First Long Haul

I had intended to post my rides to Port Dickson, but my priority of effort was challenged when I agreed to lend a hand to put up another blogsite and a website to support our membership drive for the Pacesetters Putrajaya Area Group. Thankfully both new sites are fairly uptodate and running. However I will need some visitations, feedbacks and comments so that I can refine them. You are welcomed to visit paceputrajaya.blogspot.com and paceputrajaya.ucoz.com.

My first ride to PD was to Telok Kemang, PD about 75km one way. I mentioned one way because I was on cheat mode. I rode one one way only. And I had to put up a brave face when my other half came to pick me up for the journey home. At least I had nasi lemak with the group at Telok Kemang before their ride back.

The group comprise about six or seven veteran riders led by May Senn and Arief.  Max as usual volunteered to be sweeper, to which I took over the role a couple of kilometers later. Max would be bored to death following me at about 15 – 18 km per hour. Bangi – PD was my first ever, long haul. Though I had clocked in two rides in the Kg Terkala area (50 km) and I had been making progress in my training rides in Putrajaya areas. I had several times mentioned to May Senn that I was ready for PD. I chose PD because I thought the route would be fairly flat being in the coastal area. And I had informed May Senn, that I’ll do only one way as she had described the route to me as undulating and rolling. I may not be able to make it back. So I was on cheat mode and I was glad everybody forgave me as I had promised to make up with another full ride soonest.

The ride to PD was nice and steady to my delight. It was a very pleasant morning and it was almost flat in the first leg to Sepang town, about 30 km of state road. We stopped at the Shell petrol station for regrouping and to refill our water bottles. As I was cool and fairly comfortable, I made the cardinal sin of not drinking my water until Sepang. Dehydration took its toll without my feeling it at first. Since everybody had waited for me for some time, I had a quick gulp of water and said I was ready to push on. Big mistake. The second leg of the route from Sepang to Lukut was undulating with rolling hills for about 15 km.  My legs’ muscles start to cramp up. And I was glad that I had learnt how to manage cramp threats during my rides in the Kg Terkala hills. I survived the second leg and caught up with the group again at the last 15 km or so. My morale was very high as I rode pass PD town along Jalan Pantai. I did not have to ride home. We arrived Telok Kemang just before lunch time. To our dismay ABC and Gula Melaka were only available after 1300 hrs. Nasi lemak and Air Bandung were very nice though.

My wife with my son driving my Toyota, picked me and my bike up after lunch at Telok Kemang. I didn’t even have to drive home, nicely manjared by my better half. I dread to have to ride back in the hot sun to Bangi.

 

I had promised to all, another ride to PD soon and also not to cheat.

No Ride

A weatherman I am not. Never have been, never will be. This morning we were supposed to ride Bangi - Lukut. RV at 0700 hrs and roll out at 0730 hrs. The previous night May Senn had qued me if I had wanted to ride the next morning. I admit that I have not been riding for quite a while, because I have been busy organising a recruitment drive for Pacesetters Putrajaya Area Group. I said yes without second thoughts, Rain or Shine, we'll ride. Maybe I shouldn't have said Rain or Shine. Pantang from now onwards.

Woke up at 0530 hrs, ate heavy, loaded and packed the bike and things by 0600 hrs when May Senn rang up and did a weather check with me. I said looks good. She wasn't convinced and said look again. Ok, Ok I'll LOOK AGAIN.  Well the sky is dark but no rain, particularly in the direction of Bangi/Lukut. Sure no rain, the roads in Putrajaya were not even wet. It was raining in KL and Sg Besi area, but not in Bangi. May Senn rang again ot 0620 hrs and gave all the Systems Go.

I was the first to arrive at Bangi. Beautiful weather and it would have been a nice cool ride. The sky was darkening around the KL side, but it was still not likely to rain.Kenny and Debbie turned up next and we unloaded our bikes. May Senn, Arief, Max and Adeline arrived shortly. The weather was still fine and we geared up. We also did a couple of photo shoots before roll out. 

0729 hrs and it poured out, just like San Francisco; It nevers rain but it pours. We hurriedly loaded back the bikes and sought shelter in the cars. We decided to wait half an hour before we call it quits.  It was a touch and go situation. The rain eased off and was promisingly dry. But we could see the heavy sky coming fast towards us and from the direction of Lukut.  We would ride into the rain. Final decision, we called it off. Maybe we could ride in Putrajaya where it could be dry. Just maybe.

As we were about to leave the RV,  a group of diehard riders zooomed by, leaving us to wonder whether we should ride as plan.

But it was not to be. Will try again another weekend. 

 What rain?

Arief and Senn

Ready to go

Senn and me

Group photo

Kenny and Debbie

Adeline

Max

Kg Terkala revisited

I enjoyed my first foray to Kg Terkala. The ride was fun and very challenging for an old school and newbie like me. Soon enough May Senn invited me to do another Kg Terkala. I jumped to the invitation as I know I was more prepared for the undulating ride this time around. Don’t let the picture and contour graph above intimidate you. It is fun I assure you.

 

We arrived at Bt 18 after the same heavy breakfast and packings for the ride. I met the usual group of riders, slightly smaller group this time. I saw Arif amongst others, and yes Mac too. Nobody can miss Mac. Others I still cannot remember their names. I think they called themselves Le Tuangers, having done quality pontings in their college days at the RMC, Sg Besi. I am fully aware of what Budak Boys do in the RMC, as I was once their tutor instructor from 1968 to 1970.

 

The thing about me not remembering their real names is mainly due to riders often called  and referred to each other in their cool riders’ monikers, like Ishs and Yits and Shals. Very unlike old school’s proper names like Ahmeds, Yusofs, Hassans, and Lai etc. I am glad May Senn is still May Senn.

 

The ride to Kg Terkala is very interesting and we met a lot of other riders doing the same route, either starting from Bt 14 or from the other end at Semenyih / Kajang.  The first 10 K was a breeze, terrian flat at about 50 to 100 metres above sea level and just beginning to rise to a manageable gradient. The next 5 K is on a higher elevation at about 150 to 330 metres above sea level and quite undulating from 10 K to 18 K. It tapers down again from 14 K to 18 K at about 100 metres above sea level. Climb ratios are about 1:0.14 at its max It is all kampung environment for the first 10 K with nice Kampung houses and fruit trees. And also kampung folks and their dangerous kids riding their fathers’ kapchais indiscriminately. As the road winds up the hills, the environment is more into jungle fringes along the ride. There are a couple of beautiful lakes up in the hills at 14 K. These lakes make up the Ulu Langat water catchments and reservoir dams. They are also paradise spots for fresh water fishing activities in the weekends. There is also a nice waterfall seen at 15 K along the way. Just nice to freshen up if needed. A lot of monkeys too.

 

The route is well sign posted with milestones. There is a major turning to Bukit Hantu back to Bt 14. Kg Terkala itself is a well developed recreation and rest area. Food, drinks and fruit stalls there do brisk business for the best part of the day. We had our usual nasi lemak lunch from our favourite stall and returned to Bt 18 in good timings. I had fared much better than my first ride.

 

I improved on my riding and timings and felt fitter, only to be taken for a ride again by May Senn. The next ride would be to Peres enroute to Kg Terkala. Peres ? That is 9 K up, up, up, all the way to the Pass. Got to beef up my muscles.

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First Foray

The only time I know how to kayuh, was when I was a tailor with Sparkmans Shop, which is Malaysia’s premier tailors for gentlemen. I had learnt my kayuh skills from observing my young colleagues, mainly seamstresses. Our livelihood depended on how fast we kayuh on our Singer Sewing machines.  Boy those were the days. Actually I should be blogging on fine gentlemen attires as I have picked up some expertise in this field. This included cross dressings.

Hey, I know what you are now thinking.  Actually it was cross dressings for ladies, as in their elegant corporate suits and attires. Seriously speaking, I am quite well versed in power dressing for both ladies and gentlemen. If anybody has a problem, they are welcomed to contact me. But I digressed.

Having improved in my weekly walks and cycling with my monster mtb, which could be modified to be a tank if I mount a gun on it, I was fairly fit. I could now clock 20 to 30 k a week for my walks, and about 30 to 40 k per week on my tank.

The next day after I got my roadster, May Senn invited me to join her and her kakis for a test ride in the Ulu Langgat area. I have never ridden a road bike before in my life. She said it was Ok as it was about 50 to 60 K and we’ll do it at our own pace. However it will be fairly ‘undulating’. Nice and easy word. (I think she did not want to frighten me of the hills at Peres and Bukit Hantu). When I took up her offer, I did not see her smile.

Sunday morning May Senn woke me up from bed at 6.15 am. Yuk, loosing a chunk of my quality snoozing time. She had briefed me the night before to eat well and rest well. I ate a heavy breakfast and packed some toasted bread, biscuits, kacang, sweets, power bar gel, mineral water and malt. I was 7 eleven.

 We arrived Bt 18 at 7.30 am and met up with Arif, Mac, a nice married couple, and several others (forgot their names).  My initiation was to ride to Kg Terkala for nasi lemak with a small group of us, and the main group would ride to Peres and other further destinations.

It was actually a breeze for the first 10 k to the hilltop at the T Junction, left to Peres and right to Kg Terkala. I was given a grand applause and standing ovation by all, when I reached up the hill, pushing my bike that is.

We pushed on to Kg Terkala. I was the last rider and May Senn had previously briefed me about riding safe and some riding rules. The rear person is always to warn riders in front, of cars coming from behind. Boy, did I have a heavy responsibility being last rider all the time. Once as I was climbing, looking down and puffing away, I had to cry “Caaar” only to laugh at myself, as all the front riders were at least 800 metres ahead. Duh!

We reached Kg Terkala, but actually went further to the Semenyih Cemetery area for lunch and returned safely to Bt 18, pushing my bike up some of the “undulating” areas.

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How it all started with me

Hi all,

 

If you want to know how it all started with me. (Skip if this post is too boring) Well it was like this.

 

During my regular medical checkups, my doctor as usual with all his patients, had always advised me to do some physical activities at least three or four times a week to stay healthy. He also advised me to change my lifestyle.

 

So I did what was advised and complied. I know a couple of tricks and cheat modes and the doctor wouldn’t know any difference. I actually walked in the park when I felt like it (to clear my hangovers) and I rode a mtb to boot. I walked about 3 K per week ala snail pace and I rode my mtb about 5 K per week. Riding my mtb was big deal, as it was 2 K more per week than walking.

 

My doctor (how did he know?) gave up on me and said finally “ Allen, You have this and that problem, and this, and this and also that, if I don’t see any progress in your health, please don’t come to see me again. You are wasting your own time. Not mine. I am duty bound to see you. But you don’t have to see me.” Bump!!  Can’t be a harder doctor/ patient relationship than that. Ok what next ?

 

Old school did a situational SWAT analysis. Maybe I can walk a bit more and the mtb is certainly too heavy. So I walked a bit more per week, and I relegated the mbb to my second son. May Senn got me a roadster to match my profile and outlook. Nothing fancy, just plain old school. The rest is history.

 

Boy did May Senn take me for a ride. Pun intended.

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Thank You

Hi all,

 

Thank you Anonymous, Missjewelz, Kooky, Daoh, Arif and K3ski. I appreciate your prompt responds and warm welcome to my blog. I am amazed and for the life of me, I cannot understand what happened. How did you people get to see my blog so fast? I suppose Quantum theories will explain it. Internet activities move in wave form and not linear. And I suppose speed has always being relative. Take the case of the tortoise and the snail crossing the road one day. They crashed into each other and both were hospitalized in the same wad. The tortoise asked the snail what actually happened? The snail replied “Oh I really don’t recall, it happened so fast !”

 

Being old school, snoozing is quality time. But I’ll have to adjust my speedo (read grey matter) a bit faster to be in your loop. I can see the psyche behind your need for speed. You all still needs to be competitive. So Run Kooky Run, Go Julie Go. Kayuh Daoh Kayuh, Pump K3 Pump. Old school will still ride with you all but like the snail. Please don’t mind me.

The picture shows May Senn’s greatest fans and support. If you see us anywhere, don’t forget to say Hi. My gal’s name is Peggy AKA May Senn’s Mum.

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Night Ride with Putrajaya Critical Masses

Putrajaya Critical Mass (PCM) rides every last Friday night of the month. PCM participants are growing steadily with each ride. I did my first ride last Friday night together with 148 other riders. I believe more would have turned up if it had not rained in the evening prior to the ride. But 148 riders still makes a big group. We had riders turning up from Shah Alam, Cheras, PJ, Batu caves,Sri Kembangan, Damasara and also the usual participants from Putrajaya, Bangi, Desa Pinggiran Putra.

The ride was fun and we managed to cover about 18 km including a turnabout at Presint 20. Actually some riders who know Presint 20,did not do that leg and waited for the main group to return at the flyover entrance. See route above. Overall the ride was quite flat and easy to kayuh at any pace.

I volunteered to ride as a Safety Marshall as we had quite a big group. I rode ahead to control traffic at junctions and particularly at turn offs at the flyovers.

I met Man Ciocc, Daoh,David, Rashid, Aini, William, and so many others which I cannot remember their names. There was also a boy aged seven who rode with his father. He is very talented and kept up with our pace throughout the night. I hope to see more of him in our monthly rides.

I'll sound out to our regulars that we'll do a 'Ride in the Park in the Night' in Taman Wawasan for our November Ride. I promise you it will be an interesting and fun Ride. See you next ride.

Old School has a Name

Hi all,

Yes old school has a name, even though everybody calls me May Senn's dad. I have a name. I really do. 

My name is Allen Lai. Just call me Allen. But who is May Senn ? That will be another story, I'll ask her first if I can post about her. I know she has been blogging about May Senn's dad. I know because new acquaintances say as a matter of fact "Oh you must be must May Senn's dad" I said " How do you know ?" and I get the standard smile and "I have read about you" See everybody now calls me May Senn's dad.

Now that you all know my name, please call me Allen the next time we meet.