The soak-ier the trail, the more la we lunatics want to
roll around in it. We don’t prefer running or cycle on the road in this raining
season. It’s just too dangerous and probably a bit insane. The best way to keep
activities in sanity, we signed up for a mountain bike jamboree. Rain or shine,
the fire trail of Sepang palm oil plantation estate serves a great getaway and
monstrous epic adventure.
During my heydays, mountain jamborees are rare. Back in
2004 and a few years that followed we only had 2 major rides. The PCC
Presidential Ride which later followed by KOTRT Penang Jamboree a.k.a. Kayuh
Lasak. Both were purposely held at the end of the year where trails are
‘plush’, sweet and juicy. I don’t miss either of them year after year. For rest
of the year, we were the genuine weekend warriors. Defined weekend warriors,
the fun & workouts combined into a Sunday ride. No weekday’s hamster
trainer or secret trainings. In and out of mountain bike trails all over Klang
Valley. Sometimes we plan for an epic ride once a month that would take a whole
day camped out.
As of now, jamborees can be on every weekend! With the
increasing number of cyclists in the region, the sport is also blooming with
events and bike demands. That’s a good sign for healthy living awareness, as
long as we keep to healthy economic expenses as well. So, what does Mr.
Government do about that? I would like to suggest, stop raping our green lungs
and let the rakyat enjoy what remains of Mother Nature. And perhaps, remove the
tax on sporting goods. You guys kaya already meh! You get taxed for bike
components but not for a complete bike. What’s with the discrimination?
OK back to Sepang Mountain Bike Jamboree 2012 (SMJ12).
With so many sporting events in Malaysia’s calendar, I almost had my eyes
checked once a week looking at it. Banyak sungguh! Even Powerman’s photos are
still up on Facebook till now. If I were to dunk myself into every event, I’ll
be like super maniac la kot. The only way to participate in a less competitive
manner and down to earth style is to sign for a jamboree. As shared before,
these dirt fans are the coolest ever. Even the event venue was relaxing mode
without Gangnam pumping songs and loud Deejay.
You don't get to see super expender with super expensive bike
parading around, tapi kayuh tak pernah podium. You don’t see super bike models
parading in trendy bike apparels tapi setiap kali ada bukit, tolak basikal. And
you don’t see gadget freaks wearing super GPS watches moaning about the battery
will kaput if the ride is more than 5 hours.
Alwin and I planned for early rendezvous to allow for slow-mo
bike setup and a bit of warm up. Weather was awesomely chilly after a night
rain. Muddy trails await my 13 kilos baby tapir and yours truly. No top of the
range groupo, no stiff and feather weight wheels, no carbon here and there, not
even a cyclo meter! Two bottles is enough and I have the trails to pump at
whatever endurance I have with juice in my legs.
Oh! Forgot to share the new family member, the Scale
29er. Al-cheapo used bike purchased from a chap who don’t seem to have the
challenge to handle a baby tapir. No more bike borrowing lah. Segan & malu
you.
Warm up macam pro. Sampaikan orang nak flag off baru
tersengih-sengih kambing nak masuk kandang. But the organizer was cool with
that. Chillax event, remember? The neutralized zone of 6km road start really
burnt up this shabby old diesel engine. I didn’t push myself too early, which
would be too premature for an old goat. Surprisingly the guys around me paced
themselves the same way?! Betul punya casual ni. Bagus punya non-competitive
environment. I like. No kiasus breathing up your neck taking advantage at any
opportunity to be competitive.
A total of nearly 40km fire trails inside Sepang palm oil
plantations. Just plain fire tracks, neither Holy Grail single tracks nor cool
river crossing. Reminds me of Ladang Elmina, Sungai Buloh and Bukit Subang. The
matured palm trees provide covered trails from the sun and rain but be extra
careful for the mossy ones. Those green surfaces could be quite tricky for
climbs and fatal on descends. Rainy season adds up to the slippery mud that
sucks up the bike and at the same time throw you away at high speed corners.
Remember those super models with Gucci bike apparels? You’ll get dazzling
chocolate expresso top in minutes once you hit the trail.
My bike handled every bit of the jamboree satisfactorily.
My first experience the hyped about these giant off-road breed. I trust that
Newton’s theory should come in handy. The bigger and heavier they are, the more
UMPH! it delivers for such kind of trail like these. I may have relived the
suffer fest of delivering this baby tapir up steep slippery climbs but the grannies
helped me with patience and virtue. One rotation at a time and the knees and
quads are playing in rhythm. Should I push myself into red zone; I could be
bailing out at the next chicken loop. But the pleasure comes in all kind of
rewards. This heavy steed thumped the descending with high speed confident
rolling over ditches and ruts.
"Look Ma! I'm floating going downhill here (not flying though)!"
The front heavy coil spring shock absorber performed at every technical
trail it can sucks in. When I was high with adrenalines, the inner laughter of
macha-style almost broke out of my ribs.
I smiled to myself at times for the pleasurable torture. I
used to be passionate about this crazy stuff. Grooving my way back is something
seemed possible, but at my considerable pace of course.
Things gone a bit sour and monotonous when you don’t have
any idea of the distance covered (padan muka takde cyclo meter) and the lack of
marshal to ask. Even chunkier for the brain to digest is when the legs get
weaker and stomach started to growl. That
was 3 hours into the ride I guess.
“Ishk! Bila nak habis ni?!”
“Argh! Ada climb lagi?!”
“Weiiii….brader depan ni bila nak give up kayuh? Kuat
pulak dia nih…”
The last checkpoint served Revive and bananas. Phew!
Alhamdullillah. Allah Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Penyayang. I swallowed dengan
rakusnya and the salty/sour taste of Revive was really…errr…reviving la kot.
Slowly get myself checked in at the CP and politely asked the marshal with fake
smile.
“5 km to go!”
“Argh”
But my baby tapir stayed loyal and obeyed at the remaining
tricky trails ahead. The only technical despair was the few times of chain-suck.
Argh! I hated it. It was just demoralizing. The stopping agony of holding you
from getting the momentum was awful. Next time, bring bottles of lube OK?
Finally it was over. And it was still before 12.00 p.m.!
Wow! The overcast weather kept the relax mode at bay for the rest of the event.
Thumbs up for the organizer for the ample bike wash bay and good healthy lunch!
You don’t get these at other jamborees. Guess what? They served steamed broccoli,
steamed potato, fish balls and fried chicken with an either black pepper sauce
or mushroom sauce. Pergh! Bukan nasi dengan ayam goreng and curry. Sorry. These
are great stuff, and top on healthy food chart!
 |
Kalau nak ikutkan taku cukup tapi bedal sehingga
menjilat jari |
Met Alwin moments later. He bruised the right knee while clowning
around at the slippery green mossy climbs. Hehe. And met a few other familiar
faces. A buddy sprained his shoulder from a crash at the tarmac stretch in the
beginning of the ride. Speedy recovery bro.
Alwin, Hancik and I obviously were craving for something
more UMPH! for the taste bud. Besides, the free lunch burnt so fast and we were
already starving for more. Maggi sup was the ideal momento at this kind of
mandom like weather. Perfect for calorie replenishment.
Things are getting into place. That’s a good sign. I don’t
have anything grand to shout about, just as long as the word ‘enjoy’ is relived
and clearly defined.
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| Rehat kejap lepas chop buat sawit |
