My Roadbike Romance

parked bikes at Rumah Seniman, prior to expedition to Pulau Lumut

 

It started when I was in Form 3. I didn't have a bike of my own, but needed one to join a cycling expedition with Jabatan Belia dan Sukan Wilayah Persekutuan (JBSWP). My cousin Azizi from Kampung Pandan has one, so I borrowed his. Thus, my short romance with roadbikes (two of them) began.

 

The first expedition (not a touring) was from KL to Sungai Bil, in Perak. Together with my brother and a bunch of friends, we cycled out from Rumah Seniman at Jalan Tun Razak in KL (I'm not sure what tall building is now on that site). There was an escort van that ferried our bags, and spare parts for the bikes - all provided by JBSWP. We just focused on the riding, and on the riding only. I have to admit, I didn't have any clue about bike repairing and maintenance at all. And to think about it now, it's quite scary how we were negligent of our personal safety too.

 

The good side of it when I'm back home: I lost a few kgs, albeit with striped skin resulted from being under the sun. Yes, many of my friends didn't recognize me.

:D

 

A few more expeditions ensued, and we frequented Sungai Bil too. Twice to IKBN Peretak in Kuala Kubu Bharu, once to Lumut and Pulau Pangkor in Perak, and once to Pulau Lumut off Klang (now part of Pulau Indah). My cousin's red Raleigh Rapide served me well during those expeditions, except for that one time when I bent the RD during an uphill grinding in Lumut. Having to go around Pulau Pangkor in the support van, it was quite painful for there were no spare RD available. I learnt my lesson well there and then.

 

Between those long distance expeditions, my usual cycling would be to nearby places around KL from my house in Jalan Strachan. My cousin's bike was with me all those time. It's interesting to reminisce that I could easily cycle to Chow Kit via Jalan Ipoh. Even to Kampung Pandan through Jalan Tun Razak and Bulatan Pandan (now not really that bulat). Back then, the roads were not as wide, and I guess there were not as many cars as nowadays.

 

To have a bicycle of my own was quite a motivation for me to do well in my SRP exams. I made a deal with Ayah - I were to get a racing bike (what we call roadbikes back then) if I get an aggregate of below 10. Well, it's a doable feat for me, but I'm not sure if Ayah has the financial backup. Anyway, I got it. It's a beautiful, pearl white Raleigh Rapide with 21 speeds (3x7), with friction shifters mounted on the downtube. I walked from home to the Singer store in front of my school in Sentul with my brother Amri and my neighbour Mike. Left the store and went home pedaling my new transporter. Amri and Mike walked, of course.

 

And so my romance with my roadbike started thereafter, to school (and beyond) everyday. Until...