REUNION RIDE AT FRIM

Last I rode at FRIM in May last year and last Saturday rode again with few good men whom I know them when started cycling MTB. Some of riders came with ‘yellow’ theme made the ride enjoyable teasing each other. This probably my last offroad ride for year 2011 since a little bit busy with school opening preparation.

HAPPY NEW YEAR and safely ride!




Regroup and waited another riders

..worth taking photo after hard climb at Pine Peak

those with "Yellow" theme

IS CYLING ELITIS SPORT THAN GOLF?

It’s about perception of people towards mass recreational sport. Initially, I was thinking golf is an elite sport play by an elite society like businessmen, VIP or even royal. But to date, golf is become affordable and come near to your house. You will notice of golf courses in your residential and almost everywhere. You can play a round of golf as a walk in visitor at decent golf course within Klang Valley at RM90 inclusive of fees/buggy or even RM50 for unlimited walking course during the weekend. You don’t have to participate in tournament until very sure that you can play at your own steady handicap.

Driver R9 launched in 2009 at RM 1,870 and now reduced to RM750

A lot of mega shopping complex has in house outlet selling golf equipment and apparel. Those outlets like Royal Sporting House etc actually owned by prominent businessman and dare to do clearance sale up to 70% during their SALE. I was hoping in future we are able to see that in cycling industry where we can buy apparel/gears inside ISETAN, Jaya Jusco and Parkson. With RM1,5000 you can have a beginner golf set and spare some RM150 for shoes, utilize your casual pants and shirt for golf attires. Whereas for cycling, we have to spend extras for padded pants, gloves and helmet for own safety. This will cost you around RM300 to RM500 depend on the brand and model.

Unlike golf, no bicycle outlet is willing to give discount more than 15% and yet the retailer arrogant not accommodating your visit. That’s why we often quote this “Saja mau tengok2 barang” instead of asking the real price.

Start up cost for golf relatively fair knowing you will upgrade it later for premium brand, but cycling technology is quite fast and we need them once you have stronger legs. Maintenance wise, golf is almost zero as long as don’t own membership obliges to pay monthly subscription. Cycling requires recurring maintenance especially on parts regular wear out. This has to be considered in our budget once you own and ride regular.

In conclusion, cycling is more elitis compare to golf as result of its industry is dominant, monopolized and limited in the market.


(Actually golf and cycling is a good combination of sports which both requires endurance and stamina.)

PUTRAJAYA BIKE RIDE CUTI-CUTI 1MALAYSIA

Another fun ride on Dec 17th, held at Putrajaya in conjunction launching of Cycling Package Holiday in Putrajaya organized by Tourism Malaysia.

Over 1000 riders from MTB, Road bike, fixies and even tandem took part. Registration counter was opened as early as 6am on that event and ride completed around 11am. We managed to engage fixies to adhere to the rules and they did so through out the ride. I rode with few others as marshall and we did a good job.


Looping Dataran Putrajaya





Marshall of the day


...with Mila AF, Mila was an event manager

RIDE WITH OTHERS or CLUB DOES IMPROVE YOUR CYCLING SKILLS

Obviously cycling with club or others does help you improve your speed and distance. Notice that you have a will power to increase speed during the ride and eventually increase the distance for next couple of rides. Average speed for beginners are likely at 20km/h and medium experienced riders are at 24km/h. Ride in group will also show areas of your weakness that need improvement. A lot of skills you can get from the cycling group involve pedaling and shifting gears while ascending, when to stand and off saddle, how to get used with cadence, multiple use of your muscle, drafting etc.

Joining cycling club will get you motivated to maintain two to three rides a week which you are not able to do it alone as recreational rider and after a few rides you can judge your abilities whether to stay or to leave the club. Very often, there will be newcomers that have same abilities and even you can form a new club with them. Cycling is just so addictive that you will keep pushing your speed and gain more distance.

The downside, at the same time your credit card at risk to reach the ceiling limit because tendency upgrading is absolutely irresistible(actually got poisoned), you are not just sitting in the saddle and watch your friend upgrade to carbon frame or carbon saddle. Your attire will absolutely change from big short pants to tight short, from soccer jersey to racing team jersey (lycra) and absolutely your visit to local bike shop will be paid off once you have completed the event that you take part.

Example of carbon frame and saddle

Having said all that, Insyallah (without eating oily food etc) you will stay healthy and fit.

DECEMBER MONTH OF FUN RIDE

Its all about fun and health conscious when we ride in any fun ride, myself rode in Kayuhan Sihat 1 Malaysia jointly organized by Kementerian Kesihatan and Balai Polis Bandar Tun Hussin Onn on Sunday, 11th Dec. Estimated of 900 riders took part and total of 200 prizes were drawn for lucky winners. Ride started at parking lot Lake Valley of Bandar Tun Hussin Onn and only flag off around 9am; it’s common to start late after opening speech and little entertainment ceremony for this kind of ride. Total distance was 10km and ended the ride around 10.00am.


Jogging is norm for residents

....lucky draws were the main attractions of the ride


Marshall at work

It was observed the fun ride is no more fun when kids were riding zig zag on the road exposed to oncoming traffic (ignorant traffic disregard traffic control) and even fell after failed to keep pace with their parents.

Just piece of advice to those parents accompanied their kids for this ride, do accompany your kids until the ride complete and don’t leave them behind. Kids are easily got head injuries will lead to death besides minor injuries.

There will be another ride at Putrajaya on 17th Dec, organized by Tourism Malaysia in conjuction with Cuti-cuti 1 Malaysia. Email at putrajaya.bikeride@gmail.com or contact 012-6785279 for further info.


cycling buddies (L-R) ; Jayen, nik, jo and redzuan

Monday blues solo ride within Larut Matang Selama district

I rode on Monday morning Dec 5th, from Kamunting to Semanggol made a way back via Kg Dew and gave me a total distance of 36km. This is my first ride outbound Kamunting unlike my routine ride from Kamunting to Lake Garden.


Took left to Semanggol


Easy climb at Gunung Semanggol, around 8am

Rode on tarmac and undulating in between Changkat Larah to Semanggol, the rest are flat. Somewhere at Kg Dew, spotted a jetty for fire flies(kelip-kelip) sight seeing and officially launched July this year.


Giving up was not an option, another 20km for Taiping


Banner for fire flies sight seeing

Prices are on display, are they really reasonable?

..have to board boat at night to see fire flies

Approximate 27km, took a stop for gents at PLUS office section N4 and met my former client as well as my staff. I was there in 2001 maintained the North South Expressway stretch from Changkat Jering to Jawi. I have seen changes in rank and faces of them after 10 years, some of them being promoted and deployed to other section while others remain in the office. May Allah SWT bless them with good health and prosperity to perform their duty.


...I was here before

Insyallah, there will be another ride from Kamunting to Kuala Gula, to have dinner at floating restaurant name JS Muara Restoran Terapung Kuala Gula for delicious soft crab (actually hard shell removed).

BEWARE DRIVING ON THIS PARTICULAR HIGHWAY

I was fortunate enough last nite had an accident at km71 East Bound on Lebuhraya Karak- Gombak without injury, the car I was travelling damaged on left side and tire had burst after impact into concrete barrier. Car was skid and crashed the barrier, hit another car which got the accident earlier at the same spot and stopped at fast lane. Immediately we left the car and belonging after the car stop, waited outside the barrier for help. We were driving approximate at 70km/h to 80km/h, quite slow since the road was wet after the heavy rain


I would like to share my experience that could happen to you when you were not aware this actually was a syndicate, pour oil on the road and waited there for accident. They came out immediately from nowhere and offered to tow our car at unreasonable price. We refused to use their tow truck at RM200 instead use AAM panel and paid RM130.

I use to work with the highway before more than 10 years and well versed the major cause of road accident along the highway, under certain circumstances such as water crossing or water pounding no way your car will skid at 70 – 80kmh, obviously there was a presence of something greasy or oily on the road surface will make your car loose traction and skid. I am thankful the driver not panic to apply brake and hold firmly the steering until a complete stop.

Involved in accident is not a wonderful experience and very taxing, you have to arrange and select reliable workshop. Lodge and collect police report, waiting your car ready after verify by adjuster to be repaired by your panel workshop.

Drive slowly and even stop at nearby Rest Area if you think not safe to drive in such dangerous weather condition.

15 STRONG POINTS OPTED FOR MTB RACING

Without your knowing you are actually able to participate in MTB racing and below are the 15 points why you should participate in MTB racing rather than doing your personal best in jamboree. Ride occasionally in jamboree will eventually turn you up to be a good rider and ready for the race. Select the categories that suit you and enjoy the fun that you experienced.

Touring Cyclists

British couple was bumped somewhere in Port Dickson recently by a touring school and escort by our fellow riders in pujmac on their way to Tanjung Piai. An outstanding achievement ride to Tanjung Piai as the most southern point in Peninsular Malaysia and the most southern point of mainland Asia, that’s what it made them proud to finish 414km in 4 days.

The couple already rode for 126 days and impressed me how they manage to keep their blog update.How they put their thought and pleasant insight into their blog made me interested to view their blog. Enjoy reading their blog at http://afistfullofgears.co.uk/blog/archives/5316

Rukun ke-5

Alhamdulillah,

Setelah 4 tahun dalam senarai menunggu, akhirnya Abah dan emak selamat berangkat ke tanah suci mengerjakan rukun ke 5 pada 26hb Okt 2011. Pendaftaran di kompleks LTH Kelana Jaya seawal jam 1130pm pada 25hb Okt dan check in selesai lebih kurang jam 1.30pagi. Jadual penerbangan pulang dijangka pada 7hb Dis.

Doakan semoga mendapat haji mabrur di sisi Allah SWT.

MTB JAMBOREE

Just to share how much monies the organizers made from major MTB Jamboree held this year



(*) Guestimate – guess and estimate; the rest are factual –facts and actual from organizer website

Given the facts that cycling in particular mountain biking is gaining popularity in Malaysia, my guestimate that a total of RM1.5million will be collected from the registration and number of event would increase in years ahead.

Those club or individuals whom organized the event should have used the profit to develop young riders in their respective club. By doing so, they will help encourage school children take up MTB as one of potential sports and then help the nation producing great cyclists. Over the time, those events will attract sponsorship like suppliers of sports equipment, nutrition products, holiday package companies and financial institutions. Therefore cost for organizing such event eventually will reduce.

As long as organizers were the cycling club then they would circulate back money to the event held by others club, otherwise others would have benefited from it in the bicycle industry value chain.

Ride safely.

LUCKY WINNER AT PD FOREST CHALLENGE

I have won myself with two others a grand prizes lucky draw an Orbea frame; it was worth waiting after the ride. Offer me if anyone interested...



Completed the 25km ride after 1hr 30min at 96th place from over 300 riders and ultimately achieved my target, since I am not fast rider anyway. First rider cross the finishing line from Arus Racing Team was 30min in front of me and not my league to catch him.



First time event organized by local cycling team TK Dxon and well supported by Corus Paradise Resort. Ride starts as planned at 9.00am and additional jersey for top 100 riders were not given as promised by organizer. I was informed the organizer will conduct again next year therefore needs improvement for course trail by avoiding two way traffic for climbing section, one rider fell and suffered serious injury at this section.


With fellow riders in pujMAC

Thanks to the sponsor and organizers for the grand prize that I took away.