R@SKLs Revisit Morib

After last weekend’s ascent of Fraser’s Hill, the R@SKLs opted for a route where the only climbing required was over the bridge across the South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE), and over the bridge across the Langat River.

Well, that was the plan.  A plan that was later amended – see below.

Alfred wins the prize again for being the most eager R@SKL.  He was at our starting point, Restoran BR Maju, at 6.15am.

Photograph courtesy of Alfred Chan

By the appointed start time of 7.15am, we had a peloton of twenty five.

Photograph courtesy of KK Yee

The day had started out wet in many parts of KL.  The rain had already passed over Kota Kemuning, so we had cool and dry conditions.  22°C / 72°F at the start.

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

It took a while for the group to get organized on the road.  We regrouped after crossing the SKVE.

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

Then it was onto the very pleasant backroads through Kampung Seri Cheeding.

Photograph courtesy of KK Yee

Photograph courtesy of KK Yee

As you would expect of a group of twenty five, we soon split into smaller groups.  Namely the insane and very fast, the slightly mad and moderately fast, and the mentally balanced and reasonably paced.

So it was no surprise that there were time gaps between the groups as we arrived in Morib.

Photograph courtesy of KK Yee

We all got there safely though.

Photograph courtesy of Daniel Lim

Top of mind for everyone was food and drink.  This being the fasting month, all the stalls at the beachside food court were closed.  So we went to the small food shop across the road and next to a temple.

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

It was still relatively cool when we got going again forty minutes later.  27°C / 81°F.  We were blessed with very nice cycling weather.

10km / 6mi later we were at the T-junction with Jalan Bukit Jugra.  There are two lighthouses on Bukit Jugra:  a colonial era tower, and a shorter  25 metre concrete tower built in 1976, with lighting systems to facilitate navigation in the Straits of Melaka.  The lighthouses stand out in clear relief against the sky.

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

Every ride to Morib elicits the question “Shall we do the Jugra climb?”

It is 1km / 0.6mi from the base of the hill to the lighthouses.  Including the not insignificant matter of 109 meters / 358 feet of elevation.  It is a climb with gradients that hit 20% in places.

Hence, the answer to the question above is invariably “no,” and we turn right at the T-junction, away from the hill.

This time we turned left at the T-junction.  Initially as a joke.  Having ridden the 1.5km / 1mi to the base of the hill, some decided that, since they were there, that they might as well give the climb a go.

Others waited in the shade.

Photograph courtesy of Lee Heng Keng

Where they were entertained by Meng’s trials with his tire.

Photograph courtesy of Ong Peng Hong

Those who rode up to the lighthouses were rewarded with the sweeping views over the Langat River.  And sore legs!

The descent was negotiated with great care.  Rims and brake discs were very hot by this point.

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

We had about 40km / 25mi left to ride back to Kota Kemuning.  The group stayed together for most of that distance, pedalling at an average of just below 30kph / 18.6mph.

Once we got to Rimbayu, the faster riders pulled ahead, and the group got stretched out over the last 5km / 3mi.  The lone casualty was Kelin, who got lost.  When he called for directions, I hindered rather than helped him.  I misunderstood where he was, and gave him directions that sent him off on a course that took him further from, rather than closer to, Restoran BR Maju.

As is often the case, Daniel came to the rescue.

Photograph courtesy of Daniel Lim

We all enjoyed the ride, the weather (although it was pushing 34°C / 93°F when we finished), and the company.

More importantly, Alfred accomplished his first 100km / 62mi ride.  Congratulations Alfred!  Here is your next challenge.

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga