ROTM - Sungai Tengiiiiii

The regular Sunday ride-day was adjusted to give way for some family rescheduling. Hence, the weekend came just in time for BJCC’s Ride of the Month (ROTM) on Saturday. Nice pick I guess. The destination was Sungai Tengi and back from the usual Bukit Jelutong RV point. The distance that should cover is 165km.

However, as usual the crazy ideas had us made some alterations where Alwin and I decided to start from his place in Subang instead. That will be an extra 11km one way. And the final figure was beyond our imagination until we discover it at the end of the ride.

The thing that I don’t prefer to spend my weekend workout is to travel away from my place too often especially on Saturday. The afternoon traffic will be as tiring as the ride itself. Perhaps this would be an exception. Sekali sekala takpe la kots.

Right after solat, the travelling begins and I was 5 minutes off due to nature’s call…for the second time that morning! Can you believe that? Nervous la kots.

We got the tires rolling as soon as everything’s in order. With a century distance to attempt, no compromise is required. Saturday morning traffic have started making its way especially at Batu Tiga. Once we entered Bukit Jelutong and reached the RV point, there were almost about 50 cyclists will be joining the ROTM.

We didn’t have to wait long for the train to start charging, leaving Bukit Jelutong and into Guthrie Expressway. It was a very long train and I place myself safely in the middle of the pack, where the pace was manageable.

The usual GCE distance was taken until we met LATAR continuing towards Ijok. I didn’t have my heart rate reading yet for the ride hence a more subtle approach i.e. huffing & puffing method was used. As long as I can catch up and stay in a conversation mode, which was fine with me.

The day has started to shine bright, a sign that is going to be a roasting ride back later. Roast duck anyone?

Once after Ijok town for refill, we turned at the first left, which was basically a new venture for me at this part of Selangor. We were briefed that it’s going to be a 30km brutal flat as a pancake and straight as an arrow stretch. It really was!

The agony was not the flat and continuous pedaling without coasting, but the boredom and monotonous that started creeping in after the first hour. There was not even single scenery that we can enjoy for the minimal pleasure that we seek. It was definitely creepy and sleepy at the same time, but we can’t afford to fall off our bike and create disaster in the middle of a cruising speed peloton.

There was a bit of rolling towards the end before we slump our bikes and butts for a pre-booked breakfast at the so called Felda Sungai Tengi small town. It was a bit dragging when the meal stop took almost 45 minutes though.

It was obvious that we saw some nervous face wreck and worried look in the peloton as we started pedaling back. The scorching sun has started playing the hot tune of coastal humid wind. The ride back towards Ijok was modest where most of us stuck in the tame peloton. The headwinds grew stronger compared to the morning breeze.

We checked in at Petronas Ijok for refills and lying around inside the aircondition petrol station. Outside, it was nothing more than pain scenes. There was more pain than pleasure from this point onward. This was the part that ‘we bite more than we chew’ thing, and had to live through it.

Unfortunately the peloton didn’t stay together as we left Ijok. Hell broke loose when some of the stronger ones decided to crank it hard. My mistake was to get tangled up with them at the first sight of the ‘temple climb’…(no! not Temple Run). The acceleration was ridiculous for me to follow, hence I decided to be a bit wiser by letting go and recover.

The problem when pushing the red zone too long, it took a bit longer to recover. The panting was endless, legs barely respond to any passing small pelotons. Argh! And that was the worse place to get yourself in agony, the 15km stretch between the ‘’temple’ to GCE exit. Traffic was menacing the dusty road and the grime started piercing into the system. Not good.

Eventually the pain slowly eased and recovery seemed possible for another torment via GCE. Mathematically there should be about 5 inclines, painful ones, due to its length and creepy sight. Secondly, the time and wind condition adds up to the formula.

We formed a small group and followed our own pace which was down to basic pedaling, slow! The ups and downs were solitude. Halfway through we decided to take a break at the GCE rest area for some replenishment. Coke!

Alwin and me departed from the group as they left towards Bukit Jelutong. I was plainly determined to just finish the ride. Back to Batu Tiga and up Glenmarie (who put this incline here?!) and into Subang. A subtle attack of cramp occurred when I was leaving a traffic junction but it slowly subsides moments later. Still, it was painful.

We sank ourselves under Alwin’s car porch almost paralyzed by the extreme heat. Slightly above century distance, it was crazy but still somewhat awesome and a pinching pain. The trusty number was 173km in 6 hours 8 minutes. 

Off the beaten track