Sepang Jamboree 2010 - 45km offroad

Woo Hoo... the great MTB chaps of KL have organised another kayuh lasak jamboree in Sepang!!All the info is here: http://sepangjamboree2010.blogspot.com

45KM of rugged terrain, but I still dont know if its gonna be hilly (like Ipoh) or flat flat like ... umm... flat flat like ... dono lah, never cycle flat flat before.

Knowing MTB-ers, I do hope there'll be some killer climbs separating the men from the boys; This time I'll be well prepared so I wont come out of this feeling like a boy... or better still, a little girl.
Glad to say I'm in ship shape.
There was recently a Penang Jamboree but unfortunately, it was FULL 2 days after registration was opened. Sigh. Missed it. And will NEVER get to do it EVER (Canada beckons).

Anyway...see everyone there at Sepang then!

Oh Yahhhh... Flat Flat like SUBANG!!

Bike Climbaholism = Someone who is addicted to climbing (with a bike)

(Can you find my bike in that first picture?)
With a 45km off road trail coming up next week, I was determined to be ready for it. Today I daresay that I'm ready. The weather this morning at FRIM was perfect, temperature-wise, but with the rain, things were a bit tough. It rained heavily and I was caught while climbing up steroid. Uphill tasks was tough as the earth was slippery, muddy, and fairly soft. But nothing was gonna stop me from getting into shape for next week. Managed to do the climb twice over (some would think it mad!).
But with today's ride, my confidence is a little better than it was 2 weeks ago. My fitness, a little better than it was in the past few months. I think Ipoh will be tough, but I think should be ok. Wish me luck! This picture below is the little stream that forms all the way from the top of the hill...

Ye Olde Taman Desa road ride...

Ah, what memories like memories... from 1990. Took a ride out the old road route of Taman desa, water park, taman seputih areas.
I remember when these routes would drain my lungs with its "long" 600m climbs...
Alas, I remember when good ol' Kim would train me and coax me on..."cmon ... abit more... !", and I would struggle with my last bit of breath, like a fish out of water...pedal my way up the road. Thanks Kim!
Had some time to kill when my son went there for his seasonal basketball tourney. It wasn't a major game, since his team was already 1st on the leader board, so I decided that I needed my own little exercise after a bad bout of flu and last weeks pathetic 3km-and-died ride. So, thought it was a good plan to start where it all began some 10 years ago!
I've come a long way now... Hate to say this Kim, but this time I think I'll be the one with the "cmon... abit more!".
The route, much easier now, is still one of the best routes for a get-fit-quick rider. It is undulating, tarmac, and not so many cars, with some nice climbs. A few sprints up and down these climbs will do amazing things to your fitness level. But watch your heart rate tho...push too hard and you'll be pushed on a cart to the nearby Desa hospital.
Well, suffice to say... for me... it was a trip down memory lane while I quickly try to get fit for a big ride coming up in the Ipoh Jamboree end of this May; a full 45km off road trail!
"C'mon Kim... get off that excel butt and come along with me!... There's extra space in the car for 2 bikes and 2 riders!"

Lost...

Imagine you're cycling on a well beaten path. Around you nothing else but rubber trees, undergrowth, and little mozzies all over your ears. You figure, "ok... just keep going... this oughta lead somewhere surely!". After all, you've just passed two tiny wooden huts (what the hell were tiny huts doing in the middle of nowhere?..) and been chased by a dog, surely you cannot get lost in a tiny forest!? ..hmm.. After 30 mins of cycling the path suddenly leads down a steep steep and muddy slope, and then disappears altogether. You half fall down, get off the bike and decide that perhaps its abit too steep and without a path before you, kinda dangerous, especially when roots start sticking out of the ground, endo-ing you almost! Then all of a sudden, the way clears and you're staring out at a 30-40 foot drop! You get on your butt, bike on top of you, in a desperate attempt to stop sliding downhill! Where on earth am I?
Well.. waddaya know...I'm smack in the middle of a "tiny" forest in Kiara!
For the veterans of this place; Dont laugh!
For the newbies... Watch out! You gotta respect this place and bring a damn GPS! No, not the kind you use in your car... but a real proper GPS that'll work in thick forests. I have one, but of course, Kiara is a "tiny" jungle... what would Patrick be needing a GPS in here for huh????
Trust me, such arrogance will cost you, umm... let's see, numerous cuts, bruised bottom, mozzie bites, bike-on-you-head (that's what endo-ing does) and not forgetting the tree you smash with your shoulders!
Plus point? (there always a plus point or points!)
You get to find NEW paths. You realise the importance of all that you know you should have brought and didnt. You appreciate life a little more.
In short... dont ever think ANY forest or jungle is "tiny" because, believe me... you're tinier! WAAAY tinier!

FRIM on Deepavali

Holiday for Malaysians... thanks to Deepavali.
For me, it was an opportunity to try my helmet cam again!.. Woohoo...
And it worked!
However, unfortunately i've not been able to attach the clip to this blog.

The ride was no different other than the fact that I decided to go an extra "mile" by climbing the killer Steroid Hill twice. Of course, those around and were resting thought us crazy.

The dangers for us was that we're always going the "wrong way" up because we think that the other way up is for "chickens" and hence the name "chicken route". Danger here being that those taking the chicken route end up coming downhill while we're going up. Ah well... we've gotten away with it so far.

Rover's trail was also packed with people. No surprise, mostly Chinese and Malays... as our Indian friends are busy entertaining their guests or visiting.

After 3-4 hours of riding time; this time safely with no injuries, it was time to go back. Relax, nap...