RTW 30.12.2009 - energetic

I felt a bit energetic today, and that translated into a relaxed-yet-aggressive mode of RTW.

Part of it stemmed from the early time going out from home. Sort of a motivating factor. It has been quite some time since I last rode an average of 22km/h on the way to work. I guess part of it contributed by the above 20-22km/h spin while climbing up towards the cross-junction at Masjid Jamek Pasir Gudang.

Man, what a great feeling. Of course, my jersey was drenched with sweat when I tapped the attendance epass at the office ground floor. I must have smelled bad. Thank goodness there's nobody lining up behind me. Or were they keeping distance, I may not know... :)

stats today:

Out from home	0652	hours
Arrive office	0737	hours
Ride time	33'34"	(45 mins DTD)
Distance	12.39	km
Ave. speed	22.1	km/h
Max speed	36.0	km/h
Odometer	3053.9	km
Good doggies	0

By the way, I've passed 3000km on my odometer on 23rd December 2009. Suddenly everything seems bland. Have to find a new motivation for my RTW.

Have a nice new year, and keep on spinning the year throughout in 2010. Hope that it brings us more kilometers and lesser kilograms.

:D

RTW 16.12.2009 - the 'no sweat' ride

As planned, alhamdulillah, I did the 'no sweat' ride this morning. Well, I didn't manage to make it without sweat. Albeit, I enjoyed the cooling effect when coasting downhill and leisurely rolling on the straight paths.

 

With only a plain, white tee and padded shy shorts, I pedaled from home quite early. The average speed is at 18 km/h much lesser than the usual 20. So, the total ride time is more than 40 minutes this morning. Of course, helmet and cycling shoes were also put on. I stuffed the multitool, keys, patch kit and spare tube in the wedge bag. The hand pump stowed on the downtube.

 

I tried hard not to strain the leg, as I felt I could go faster. All the time I felt the temptation to rush, which I successfully denied.

 

Perhaps the weather is a bit humid this morning following last evening's downpour. Or perhaps I need to lower down my speed. Or get a lighter bike for commuting to get the speed at 18 km/h average. I'm starting to picture a practical commuter already - 7x3 speed, rigid fork, pannier rack.

 

One more thing. Although if I do make it, RTW sans sweat, I don't think I could ride from home ready with work clothes on. My t-shirt's sleeves and front smell of exhaust fume. Sleeveless? Nope, not me. Too risqué.

 

Stats today:

Out from home	0646	hours
Arrive office	0733	hours
Ride time	41'38"	(47 mins DTD)
Distance	12.45	km
Ave. speed	18.0	km/h
Max speed	34.1	km/h
Odometer	2893.4	km
Horny doggies	5

Batavus in the Yard

I went down from FPSO Ruby II yesterday afternoon, and I saw this beauty chained (heavy gauge) to the staircase tower next to Allseas Audacia, a pipelay vessel. A quick research revealed that it's a little stripped down Batavus Favoriet. It's a classic Dutch bike, with a touch of modern production. A modern classic.

It looks sturdy. I like the design of the pannier rack, rear stand, tail light, nurse lock (it has something like 'chip locked' scribed upon), pedals and the chain cover. No brake levers on the handlebar, because it's using coaster brake. The only item adorning the handlebar is a safety bell. Look at the tail light - the size is big enough and quite practical for city rides. The standard unit is equipped with 3 speed SRAM internal hub gear. Standard weight? A hefty 22.3kg.

The price? A little less than $850 Canadian Dollars. Modernly priced, indeed.

photo credits: Ilias Mohamad Radzi and Batavus

RTW 15.12.2009 - ride as usual

Another RTW this week. Not too strenous, and not too relaxed. Nothing much different. That means, I get the usual buzz of arriving at the office sweaty and charged with endorphin inside.

Great!

I read about riding no-sweat in the online mag from Cyclescheme (p46, issue 2) this morning. Something interesting to be tried out. No pannier rack on me bike (yet?), I'll bring the wedge pack instead. Tomorrow, perhaps - if I could get the items ready on my bike tonight. And get out 15 minutes earlier than usual tomorrow morning.

Stats today:

<><>

Out from home	0703	hours
Arrive office	0743	hours
Ride time	36'57"	(40 minutes DTD)
Distance	12.53	km
Ave. speed	20.3	km/h
Max speed	39.7	km/h
Odometer	2868.6	km
Good doggies	2

Need another at least 6 RTWs to end 2009 with 3000km on the odometer. Offroad rides could speed it up a bit, too.

Kevlar?

Mu penah nengok dok, tayar hok ado Keblar?

Nota untuk penjual/pengutip besi buruk/baru:

Demo tok payoh lah nok bakar tayar hok ni. Takdok hasil. Abih jadi abu seghemo.

RTW 09.12.2009 - I'm Back

It's been a week since the accident in Masai.

Bike is squeaky clean, with new set of tires courtesy of Dino who sold them to me dirt cheap (many thanks, man!).

The ride was as usual, except that this morning I took a shortcut at the Suria area in Seri Alam, bypassing the climb at Kg. Baru Masai. Oh, and I was riding in a leisure mode. Still, the ride time is less than 39 minutes door-to-door. My odometer reading has less than 200km to reach the 3000 mark. Not really a target to end the year with above 3000, but it would be nice nonetheless. No pressure there.

One thing I noticed is that the ride is much more pleasant when the bike is clean. Nice, err... for once in a while.

:)

Stats:

Out from home	0710	hours
Arrive office	0749	hours
Ride time	34'17"	(39 mins DTD)
Distance	12.41	km
Ave. speed	21.7	km/h
Max speed	35.6	km/h
Odometer	2811.0	km
Doggies		yilek!

06.12.2009 Seri Austin - Seelong offroad

It's one of my riding wishlist. Why? Because it's quite interesting how you could cut off kilometers of road going from Tebrau area to Seelong. We practically cut through the palm oil plantation straight to Jalan Seelong. Well, we didn't ride all the way to Seelong, just to a breakfast shack before the mosque near Kg. Sinaran Baru on Jalan Seelong. It is the old route people take to get to Senai airport. One of the attraction is Star Hill Golf Resort (well, that's the only one I know). Seelong is also home to Jalen soy sauce.

I went out of the house at 6.35am - the earliest so far, and reached Caltex petrol station on Pasir Gudang Highway at 6.45am (first time being punctual!), the rendezvous point for Kadafi, Reza and I. They arrived 10 minutes later, and we headed straight to Setia Indah to meet Helmy and have our breakfast at a mamak joint over there.

After breakfast we proceeded to Hafiz's house in Seri Austin to join the riding group. Quite a number turned out that morning, about 13 I think. The morning's weather is overcast, looking like it's going to rain. We eventually headed out at 8.45am, led by Hafiz. The first 4 kms were riding on tarmac, and we ventured into the plantation via a slim and short singletrack towards the plantation's wide lorry route. All of the offroad riding in the plantation is through this kind of track, so not much action really. The track was wet from the night's downpour, hence it's quite slippery and of course, muddy.

The track itself is not quite challenging, but the route chosen was mildly hilly at certain spots. I have to agree with Ali Tamago that the route is short, and suitable for speed riding. Or, in our case yesterday morning, a relaxed ride for a breakfast in Seelong. En route, we passed by the back of the golf resort, lined with small patches of vegetable farms, greeted by dogs. Yad should've followed us for this ride. I would enjoy the drama.

After a half an hour breakfast, we retracked the route and went back in the plantation up until the wooden bridge. Thereafter we took a right and proceeded into nearby housing area. The sign says 'Perjiranan 10'. Not in Pasir Gudang, but Bandar Dato Onn(!). Just beside it is Seri Austin, much to my delight. The time was 10.45am. The shortest offroad so far, and quickest one I think. Courtesy of Hafiz, we lined up to rinse our bikes.

About half an hour later I was already in the car in Pasir Gudang highway, destination home. 10 minutes later I was greeted by my beloved wife with a long, sweet kiss. Man, gotta have these sort of rides once in a while.

Stats of the ride:

<><>

Ride time	1h 9m 45s
Distance	14.89	km
Ave. speed	12.8	km/h
Max speed	30	km/h
Odometer	2798.6	km

RTW 02.12.2009 - the tergelebok

I think this is the first time I tergelebok while RTW. It happened so fast, in a matter of few seconds the right side of my body decorated with gashes (elbow and knee), and scratches (rib, waist and shoulder). Not a nice sight. Not a nice feeling, either.

 

It happened at the short hill from the Masai shortcut to Taman Bukit Dahlia. I gathered that the road was clear, and I was ready to roll down with high speed and tackle the double turns in style. Suddenly a white kancil emerged from the second turn, and I applied both brakes in response, partly startled. Skidded a bit, before I took the fall. The outcome: gashes and scratches, pain in right shoulder, broken hydrobag right sling buckle, handlebar endcap gashed big time, and FD is not responding very well. Other than that, alhamdulillah, all still as normal. Plus, it means that the brakes I mount on the bike really work well :)

 

I modified the bag's right sling and continued to ride as normal to the office. Surprisingly, I'm climbing Bukit Dahlia with higher speed at 20km/h, compared to the usual 17-18km/h. It's either the 'oh no, I'm already late' driving factor, or merely gear ratio choice. Usually I would use 44T all throughout the journey, and climbing up BD would warrant me to use 4th largest cog. Since the FD is not responsive and it stayed at 32T, I continued on, pairing it with 5th or 6th largest cog. Fortunately the front gear is at 32T, not the granny.

 

What's for tomorrow? Ride on! InsyaAllah. I set up a target of doing RTW for full week, Mon to Fri, taking advantage of the school holidays. A few things need to be done at home tonight - endure family members' comments (read: sympathy), repair the bag's sling, nurse (and admire) the decorations, and change new tires.

 

Oh, another good outcome of this is that Yad (my office's certified first aider) had his first experience of nursing gashes - need not to refer to manual, just followed my guide.

 

Reminder to self: the first aid kit is only less than 200 grams. Bring it along, always.

 

Stats:

Out from home	0713	hours
Arrive office	0750	hous
Ride time	32'41"	(37 mins DTD)
Distance	12.4	km
Ave. speed	22.7	km/h
Max speed	40.7	km/h
Odometer	2748.9	km
Good doggies	3	'tails'

 

If I RTW for another 10 days in December, that'll notch my odometer to the third thousand. InsyaAllah.