Cycling into year 2010
It all started in late October when I know of the Malakoff Fellowship Interstate Ride. I couldn't really recall whether I got the bike from Wei Koon first or did I hear about Interstate Ride first, but anyway, registration fee is only RM30 and according to the organizer, all registration fees go to charity.
There was not much info provided at that time. The only thing I know is that it is a 2-days event, road bike-only, helmet is a must, cyclist to cycle across 3 states of Penang, Perak and Kedah on first day totaling 149km and second day to cycle across Penang Bridge and part of the island totaling 71km.
The fact that cyclist get to cycle across Penang Bridge is interesting because bicycles were never allowed on the bridge. This is not something you hear of very often, and cycling along deserted trunk road is one of those things that I have always wanted to do. It had me recall back this activity my high school friends did back in Form 4 (or was it Form 3?). That time, my group of kampung friends decided to cycle to Segari from Taiping with our old rusty mountain bikes and camp a night there. Segari is a beach somewhere near Damai Laut Resort. My parents at that time being overly protective, never allow me to do dangerous things like that. To them, it sounds dangerous to cycle about 30km to the destination and dangerous to be playing at beach (the beach at Segari had had a few cases of drowning before).
End up, I was only able to hear how great an adventure that trip was from my friends, but couldn't experience it myself. Now that I am all grown up and have my freedom, no crazy friends in their right mind would do this together with me anymore. Knowing that the Malakoff Interstate Fellowship Ride provides me of such chance to cycle that far, I just had to sign-up , whats more with only RM30 registration fee. It is time for redemption. Whether or not I can do it is another matter, I can worry about that later.
After a bit of hesitation, thinking and securing the bike, I finally registered by mid of Nov. November was a busy month, with a week of Manado trip, Penang Bridge Marathon run and work. Then came Dec with a lot of holidays like Hari Raya Korban and X'mas and again, work. It is difficult to find time to train on the bike. Some more need to buy cycling helmet and cycling pants. Helmet is important because the event's tagline is "no helmet no ride". Cycling pants is important because sitting on a small saddle for 100km without a padded pants would mean very painful ass :P Lots of money spent there.
It is true that when one is determined to do something, no matter how hard, one will get through it just fine. Thanks to my wagon, I can transport my bike back and forth between Taiping and Penang. With the holidays we have in Dec, I travel back Taiping with the bike and cycle there, trying to get used to being on the bike. It has been many years I have not been on a bicycle (9 years to be exact).
Started with a 30km ride one week. Advanced to 50km the week after, both in Taiping. My last training was the day after X'mas, 100km in Penang. It was the most fun of all cycling I've did, tough but fun.
Finally, the day has come for me to take on the adventure. Having a group of friends to do this together made the experience so much more valuable. With minimal gear (no bike computer, no clip-on shoes, no spare tube), no expectation, no knowledge about cycling in a group (at that time, I don't know what's a peloton and what's the big deal about drafting), no goals, no idea of what awaits me ahead except a long road, I head to the open road trying my best to keep up with Wei Koon and Sunny. I lost the rest of the gang when we were asked to move our bicycles behind the START banner.
Wind was strong, weather was cold at 7.30am and I don't have my sunglasses with me for eye protection from sun and dust. Forgot to pack the night before. It took me awhile to catch up with Wei Koon and Sunny. I don't quite remember the details after that except there was a lot of pedaling, avoiding pot holes and other bicycles, concentrate on drinking while still on the bike, struggling up hills and so on so forth. 50km completed and it was resting time at Petronas station. Organizer provides banana and water for refill. The next 2 stops came at the next 30km.
At about km 130, it was getting really hot. I think it should be 12pm or so. I was really tired by then, and I was separated from the main group. Every kilometer comes very tough, it was hot, windy and traffic was quite heavy. Police escort were no where to be seen and there was a lot of junction and traffic light at that ending part of the route. At one point, a savior came to me (I later learn that his name is Syed). I was too tired to talk at that time. With only eye contact and body language, he signal for me to follow him. That's when I learn of the power of drafting. Following closely behind him can actually save some of my energy because it reduced air resistance and drag (read more about drafting at Wiki here). After awhile, I couldn't keep up with him anymore. Asked him to go ahead and I was back to pedaling alone. I definitely struggle hard to finish the rest of the distance. Reached Juru Autocity, the finishing point at about 1.45pm and that ends the first day of Interstate Fellowship Ride, 31st Dec 2009.
That night, I slept through the year. No countdown for me, needed that rest for the second day.
Second day ride was a shorter one but even more challenging. It comes with a lot of hills. I was determine to have a more fun ride today, hoping to stay with the group of friends I know, making sure I don't loose sight of them at the starting point. The previous day ride was kinda lonely one. Cycling across the Penang Bridge is nice. Now, I can tell people that I have drive, run, (motor)bike and cycle across the bridge. Cool rite?
First hill awaits at the road from Relau to Balik Pulau. That was one crazy steep hills I tell you. I tried to best to stay on the bike but eventually gave up. I had to get down to push, twice! Downhill was also crazy, just like roller coaster ride. I was worried the brake may give way and I'd be rolling down the hills. What a scary thought.
Second hill is a more gradual one, but still tough. The Balik Pulau to Teluk Bahang stretch. This time, manage to stay on the bike throughout the climb. Then another crazy roller coaster downhill ride.
Ahh, then came the third hill, Tanjung Bungah to Mt. Erskine stretch. This is a short climb on narrow road. Traffic are bad coz of the narrow road + cyclist block a portion of the road + cars cannot overtake, which means a lot of carbon monoxide while pedaling uphill.
At last, after 71km and 3 hills, finally ended the second day of Interstate Fellowship Ride before 12pm at Youth Park, 1st Jan 2010.
What a way to spend the New Year. With tired legs, a lot of sun and a bunch of crazy and fun friends. This is definitely the most special New Year I have had all my life!
Acknowledgment
Till then, Happy New Year 2010. Have a good and healthy year ahead.
Notes:-
I don't have any photos to share here or to slot-in in between all the plain wordings. Carrying a camera along on a bike doesn't sound like a wise decision to me. Being as blur as I always had been, the need to care for camera in addition to a bike and helmet plus with limited carrying space is too much to handle. All the photos I see of myself were from other people and are shared on Facebook. Blame it on FB for not being as share-friendly as Google Photos.
There was not much info provided at that time. The only thing I know is that it is a 2-days event, road bike-only, helmet is a must, cyclist to cycle across 3 states of Penang, Perak and Kedah on first day totaling 149km and second day to cycle across Penang Bridge and part of the island totaling 71km.
The fact that cyclist get to cycle across Penang Bridge is interesting because bicycles were never allowed on the bridge. This is not something you hear of very often, and cycling along deserted trunk road is one of those things that I have always wanted to do. It had me recall back this activity my high school friends did back in Form 4 (or was it Form 3?). That time, my group of kampung friends decided to cycle to Segari from Taiping with our old rusty mountain bikes and camp a night there. Segari is a beach somewhere near Damai Laut Resort. My parents at that time being overly protective, never allow me to do dangerous things like that. To them, it sounds dangerous to cycle about 30km to the destination and dangerous to be playing at beach (the beach at Segari had had a few cases of drowning before).
End up, I was only able to hear how great an adventure that trip was from my friends, but couldn't experience it myself. Now that I am all grown up and have my freedom, no crazy friends in their right mind would do this together with me anymore. Knowing that the Malakoff Interstate Fellowship Ride provides me of such chance to cycle that far, I just had to sign-up , whats more with only RM30 registration fee. It is time for redemption. Whether or not I can do it is another matter, I can worry about that later.
After a bit of hesitation, thinking and securing the bike, I finally registered by mid of Nov. November was a busy month, with a week of Manado trip, Penang Bridge Marathon run and work. Then came Dec with a lot of holidays like Hari Raya Korban and X'mas and again, work. It is difficult to find time to train on the bike. Some more need to buy cycling helmet and cycling pants. Helmet is important because the event's tagline is "no helmet no ride". Cycling pants is important because sitting on a small saddle for 100km without a padded pants would mean very painful ass :P Lots of money spent there.
It is true that when one is determined to do something, no matter how hard, one will get through it just fine. Thanks to my wagon, I can transport my bike back and forth between Taiping and Penang. With the holidays we have in Dec, I travel back Taiping with the bike and cycle there, trying to get used to being on the bike. It has been many years I have not been on a bicycle (9 years to be exact).
Started with a 30km ride one week. Advanced to 50km the week after, both in Taiping. My last training was the day after X'mas, 100km in Penang. It was the most fun of all cycling I've did, tough but fun.
Finally, the day has come for me to take on the adventure. Having a group of friends to do this together made the experience so much more valuable. With minimal gear (no bike computer, no clip-on shoes, no spare tube), no expectation, no knowledge about cycling in a group (at that time, I don't know what's a peloton and what's the big deal about drafting), no goals, no idea of what awaits me ahead except a long road, I head to the open road trying my best to keep up with Wei Koon and Sunny. I lost the rest of the gang when we were asked to move our bicycles behind the START banner.
Wind was strong, weather was cold at 7.30am and I don't have my sunglasses with me for eye protection from sun and dust. Forgot to pack the night before. It took me awhile to catch up with Wei Koon and Sunny. I don't quite remember the details after that except there was a lot of pedaling, avoiding pot holes and other bicycles, concentrate on drinking while still on the bike, struggling up hills and so on so forth. 50km completed and it was resting time at Petronas station. Organizer provides banana and water for refill. The next 2 stops came at the next 30km.
At about km 130, it was getting really hot. I think it should be 12pm or so. I was really tired by then, and I was separated from the main group. Every kilometer comes very tough, it was hot, windy and traffic was quite heavy. Police escort were no where to be seen and there was a lot of junction and traffic light at that ending part of the route. At one point, a savior came to me (I later learn that his name is Syed). I was too tired to talk at that time. With only eye contact and body language, he signal for me to follow him. That's when I learn of the power of drafting. Following closely behind him can actually save some of my energy because it reduced air resistance and drag (read more about drafting at Wiki here). After awhile, I couldn't keep up with him anymore. Asked him to go ahead and I was back to pedaling alone. I definitely struggle hard to finish the rest of the distance. Reached Juru Autocity, the finishing point at about 1.45pm and that ends the first day of Interstate Fellowship Ride, 31st Dec 2009.
That night, I slept through the year. No countdown for me, needed that rest for the second day.
Second day ride was a shorter one but even more challenging. It comes with a lot of hills. I was determine to have a more fun ride today, hoping to stay with the group of friends I know, making sure I don't loose sight of them at the starting point. The previous day ride was kinda lonely one. Cycling across the Penang Bridge is nice. Now, I can tell people that I have drive, run, (motor)bike and cycle across the bridge. Cool rite?
First hill awaits at the road from Relau to Balik Pulau. That was one crazy steep hills I tell you. I tried to best to stay on the bike but eventually gave up. I had to get down to push, twice! Downhill was also crazy, just like roller coaster ride. I was worried the brake may give way and I'd be rolling down the hills. What a scary thought.
Second hill is a more gradual one, but still tough. The Balik Pulau to Teluk Bahang stretch. This time, manage to stay on the bike throughout the climb. Then another crazy roller coaster downhill ride.
Ahh, then came the third hill, Tanjung Bungah to Mt. Erskine stretch. This is a short climb on narrow road. Traffic are bad coz of the narrow road + cyclist block a portion of the road + cars cannot overtake, which means a lot of carbon monoxide while pedaling uphill.
At last, after 71km and 3 hills, finally ended the second day of Interstate Fellowship Ride before 12pm at Youth Park, 1st Jan 2010.
What a way to spend the New Year. With tired legs, a lot of sun and a bunch of crazy and fun friends. This is definitely the most special New Year I have had all my life!
Acknowledgment
- Special thanks to Wei Koon for the bike, if not for your bike, this ride will not be possible. From you, I've learned valuable info about bicycle and cycling.
- Thanks Chin for telling me about the event and sharing so much info and knowledge about biking.
- Thanks Lynn for being the "bestest" host ever. Thanks for you and your family's kind hospitality.
Till then, Happy New Year 2010. Have a good and healthy year ahead.
Notes:-
I don't have any photos to share here or to slot-in in between all the plain wordings. Carrying a camera along on a bike doesn't sound like a wise decision to me. Being as blur as I always had been, the need to care for camera in addition to a bike and helmet plus with limited carrying space is too much to handle. All the photos I see of myself were from other people and are shared on Facebook. Blame it on FB for not being as share-friendly as Google Photos.
Labels: All about ME, Healthy living
posted by LieWei at 10:11 PM
1 Comments:
what an interesting way to celebrate the coming of a new year!
congrats on completing the ride =)
By
sc, at Jan 20, 2010, 3:33:00 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home