Riding the East Wind

This will be a quick and simple post. Nothing special. Just another ordinary weekend adding up miles to the legs. However, the weather was something extraordinary. Which brought a different perspective to our weekend group rides. Something that we cyclists would dreamt of.

We had super lovely weather for the last two weeks. It was over cast. Windy. Cold. Super chill in the morning and cosy cold late night. And not even a sudden burst of the solar wave reached the ground. 

I can still remember during our MFMC Tour when we experienced super windy days from all those three days on the coastal side. I presumed that it was the initial stage of the so called 'east wind' phenomena. A friend from Perlis told me that it is a yearly weather pattern up north during this time of year when the East Wind blew cold air from north east. Strong winds would blow through sugar cane fields creating a super scenic view. Even some cyclist friends would organised epic rides having a taste of these meteorological effects on two wheels. They call it the Kayuhan Angin Timur.

However, it felt strange here in Klang Valley when the east wind reached us. It didn't quite rain like it was in monsoon but the cold weather was different. Something that I have not experienced before in KL.

Base training continued for the following two weekends after the tour. A few of us have only started their season. They desperately needed to jump on the saddle and start spinning. We chose Bukit Jelutong to Kuala Selangor and back. The usual taxing route for super heat conditioning. With the current weather, it seemed promising for a great less tormenting ride.

Only four of us and that was ideal. We took the Guthrie Corridor and exited at Kuala Selangor. The trunk road that lead to Asam Jawa was superbly ridden. It was straight out and flat, perfect road condition and best of all was the welcoming temperature. The pace was also kept moderate for a more relaxing under the red zone.

Like any other typical weekend ride for a weekend warrior, we stick to the ride policy of "ride to eat and eat to ride". That's where almost all ride routes have a special place to eat or chill. Kuala Selangor pit stop would normally be at the Auntie Kopitiam. They served the standard kopitiam menu which works best for a cyclist that needs morning caffeine fix. The toast and half boiled eggs are traditional. I tried the curry mee, but I've tasted better.

So much about food, we rode back towards the busier road of Asam Jawa and Ijok for a brief hydration top up. Weather was still awesome. From Ijok it was a bit of rolling towards Sungai Buloh and back on Guthrie Corridor. Great ride with great pace and buddies.

Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring - Desmond Tutu

From the successful Kuala Selangor ride, we ventured for more cycling plans. A week after, we plan to brave the old Gombak Road. The famous cycling destination would be Bentong. Another group of friends were also attempting Bentong on the same day. There were almost 10 of us that morning from Gombak. 

Fellowship of the Bentong

Weather was still in the East-Wind mood. We expected that it would be colder than normal up at the peak of Genting Sempah. Most of our climbing pace was maintained at conversational pace. True it was, 18'C was read up at Genting Sempah. It was freezing. The mist was thicker. The wind was colder and wilder. It was not refreshing, but the crowd of cyclist grew bigger as we waited longer. 

We decided to continue down to Jalan Janda Baik, crossing the Selangor state boundary into Pahang. Some of us were a bit obnoxious about the Bentong idea after gauging from the initial Genting Sempah climb. A few turned back, bailing out due to health issues. Some detoured to Janda Baik. That left us with 7 to Bentong instead.

I found some difficulties descending those winding road from Janda Baik. It brought me the fright from previous crash. To make things worst, a motorbike overshot a corner and landed on the grass while the rider sat the pavement feeling confused. We helplessly cycled by, knowing that he should be alright while his fellow bikers rushed to the scene.

I was left to my own fright, making the brakes my best friend. Every turn was taken with too much cautious, causing me to lose ground. The group disappear into the foliage of the Gombak Road. Eventually I managed to catch up at the flatter stretch, much to a few friends' mercy.

Our simple breakfast at Najad was brief. The actual challenge was the climb back to Genting Sempah. For someone new to this route, the mental game would be the toughest game. For the rest, it  was just about finding the best cadence to last the climb. We played the second game, sticking close together saving some legs for the hardest push after Genting Sempah Rest Area. Maintaining the cadence flow and heart rate for that 30 kilometre long ascend.

It worked out well for the five of us. Ziff, Alwin, Fendi, Dicky and me triumphed together as if it was leisure. By the time we reached back Genting Sempah, we were still fresh.

Again, it didn't end quite well for me when the second hardest part was descending back to Gombak. I was holding every bit of my breath at every corner again, especially passing by the point of the dark history. I could not reach the slightest inch of confidence. It was disappointing.