Kampung Seri Cheeding | Old Roots, New Routes

A bit like trying to herd cats

Posted on July 17, 2017 by alchemyrider

Graphic courtesy of jkstalent.com

The Bangsar Cycling Group organised a Sunday ride from Kota Kemuning to Morib. I suggested that they use the route that the R@SKLs ride to get to Morib. It avoids the heavily-trafficked and poorly surfaced Jalan Klang Banting, except for 4.5km / 2.8mi stretch from Jenjarom to Jalan Bandar Lama.

None of the BCGers knew that route. That is how I ended up leading the BCG ride.

Coincidentally, the R@SKLs were also riding from Kota Kemuning to Morib on Sunday. They were starting from their usual meeting point, Restoran BR Maju. The BCG were starting from their usual meeting point, McDonald’s. So I arranged for both groups to meet at Bandar Rimbayu, so that we could all do the ride together.

Both groups got to Bandar Rimbayu, as planned, at 7.30am. There were forty two riders in all, including the cameraman for this shot.

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

From the left:

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

I set off at the head of this large group of riders, leading them through Bandar Rimbayu and onto the bridge over the SKVE.

Photograph courtesy of Shafiq Khairy

As we rolled off the bridge I was still at the head of the group, riding at approximately the advertised moving speed of 29kph / 18mph.

Photograph courtesy of Shafiq Khairy

Just as I felt a sense of control over the group, my illusion was shattered. Riders shot off ahead of me, clearly more interested in testing their legs than sticking to 29kph. Oh well!

Photograph courtesy of Winston Wong

To no one’s surprise, the faster riders missed the right turn at Kampung Seri Cheeding. Mobile phones to the rescue. A few back-and-forth calls, and Google map consultations, and everyone was reunited 15km / 9mi later at the junction of Jalan Bukit Jugra and Jalan Jeti. Google maps didn’t warn of this road hazard though.

Photograph courtesy of Wee Hwee Wang

As usually happens, there was some talk of climbing Bukit Jugra. I thought that first getting some food and drink at Morib was the way to go. And that was what we did.

It was about 10.30am, and getting hot, by the time we left Morib for the homeward leg.

Photograph courtesy of Shafiq Khairy

The R@SKLs left a bit before the BCGers, and they headed straight back to Kota Kemuning. Some of the BCGers were determined to climb Bukit Jugra. Which is why we ended up here.

Photograph courtesy of Shafiq Khairy

Some, probably wisely, elected to wait at the bottom of the hill. Those who braved the up to 17° gradients were rewarded with views of the Langat River from the lookout point.

Photograph courtesy of Shafiq Khairy

And the added treat of watching a paraglider launch himself off the slope.

Photograph courtesy of backpackerzmag.com

We probably spent a bit too long up on the hill. I had expected that we would be back at Kota Kemuning at about noon. It was 11.30am by the time we all got going again from the base of Bukit Jugra. There was 45km / 28mi, and a cendol stall, between us and Kota Kemuning.

Any thoughts of skipping the cendol stall were dispelled by the 34°C / 93°F temperature. The heat, and the distance, were starting to affect some riders, so a stop for a cold drink and a rest was well worth it.

And then the punctures started. First at the cendol stall, when a tube spontaneously popped. Then 5km / 3mi later. A further 5km and it was my turn. I rode over a rock. Eight of us clustered in the shade under a tree in someone’s front garden to review the damage to my rear rim.

Photograph courtesy of Shafiq Khairy

Not good. Fortunately the rim was still rideable.

We weren’t done yet. We had only just got moving again when we had puncture number four. All in the space of 13km / 8mi.

What with one thing or the other, it is no surprise that out of the total ride time of seven hours, we were stopped for three hours. Which explains why we didn’t get back to the McDonald’s in Kota Kemuning until 2.00pm, when the temperature was pushing 37°C / 99°F.

A salted caramel sundae never tasted so good!

Morib Salted Caramel

We all got split up between Morib and Kota Kemuning. I haven’t heard any reports of missing cyclists, so I can only assume that everyone got back safely. Albeit some with minor scrapes, cramps and sore muscles.

I need to practice being a ride leader. If nothing else, it makes a good excuse!

Graphic courtesy of North Florida Bicycle Club

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Posted in Cycling in Malaysia and tagged Bandar Rimbayu, BCG, Bukit Jugra, Jenjarom, Kampung Seri Cheeding, Kota Kemuning, McDonalds, Morib, R@SKLs, Restoran BR Maju. Bookmark the permalink.

R@SKLs Revisit Morib

Posted on June 18, 2017 by alchemyrider

R@SKLs Morib Sign Lee Heng Keng.png

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.

R@SKLs Morib Jugra Lighthouse From Far Tomoe Suga

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.

R@SKLs Morib Flot Consultants Ong Peng Hong

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!

R@SKLs Morib Jugra View

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

R@SKLs Morib Jugra Descent 1 Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

R@SKLs Morib Jugra Descent 2 Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

R@SKLs Morib Jugra Descent 3 Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

R@SKLs Morib Jugra Descent 4 Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

R@SKLs Morib Jugra Descent 5 Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

R@SKLs Morib Jugra Descent 6 Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

R@SKLs Morib Jugra Descent 7 Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

R@SKLs Morib Jugra Descent 8 Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

R@SKLs Morib Jugra Descent 9 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

2 Comments

Posted in Cycling in Malaysia and tagged Jugra, Kampung Seri Cheeding, Langat River, Morib, Restoran BR Maju, Rimbayu, SKVE. Bookmark the permalink.

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A bit like trying to herd cats

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