga Bukit Tangga. Since lokasi kedua-dua climb ni di peringkat awal kayuhan, maka aku tidak perlu risau dengan available balance supaya tak insufficient credit balance kemudian.

Macam biasa, kayuhan rolling melalui Broga sampai ke Lenggeng sekali sekala meghoyan sikit bagi kaki terkejut sebelum naik bukit. Alhamdullillah dapat naik masih dengan senyuman & basikal mampu memberi prestasi unggul. Begitu juga dengan di Bukit Tangga di mana sepanjang pendakian dihabiskan dengan sesi berceloteh dengan Zakuan. Sedar-sedar aje dah sampai atas.

Petronas Kuala Klawang seperti biasa menjadi iconic pit-stop untuk semua. Dah macam pasar karat jual barang carbon! Hahaha! Route yang selanjutnya adalah baru untuk aku. Unknown territory. Tak pernah venture ke arah sini. Perhaps boleh consider selepas hasil kayuhan hari ini. Mostly jalan rolling turun naik peringkat runcit-runcit aje tapi keadaan jalan agak kurang baik di sesetengah kawasan. Maybe ADUN or AP masih belum peka dengan kewujudan kampung halaman sendiri sejak pegang jawatan. Maklum lah, busy kejor projek tempat lain kot. Sedangkan aku perasan bendera-bendera parti politik dah mula berkibar.

Dari jalan besar N19 kami alih-alih cilok masuk jalan kampung Geylang. Huh? Ingatkan kat Singapore je ada Geylang. Lantas terus terbayang sup tulang merah & secara automatik perut mula menyahut. Sedang sedap layan imaginasi makanan, lobang hidung ini tertusuk bauan organik segar. Maka berlatih lah kami menajamkan skill mengelak ratusan jerangkap samar haiwan ternakan Kampung Geylang di sepanjang laluan. Kalau kena frame carbon, kompom boleh luntur cat.

Tetiba dirasakan laluan semakin lama semakin menaik. Sekaligus juga diperhatikan kuantiti jerangkap samar semakin berkurangan. Kau tengok tu! Lembu pun bijak takmo panjat bukit tau?! Iyo lah Jang. Maka bermula lah pendakian yang ketiga yang dinanti-nantikan itu. Milage dah cecah 80km & kami disajikan dengan Cat 1 Climb! Memang kejam. Curam gitu Jang! 3km pulak tuh jarak dia. Nasib baik lah laluan agak ber-canopy sikit, so tak lah terasa sangat tikaman cahaya matahari menusuk kulit tengkuk. Average gradient 11%. Boleh tahan merecik peluh & menyengit muka memanjat.

Jalan menurun boleh tahan mencabar disebabkan curam, panjang & keadaan jalan yang kurang elok. Nasib baik jumlah cyclist dah berkurangan disebabkan pendakian tadi maka penurunan trafik menurun agak tidak sesak. Setibanya di bawah, kami decide untuk check in di kedai makan pertama yang kami jumpa. Gerai kecik di tepi jalan diserang oleh hampir 15 orang cyclists. Terkamjat kejap la kakak touke kedai menguruskan kami. Hidangan istimewa Batu Kikir ialah nasi berlaukkan lemak pucuk paku & sambal ikan sembilang. Aduhai. Peloton besor lalu pun tak perasan. Sempat lah kami buat PR dengan beberapa brader locals & adik-adik yang teruja dengan kemunculan kami. Banyak jugak lauk pauk kat situ, rupanya stok lauk untuk cater kaum penoreh yang kejap lagi pulang dari ladang. No wonder lah.

Hari semakin panas, begitu juga dengan peha & keting. Angin juga tidak segan silu meniup bahang hari ke muka kami yang semakin legam. Laluan seterusnya tiada yang menarik selain dari kesinambungan jerangkap samar & laluan kampung. Sehinggalah sampai di pekan Kuala Pilah. Melang Inn menjadi finishing line untuk kayuhan PCC Interstate Day 1.

Tanpa berlengah, kami terus ke masjid berdekatan untuk membersihkan diri & solat lantas terus pulang ke Kajang dengan perkhidmatan transport dari Lias. Chop! Sebagai tanda penghargaan kat Lias & family,  kami open table Nasi Arab Barada kat BTHO. Ngeh! Ngeh! Ngeh! Memang ceria semuanya bila perut dah berisi.

Prescott Metro Inn, Kajang

Entering Semenyih town (Pix by BaikBike.com)

Menu macam biasa. Simple tapi bergegar :]

Adik Hafidzi Honda cdi
(Nama facebook dia. Ada wifi aje baru boleh guna)

Bagan Lalang

They say we have to listen to our body when it comes to vigorous workouts, especially when this old engine takes forever to recover from one. After the recce Lenggeng ride, then came the public holiday in the middle of the week. One had to succumb to the fact that fun overwrites recovery. Half heartedly I cycled the route again with the plan of no-cycling Sunday day due to Kidzania attempt pulak. Sekali sekala kena gak renew visa beb. Hehe.

The second Lenggeng ride was intelligently executed when we have more seasoned cyclists involved. The usual Azmar & Alwin in the group of six, and we have a nicely organised peloton for the whole 90km. That's where everybody have to chip in their domestique skills driving the peloton and no window for 'curi tulang'. The burning sensation from the calves and quads justifies the effort.

After 2 weeks without spinning (can't afford the luxurious time for it), TOK was eager to attempt Bagan Lalang. We have a few first timers for this route, hence I anticipated the pace would be decent enough for a leisurely ride to and fro.

Macam biasa, gambar rombongan kena ada

Bagan Lalang route is famous for it's tempting flats and acceptable rolling limitations. Plus, the distance is just about nice for one to stroll at a moderate pace or burn the quads like there's no tomorrow but still survive the ride. Hence, with a tiny lambung across a few chatrooms and text, TOK managed to gather a few invitational buddies to make it merrier.

The half of me was a bit hesitant and lazy for the ride (still recovering? From what pun aku tak tau), hence I only planned to just tucked myself at the back of the group and do whatever I can to kill any necessary boredom. With a few excited newbies on board, we have the train gaining speed in no time.

However, this particular spot was known for it's boredom killer. This small hairy dog will give chase at any lean shaved legs. Saiful and me was chatting and this dog came jumping out of a bush and start chasing. Saiful was merely inches away and I was on the outside. Despite earlier complaint by Saiful that he was recovering from flu, now he was yelling his belly out and spinning like mad. The dog seemed happy enough from the arousal of it's escapees, it barked back and carried on chasing. OMG! Luckily he gave way almost 50 meters later which left us panting our hearts out. Mark that dog-spot in the route map please!

Halfway into the ride, the train speed seemed swinging. It accelerates and decelerates. And the rear riders like me felt a bit obnoxious about it. Just as we peaked at the LBJ intersection, I attempted an attack. Fuiyo! Bunyi macam bagus. Bukan penembak tepat tapi more kepada penembak tak tepat! Hahaha! My intention was to give a wake-up call. I hurdled to the front and craved on the handlebar cranking those big gears until cruising speed reaches 50km/hr before giving it back to the peloton. Of course lah asakan tersebut telah membuat rider-rider berdarah kari teruja, so they reacted instantly with a few warning shouts and latched up like mad. Then, I went back to the rear after noticing Saiful was still shocked from the dog chase, and I slowly rode with him until the famous Shell Sungai Pelek.

Second attack was ignored about 10km later towards Bagan Lalang. Tak laku. Padan muka aku. Semua malas nak layan sebab masing-masing perut dah mula keroncong. Hehe. We dismounted at Gold Coast Bagan Lalang almost at 9.30 a.m. (pretty fast I guess) and gathered up with a group from UPM. Now there's a very long table of satisfied and hungry cyclists.

Kalau dah tua-tua, sukan macam ni je paling sesuai

The ride back was pure license to grill. Toasted. The heat was killing us. I don't know about you guys but yesterday it was SO hot. We stopped at every venue possible. We were drilling the asphalt trying to survive the ride as far as we can. As usual, as the milage accumulates, the peloton started to disperse into it's own pace. Hence, we were a bit strung out by a few minutes apart.

All in all, I noticed happy faces by the end of the ride. And I presumed those faces wanted more. Chill. We'll  fix something.

The Lenggeng Sambal Ikan Sembilang Loop

Semalam dapat chart route baru kat playground belakang rumah. One thing yang aku suka & bersyukur aku dok sini sebab keluar aje gate rumah dah terus boleh pusing crank. Network jalanraya yang kurang sesak dari pemandu-pemandu Malaysia (assassins) dan pemandangan yang saujana mata memandang menanti.

Route Langat-Peres dah mula terasa mual. Maka kami pi recce route baru. Start dari BTHO ada 9 orang yang mostly The Orang Kampung dan bergabung dengan Azmar, Kabi & Jaja. Syiok. 

Arah tuju pertama ialah menghala ke Lebuhraya Ekspres Kajang-Seremban atau lebih dikenali dengan singkatan LEKAS. Tapi knowing Malaysia ni maha kaya dengan lebuhraya & pemandu yang maha pemurah membayar duit tol, kami kena lalu Kajang SILK Highway terlebih dahulu. Lepas 1km kayuh terus masuk SILK dan di situ KOM#1 menanti di KM11. Since kaki masih segar bagai embun pagi & kudrat yang masih kental bagaikan daging fresh pasar tani, KOM#1 dengan selamba panjat dengan gelak-geli. Regroup dulu kat puncak KOM#1. Kalau tak regroup & kayuh berterabur ikut pace Sivaji, bukan group ride nama dia. Puiii...

Bagaikan Smart Tag, kami turus menuruni bukit yang menyusul tanpa segan silu & eventually sampai di LEKAS. Jalan yang terbentang luas, 3 lorong dan 1 lorong kecemasan merupakan syurga dunia untuk cyclists. Kena pulak trafik pagi yang sekali sekala aje memecah kesunyian, kecuali motorsikal berkuasa tinggi yang setinggi ego penunggangnya yang hampir menggegarkan awan di atas. Hampeh.

Kami selitkan sedikit aktiviti riadah main tarik-tarik. Kalau nak seronok join group ride, kena lah terer kayuh bersama-sama dan make full use of all the combined legs to get the train moving. Lagi sekali, kalau kayuh bersepah, baik jumpa minggu depan terus ye tak? Puiii...

Maka bermulalah kursus berbasikal dalam kumpulan 101. Mula-mula kami buat dua line. Lepaih tu tukaq ke single line rotation pulak. Isu paling ketara dengan penunggang basikal amatur ni ialah asakan-asakan yang unnecessary. Asal orang depan bukak line aje, masing-masing berkobar-kobar meluru ke depan macam nak tembak finishing line. Tanpa toleh belakang, pace terus bertambah secara mendadak. Ada lah jugak 2-3 laungan Tarzan terpaksa berkumandang untuk menginsafkan mereka yang kononnya Mark Cavendish itu.

KM35 kami susuri jalan keluar ke Mantin-Lenggeng. Jalanraya bertambah aman. Jalan lama la katakan. Mana ada pemandu pembunuh laju nak lalu. Level-level kereta cabuk je lalu jalan lama ni. Kehijauan dan kedinginan suasana hutan dah mula dirasai. Nyaman beb. Simpang masuk ke Lenggeng berada 100m di hadapan. Maka pendakian ke KOM#2 juga bermula. Tapi takpe. Jalan pilihanraya (baru turap) bercampur cuaca nyaman, kami mendaki dengan senyuman terpahat dari cuping telinga ke cuping telinga...macam ni :]

Tapi bukan untuk Ayob. Dia baru berkecimpung dalam dunia basikal jalanraya. Basikal gunung dia dah start tahun lepas tapi nothing yang similar dengan kepayahan Bukit Puyoh ini. Ayob terpaksa mencari ruangan R&R satelah mendapati degupan jantung menjadi ketidak keruan. Bijak. Tak sia-sia pakai HRM. Maka bermula lah aktiviti berkampung sebentar di lereng bukit itu. Macam biasa, aktiviti berkampung means aktiviti melambung. Tu dia, bergema suasana dengan sorang-sorang jual pantun jenaka.

Masa agak-agak sesuai sangat bila kami decide untuk cut short aktiviti berjenaka apabila alih-alih perut mula berkeroncong. Suddenly kami terbayang nasik lemak sambal ikan sembilang di pekan Lenggeng yang selama ni digembar gemburkan. Tu dia aih! Aku sampai kaki bukit semua rider dah hilang berdosup ke depan! 

Tanpa rasa segan silu, kami buat kedai kakak tu dah macam rumah sendiri. Memang first time bedal nasik lemak berlauk kan begini. Layan beb. Even masa aku taip ni pun air liuq aku bertakung ni haa...

Kalau nak tunggu kakak tanak nasik putih pulak, mau petang kami sampai rumah. Jangan buat pasal. By 10.30 kami rasakan waktu yang paling sesuai untuk pulang. Laluan yang biasa kami ikut if kami buat Broga Pondan Loop, iaitu lalu Jalan N34 dari arah Negeri Sembilan dan Jalan B34 pabila merentasi Pekan Broga menandakan sempadan Negeri Selangor. Jalan macam biasa, rolling. Sekali sekala henjutan demi henjutan diselit tapi apa kan daya ikan sembilang dah tambah berat muatan maka peloton terpecah dua.

Aku, Khai dan Kepet bertindak untuk mengundur diri dari peloton keretapi laju dan menunggu gerabak belakang tiba untuk sambung balik di kaki Bukit Broga. Kepanasan dini hari kian terasa, begitu juga dengan kepanasan pemandu-pemandu di Pekan Semenyih. Kami terpaksa bersabung nyawa melepaskan halangan tersebut dengan penuh tawakkal. 

Ayob terpaksa akur dengan serangan kejang otot sebanyak dua kali di sepanjang laluan pulang. Tapi jangan risau, kalau kayuh dengan kami InsyaAllah ada perkhidmatan sokongan moral dan persahabatan sejati, bukan setakat teman ketawa. Alhamdullillah Ayob berjaya khatam kayuhan pertama 88km nya. 

Route ni boleh jadi option kepada Genting Peres. Sedang-sedang elok jarak & difficulty level untuk pulang ke rumah dengan senyuman & masih mampu punch-in syif kedai dobi pukul 2.00. Phew :]

Kami lalu pinggir gunung aje, itu pun dah cungap

Carta cungap ikan sembilang

Blitz Coverage

Waited patiently for the light to turn green in mid-day, exposed to the ultra-V and fume. Clock ticking and sweat started responding to the humidity. A black seven series Bimmer turned into a junction. Big car. Small driver. A mid-age guy in an executive suit, tucked lazily behind the wheel enjoying the smell from his burning European dashboard. I think he'll freeze to death if he don't share the car aircon with somebody soon. 

Another car tried squeezing from the far left lane. Taking advantage of it's miniature sleek design, it swerves, making a screeching sound from the friction between the tyres and it's mudflaps. My eyebrows raised seeing the full laden Viva. A huge lady driver with four kids and another lady passenger seated at the back, huge too. So, that's where the scientific friction formula came from. And of course the aircon was full blast. Noticeable from the flying compact disc hanging from the rear view mirror.

Blitz

The orang kampung

The recent weekend was kinda awesome actually. Though I was oblivious to survive even an inch of muscle movement and though, it was nothing obvious to brag about super long miles nor exquisite timings.

The Orang Kampung at first lambung-ed a RUN! I played along but nothing fancy nor promises. But I was sceptical about testing my 3 months rest leg with the pounding idea. Never mind. I can always walk if I don't survive the run. And, as agreed, the run should be as short and as brief as possible.

The morning the run should be, was full of regrets, when I had to drag myself across the floor all the way to the bathroom. Why do I need to do this? What for? Do I need to train for anything? In fact, I haven't signed for any run event. Janji punya pasal with fellow Orang Kampung, and tak nak kena label 'kencing', I slipped into whatever I could find in the dark before leaving the house. 

Surprisingly, Det, Anuar and Kepet slowly appeared out of the dimly lighted corridor. We jogged to the rhythm of our own remedy for motivation. Obviously, the four of us haven't been running for a while, hence we didn't attempt any suicide pace.

It was a great run in fact. 5KM in total. 5 aje beb. That's all I need for a booster. I was greatful I survived, less any pain. It was a changed of mind, but as long as the pace is friendly, I don't mind giving it another shot.

Sunday was a planned recovery ride. A week resting this old and beaten soul, the ride is mandatory. Again, nothing fancy. Just to have a spin with The Orang Kampung. Happened to be, we have new buddies whom migrated from mountainbiking, Anuar and Ayob and Khai whom just got bitten by the sport bug. Hence, there  were five of us slicing through the morning mist into Hulu Langat and back in a jiff. Gladly found the legs were well rested and ready for the next training cycle.

The Orang Kampung. Obviously she is not la

24 Hour Century Remedy

I'm still in zombie mode right now. Though a bit beaten and wasted with 1% frustration, I guess it all goes back to the basic things.

Just came back from Kuantan last night. It was a 24 hour saunter that gave the 'best' out of Kuantan cycle scenes. Coming back again? As of today, NO! Not to cycle but definitely for the food. As of tomorrow or in the near future (give me until the weekend), Yes, perhaps.

The idea of travelling late prior to a century ride has been proven to be fatal. Not that killing la but it really brought the most out of me. Dah lama tak buat crazy stuff until you want to puke. So, once in while I think it's good for the soul la kot.

When Alwin decided to do KCR at the last minute, he told a few of us that he'll be travelling late after a wedding dinner. I on the other hand, still open for any travelling options, decided to tag along. That allows me to settle lots of family affair i.e. chauffeuring, kids sitting, Amir's soccer training and yes, a last minute KCR packing.

After the Morib campaign, it took me almost a week to recover (aging issues). Then it was hometown trip, which left me with 2 weeks of no cycling. The desire to hop onto the trainer was null and void. Not until that Saturday morning, after sending the kids for their classes, the need to vaporise the lay back feeling stood before me. I gave it a shot to pump up the adrenaline. A 30 minutes solitude spinning was all I needed. Alhamdullillah, I was recharged and anxiety rolled in busy with packing and such.

We left KL at 1.30 a.m. Temerloh had a very bad rain, hence travelling speed reduced to caution for water holes on the highway. We reached Kuantan 3 hours later, managed to find MS Garden Hotel in a brief and crash for the night/morning. With 2 hours sleep, it was a big gamble but we were there at the start line mere seconds before the flag-off.

As usual, the tempo was high at the 5KM neutral zone around Kuantan town. As if HR had a jump start trying to catch up with the 35kph pace. Excited betul depa ni. As we left the town towards Jabor, the road was flooded with colourful jerseys of almost 800 cyclists. We paced ourselves in a group. I guess it was another mistake to pace too fast too early. How can we deter ourselves from making a leisure pace when the road was flat and beautiful? We took turn pacing each other between 35-40kph and it was as if we were in wonderland.

The organiser decided to give us the climb at KM30-ish. Earlier understanding, the inclines were nothing more than a short stretch of 10km gradual. Yes they did tell the truth. It was a fast short steep winding climb which most of us didn't really notice the KOM was done if not for the signs. However, the untold truth was after that. There were rolls after rolls of hills. It's not a mountain, but when there were endless of ups and downs for almost 60km, you can start to feel the boredom & tense. This was when I got dropped off, when the legs start to give up on you and power weakens. I had to let go.

Then we entered Jalan Gambang heading towards Kuantan again. A lonely ride along the main trunk road. Hot, fumed and dirt fills the air. I felt tarnished. I need a boost in sugar count. The iconic yellow Shell high mass marked 101st KM gave me hope. Arriving by the station's front door, I dismounted and that was the first attack. I was desperately cringing from both quads and calves cramping. It was horrible. The agony became worse when my right pectorals cramped as well. The pains lasted awhile, until the very last drop of Coke. Dicky decided to join me upon seeing me waving the Coke bottle from afar.

Solitary cyclists strung out under the blazing sun. Expressionless. 59km left and we still have no clue of what awaits. The torment won't last that easy. This is the start of a bigger one.

The next 20km was pure mind game. Flat, straight, exposed and windy. A great combination for disaster for the impatience. You engaged a TT mode gearing, and the next 5 minutes cramp will happily attack. You spin, you'll feel it's going nowhere. A few more manageable attacks occurred but there was nothing I could do. Not a single tree for shade. And the sight ahead was heartbreaking. I was trying my best to pace Dicky but he decided to give way after awhile.

Somebody yelled out my name as we passed a stall. It was pure remedy when a silhouette of buddies under the bright mid-day welcoming a pit stop. Azahari, Saiful, Lias and Pi'e were about to leave. Seemed the gap between us was too large. Alwin had a slight dizzy while Doc Taufik was down with stomach issues. They stayed behind for us. Dicky, Aki CAR and me took the break as a reviving attempt.

A 20km on normal ride should've lasted about an hour but this was melting. I didn't bother to time it but the next turning into a kampung road does not have the slightest different. It was still hot, windy, flat and straight. But this time we were blessed with trees. Big PHEW! Every single tree we passed whispered a welcoming note to enjoy the cooling shades it provides. I think it was the 20th tree when Alwin and me accorded to the invite. We kept on wondering where is the most talked about horrific Pantai Sepat beach road. For not wanting to invite laziness, we kept the break at a brief and decided to mount and cycle on. Moments later, after surviving lots of wind attacks, the open skyline gave a change of perspective.

Pantai Sepat, a pictorial stretch of beach harboring rows of pine trees and green grass. A perfect getaway for the locals. Though it seemed that the beach can't cater swimmers, the breathtaking view was simply calming. On the other side of the long beach, one can see the Kuantan Rivermouth.

Lovely

It was now or never. Yes, we decided to make another stop, like 'right now' and can't never do it again. And yes, considering 'right now' the whole lot 25km to go in an hour before the cut-off time is never  possible. We joined another cyclist who was enjoying his moment under a tree chatting to a fellow marshal. Now the century ride evolved into a cam whoring agenda. We can't resist the laid back background, hence the camera started clicking. Snap! Snap! Snap! Habis semua gambar brader bawah pokok, brader marshal pun jadi modal.

The kampung road turning into Pantai Sepat

Brader marshal ni layan mountainbike

The wind tunnel

Brader marshal told us the cut-off time is 7hrs30min, in which no medal will be served beyond that. I was a bit struck and disappointed upon hearing that but that's the reality. Just my 2 cents, they should give the medal for completion and a bonus for completing within time. Like Powerman. Because a century distance is never easy. Making an effort to even finish one is already an achievement. Lagi pun, what happen to the unclaim medals? Recycle guna next year? OK. Just my thoughts.

We 'strolled' on continuing our objectives to concur the distance. It was tough. This is one the toughest rides. Someday I will list down a few other rides for memorabilia. We stopped at the last water station but we skipped the free mineral water and bananas. Can't take in any of those anymore. We spent on a glass of coconut drinks instead. Better still, we crashed our sore butts on a beach bench staring against the open sea.  Just making the best out of the agony I guess. It was 10 minutes before we noticed the volunteers started clearing up the water station, hence we had to move on.

Simply an escape

Dah kena sawan angin lintang

The cyclometer showed a glaring 13km to go and we can still find isolated cyclists here and there paving along with what's left within. We bowed to the wind and the sun. We bowed to the distance. The final attack  on the left calf happened when I was climbing the Sungai Kuantan bridge. I had to bear the excruciating pain. If I stopped, I won't have the strength to unclip and crashing on the narrow road shoulder was not smart. I can't even stretch due to the incline where pedaling is the only way to be mobile. It took 5 painful pedal stroke to beat the cramp and reach the top of the bridge.

3KM more to go to the finish line, but Alwin and me decided to go back straight to the hotel. Without much time, we had to skip rest or a short nap since check out time was nearing. Further more, we need solid meals pronto. The following agenda at Lala Ikan Bakar, Tanjung Lumpur was feasting until you bonk. RM350 for the 9 of us with 3 big kahunas, lala, tom yam, fried squid and jus gelas besar for everyone, I think it was frenzy. See you again KCR160.

Champion makan kena maintain

Blitz Coverage

She sits by the table almost every evening. So focused. So delicate. So fragile. Yet she holds the bold and mature look. Without a second of regret. Upon reaching home from religious class, that is her routine. She sacrifice her evening play with friends. The carnage of cry and laughter beyond the door are now handled with wisdom. With only a laptop as company and loads of Youtube music videos, that's the way she stays concentrated. The challenge is big. At least for her. Her first one. The task is no where easy, nothing compares to the last five years. The anticipation is high. 

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It's always cooling on this side of The Valley in the evening. Klang Valley, famous for its tropical thunderstorm and flash floods, always entertains fellow motorists on their peak hour rushing for home. Here, the season is always felt like autumn. OK. I lied. I never had any chance to feel autumn breeze. The cool breeze blown from the hectic city cools off our night, simply refreshing, catering our night chauffeuring to classes and a simple glass of 'teh tarik' with fellow knights of the square table.

Bzzzt...

The age seems taxing. Those yesterdays of weekdays' workouts weigh a tonne to do it, left alone to complete a simple playlist on the trainer. Run? None in the playbook so far. By the time reaching home, it was just enough fuel to freshen up for the duty at hand in the coming hours. The remaining energy are kept aside, just enough to accumulate to invest for the weekend workout.

Between KakLong & me, it's our tune of the week frequenting extra classes every night