A recent fatal accident involving a fellow cyclist hit by a careless driver was disturbing. Much more when it is somebody I know. A fatherly figure when it we rode together and a joker when it comes to un-common sense chatting. Condolence to the family. And to all other cyclist/runners out there, whatever safety precautions we take, please be reminded that there are a lot of a***holes driving nuts and can whack us anytime.
Me, still chasing the milage for the PCC-IS 2011. The news that came on Saturday morning created massive shocks in the local cycling community. More over when we are hammering the milage meeting the endurance demand. A few of us were planning for a 130km ride that Sunday actually, hence the bad news really hamper confidence. Also considering the route that we are taking prones to hazardous scoundrel drivers, I was in doubt until the morning I woke up.
My second attempt at Bagan Lalang from home. A quick google map measured 130km with loads of sun. First attempt, koyak a few years back. Didn't make it back home on bike. Wifey to the rescue. Lol. Only Alwin, Det and me dared to test the recipe. A few more started from Unikeb as usual. We don't plan to catch up with them, that will only waste their time waiting.
Hazard No. 1
Location : Highway Cheras-Kajang
Highway interchanges always the tricky part for us cyclist. Tricky risking our lives trying to maintain the lane while avoiding vehicles exiting or entering the main line. We made sure four time, no vehicles wanting to exit. Only one motorcyle that we made sure he passed us before we change lane. We made it but in a split second, one Vios swerved behind us and where did this bugger came from. I guess, he came so fast from the high speed lane and made a sudden turn towards the exit. A mere inches and seconds, we would be another victim.
Hazard No. 2
Location : Pekan Sungai Pelek
Hancik was infront doing the pulling work. We slowed down approaching the small town. As usual, small town means cars parked haphazardly. A red Kancil parked on the roadside and suddenly both the front and the rear doors opened. It's either Hancik landed safely in the car behind the steering wheels, or sprawled in the middle of the road.
Hazard No. 3
Location : Jalan Reko, Kajang and Cheras Perdana
Motorists will never respect us cyclists. Be it the weekend warriors or the Banglas commuting to work. They expect we are travelling at almost zero speed, hence jumping infront of us at junctions are like playing games. Two occassions when I had to squeeze the brakes when only a few feet away, these buggers throttled out from a junction. We yelled back in anger, depa buat muka seposen. May someday I have the strength to stop and tazkirah him spot on.
Alhamdullillah we pulled it through. Freaking 133km in 5:15hrs under the blazing sun. I had to acclimatise to the weather, hence it worked so far. But still, from legs down I looked like a tapir. Next week is step back week. It shall be Langat super easy or the nearest mamak :)
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| Persidangan meja panjang pengayuh zon Sepang Usul : Macam mana nak ajar KL drivers untuk respek cyclist |
I read about the accident on sat morning. Although I didn't know him I am still shocked with the accident and having ridden the same route before. We can be as careful as we want but can say the same for the rest of the road users. Sad.
ReplyDeleteAl-fatihah buat arwah. be careful aa.. sesama kereta nak switch lane dengan signal dipasang pun diaorg tak kasi masuk, inikan beskal yg takde lampu signal.
ReplyDeleteGuys, to tell these lunatics is near impossible. Perhaps until they themselves fall victim or their love ones. This mishap also reminds us once we are behind the steering wheel.
ReplyDeleteseram sejuk baca nota2 di atas. even kita sebagai cyclist pun, kalau bawak keta respect motorists. kadang2 tak sanggup nak tukar lane coz motorists tengah conquer tengah2 lane. IS is coming, hope the gang will conquer all the routes safely
ReplyDeletemoral of der story hazard no2...jangan ingat kat highway jer bahaya..keta parking kat tepi jalan pon bahaya gak... :)
ReplyDeleteNgeri read... apa lah masalah diorang ni?
ReplyDeleteOne of them motorists is me! And also Hancik, Azahari and many more athletes that we know. Hopefully we can spread the awareness among us and other friends and relatives.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks DC. InsyaAllah it will be a safe ID 2011.
Hancik, kalau landing dalam Skyline OK apa :)
Amsyah, jom kita usul permasalahan ni ke meja perundingan teh tarik ;)