Category Archives: Cycling in Malaysia

INFINITI Drive & Ride 2017

Posted on September 16, 2017 by alchemyrider

Photographs courtesy of TopGear Malaysia magazine

A former colleague and long-time friend, Louis Foo, asked me if I could round up some cyclists to take part in the INFINITI Drive & Ride 2017. Louis is the Managing Director of Big Road Media, the publishers of TopGear Malaysia and Cycling Plus Malaysia magazines. Those magazines were collaborating with INFINITI to put on this event.

Participants would get the opportunity to ride in an INFINITI car to Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB) and back. And take a turn at the wheel. Why Kuala Kubu Bharu? Because that is the natural place to start the Ride portion of the event. Up to Fraser’s Hill and back down again.

That is why I, together with 31 other riders, ended up at the INFINITI Center in Kuala Lumpur at 5.00am.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

We were greeted by a crew which provided excellent support throughout the event. Starting with the registration of participants.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

We were each assigned a car for the day. We also received an identification tag for our bicycles. Those tags told the support crew which car we would be in, so that our bikes were in the Thule racks above us as we made the 80km / 50mi drive to KKB. Cyclists get nervous when they are separated from their bikes!

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

Registration formalities over, it was time to get a coffee and a banana, and to say hello to the other participants.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

Next on the agenda was a welcome speech by Tiffany Tan, the General Manager of Inspired Motors, and technical briefings about driving in a convoy to KKB, and about hazards along the ride route up to Fraser’s Hill.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

You learn something new everyday. On this day it was that the INFINITI logo represents “two central lines leading off into an infinite point on the horizon,” symbolizing this “luxury performance brand’s desire to be always looking forward – to new horizons, to infinity.”

Photograph courtesy of INFINITI

After the briefings, all that was left to do was to pose for some group photographs, chose drivers, and start our engines.

There was a team from the Institute Jantung Negara (National Heart Institute). If anyone were to have a cardiovascular incident, this was the time and place for it. Some of the best cardiac surgeons in the country are serious cyclists.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

Team NATO Bicycle Club were well represented.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

And there were five R@SKLs.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

Everyone squeezed together for a final photograph.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

Tiffany and Louis dropped the TopGear Malaysia flag.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

And we were away. The stars of the show were, of course, the cars.

The INFINITI Q50,

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

the INFINITI Q60,

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

And the INFINITI QX70.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

Inside each car was a walkie talkie for incoming instructions from the convoy leader. Each car also had a pre-loaded Touch & Go card for the toll booths on the North-South Highway. We also found ziploc bags full of bananas and munchies. We were in no risk of being short of calories on this ride.

Sustenance We made a quick stop at the Rawang R&R to use the toilets, and to switch drivers. It wasn’t long before the instruction came over the walkie-talkie to restart our engines, and to head back out onto the North-South Highway.

As you can see, it was a misty morning. We all hoped that the weather would be on our side, and we would have an overcast and cool ride.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

We got to the car park outside Restoran Fazlina Maju in KKB safely, albeit behind schedule. It is always difficult to get a large group to stick to a schedule.

As the support crew were pulling bikes off the Thule racks, some of us had a last minute teh tarik before putting on our cycling shoes and helmets.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

It wasn’t long before we all had our bikes, and were ready to start riding.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

Team IJN led the way.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

Then came the NATO Cycling Club.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

Team ACT were riding with us too.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

The R@SKLs were in our customary position toward the rear.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

It is a 38km / 24mi climb from KKB to the clock tower at Fraser’s Hill. We had a number of support vehicles, and an ambulance, accompanying us as we made our way to The Gap. Water and bananas were available for anyone who wanted them at the halfway point. Many of us took a breather at The Gap, which marks the start of the one-way section of road to Fraser’s Hill.

It is 7km / 4.4mi from The Gap to the clock tower. The steepest slopes of the climb are within those 7km. The lighter-bodied amongst us shot up those slopes. The more well-padded weren’t as rapid.

After getting to the clock tower – the de facto finish of the climb to Fraser’s Hill – we headed 200 meters up the road to the Shahzan Inn for brunch.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

There was a nice spread of fruit, pancakes with honey, scones with jam, roti jala with chicken curry, juice, coffee, and tea.

I hid my teh tarik from the guys at the IJN table. I don’t think teh tarik, with all its condensed milk, counts as heart-healthy.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

The NATO Cycling Club riders got to the Shahzan Inn well ahead of the R@SKLs. So they had time to relax in the garden.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

The support crew deserves a huge round of applause from all the riders. They made us feel like professional cyclists. All we had to do was ride our bikes. Everything else – food, drinks, mechanical help, etc. – was taken care of by the support crew. They were outstanding.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

There were three or four photographers amongst the support crew. Hence all the excellent shots in this blog. They pulled out their cameras for another series of group photographs at the clock tower, before we headed back down the hill.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

We weren’t photographed just with hand-held cameras. This was shot from a drone.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

Then it was time for the fun part of the ride. Woohoo!!

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

All 32 of us, and the support vehicles, got to the Restoran Fazlina Maju car park without incident. Well, almost without incident. One of the IJN riders had a crank arm come loose early in the descent, which sadly put an end to his ride. But I believe that was it for mechanicals. I don’t think anyone had a puncture.

Everyone had an excellent time. There wasn’t much traffic on the roads. And as you can see from the photographs, the weather was kind to us. It was overcast and cool the entire time we were on our bikes.

In fact the weather did give us a bit of a scare, just as we headed down the hill after brunch. It started to drizzle, right where the steepest slopes and tightest corners are. Fortunately it lasted just a few minutes. There were some damp patches further down the road, so care was required. Happily the conditions weren’t so poor that they took the fun out of the descent.

The rain may have held off while we were riding, but it was waiting for us as we drove into KL. It poured as we passed through the Jalan Duta toll plaza and onto Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim. At least our bikes got a wash!

The rain had stopped by the time we got to the INFINITI Center.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

The festivities didn’t stop though. While the support crew – they were amazing – took our bikes off the Thule racks, we were served more food inside the INFINITI showroom.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

Perhaps to ensure that we had enough energy to jump up if our name was called in the lucky draw.

Thule donated a hiking pack and a laptop pack as lucky draw prizes.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

The lucky draw marked the end of a wonderful event. Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Azhari Yakub, the CEO of IJN, stepped forward to say some words of appreciation on behalf of all the participants.

Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Azhari Yakub CEO IJN

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

I am sure I speak for all the participants when I echo Datuk Seri’s sentiments. A very big and sincere “Thank You” to Louis Foo, Tiffany Tan, Adam Aubrey, who is the editor of Cycling Plus Malaysia magazine, Eugene Wong from Thule, and not least, to all the support crew.

We all thoroughly enjoyed the INFINITI Drive & Ride.

Photograph courtesy of Cycling Plus Magazine

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Posted in Cycling in Malaysia and tagged ACT, Cycling Plus Malaysia magazine, Fraser's Hill, INFINITI Drive & Ride, Institut Jantung Negara, Kuala Kubu Bharu, NATO Cycling Club, Q50, Q60, QX70, R@SKLs, Shahzan Inn, The Gap, Thule, TopGear Malaysia magazine. Bookmark the permalink.

Independence Day Ride

Posted on September 1, 2017 by alchemyrider

BCG Bentong Merdeka

Malaysia was born on 31^st August 1957. That day Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, read the official declaration granting the Federation of Malaya independence from the British Empire.

Most years friends and I have marked Merdeka Day (Independence Day) with a bicycle ride. This year it was the BCG Merdeka Ride to Bentong.

About fifteen of us met at the Orang Asli Hospital for a 7.15am start. I got there early, hoping to have a hot drink at the small restaurant near the hospital. The restaurant was closed.

I had forgotten that it was a five-day weekend. Thursday was Merdeka Day. Friday and Saturday were public holidays for Hari Raya Haji (Eid al-Adha) And Monday had been declared a public holiday to commemorate Malaysia winning 145 gold medals out of the 225 gold medals competed for at the 2017 SEA Games, which had come to an end on 30^th August.

Traditionally Malays celebrate both Hari Raya Puasa (Eid al-Fitr) and Hari Raya Haji with family in their home towns and villages.

Which means a mass exodus from Kuala Lumpur the day before those festivals. The Karak Highway is the main road link between Kuala Lumpur and the cities and towns on the east coast of the peninsula.

We stopped near the summit of the Genting Sempah to look at the traffic on the Karak Highway.

Photograph courtesy of Danial Marzuki

This was the view of the eastbound lanes of the Karak Highway from Genting Sempah.

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

The volume of traffic on the Karak Highway prompted many to take the old road to Bentong. Jalan Gombak is usually very quiet. We cyclists typically share the road with the odd lorry, a few learner drivers, and some motorcycles. On this day there was a steady stream of cars, vans and buses heading up the road with us.

We had a nice surprise at the Genting Sempah flyover. The couple who, on weekends, set up a makeshift drinks and snacks stall out of the boot of their car, were there. Hooray!

Photograph courtesy of Vincent Chan

If you are wondering, I couldn’t find a red hibiscus, which is the national flower of Malaysia.

Photograph courtesy of Vincent Chan

We continued to share the road with a stream of vehicles on the 35km / 22mi run from Genting Sempah to Bentong. There is a section between Bukit Tinggi and Bentong where the road is badly potholed. That caused traffic to be backed up for a few kilometers.

Once past the potholes, those vehicles that we had overtaken roared past us. Only for us to overtake them again as they waited in a long queue for the traffic lights at the T-junction of Jalan Gombak and Jalan Lama Bentong – Karak. It was definitely faster by bike over the last 25km / 15.5mi to Bentong.

We had planned to eat at Lemang To’ki, home of the best lemang in Bentong. We weren’t surprised to find that Lemang To’ki was closed. So we settled for the next-best option. Roti canai, half-boiled eggs, and kaya toast.

And peanut ice cream at Kow Po Coffeeshop.

Photograph courtesy of Daniel Ng

That was the easy part over and done with. It was all uphill from Bentong back to Genting Sempah. 1,000 meters / 3,280 feet of elevation gain.

We were smiling as we rode through Bentong.

Photograph courtesy of Danial Marzuki

The climbing, and the 34° to 36° C / 93° to 97° F temperatures, wiped those smiles off our faces. By the time we got back to Genting Sempah we were gagging for cold drinks.

We gave the McDonald’s there a miss, assuming, no doubt correctly, that it would be packed with travelers taking a break from the traffic jams. The roadside stall we stopped at had run out of canned drinks, but fortunately they still had lots of ice and Sunquick.

Then it was just Hamburger Hill between us and the 16km / 10mi descent to the Orang Asli Hospital. We had to be careful. The traffic was still streaming up the hill, with some drivers cutting corners. The bus drivers were the worst culprits.

We all got down the hill safely. Tired, but glad to have done the ride in great company. I wonder where we will be riding to when Malaysia turns 61.

BP_31%_Facebk_2017

While We Can

Posted on August 28, 2017 by alchemyrider

Sunday’s R@SKLs ride was one of our standard routes. From D’Bayu in Bukit Jelutong to Rawang via the Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE) and the Kuala Lumpur – Kuala Selangor Expressway (LATAR). Breakfast in Rawang, and then back to Bukit Jelutong.

We had a wet start to the ride.

Photograph courtesy of Eugene Lee

By the time we got to Denai Alam, 8km / 5mi away, it was bone dry. Hooray.

As we approached Rawang on LATAR, we could see the elevated section of the Rawang Bypass in front of us.

Rawang Bypass Elevated Section SkyscraperCity

Photograph courtesy of SkyscraperCity

The Rawang Bypass, when open, will divert traffic travelling on Federal Route 1, between Kuala Lumpur and Serendah, away from Rawang. This will ease congestion on Jalan Rawang. It is a much-delayed project, construction having started in early 2009.

Photograph courtesy of Nazrey

Friends have posted photographs of their recent rides on the bypass. The roadway is complete, and just the finishing touches remain before the bypass is finally opened to traffic. And therefore closed to bicycles.

Over breakfast we debated riding the length of the bypass. None of us had ridden it before. We were all up for an adventure.

Getting to the bypass required crossing two lanes of Jalan Rawang. Fortunately Jalan Rawang is not very busy on Sunday mornings. The direction we came from meant that we had to ride up the wrong side of the roadway.

The construction crew didn’t bat an eye as we rode under the barrier and onto the bypass.

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

The high point of the elevated section of the bypass is 65 meters / 213 feet above the ground. It has to the clear the exit ramp, which is itself elevated, which connects LATAR to the KL-bound lanes of Jalan Rawang. and it has to pass over the Kancing forest reserve, minimizing disturbance to the green area below.

So we headed upwards.

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

And upwards. For about 4km / 2.5mi. The views are very nice, and the gradient is challenging but not excessive.

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

We were happy to get to the highest point of the elevated section.

Photograph courtesy of Kevin Chin

We had the road all to ourselves, so . . .

Rawang Bypass Kings of the Road Lee Heng Keng

Photograph courtesy of Lee Heng Keng

Rawang Bypass Kings of the Road 2 Lee Heng Keng

Photograph courtesy of Lee Heng Keng

It turned out well to be on the wrong side of the road at first, because there were a lot of workmen and equipment on the other side of the road.

Just after the elevated section the road was closed off. There were workmen paving the lanes in front of us. Fortunately there was a break in the concrete central divider, so we could cross onto the correct side of the road.

There was another short climb, and then a high-speed descent to the end of the bypass at Sungai Choh. Everyone made it back to Federal Route 1 without incident, except for one puncture.

Photograph courtesy of Lee Heng Keng

It was worth being adventurous. We all enjoyed riding the Rawang Bypass.

I propose that the R@SKLs, in the words of Steely Dan . . .

3 Comments

Posted in Cycling in Malaysia and tagged Bukit Jelutong, D'Bayu, Denai Alam, Guthrie Corridor Expressway, LATAR Expressway, Rawang Bypass. Bookmark the permalink.

Music to my Ears: Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Bluetooth Headphones

Posted on August 21, 2017 by alchemyrider

Logo courtesy of Aftershokz

Wearing earphones and listening to music while riding is one of those topics, like wearing a helmet, or the correct length for socks, that divides the cycling community.

The main argument against is that earphones block out surrounding sounds, so cyclists are less aware of aural cues like traffic noise, spoken or shouted warnings of hazards, and so on.

Proponents of listening to music whilst riding say that it can boost their ability to ride harder, faster and with more enjoyment. Others simply enjoy the escapism and motivation that listening to music can bring to a solo ride or training session.

I enjoy listening to music while I ride. I used a pair of Jaybird Bluebuds X in-ear Bluetooth headphones, until the inline controller failed.

I replaced them with Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Bluetooth headphones, which address the problem of earbuds blocking the ear canal by positioning transducers in front of your ears, rather than in the ear canal.

Using bone conduction technology, sound vibrations are transmitted directly to the inner ears via the cheekbones, bypassing the eardrums completely.

Graphic courtesy of Aftershokz

The Trekz Titaniums have been a revelation. I rate headphones for use while cycling on five criteria:

Fit / comfort
Battery life
Sound quality
Ease of use
Durability

My primary requirement for headphones is that they fit well, and are comfortable for many hours. The Trekz Titaniums do fit well. The wraparound headband, or more accurately, neckband, is flexible, and the headphones are light (36g / 1.27oz).

I wear the headphones as shown in the photograph below. I find that fitting the arms holding the transducers over the stems of my glasses helps with long-term comfort. That way, the transducers do not press so hard on your cheekbones.

Some reviewers complained that these headphones are slightly uncomfortable after prolonged use. To them I say riding a bicycle gets slightly uncomfortable after a prolonged time, unless you change hand positions, move around on the saddle and so on every now and then. Take the Trekz Titaniums off whenever you stop for a break, and discomfort will not be an issue.

Photograph courtesy of engaget.com

My second requirement for headphones is battery life. The Trek Titaniums have a claimed battery life of six hours. I have exceeded that estimate on a number of occasions.

Sound quality is my third assessment criteria. The Trekz Titaniums have enough fidelity to suit my needs. The sound quality is not brilliant, but if I wanted to enjoy the full range, definition, and subtle nuances in my music, I wouldn’t be listening to it while riding a bike.

More importantly, the bone conduction technology works as advertised. I can hear what is going on around me, and hold conversations, while these headphones are pushing music to my inner ears.

The controls for these headphones are easy to use. On the right arm are a volume up button that also serves as a power button, and a volume down button. Next to these sit a Micro USB port for charging the headphones.

Photograph courtesy of trustedreviews.com

On the outside of the right hand transducer is a multi-function button. Pressing this button once allows you to play and pause tracks, answer and reject calls, and activate Siri or Google Now voice commands.

You can also double-press it to skip forward to the next track in your playlist. Oddly, there is no capability to move backwards through your playlist, so repeating a favourite song is not an option.

Photograph courtesy of trustedreviews.com

As for durability, these headphones are well-built. The controls work reliably. Bluetooth connectivity is fast and consistent, with a range of 10 meters / 33 feet. More importantly, sweat, of which I produce a lot, and rain have not had an adverse effect. A nanotechnology coating and watertight rubber gaskets repel sweat and moisture.

The Aftershokz Trekz Titanium headphones are available in four colours, and two sizes. The Mini comes with a headband which is 4.7cm / 2ins shorter than the standard headband.

Photograph courtesy of pushys.com.au

The Aftershokz Treks Titanium Bluetooth headphones are an essential part of my cycling kit, like a helmet and spare tube. I recommend them to all my cycling buddies.

2 Comments

Posted in Cycling in Malaysia, Gear and Tools and tagged Aftershokz Trekz Titanium, Bluetooth, Bone Conduction Technology. Bookmark the permalink.

Eating Our Way to Melaka

Posted on August 21, 2017 by alchemyrider

Graphic courtesy of Johan Sopiee

Mark and I decided that it was high time to break out the Apidura saddle bags and go on an overnight bicycle trip. We chose Melaka as our destination, because it is a reasonable distance from Kuala Lumpur, the roads are generally good, and the eating along the way and in Melaka is excellent.

After some canvassing, we had a group of six. Alan and Chee Seng could not stay overnight, so their plan was to ride to Melaka, and then get to Tampin KTM station for the train back to KL. Johan S., Ridzuwan, Mark and I would spend Thursday night in Melaka.

We were all excited about the trip. Bikes and saddle bags were set up the day before, and some of us struggled to get to sleep the night before.

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

We started from where I live. We were on the MEX Highway by about 6.15am. The adrenaline levels are a bit high when riding on MEX. It is a highway after all. Though at that early hour, there isn’t much traffic leaving KL, so the riding is not too fraught.

We made a quick pit stop at the Seri Kembangan R&R.

Photograph courtesy of Alan Tan

As expected, given the wet weather of the preceding days, we got rained on as we left the R&R. Fortunately the rain wasn’t heavy, and it didn’t last long. We did have wet roads until we reached Dengkil. A benefit of the Apidura saddle bag is that it extends back far enough to block the spray coming off the rear wheel. It is like riding with a rear mud guard.

Dengkil was where our first planned food stop. There is a roadside stall on the corner of Jalan Aman and Jalan Mutiara 1J. We stop there for breakfast whenever our rides take us through Dengkil.

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

We had a visitor looking for handouts during breakfast.

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

From the Dengkil bypass we rode along the busy Putrajaya–Cyberjaya Expressway and the Nilai – KLIA Highway before turning right onto the quieter Jalan Besar Salak at Salak Tinggi.

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

Our next stop was at the Shell station in Sepang. 70km / 43.5mi done. 110km / 68mi to go. It was supposed to be a short stop for drinks and the loo, but soon after this picture was taken . . .

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

this picture was taken.

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

My front tire had gone soft while we were at the Shell station. This was the culprit.

Photograph courtesy of Alan Tan

An advantage of Two-Way Fit™ rims is that the tire bead stays locked to the rim after a puncture. A flat tire doesn’t roll off the rim. A very useful quality when you get a flat while speeding down a winding descent.

The associated disadvantage of 2-Way Fit™ rims is that it is difficult to get the tire off the rim, and even more difficult to seat the tire properly when reinflating the tube. Thank goodness for the air pump at the petrol station, which generated enough air pressure to quickly seat the tire.

Happy smiles as we finally got going again.

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

We rode out of the Shell station onto Federal Route 5, which runs along the west side of Peninsular Malaysia, from Skudai in the south to Ipoh in the north.

Our intermediate destination was Cendol Azmi in Port Dickson. Which serves some of the best cendol I have ever had. Mark and I have been there a number of times. We talked up Cendol Azmi over the 25km / 15.5mi to Port Dickson.

So imagine our collective disappointment when we go to Cendol Azmi and found it closed. What a letdown!

We settled on Sukand’s Food Station, across the road from Cendol Azmi.

Photograph courtesy of Lee Chee Seng

To Sukand’s credit, their cendol was pretty good. As was the three-layer air bandung.

Photograph courtesy of Alan Tan

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

We debated having lunch in Port Dickson, but decided to hold out until we got to Kuala Sungai Baru, across the state border in Melaka. Mark and I had eaten at Kuala Seafood during previous cycling trips to Melaka. That restaurant was a highlight every time.

We stopped to buy Cokes at Pasir Panjang, about halfway between Port Dickson and Kuala Sungai Baru. We then picked up the pace over the 20km to Kuala Seafood. 2pm had come and gone, and we were hungry.

So imagine our extreme disappointment when we got to Kuala Seafood and found it closed. What a bummer!!

There weren’t many options for food. The few restaurants in the vicinity had sold out of their lunch offerings. We settled for some mediocre fried rice, just to fill out stomachs more than anything else.

We had 40km / 25mi to go to Melaka. Alan had been talking about getting coconut shakes once we got there. Melaka is known for good coconut shakes. Alan said that Klebang Original Coconut Shake was the place. Having been disappointed twice already, we made Alan call Klebang Original Coconut Shake to make sure that it was open.

It was.

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

And the coconut shakes were good. Good enough for us to drink a second round of shakes.

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

This place is worth visiting again.

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

By the time we left Klebang Original Coconut Shake, my patched inner tube was failing. I gave it a good pump up, and Johan S., Mark, Ridzuwan and I headed to our hotel.

Alan and Chee Seng were heading back to KL that evening. They first rode to Jonker Walk and Dutch Square for obligatory tourist photographs.

Photograph courtesy of Lee Chee Seng

And a refreshing recovery beverage.

Photograph courtesy of Lee Chee Seng

The rest of us checked in to the Hallmark Crown Hotel. I had booked the hotel sight unseen. Welcome to the Internet Age! The price was right – about USD25 per night for a double occupancy room, including buffet breakfast.

We weren’t expecting much, but were pleasantly surprised when we got to our rooms. Which were clean and comfortable, and had air-conditioning and a mini-fridge which worked. Plus there was lots of hot water on the shower, and the free wifi signal was strong.

Showered and changed, we walked to the next food destination on our list. The Makko Nyonya Restaurant. Another repeat visit venue for Mark and I. Fortunately for the two of us, Makko was open!

Fried eggplant with chilli, beancurd skin rolls, cincalok omelette, chicken rendang, curry prawns with pineapple, and chendol.

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

The 180km / 112mi bike ride was worth it for this meal alone.

While we were stuffing our faces at dinner, Alan and Chee Seng had made it to Tampin, and were on the KTM Komuter train back to KL. Comfortably so.

Photograph courtesy of Lee Chee Seng

Not to be outdone in the food stakes, Alan and Chee Seng had supper in KL.

Photograph courtesy of Lee Chee Seng

On Friday morning the four of us attacked the hotel buffet breakfast. An observer would have thought that we hadn’t eaten at all the night before!

Then it was out turn for tourist photographs.

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

We had, briefly, considered cycling back to KL. Riding to Tampin and taking the train seemed like a more reasonable thing to do.

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

40km / 25mi of pedalling got us to the Pulau Sebang (Tampin) KTM station.

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

We loaded our bikes and ourselves into the last carriage of the train.

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

Two and a bit hours later, we were at the Bank Negara KTM station in KL. It is a short ride from there to where I live.

It was lunch time, so we made a side trip first, to Santa Chapati House on Jalan Sarikei. A fitting end to our two-day adventure. It was, after all, an eating trip with some cycling thrown in for variety.

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

Thank you Alan, Chee Seng, Johan S., Ridzuwan and Mark for your enjoyable company. We had a lot of laughs and good riding. To be repeated for sure.

Footnote

The graphic at the top of this post is a mashup of our coconut shakes and the logo for a anti-littering campaign which was launched by the Melaka state government in 2014. A take on the “Don’t Mess With Texas” campaign started there in 1986.

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Posted in Cycling in Malaysia and tagged Apidura, Cendol Azmi, Dengkil, Hallmark Crown Hotel, Klebang Original Coconut Shake, KTM Komuter, Kuala Seafood, Melaka, Port Dickson, Restoran Makko, Santa Chapati House, Sepang, Tampin. Bookmark the permalink.

The R@SKLs Like Penang – Day Three

Posted on August 15, 2017 by alchemyrider

The Tien Hotel was buzzing at 5.30am. R@SKLs were getting coffees and filling bottles. Pumping up tires. Filling jersey pockets with ride essentials.

At 6.10am sharp we rode down Lebuh Chulia toward the Residence carpark on the corner of Jalan Penang, where the rest of the R@SKLs were waiting. A headcount confirmed that we had twenty four riders in our group.

Local boy Lay led us over the 6km / 3.7mi from the Residence to the CFAL start line at the Youth Park. There were reportedly 3,500 participants in this ninth edition of the Campaign for a Lane.

We positioned ourselves at the back of the pack. We didn’t want to get caught up in the starting rush and crush.

Photograph courtesy of Lee Heng Keng

The excitement, or pressure, of the event must have got to some of the R@SKLs. They developed a sudden interest in the surrounding bushes.

Photograph courtesy of TH Lim

The CFAL event has developed a reputation as one of the better organised rides. The organisers get most things right. Like starting the event on time. Cyclists began pouring out of the part at 7.15am. Right on time.

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

The CFAL route has remained unchanged for a number of years now. Out of the Youth Park to Persiaran Gurney, and then clockwise roughly following the coast, down to Bayan Lepas in the south-eastern corner of the island.

Our new jerseys stood out well against the sea of purple CFAL jerseys that most of the other participants were wearing. That made staying together as a group easier.

Photograph courtesy of CK Lim

A very popular photo spot along the Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu Highway is within view of the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge, more commonly known as the Penang Second Bridge.

Photograph courtesy of Leslie Tong

It took a few tries, but we did get that bridge in the background.

We had our first proper rest stop at the Caltex station, just the other side of the Sungai Bayan Lepas, about 30km / 18.5mi into the ride. We raided the station shop for drinks and food. And queued for the toilet.

Photograph courtesy of CK Lim

From the Caltex station the route curved inland to the right for a kilometer or two, and then curved back down toward Teluk Kumbar on the coast. At Teluk Kumbar the route headed due north to the Puspakom vehicle inspection site in Kampung Tengah.

That Puspakom compound marked the start of the first of the two climbs on the CFAL route. It is about 2km / 1.2mi long, and has 115 meters / 377 feet of elevation.

Photograph courtesy of CK Lim

Everyone was looking good on the slopes.

We went past this guy on the lower slope of the climb.

Sunday AM CFAL Penny Farthing Dennis Tan

Photograph courtesy of Dennis Tan

He gave it a good effort, but it wasn’t long before he was walking his penny-farthing up the hill.

We regrouped at the bottom of the descent of Jalan Balik Pulau, where the road takes a sharp left onto state route P239 toward Pulau Betong. Once we were all together again, we cruised over the next 15km / 9.3mi to the row of shophouses opposite the Sin Min primary school.

Sunday AM Kampung Tomoe Suga.png

We stopped so that riders could buy water, 100 Plus etc. from the sundry shop there. It is a good place to stop for a rest and a drink. The small temple on the end of the row of shophouses marks the start of the second climb. This one is 4.8km / 3mi long, with an elevation of 259 meters / 850 feet.

We agreed to meet on the other side of the hill, at the Teluk Bahang Dam. Most of us know the spot, because we took photographs there the last time we rode in Penang. This is one of those photographs. We were standing on the dam.

R@SKLs Penang Day 2 Reservoir View 1 Lee Heng Keng

Photograph courtesy of Lee Heng Keng

I got to the dam first. I stopped in the shade of a tree opposite the dam, and waited for the other pink jerseys to appear.

5 minutes went by. No pink jerseys.

10 minutes went by. Still no pinks jerseys.

15 minutes went by. Aha! There is a pink jersey. Damn (pardon the pun). Not one of ours.

I started to wonder if someone had suffered a puncture, or worse, had suffered a fall.

20 minutes went by. Then a participant shouted at me as he rode past. “I think your friends are resting up the hill.”

I pedaled 300 meters back up the hill and around a corner, and there they were.

Photograph courtesy of Lee Heng Keng

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

Sprawled on the grass. Looking comfortable and relaxed.

Leslie, who wasn’t in Penang with us the last time, pulled off at this spot. Everyone else followed him, instead of continuing down to the dam.

Photograph courtesy of Lim Heng Keng

I do admit that it was a nice place to stop.

But for next time guys. This is what the dam looks like.

Sunday PM Teluk Bahang Dam

There were about 20km / 12.4mi to ride back to the Youth Park. It started raining as we got to Batu Ferringhi. Jalan Batu Ferringhi is a winding, rolling, narrow stretch of road, with a hill on one side and a drop-off to the sea on the other side. It would be a pleasant road for a bike ride, if only there wasn’t so much traffic.

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

Add rain to the mix, and the ride along Jalan Batu Ferringhi to the Penang Swimming Club is a bit stressful. Sometimes the safest place to be is in the middle of the slender lane. It can upset drivers, but it stops them trying to squeeze past you, and in the process forcing you right to the edge of the road, or worse, off the road.

The last 5km / 3mi along Jalan Tanjung Bungah is also busy with cars, lorries, and buses, but the road is wider and has a proper shoulder, so you are not riding in amongst the traffic.

It was still raining when we got to the Youth Park. 3,500 riders quickly turned sections of the grass field into a quagmire. The large marquee tent was packed with people sheltering from the rain. As I was looking for somewhere to leave my bike, I saw Husher from Meng Thai Bicycle Centre. He was manning a stall at one corner of the marquee, where he was displaying some of the Rikulau stainless steel bikes that he sells.

Husher’s stall became the area for the R@SKLs to park their bikes. It was close to the medal, water, and food pickup points.

Sunday PM CFAL Food Tomoe Suga.png

And also close to the backdrop for finisher photographs. Thank you Husher.

Photograph courtesy of Lee Heng Keng

The lucky draw was in progress as we waited for all the R@SKLs to finish and to collect their medals. I don’t think any of us expected to win a prize, although it does appear that one of us did have a winning number. Number 2276 was called. One R@SKL had number 2275, and another had number 2277. So someone in the group must have had number 2276. Oh well!

It was still raining after everyone had their medal in hand. So we decided to ride back to the hotel, rather than looking for somewhere to eat along the way. Halfway to the hotel the rain stopped. It was sunny and hot at the Tien Hotel.

Lunch was at Goh Thew Chik Hainan Chicken Rice, which is a few doors away from the Tien. Simon reserved four whole chickens for us. Two roasted, and two poached.

That wasn’t enough. It took two more chickens, and more rice, to satisfy the R@SKLs.

Lay and Leslie couldn’t join us for lunch. Their ride back to KL left Penang at 2pm. Heng Keng left for the airport right after lunch.

Others went straight from the chicken rice shop to look for dessert.

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

Those of us on evening flights were able to linger at the Tien.

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

Sunday PM Time to Relax 3 Tomoe Suga

Pai was a true team player. He brought cendol back to the hotel for those of us who were too idle to walk to the stall with him. Thank you Pai.

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

Most of the remaining R@SKLs were on an 8pm flight. Which gave them time to devour one last plate of char koay teow and oyster omelette before bidding farewell to Penang.

Photograph courtesy of Simon Soo Hu

The Hong Kong trio flew out on Monday. TH looked after them very well. Champagne even!

Photograph courtesy of TH Lim

Our bikes and bags had been loaded onto the van at 4pm. ETA at Pegasus Cycles was 10pm. Collecting our bikes marked the end of a wonderful weekend with great friends and great food, with some cycling thrown in for good measure.

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

Thank you TH and your staff for looking after us so well.

Thank you CK and Danial for providing much valued support.

Thank you R@SKLs for being excellent company.

When is our next trip?

Sunday PM Medal.png

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Posted in Cycling in Malaysia and tagged CFAL, Goh Thew Chik Hainan Chicken Rice, Jalan Batu Ferringhi, Meng Thai Bicycle Centre, Pegasus Cycles, Penang, Teluk Bahang, Tien Hotel Residence, Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu highway. Bookmark the permalink.

The R@SKLs Like Penang – Day Two

Posted on August 14, 2017 by alchemyrider

Our Penangite friends who were going to lead our Saturday morning ride, and the young chaps on motorbikes who were our outriders, were outside the Tien Hotel and ready to go at 7.15am.

It’s too bad that the R@SKLs weren’t.

The story we are sticking to is that Tomoe’s bus didn’t get onto the island until about 8am. It would have been churlish not to wait for her, after all the effort she took to get to Penang.

In truth it took us some time as a group to get organised. About twenty minutes after the agreed start time, we were finally ready for a group photograph.

Photograph courtesy of Leonard Yee

Then we rode six hundred meters (the distance sounds much more impressive when expressed in meters) to breakfast at a coffee shop on Jalan Kuala Kangsar.

There were twenty six cyclists, and four outriders. Too many to fit in the shop. So we sat in the lane behind the shop. We were perfectly comfortable, and it was easy to keep an eye on our bikes.

Photograph courtesy of CC Lim

Photograph courtesy of Kevin Chin

Photograph courtesy of Lee Heng Keng

The breakfast dish of choice was the koay teow soup.

Photograph courtesy of Lai Von Keat

The toast with butter and kaya, and the soft-boiled eggs were very good too.

After breakfast we rode a further one thousand one hundred meters to the car park outside the Residence, where we met Tomoe. And waited fifteen minutes for various R@SKLs to use the toilet.

Better late than never, as they say. By 8.45am we were heading south on the Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu Highway. We were on our way at last.

Err, not quite. This McDonald’s was a convenient spot for one last toilet stop.

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

The guys in the fluorescent vests were our outriders. They helped us the last time we rode in Penang. See R@SKLs Do Penang – Day One for details..

They did an excellent job for us this time too. With an added weapon. One of the guys has outfitted his motorbike with a horn which would do a container truck proud. We all nearly jumped out of our skins the first time he blasted that klaxon!

We took a short diversion off the Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu Highway and onto Persiaran Bayan Indah. A popular photo stop on Persiaran Bayan Indah is where you can get Pulau Jerejak in the background.

Photograph courtesy of Lee Heng Keng

The main destinations for our Saturday morning ride, apart from coffee shops and restaurants, were the Snake Temple, and the Kek Lok Si Temple. We got to the Snake Temple first, about 22km / 14mi into the ride.

Saturday AM Snake Temple 1 Lai Voon Keat

Photograph courtesy of Lai Voon Keat

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

Photograph courtesy of Lai Voon Keat

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

The temple is known for its namesake snakes, in this case a variety of pit vipers.

Saturday AM Snake Temple Snake Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Simon Soo Hu

As we left the Snake Temple, one of our Penangite friends, Dennis, told me that we would soon be on a climb. He then asked if the R@SKLs would be okay to climb about 500 meters to 1km / 0.3 to 0.6mi of “quite steep” slopes.

“No problem” I replied.

Photograph courtesy of Chan via Dennis Tan

I owe the R@SKLs an apology. As you can see, “quite steep” was actually very steep in places. And the climb was longer than advertised. 2.5km / 1.5mi, with 167 meters / 548 feet of elevation.

That climb claimed one victim. Voon Keat’s rear derailleur.

Photograph courtesy of Lai Voon Keat

Fortunately our outriders knew just where to go to get a replacement installed. Voon Keat was up and running again by the time we finished lunch.

We regrouped to catch our breath at the Petronas station at the bottom of the descent of Jalan Paya Terubong. If a shot of RON 97 would have helped me recover, I would have been in the queue behind Ralf.

Photograph courtesy of Leonard Yee

More preferable refreshment was available 2km / 1.2mi down the road, at Serrena’s business premises. She kindly laid on a variety of cold liquids for us.

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

Saturday AM Serena Refreshment Tomoe Suga

Saturday AM Serena Refreshment Lee Heng Keng

Photograph courtesy of Lee Heng Keng

We needed the drinks and the breather. Less than 3km / 1.9mi further on was the start of the ascent to the Kek Lok Si Temple.

First we had to negotiate Jalan Pasar, or Market Street. It is an aptly named road. Both sides of the road are lined with market stalls that make up the Air Itam market. We were competing with pedestrians, cars, and buses for what little road space there was.

Sometimes you just had to stop and wait for an opening to ride through. The riders who faced fewer blockages waited at the junction of Jalan Pasar and Jalan Balik Pulau for the others.

Saturday AM Ready to Attack Kek Lok Si Hill Martin Lee

Photograph courtesy of Martin Lee

We were aiming for the base of the Kek Lok Si pavilion and the pagoda, 90 meters / 295 feet above where we regrouped.

Saturday AM Kek Lok Si Arne Müseler www.arne-mueseler.de

Photograph courtesy of Arne Müseler at http://www.arne-mueseler.de

We all got there!

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

Photograph courtesy of Dennis Tan

Photograph courtesy of Kevin Chin

It is a spectacular temple complex. The bronze statue of the Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin, is 30.2 meters / 99 feet high.

Photograph courtesy of Lee Heng Keng

The view from up there isn’t too shabby either.

Saturday AM Kek Lok Si View Lee Heng Keng

Photograph courtesy of Lee Heng Keng

As we were about to leave the Kek Lok Si Temple, those dark clouds started delivering their payload. The rain made the descent – 18.5% gradient in places – rather tricky.

Everyone got down without incident. The rain was getting heavier, so there were no complaints when we were ushered into the Sin Yong Wah coffeeshop for a Penang speciality. Asam Laksa.

Asam Laksa is made with mackerel soup, and its main distinguishing feature is the asam or tamarind which gives the soup a sour taste. The fish is poached and then flaked. Other ingredients that give asam laksa its distinctive flavour include lemongrass, galangal, and chilli. Typical garnishes include mint, pineapple slices, thinly sliced onion, ginger flower, and petis or haε-ko, a thick sweet prawn paste.

Saturday AM Sin Yong Wah Coffee Shop Assam Laksa Kevin Chin

Photograph courtesy of Kevin Chin

Our Penangite guides know their food. The asam laksa at the Air Itam market is rated amongst the best on the island.

Their char koay teow is pretty good too!

Saturday AM Sin Yong Wah Coffee Shop Char Koay Toew Tomoe Suga

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

We sat at Sin Yong Wah for an hour. Not because we were stuffing our faces the entire time mind you. The rain got heavier and heavier as we ate.

Saturday PM Sin Yong Wah Coffee Shop Rain 2

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C. Pai

The rain didn’t let up. So we ordered tea and coffee, and waited. And waited. And waited. Eventually the rain eased a bit. It didn’t look like it was going to stop anytime soon, so we headed out and rode the very wet 12km / 7.5mi back to the hotel.

We had the Tien staff chasing after us with towels to wipe up the water we left behind as we splashed our way up the stairs and into our rooms for a shower and some dry clothes.

It is a good thing we had the Tien Hotel and Residence all to ourselves. I don’t think any non-cyclists would have been impressed with our use of the space!

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

Pretty soon it was time for tea and nyonya cakes.

Photograph courtesy of Martin Lee

And some vino by the pool after the rain stopped.

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

While we were getting rained on at lunch, Leslie, Lay and Philip were getting rained on as well. They had been riding from Ipoh, where they had spent Friday night, after eight hours in the saddle from KL. At 3pm they hit heavy rain, which persisted for the hour that it took for them to get to the ferry terminal at Butterworth. Fortunately the rain stopped by the time they were on the ferry to the island. They were on track to be at the hotel by about 5.30pm.

Photograph courtesy of Leslie Tong

It is hard to believe, but by 6.30pm we were hungry, and ready for dinner. It was threatening to rain again, but we risked it and walked the 1km / 0.6mi to Auntie Gaik Lean’s.

The restaurant is housed in what used to be a jewelry shop. The safe door is still in place at the back of the shop.

Saturday PM Auntie Gaik Lean's Safe Door Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C. Pai

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

Saturday PM Auntie Gaik Lean's 2 Tomoe Suga

The nyonya food? Delicious!

The R@SKLs? Happy!

Saturday PM Auntie Gaik Lean's Kevin Chin

Photograph courtesy of Kevin Chin

Perhaps a bit too happy. I suspect we were too loud for some of the other patrons in Gaik Lean’s that evening. They can’t deny that we had ourselves a good time though.

It was drizzling when we left the restaurant. Some of us walked anyway. I certainly needed some gentle exercise after all that I ate.

I was stuffed, happy and ready for bed by the time I got back to the hotel. Others, however, went out for supper later that night. I don’t know where they put more food.

The R@SKLs staying at the Tien Hotel planned to met the others at the Residence car park at 6.15am. We would then ride as a group to the Youth Park for the start of the CFAL event.

We would have to be up before this guy.

Saturday PM Kek Lok Si View Rooster.png

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Posted in Cycling in Malaysia and tagged Air Itam Market, Asam Laksa, Auntie Gaik Lean's, Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang, Sin Yong Wah, Snake Temple, Tien Hotel Residence. Bookmark the permalink.

The R@SKLs Like Penang – Day 1

Posted on August 14, 2017 by alchemyrider

A well-earned reputation for great food, and a very good annual cycling event, make Penang an attractive destination in August each year.

The R@SKLs started planning the trip to this year’s Campaign for a Lane (CFAL), at the end of May. First a WhatsApp chat group for interested R@SKLs was created. By early June sixteen of us had registered for the event (thank you Simon), and we had booked accommodation at the Tien Hotel-Residence (thank you TH).

By July flight reservations had been made, and a van to transport bicycles had been booked. We had also ordered a new jersey, to be debuted at CFAL.

Photograph courtesy of CK Lim

By early August a cycling itinerary for Saturday had been agreed, and a dinner venue for that evening had been confirmed. The R@SKLs were set for another Penang adventure.

The action started last Friday Friday morning, when fifteen bikes and assorted bags were loaded into the van for the trip to Penang.

Friday AM Van Loaded Start.png

The day had started even earlier for Leslie and Lay, who together with their friend Philip, were cycling from Kuala Lumpur to Penang.

Photograph courtesy of Leslie Tong

The next to start their travels were probably Ralf, Voon Keat and Aaron. They flew to Penang from Hong Kong.

Friday PM Hong Kong Team Arrival Lai Voon Keat

Photograph courtesy of Lai Voon Keat

Three colourful bike cases, and their owners, got to Penang around midday.

Most likely starting their travels at about the same time as the Hong Kong trio were Martin and CC, who drove to Penang. This is Martin and his son, and of course a bike, just about to start the drive.

Photograph courtesy of Martin Lee

Danial and CK drove as well, but they weren’t leaving until Saturday.

The rest of the R@SKLs had to get to the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang for evening fights. Which proved more difficult than anticipated for some. Rain made the Friday evening crawl even worse than usual.

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

Luanne made it to the airport just in time for her flight.

Tomoe did not. Nevertheless, she was determined to ride with us on Saturday morning, so she caught the midnight bus to Penang.

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

Meanwhile, the early arrivals wasted no time getting stuck into the famous Penang food.

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Martin Lee

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

And a bottle or two.

Photograph courtesy of Simon Soo Hu

Thomas, Zulfa and I were on a much-delayed flight, so we were the last to arrive. The Tien Hotel was a welcome sight at midnight.

As was the newly-opened Residence, which was home to twelve R@SKLs, including Thomas.

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

Some stayed up late for a last glass of wine. Most called it a night at about 12.30am. The aim was to start riding at 7.15am.

Friday PM Dreaming

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Posted in Cycling in Malaysia and tagged CFAL, Penang, Tien Hotel Residence. Bookmark the permalink.

I Hope I Don’t Get One Tonight

Posted on August 8, 2017 by alchemyrider

S Thailand Tour 2 SICR With 5km to go Marco

Rotary KL to Teluk Intan First Flat Cher Weng Chun

Rotary Teluk Intan to KL Hotel Flat Yap Fatt Lam

R@SKLs Penang Day 1 First Flat Spectators Lee Heng Keng

R@SKLs Penang Day 2 Lifesaver Hsing C Pai

A flat tire. What a buzzkill!

Most cyclists are prepared for a flat. All cyclists hope that they don’t get one. The odds are against us though. Flat tires are inevitable. It is not a case of “if,” but “when.”

On rare occasions inner tubes have manufacturing defects. This causes tubes to split along a seam, or tear at the junction with the valve. There is not much you can do to prevent inner tube failures.

A self-inflicted inner tube failure is the pinch flat, also known as a snake bite.

Puncture Pinch Flat

A pinch flat most commonly occurs when you run over something that causes the tire to deform enough that the inner tube is squashed against the wheel rim. This puts two small holes in the inner tube, at the pinch points.

I said ‘self inflicted’ because pinch flats are much more likely to occur with under-inflated tires. Bike tires leak over time. You will need to add more air from time-to-time to maintain the proper pressure. Run your tires too soft, and you will be snake bit.

I have been guilty of doing this. I like to run my tires at between 80psi and 90psi. Softer tires means a more comfortable ride. I have let my tires get too soft, with predictable results.

In most cases flats happen because you ran over something sharp. Roads are littered with sharp objects.

Bits of glass, either from broken bottles or shattered windscreens, are usually visible. If you see it in time, you can avoid running over glass. Unless you are riding at night, which is when I picked up this chunk.

Puncture Glass

Small stones are less visible. It is worth examining your tires after every ride to remove any sharp stones stuck in the tread. Before they work their way through the tire and into the inner tube.

Puncture Flint 2

Then there are the pointy things which are invisible while you are riding. So small that a thorough search is often needed before you find the offending object, embedded in your tire.

The majority of my flats are caused by staples or Michelin wire. Those fine bits of steel wire on the right come from steel-belted radial tires, which were invented by Monsieur Michelin. Hence the name.

Given that most flat tires are caused by essentially invisible road debris. there is little you can do to avoid them. Even “puncture proof” tires are not 100% resistant to being pierced by staples, Michelin wire and the like.

So learn how to repair a flat tire, and carry tire levers, a spare tube, and a pump or CO² inflator on your rides.

And be thankful that we don’t have these in Malaysia.

Puncture Goathead Thorns

Anatomy of an Adrenaline Rush

Posted on July 27, 2017 by alchemyrider

Illustration courtesy of De Wallen Industry

Cycling is a safe activity, posing little risk either to cyclists themselves or to other road users. The degree of risk assumed by cyclists depends on a variety of factors: where they are riding, the condition of the road surface, the speed they are riding (especially on descents), the condition of their bikes, how visible they are at night, and so on.

Kuala Lumpur is a relatively safe place to cycle, even in the city center.

Illustration courtesy of Lucas Varela (FT Magazine)

Accidents involving cyclists do happen though. Sometimes fatal ones. So my friends and I do what we can to stay away from dangerous situations. They cannot be avoided entirely however, for example when crossing junctions. With proper care, those can be negotiated safely.

Nevertheless, there is one place along a popular route where the risk level rises significantly. This is before and after the Persiaran Kewajipan intersection on the KESAS highway from Kota Kemuning toward Subang Jaya. There are in fact three danger points to be negotiated during that 2km / 1.2mi stretch. There is no motorcycle lane along that stretch, so cyclists have to ride on the highway.

Map courtesy of Google

The first danger point comes 400 meters / 1,300 feet after the motorcycle lane ends, and we are spat out onto the highway.

A lane of traffic filters down onto the highway from the left. We cyclists have to hold our line while watching for vehicles cutting across from left to right. At this point we are already riding in the middle of the highway, with three lanes to our left, and three lanes to our right.

Map courtesy of Google

The second danger point immediately follows. We have to switch our attention to our right. We must watch for traffic merging from the right and moving into the three exit lanes on our left. That is the most adrenaline-inducing section, because the traffic approaching from behind and to our right is travelling at highway speeds. The speed limit there is 90kph / 65mph, but some vehicles are moving faster.

Our strategy is to ride together as one group, in double-file, and as fast as we can, along that section. Fortunately it is slightly downhill, and we can spin up to about 60kph / 37mph. The adrenaline rush helps as well!

Map courtesy of Google

We then get a rest as the highway separates from the off-ramp, and we can roll along the road shoulder under the Persiaran Kewajipan overpass. The shoulder is wide, and we can ride a few yards to the left of traffic.

We have about 500 meters / 1,600 feet to catch our breath. Then we have to cross the two lanes of traffic coming from the left down the ramp from Persiaran Kewajipan onto KESAS.

There is about 200 meters / 660 feet for us to get over to the far left and back onto the safety of the motorcycle lane.

Map courtesy of Google

It is an unavoidable gauntlet for anyone riding from the west of Bandar Sunway towards Bukit Jalil. We have ridden that section many times, and have, so far, been lucky. No near misses.

I have ridden that section alone. Which raises the adrenaline level even more. I make sure that I am as visible as possible. Bright clothes, flashing lights, and an arm waving in the air. I also make sure that I get there before dark. Riding that section of KESAS at night would really be tempting fate.

We seal our fate

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Posted in Cycling in Malaysia and tagged Accident, Bandar Sunway, KESAS, Kota Kemuning, Persiaran Kewajipan, Risk, Safety. Bookmark the permalink.

Old Roots, New Routes

Category Archives: Cycling in Malaysia

INFINITI Drive & Ride 2017

Independence Day Ride

While We Can

Music to my Ears: Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Bluetooth Headphones

Eating Our Way to Melaka

Footnote

The R@SKLs Like Penang – Day Three

The R@SKLs Like Penang – Day Two

The R@SKLs Like Penang – Day 1

I Hope I Don’t Get One Tonight

Anatomy of an Adrenaline Rush

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