My weekly training loop

Map curtesy of Ironman Putrajaya official website.

I ride alone in Putrajaya most weekends. Just to be ready and be on call to ride with the big boys. I like riding in Putrajaya because it is generally flat and we have very wide roads with good night lightings to boot. Only thing is, it can be quite hot in the later part of the morning. Another feel good thing is that, we always meet other riders in the loop every weekend. Other riders also love to ride around Putrajaya.

I used to do a 20 km ride from Taman Warisan to beyond PICC and back on the outer Putrajaya loop. Since the Putrajaya Ironman event this year, I have started to ride the official 70.3 loop. (see map above). No I am not preparing for the next Ironman in Putrajaya. I cannot swim well yet. I am still trying to unlearn my swimming strokes, before I start to learn to swim all over again.

The Putrajaya 70.3 loop is about 30 km per loop. There are no serious climbs, save for the 1.5 km stretch behind Alamanda. But it is still not too intimidating. Well, I suppose it will be quite a challenge while doing the third loop in riding the full 90km. So far I have only done two loops, and I will share my experience when I do the full three loops.

Hey, join me any weekend to try for yourself. You bet it is fun.

 And maybe, just maybe, you would give it a go for the next Ironman Putrajaya.

My GPS

GPS MK1. Patented by Allen Lai. Copyright reserved.

Have you ever been lost from your train before? Took the wrong turn perhaps. I have not, and I do not own a GPS or any hi-tech stuff. 

On one of my rides to Port Dickson, I met Dean, a tough Australian cool rider. During the stop at Sepang town, he showed me his latest Garmin GPS mounted on his bike. Great instrument and cost over RM2000.00.  I asked him if he would like to see my GPS, which also pointed me to Sepang without fail.

I showed him my GPS MK 1, made in Putrajaya and cost RM0.00. It was just as accurate too, with displays of distances from waypoints to waypoints. I can actually embed any information I want before the ride.

Try it. I have never got lost before.

Bukit Hantu

I have heard about Bukit Hantu in passing from the gang and I actually had a preview of the hill on my last ride to Kg Pares. No words nor stories can describe Bukit Hantu. Although it is only a eleven km ride, the above terrain graph shows a steep climb of 285 feet over 2.6 km. Most riders ascend the climb from east to west. After a murderous climb for about 2.6 km, it would be a steep dive down for about 2 km and the remainder 7 Km would be flat all the way. It will be pure bliss after the climb.

Worth the experience. Good luck riders.

Pares Revisited

I was ready when May Senn called to ride Kg Pares again. I was more than ready. I was prepared. My bike now had 10 more teeth in the rear cogset. The climb would be easier.

This time we had two trains assembled at Batu 14. About a dozen riders in all. The main train opted for Kg Pares and beyond. They were the usual fast and furious riders. Any pace, any terrain, any distance. Yes that group. My train comprise only May Senn, Max and me. We planned to ride up Kg Pares and then down to Kg Terkala for nasi lemak. I was doubly assured definitely no further than Kg Terkala again. Don’t listen to anybody, especially, the ice cream man.

The climb to Kg Pares after the T junction wasn’t exactly easy. I still had to kayuh. The immediate difficult hill was fairly easy to climb though. I made my first strategic error with this new experience of having a better gear ratio. I rode most of the way up to Kg Pares too fast as most of the gradients were not too taxing. I should be pedaling consistently and save my energy for the final assault. I should have gone slow and steady most of the way. I over took a cool rider with a backpack; an elderly man about 40ish riding a mtb. He was slow and steady. He told me that he came from Seminyeh and rode up Kg Pares most weekends for exercise.

I could see the top of the peak, another 400 meters to climb. I could do it, although struggling somewhat. I want to make it. No, I MUST make it. Hey, I had overtaken May Senn and Mac who had stopped to wait for me before the final climb. A moment before my triumph, a heavy lorry passed me and I was taken aback with a loud horn. I must have strayed into the middle of the road, twisting left and right; struggling with my balance.

I was stunned and could not balance any more and I decided that the best option was to make a forced and controlled fall onto the road side. I fell nicely, for want of a better description. No impact, no collateral damage and no injuries to self. Only self embarrassment and self pity. So near, yet so far. Never mind, I consoled myself. Kg Pares will always be there for me to climb again.

We rested briefly at the top. My recovery was quick and I was definitely not tired like before. I followed May Senn and Mac down the hill; freewheeling quite fast. The leg to Kg Terkala was a breeze, trailing close behind them. We met a couple of other riders at the rest area had nasi lemak. We discussed the route back. Since we started from Batu 14, we could take the Bukit Hantu route for a change. I have heard about Bukit Hantu, a stairway to Heaven, they had promised. I agreed to the Bukit Hantu route, as I did not experience leg cramps unlike my last ride.

We rode back to the main junction to Bukit Hantu. May Senn and Mac had waited for me there. When I arrived May Senn and Mac had rested enough. I did not stop and turned left to climb Bukit Hantu. I was struggling and they over took me at about 800 meter up the hill. I had no prior knowledge of what to expect from Bukit Hantu. So far it was really tough, notwithstanding my new rear cogset. I called it quits and decided to continue on foot. I now know why it is called Bukit Hantu. It is about 2 to 3 km of unforgiving climbs but the rest of the 6 km to Batu 14 was a Heaven’s delight. But I was amazed to see a lone young rider riding briskly up the climbs. He just zoomed passed us. However I would believe May Senn and Mac would have a hard time at Bukit Hantu. I never asked them.

I had actually push my bike about 2 km to reach the top of Bukit Hantu. I was not ready to ride Bukit Hantu yet. Coming down the remaining stretch to Batu 14 was a breeze. I soon arrived Batu 14 and we had a quick rest before loading up to go home.

My ride to Kg Pares was a success as I had improved on my ride overall. The beauty was that I did not experience any leg cramps. I was not prepared for Bukit Hantu. But I have now an insight to the stairways to Heaven. My biggest lesson learnt was never to ride too fast in the beginning of the climbs. Save the energy for the final climb or for any contingencies. I will try Pares and Bukit Hantu again.

Last weekend, Kooky Kash said she would give a shout for a ride to Kg Pares soon. My heart missed a beat.

New Ride

My Giant roadie

May Senn was very pleased that I had changed my rear cogsets. It was a tremendous improvement to my gear system. It was a new bike after the change. Don’t change your bikes like May Senn, change your gears.

 

I know having new gears won’t solve all my problems climbing Pares. I need to train and develop my power output. I was still riding like an old steam engine, Powerbars notwithstanding. Puff puffing along. I need to build up my strength and endurance. However it was nice pedaling easier with the new gear ratios. Even on flat roads. I had a better range of ratios to play with.

 

I ride almost three times per week around Putrajaya, covering 120 km per  week. On weekends I would ride the Putrajaya 70.3 Ironman route, about 30 km one round with fair average timings of 1 hour 20 mins each round. Climbing the one and half km gradient behind Alamada was a breeze. Don’t get me wrong I was not training for next year’s 70.3 Ironman. I am not a triathlete. I cannot swim, though I started training earlier this year. After 3 months, my personal best distance was 1 km in the swimming pool; with a timing of more than 1 hour. I had learnt to float for half an hour for safety. May Senn watched me swim one weekend and said my breast strokes were wrong. OK got it. But I will have to unlearn my breast strokes first, before I can learn the new strokes. Since then I have not being swimming. I will start again next year. But I digress.

 

 

I know May Senn would be calling for a ride to Pares again soon and I would be better prepared this time around. Penat ke ? Tak. I now have ten teeth more.

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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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.