It rained hard in the early afternoon before the Putrajaya night ride yesterday evening. So for the first time since I got home I clipped on my SKS Raceblade Long mudguards. As it turned out the roads had dried out by the time we started the ride. The mudguards attracted the interest of my riding companions but were excess to requirements.
The Raceblade Longs came off my bike last night. Their place in my kit for this morning’s ride was taken by a tube of sunscreen and a couple of bottles of frozen drink. The plan was for Syihan, Azhar and I to ride 20 km /12 mi or so from Bukit Jelutong along the familiar Guthrie Corridor Expressway. Then would come the “Uncle Wiggily” bit for me. A 25 km / 15 mi blast along the Kuala Lumpur – Kuala Selangor Expressway to the Ijok interchange before following our wheel tracks back to Bukit Jelutong.
Naturally it started raining as we got onto the Kuala Lumpur – Kuala Selangor Expressway. It started raining hard. Right about the time Azhar thought it would be fun to ride at 40kph plus.
I spent a lot of time in Azhar’s rooster tail of spray. And Syihan’s. I quickly learned that I was better off being right on the wheel in front rather than 3 meters behind. Somehow the volume of spray increased exponentially the further back I was.
Needless to say we all got soaked to the skin. Not that we minded in the least. The rain and the overcast sky made for a cool morning. I didn’t need my sunscreen. The only downside was that my frozen drink wouldn’t melt fast enough. I know I know. Complain when it is hot. Then complain when it is cool.
My Raceblades wouldn’t have helped me this morning. I wish Azhar and Syihan had a set each though.
Old Roots, New Routes 