20220820: GM > Jenjarom

Total Riders: 4

Journey Covered: 73km

Per the planning that we had, supposed we start to rolling by 7.15am. However I overslept and told the Captain to start rolling by 7.30am instead. Luckily I already pre prepared last night and hence I could start to drive to the meeting point quite fast. Once reached to GM Klang, quickly get ready with the gear and without warming up, we just start peddling for the day.

From here we heading to KESAS using the motorcycle lane. Though it's Saturday, I would say it's not many motorcycle using the lane, and even some of the motorcyclist using the car lane making this cycling path even better. From here till we reach Jenjarom, the weather just kind to us today.

From KESAS, we ride to meet another rider and continue our journey. We passed thru Rimbayu and heading towards BOH plantation. Everytime passing BOH, I'm quite amazed that there is a tea plantation in the middle of town, and what's more it's not at highland like Cameron Highland. From here we turned into Jalan Kampung Sri Cheeding. 

Frankly speaking, this road only consists of 2 lanes, to and flo. Since it's Saturday, I guess the traffic is more congested than on Sunday. Cyclist going thru this road should be riding in single file. And there are a lot of hump along this road. From here we turned into Jalan Helang.

From here, there is about 10km to reach our destination. Everything going great for the day. Thinking of the breakfast that I'm going to have, the leg just continue doing the action. Not long after that, we reached to our destination. 

Once at the destination point, we just hanged our bike on the rack provided. The stall having quite crowded, giving hint that the breakfast is liked by many people. What is famous would be the porridge. There are lot of choices and I would say the price is quite reasonable as well. 

After had the yummylicous breakfast, it's time we move on back to the starting point again, GM Klang. It's almost the same route that came before, so it's kind of doing U-turn. By the time we reached the starting point, it's almost 11am. And weather seems like it's going to rain by then. True enough, after unpack everything and changed our clothes, it's start to rain again. 

GPX File: 20220820.gpx

20220521: GM Klang -> Rimbayu -> Jenjarom

 Total Riders: 6

Total Journey: 68KM

It's been a while since the last ride I had with Captain... and today just need to make it happens. When I had reached GM Klang, Captain already ready and was alone there. I thought I'm late to reach to the starting point, but to my surprise we reached there earlier. Not long after that, another 2 riders (a couple) reached. 

By the time we start our ride, the sun already way up. We strolling along Kesas motorbike lane and it was wonderful pace. It's under the tree shades and everyone was gung-ho as of full of energy. We exit Canal Garden, heading to Rimbayu. There, we meet up another rider. There onwards all of us moving together. 

Not long as the usual route, we would be passing the our first pit stop. That's the BOH plantation at Bukit Cheeding. When the first time I passing this route, it's quite amazing that there is tea plantation at the so called city centre. Though I never been inside the plantation itself, but the signboard does tell something.

We continue our journey thru the kampung route, which I really like it. Again when we turned inside Jalan Helang the road does not really has a lot of cars. This kind of route really make me appreciate more on those peaceful and serene environment of the kampung style. 

I started to feels the heat along the way. Generally we were experiencing the heat wave season. From time to time, the train head was checking if any of us couldn't follow the pace or left behind. Really cycling bring out the comradeship we had, and make friendship more meaningful. The pace slowing down in order for everyone keeping the pace and in single line form. Soon we reached to our destination, the famous Fo Guang Shan in Jenjarom.

Of course we didn't ride to the temple, but we just reached at the outer layer of the temple area where the food court is. We had our breakfast there, and I really the porridge being offered here. Lot of varieties that we could choose from. 

Once fully rested, we start our journey back. I could feels the heat really taking the toll. Even one of us showered himself with water before the journey started to cool himself. Somewhere in Rimbayu, we took a short break. The heat really unbearable at that time. We just detour to cut short the route, and quickly heading back to our starting point.

GPX file: 20220521.gpx

20220424: Team lunch in Tg Karang... a new good restaurant discovered

This team lunch has been postponed before due to myself infected with Covid-19. Hence today to make it happened !!! I've planned to cycle there from my house to Tg Karang which considered a nice route and not far away. At the same time, Ed also wanna join me the ride from Setia Alam to the final destination, one way route.

A day earlier, I started to plan the route using multiple tools. I found out eventually that Bryton Active is not a bad tool and quite easy to use. Bear in mind that this tool is using OpenStreetMap to let the user drawing their route. Other tools such as Ride with GPS using Google Map which may be better in term of their map. Anyway, it's own preference. For me, as long as it's simple to use and FOC and does fulfill my needs, it is a good tool.

What had been planned is less hilly ride which both of us preferred. And also I tried to avoid the main road, and best still those road which has less car travel or kampung route.

The ride started around 7.30am from Setia Alam, not too early and is bright at that moment. We started and maintain the speed of around 23km/h only, perhaps this is what we called it as santai ride. Not long the sun start shining brightly unto us.

As true to the route, it brings us to the route less travelled via the kampung route. We were blessed it has less car passing by and the ride was superb. As if the whole road belongs to us, we just enjoying the morning breeze and scenery along the way.

As this route was mapped only the day before, we just follow the route where it brings us to. We reached to a small fisherman jetty, which is quite nice to stop by and have a quick recovery.

Not too long we reach the first stop Kedai Kopi Shin Lok, bought pau and coffee, and ride towards Pantai Remis to have the breakie. By then, we already 1/3 of our journey today. From here onwards, the sun getting hotter and it takes toll on us. Though still the route was having less car on the road, and we just enjoying it. 

The route bringing us passing by kampung in secluded area, passing by the kampung houses. Not long thereafter, the road getting narrow and I could say it's only passable by bike or single car lane.... Some of the road really not passing by car, and I wondering how the map could bring us to those secluded place. At some point, I really doubt whether I should go ahead and following the route.

Not long, we reached to one of our intended destination, Bukit Melawati Kuala Selangor. Unfortunately, bicycle isn't allow to go up to the hill anymore. The last I heard, there was an accident happened involved a cyclist and the train ride up to the hill. From there onwards, cyclist not allowed to cycle up. Or should reach the are before the train start operating. Since the morning getting hotter, we decided to have a quick stop nearby at those shops. It's just the last 10 km to our destination. 

The last 10 km is pretty tough for us. It's very much a straight and flatten rode. There isn't any shades along the way, we just need to keep paddling all the way. The heat really terrible, and luckily I just had enough water to cooling myself off and keep going forward. Once we reach the Restaurant Sahabat, we both were relieved. Ed was very happy and satisfy to complete the route without much problem. We took a rest for awhile, and the rest of the team mate reaching the restaurant one by one. There they started ordering foods and the feast starts. 

Oh yea, the route bring us to 2 gravel road. It's not a bad one considering this is one of the adventures that we had set out from the beginning. As I always like, travel to the places less travel by car. And this kind of route is part of the fun and unknown journey.

Staircase to Heaven

GPX FILE: 20220424

27 March 2021 - Pink Ride 4.0

Photo credit to https://audaxmalaysia.com/new-season-2021/

Been planning to participate for Audax for long, but every time when it comes I had something to do and not able to participate. Hence for this round, make it a point to participate with new found buddy. Coincidentally, this ride was re-schedule due to the MCO and participants just need to upload their route completion. There isn't any check-point throughout the ride. Initially there are 3-4 riders to ride together, however during the ride there only left my friend and myself. The other rider had rode earlier on already. This also good, which we could use their route map and following it directly, and easier for us to plan when to eat, rest etc.

On the day itself, I drove to meet at my friend's house to start our journey. It means also I need to wake up early of the day (which is one of my weakest point). Reached his place at around 4.00am and the plan is to start rolling from 4.30am, with the mindset of finishing earlier and minimising the heat later on the day.

Since it's early in the morning, the beginning is very smooth and everything going according to the plan and schedule. Along the way, there are some police block set up but seeing us on bicycle, it does not stop us nor giving us any trouble. Just maintain the speed till to KLIA. Since it's my first time cycling around this area and so early of the day during MCO, it's such a joy to enjoy the ride. 

By the time we hit the 80km, we start to find our food to fill. At that time, it's about 8 in the morning. We are somewhere around in Sg Pelek at that time. Not many stalls open at that time, could be due to the MCO. We just simply chosen a kopitiam to have our breakfast and proper rest. The owner is quite friendly and chat with us for a while, since there wasn't many customer at that time. Before long, we start our paddle again.

About 10km after the restart, I could feels my body not reacting normally. Energy seems leaking here and there, before long I realised I starting to bonk. I've told my friend not to wait for me anymore, as I could not follow the pace anymore. After discussion for a while, he told me that he will wait for me at Pantai Morib which is our next stop, and it's about 25km away. 

It took me around 1.5 hours to reach Pantai Morib. But along the way, one of the happiest moment was I bumped into my old car which I had sold many years ago, the very first car I bought after came out to working. And with these old nostalgia it keep me paddling till reaching Pantai Morib and catched up with my friend again. While my friend had his delicious nasi lemak, I could only ordered kopi ais and catching up my breathes. Hopefully I could recover from my bonkness. 

After this short break, it seems that I had recovered a little. Again we started to paddling back to our base, but we could start feels the heat at this moment. Once we passed the Banting town, I've faced with my first casualty of the day. The rear wheel was punctured. It was very lucky to puncture in front of huge tree and in front of residential house. Being my first Audax, suddenly I told me friend to continue his journey back to complete the ride before the cut-off time. I'm not too sure why my mind keep telling me that the cut off was 10 hours. After much nagging, my friend finally continue his ride back. Before he leaving, he told me to call him if I need any helps along the way. 

Now I'm alone to fix the whole thing and there is almost a quarter of the journey back. Taking my own sweet time, and suddenly my mind asking me to check again the cut-off time. I realised the cut-off time is 13.5 hours, means I could also finish the ride and complete the Audax. Once I finished fixing the bike, the heat is unbearable. It's time I put own my gears to become like ninja. I had my slow ride back under the heat, and could feels a lot of people gazing at me. How could a person cycling under such a hot condition?

I'm just following the map route that I had installed into my Bryton device, and continue with the pace that I could afford to. Along the way, I had many pit stops to take a break from the hot sun. During the last 15km, it's really hard for me to paddle anymore. Once again, the bonkness was back. And this time it's worst compared to the earlier one. I just keep telling myself to keep paddling to finish off what has been long overdue.

I'm not too sure what time it was by the time I reached back my friend's place, just couldn't care anymore. Take a good rest at the car, and even told my friend I don't have any appetite to eat. I just want to have a rest at the car, before start my driving back home to have proper rest. 

Even this is my first Audax, I would think that it would be better if I could join a proper Audax with all participants having the same route. At least it may be turning into fellowship ride and meeting and making new friends along the way. Hopefully, in future if time permit again I will join the ride. 

Few days later, I contacted the organiser if could still purchase the medal (and I only want the special 100th anniversary medal). Organiser was kind enough to reserve a medal for me when the next batch of arrival comes. At the end, I'm enjoying the ride and the pain along the way. Why not ??!!! No pain no gain no fun.....