Author Archives: alchemyrider

BRM200 Pink Ride 3.0

We opened out 2020 account with the 200km Pink Ride from Nilai to Port Dickson and back. As with the 2019 Pink Ride, a number of R@SKLs had never ridden that far before.

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IIUM Endu-ride 2020

For reasons that I don’t recall, a small group of us rode 280km over two days from Kuantan to Gombak. We pedaled just over 230km on the first day.

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We Are Coming, Paul

COVID-19 restrictions meant that our next long ride was not until June. As soon as the interstate travel ban was lifted, we cycled to Port Dickson. PL and his brother SL hosted us in their beachfront apartments.

The next day we rode to Seremban and took the KTM Commuter the rest of the way.

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Murals in KL

ZT led us on a city ride to see the murals in downtown Kuala Lumpur. With a nice coffee break, of course.

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This Could Become a Habit

There was a long weekend at the end of July. Port Dickson was again the destination. This time the Sungai Pelek ferry was running.

We again took the train from Seremban to Kuala Lumpur the next day. We got there in time for brunch.

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Addio Kieren

The world was opening up in August. KO had been summoned back to work in Italy. His last ride with us was a wet one to Jugra.

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Audax BRM300

HCP and I were the only two R@SKLs crazy enough to do this 300km within twenty hours ride. Walking included 😅.

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Penang with the R@SKLs in 2020 – Day 1

Travel restrictions came and went. We grabbed the chance to ride and eat our way to Penang in September. Day One was from Tanjung Malim to Kampar.

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Penang with the R@SKLs in 2020 – Day 2

On Day Two we rode to Taiping. SSH took us to a very nice seafood restaurant for dinner.

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Penang with the R@SKLs in 2020 – Day 3

Rain on the way to Penang did not dampen our spirits. It was time to party once we got to Tien Hotel Residence and Tien Terrace.

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Penang with the R@SKLs in 2020 – Day 4

This was the first year after many where there was no organised round-island ride. The R@SKLs did one anyway. And partied some more that evening.

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Penang with the R@SKLs in 2020 – Day 5

Sunday was a hiking day for those who woke up early enough. As well as the day for many to head home.

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Penang with the R@SKLs in 2020 – Days 6 to 8

HCP and I – the crazy ones – rode back to Kuala Lumpur from Monday to Wednesday. We both needed big meals after the ride to Kampar on Tuesday. We visited P’s friends at Taiwan Fructose (M) Sd. Bhd. on Wednesday.

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That was the last ride I wrote about in 2020.

Change

2021 started badly. There were restrictions on how far one could cycle. Inter-state travel has been off the cards for a long time. Inter-district travel has been curtailed too. This ride happened in one of those brief windows when inter-district travel was allowed.

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We are all desperate to add to the R@SKLs riding history. It could be a long wait yet.

Kuala Lumpur to Penang: Day 1

Seven of us did a train plus bike trip to Penang in October.

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Kuala Lumpur to Penang: Day 2

This trip included drawing lots to see who would drive the support vehicle. You can guess who lost on this day.

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Kuala Lumpur to Penang: Day 3

We had a bit of an adventure on our ride from Taiping to Penang.

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Pantai Merdeka with the R@SKLs

Twenty other R@SKLs drove or flew to the island. Our Penangite friends led a morning ride up the Kedah coast.

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TCCP 2019

The annual CFAL ride was renamed Toward Cycling City Penang for 2019. It was the same round-island route with two new extensions.

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The Germans visit Malaysia Part 1

The big event of 2019 was our German friends visiting Malaysia. They had been excellent hosts when some R@SKLs rode with them in 2018. It was time to reciprocate.

Food on Friday after they had checked in to the hotel. A ride to Jugra on Saturday.

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A city ride and more food on Sunday.

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The Germans visit Malaysia Part 2

Monday was sightseeing in Melaka and a party hosted by LY.

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The main event started on Tuesday. The first leg was a ride from Tanjung Malim to Simpang Pulai. TH organised a very nice dinner in Ipoh.

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The real ride was the next day. Simpang Pulai to Brinchang. With a barbecue dinner and lots of wine, again thanks to TH.

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The Germans visit Malaysia Part 3

We visited the Boh tea plantation in the morning of Day Seven. The Germans and some R@SKLs then drove to Penang. The other R@SKLs headed back to KL.

The evening ended with more local delights for the Germans.

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The sights, sounds and tastes of Penang on Day Eight.

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The Germans’ last ride in Penang was around the island. The ride included an extended stop at The Hard Rock Cafe and a dip in the sea.

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The final day was all about getting our guests safely onto their flights home.

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Through the Paddy Fields

The Germans were all safely back home. We rode through the paddy fields of Sekinchan to close out November.

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Bentong – Raub Golden Ride V2

This was our last organised ride. I.e. a ride with an entry fee, closed roads etc.

Where has this guy gone?

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A Half Dozen to Port Dickson and Back

The last ride for 2019 was an overnight jaunt to Port Dickson and back.

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That is a wrap for 2019.

Movember Charity Fun Ride

It was a wet Saturday morning, but seventy or so people turned up in support of this charity ride.

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To Melaka for the night

Six of us rode from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka. Those coconut shakes at Klebang were good!

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The short way home

We did a short tour of the usual tourist sites before riding to Tampin to catch the KTM Commuter train.

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The R@SKLs Ride to Cameron Highlands Anew

We closed out 2018 with a night in Simpang Pulai and the King of Mountain ride to Cameron Highlands the next day.

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BRM200 Pink Ride 2.0

We started 2019 with the Audax 200 ride from Kota Kemuning to Port Dickson and back. It was the first 200km ride for a number of the R@SKLs.

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The R@SKLs at the CIMB Cycle 2019

The third CIMB ride was in April. I remember heat. I remember headwinds.

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Teluk Intan with the R@SKLs

Another of our annual “must do” rides. Overnight to Teluk Intan. This time combined with train rides.

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Merdeka 2019

A city ride to commemorate Independence Day.

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A Scenic Ride to Morib

This was one of our first Morib rides which started from Restoran Al-Arefin Bistro in Rimbayu.

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Repsol Fellowship Ride 2019

September was a bad month for haze in peninsular Malaysia. Outdoor events had been cancelled in the weeks leading up to this ride. The haze lifted enough for the ride to proceed, albeit over a shortened distance.

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In the next instalment – the seven rides we squeezed into the fourth quarter of 2019.

CFAL 2018: Food Hunt

One of the highlights of the year is the long weekend in Penang. We liked the PKKT escort. Jalan Tun Sardon? Not so much.

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CFAL 2018: Beach Party

Partay!!!!!

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CFAL 2018: Round Island Ride

More than twenty of us lined up for the 10^th CFAL.

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Tanjung Sepat for Congee

The last time we rode to Tanjung Sepat we were given samples of the congee served at the Hai Yew Hin coffeeshop. We rode back for more.

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Double Birthday Ride

August closed with a combination Merdeka Day and DL’s birthday ride.

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The R@SKLs got soaked on the way back from Morib

I took an enforced break from cycling while some R@SKls cavorted around Germany. This was our first ride back together again.

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Movember Recce Ride

Confirming the route for the Pegasus Cycles charity ride in aid of the Movember Foundation.

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Taiwan Ti Bike Pickup Trip: Prologue

We had so much fun in Taiwan in April that we had to do it again.

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Taiwan Ti Bike Pickup Trip: Day 1

The early arrivals had a ride on the excellent Taipei bike paths.

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Taiwan Ti Bike Pickup Trip: Day 2

With the group all present and accounted for, we rode to Jiaoxi.

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Taiwan Ti Bike Pickup Trip: Day 3

Beautiful coast line, the Caoling Tunnel and the climbs to the Buyanting and Wufenshan.

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Taiwan Ti Bike Pickup Trip: Day 4

I’m not sure which was better. The visit to the Taipei International Bicycle Show or our lunch at Addiction Aquatic Development

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The remainder of 2018 and into 2019 next.

The R@SKLs get fried

This is April 2018. We are home from our Taiwan adventure. Back into the heat and humidity of Malaysia.

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Chamang Waterfall with the R@SKLs

We rode toward water again. With rain in the air. On wet roads.

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The R@SKLs Birthday Ride for TH

A special day for one of the stalwarts of the R@SKLs.

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Look for the next instalment and read about the rest of this R@SKL visit to Penang.

We are in December 2017. Many bikes had bearings serviced after the wet wet wet wet days in Southern Thailand. In time for the following weekend’s trip to Simpang Pulai.

The R@SKLs Ride to Cameron Highlands

This was an organised event that most of us “ghost” rode because we missed the registration cutoff date.

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Geometric Progression Weekend

2017 ended with a small group riding on Friday from Tampin to Melaka for a guided food tour courtesy of AA. Saturday took us to Port Dickson. Then back to Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, together with four other R@SKLs whom we met at Morib.

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Seven R@SKLs Ride to Teluk Intan

2018 opened with a weekend ride to Teluk Intan and back. These are the only photographs needed.

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トモエスガのお別れライド *

* The Farewell Ride for Tomoe Suga

47 cyclists rode to the lighthouse at Bukit Jugra.

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Not Your Usual Sunday Ride

Swarms of bees caused a lot of worry.

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The R@SKLs in Taiwan: Day 1

What a trip! Click the links for all the details.

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The R@SKLs in Taiwan: Day 2

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The R@SKLs in Taiwan: Day 3

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The R@SKLs in Taiwan: Day 4

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The R@SKLs in Taiwan: Day 5

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The R@SKLs in Taiwan: Day 6

We are only in April 2018. There is plenty more to come.

A bit like trying to herd cats

Another ride from Kota Kemuning to Morib to start this set of rides. The R@SKLs joined the Bangsar Cycling Group for this ride. More than forty of us in all.

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The R@SKLs Like Penang – Day 1

August. Time for a long weekend in Penang around the Campaign for a Lane ride. No van breakdown this time. Visitors from Hong Kong. The outrider boys.

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The R@SKLs Like Penang – Day Two

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The R@SKLs Like Penang – Day Three

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While We Can

It is hard to believe that it is four years since we rode on the Rawang Bypass. I wonder if we will ever do it again.

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INFINITI Drive & Ride 2017

Fraser’s Hill in style. A ride in a brand new INFINITI car to Kuala Kubu Bharu and back. Support vehicles and an ambulance accompanying us on the climb to the Fraser’s Hill clock tower. Brunch in the Shahzan Inn. Very nice.

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Avillion Coastal Ride 2017

September is Port Dickson time. Specifically for the Avillion event. A small group of us this time.

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R@SKLs in the Rain

November is monsoon time in Malaysia. We had a weekend of wet rides. We didn’t know it at the time, but this was just a prelude for what was to come.

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R@SKLs in Southern Thailand: Day 1

Southern Thailand gets the monsoon as well! Who knew? Four very wet but fun days on our bikes. And a birthday to celebrate too.

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R@SKLs in Southern Thailand: Day 2

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R@SKLs in Southern Thailand: Day 3

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R@SKLs in Southern Thailand: Day 4

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2017 is not quite done. Watch out for Part 3.

Essentially confined to barracks for the duration of the current lockdown, I have entertained myself by looking at my previous blog posts. A lot of those posts are about rides with the R@SKLs. Here are summaries of those rides, with photographs and links to the relevant posts.

HCL introduced me to his R@SKL friends after the 2016 Campaign for a Lane ride in Penang. A meeting I will remember for the “lost pedal” incident.

The Replacement Melaka International Century Ride 2016

My first ride with the R@SKLs was in October that year. The Melaka Century ride had been cancelled at the last minute. Our hotel bookings were non-refundable. We decided to go to Melaka anyway and ride from there to Muar and back.

Note: I do get asked if my blog is about cycling or about food. The photograph above may understate the importance the R@SKLs put on good food and drink relative to cycling 😄.

CIMB Cycle @ Seri Menanti 2017

A couple of the R@SKLs worked for CIMB, a leading ASEAN universal bank headquartered in Kuala Lumpur. Probably why we agreed to drive 120km to the start, ride 120km and drive 120km home.

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R@SKLs do Bentong

Hospital Orang Asli to Bentong and back. About 140km and 2,450 metres of elevation. There is nothing more to say.

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R@SKLs Do Morib

When we need a flat route, the ride from Kota Kemuning to Morib fits the bill.

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R@SKLs at the NST C-Cycle Challenge 2017

Two things stand out for me from this 160km ride. The fright we had, and the question “Was I awesome?”

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R@SKLs Do Penang – Prelude

The Tien Hotel Residence was about to open its doors to the public. The R@SKLs were invited to give the place a pre-launch test drive.

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R@SKLs Do Penang – Day One

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R@SKLs Do Penang – Day Two

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R@SKLs do Fraser’s Hill

We did a lot of riding in June. This one was from Kuala Kubu Bharu to Fraser’s Hill.

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R@SKLs Revisit Morib

After the previous weekend’s climb to Fraser’s Hill we opted for the flat roads to Morib. We didn’t think about the climb to Jugra lighthouse.

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Check back for Part 2.