We were up, dressed and packed in time for a nasi lemak breakfast at 6:45am and the Day 2 briefing at 7:00am.
We all got started at 7:43am. Pre-warned to pace ourselves because although the return route was 45km / 28mi shorter, it had more climbs, including a big one at KM78 / MI48.
Sure enough the terrain started rolling 3km / 2mi from the hotel, and it stayed lumpy all the way to Kajang.
The three of us had planned to break the ride into thirds, with a refreshment stop after 40km / 25mi and 80km / 50mi. We knew early on that it was the right strategy for us. The morning was extremely humid. Despite the overcast skies, I was sweating profusely, and we had been riding for only thirty minutes.
We started looking for a likely place to stop when we had covered 35km / 22mi.
A few kilometers later we entered the small town of Kota, where we found a shop selling roti canai. I drank two iced Milos in quick succession while waiting for my roti canai telur. The roti wasn’t very good, so I had a third iced Milo.
Despite the so-so roti, the shop was crowded. We had a long wait for our food. We spent almost forty five minutes in Kota. Fortunately we had shared a table with a gentleman who was waiting for his order of one dozen roti. Which explains why we had to wait so long for our food. He was an interesting person to chat with, so we didn’t mind the wait.
The downside of the long stop at Kota was that the sun got higher and higher in the sky as we sat in the shop. It was going to be another scorching day.
About an hour later, as we were on yet another climb north of Pedas, Leslie dropped his chain. Which was an opportune reason to stop under the shade of the trees for a short rest. I am glad that we did, because a short while later we were riding through the built-up areas of Senawang and Seremban.
Johan and Danial did a great job of making sure we all stayed on the correct route as we rode through the exit to Bandar Seremban Selatan, Rantau and Linggi.
Video courtesy of HW Wee
Roads seem extra-hot when surrounded by concrete.
Video courtesy of HW Wee
Not long past the Sungai Gadut KTM Komuter station Danial drove past us in his sweeper truck. Just fast enough to make it worth accelerating into his slipstream for a pull up the next hill.
Video courtesy of HW Wee
I was starting to get tunnel vision from the heat. Our next planned stop at about 80km / 50mi couldn’t come fast enough. In the center of Seremban we caught up with a group who were just getting going again after taking a break. We tailed them for a few kilometers through town. One kilometer from the start of the big climb of the day we stopped at a coffee shop and drank as much as we could. In my case, a liter of chocolate milk.
We added ice to our bidons before heading back out into the sun. And 180m / 590ft of climbing over 6km / 4mi.
By the time Mark and I had finished the climb and zoomed down the other side into Mantin, we had emptied one bidon each. We started looking for a cendol or coconut water stall as we rode through Mantin. It didn’t look promising at first, but as we were leaving town the Mantin Original Coconut Shake shop appeared on our left.
Photograph courtesy of Mark
Leslie and Mark opted for plain coconut water. Two for Mark. Leslie had one coconut water and one apple and sour plum juice. I had two apple and sour plums.
Photograph courtesy of Mark
My face was starting to match my base layer.
Never mind. Just 10km / 6mi to go. I had expected a flat run in to Kajang. But it was far from flat. Dammit! There was 213m / 700ft of climbing yet to do.
I should have paid more attention to the elevation profile. When did Beranang and Semenyih get so hilly?
It was again feeling like 40°C / 104F° as we rode those last kilometers. We were all relieved to see the Bandar Teknologi Kajang Police Station, and the mamak shop next to it.
“Can I have three iced lime juices please?”
The important thing was that everyone arrived safely. There were only minor incidents over the two days – some flat tires and a couple of shoe failures.
It was another very successful weekend of riding orchestrated by Danial AM and Johan S. Made even better of course by a fun and friendly group of fellow riders.
Thanks guys and gals. I’m looking forward to riding with you again at the next BCG Tour.
Old Roots, New Routes 