Offroad: Seri Alam 26.08.2012 - gathering of brothers

 This is ride special simply because it has been a long time since my last offroad outing in Skudai. Lond put up on PG Gerek fb page about the ride, so I set out to join in. Moreover, it is in Seri Alam. It has been a very, very long time. Being the first offroad after Ramadhan, I'm sure it would be a bit taxing.

 

7.30 am and I went to Ruza in Nusa Damai but no one there. Lond was waiting in Ruza in Taman Scientex. The restaurant is open, but without breakfast or even hot drinks. Bought RM3 worth of assorted kuih from nearby stall and had it in the restaurant. Washed down with plain water. Eg and Am joined us shortly after. To my surprise, Reza came too. So there we were, 5 of us. We went to the other meeting point in Taman Scientex and had breakfast over there.

 

Eventually, we started rolling proper at about 9.15 am.

:P

 

+-------------

Route:

Taman Scientex - Backyard - Flora Heights - Fort William - Mashi Maro - Badminton - 7-Eleven - Kambing - Seri Alam Bike Park - Kuil - Nusa Damai - Taman Scientex.

View the trail on Sports Tracker and here.

 

My stats:

Dist 31.07 km
Odo 384.7 km
Max 40 km/h
Time 2:36:29
Avg 11.8 km/h

+-------------

 

The first 10 km was very taxing. I was out of breath, and the stomach feels uneasy. Not to the point of vomiting or nausea, but uncomfortable although yet can still endure the ordeal. However, the legs are good and didn't give any problem. Alhamdulillah. I have to note here that most of the time little granny was asked to serve and big ring was spared most of the time. Sheesshhh...

 

I enjoyed the ride in overall. Especially the sumptuous start of Fort William - Mashi Maro section. The boing-boing downhill was simply awesome. The downhill to Badminton was interrupted with fallen (more of chopped off) trees at the halfway point.

 

To our surprise, the settlement at Badminton (and all other kotais) were deserted and some were burnt. A chat with a PATI on motorbike at the trail reveals that they had moved to other places. There were multiple thefts; cooking gas tank and rice were robbed. The PATI told us it might be that the thieves came around to their places following the waypoint markings that were left after the events ended. They didn't want to take them off out of their respect to us cyclists. We agreed that they could take off the markings for their safety; the markings should be taken off by organizers after the events, anyway. So, please be warned that if you're in Seri Alam trail, do expect discontinuity or even absence of markings from now on.

 

We met with people from Cyclemotion at 7-Eleven for a short get together (beraya tanpa makan-makan) and rode together for a few kms before parting off at the goat farm. The five of us went ahead and that led us to the bunch of DHers at Seri Alam Bike Park - another section that I enjoyed most. The run down at Seri Alam Bike Park towards the lake was amazing. Kudos to the trailbuilders!

 

It's good to be back on saddle offroad, and more so getting to meet again with fellow bikers after such a long time. What's leaving a big impression to me is the Seri Alam Bike Park. It left me grinning to this day.

 

Anybody has a Glory (with fullface helmet, neck brace, paddings, etc.) that I can borrow?

:D

 

Photos are in here.

 

Thanks for coming over, dude.

Have a great day ahead!

RTW: 23.08.2012 back after a month

Salaam.

I was yearning for a ride yesterday. And I did it today, half-obliged on my Trance with knobbies (!).

:)

The office (and the whole Pasir Gudang) is still on extended Eid leave, except for my Filipino mates and some people who share the same fate with me - not allowed to take extended leave due to project demands.

My parents are at my home with the rest of the family still on school festive holiday. They have plans to go here-and-there with the car and so I have to RTW.

Yeay!

One small problem: the Kona Nunu RTW Machine is buried quite deep in the store room. Being away for the Eid holiday, I can't afford to leave it outside so I put it in there. The Trance is ever ready in the living room, though. I was too tired last night to get Nunu ready for this morning's RTW so I went out with Trance.

Stats this morning:

Out from home	0718	hours
Arrive office	0752	hours
Door-to-door	34	mins
Ride time	31' 25"
Distance	11.5	km
Ave. speed	22.0	km/h
Max speed	36.5	km/h
Odometer	340.8	km
Good doggies	0
Bike / Tire	Trance/knobbies

I'm happy to report that the average speed is quite good for a long absentee. However, I have to note here that I'm a bit tired after my shower and taking some time to recover. Anyway, I'm elated.

Not much difference on the surroundings en route, except that the coastal highway was without as much vehicles. Easier for me to cross the road. Quite boring, actually. Perhaps a venture offroad on the way back?

Hmm...

Have a good day ahead, guys.

Thanks for stopping over.

less RTW

Following my third monthlong RTW for this year in May, my bike commuting has since reduced quite dramatically due to change of workplace/office. I have been in a weekly outstation stint since June and still ongoing. A 3-day week in KL initially is now graduated to a full 5-day week including the whole Ramadhan. So, this year effectively there were no Ramadhan RTW at all. Heck, today is 22.08.2012 and I haven't done any RTW at all yet in August. My latest RTW was on 24.07.2012. Such a long hiatus.

The only cycling that I did to 'compensate' were few and far between. I guess that makes it more memorable, more intense and more joyful.
1. Night ride with GLC: KL Tower + Sup Dorai - with Latfy 26.06.2012

2. Night ride with GLC: Carcosa + Tasik Perdana + S'gor Mansion - with Azlan and Latfy 04.07.2012

3. Offroad: Kayuhan Amal Skudai - 15.07.2012

Oh yes, I enjoyed tremendously all those rides. The theme was all the same: strenghtening ties between friends - long lost friends, and friends found through cycling. I rode with Latfy my friend from my MLA Cheras days and Azlan (MBPS/MBS Sentul/MLA Cheras) during the GLC night rides, and reconnected with good people from JB in the Skudai ride. Also, the places were all that had been in my wishlist, too - a ride up the KL Tower (base), late night hot soup at Jalan Doraisamy, the serene Carcosa Seri Negara, a touch of offroad at Tasik Perdana, and the Skudai Trail.

I hope more of good cycling in days ahead. The bikes at home are gathering dust and cobweb. With the exception of today, I hope the 3 days in Pasir Gudang this week could see me back on the saddle again. Spare tire is growing on my waist.

:P

Thanks for coming over.
Enjoyed your Eid?