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Tag Archives: Restoran BR Maju

The R@SKLs get fried

Posted on April 29, 2018 by alchemyrider

Temperature

I suspect what will be remembered most about today’s ride to Pulau Carey is how hot it was while we were riding back to Kota Kemuning.  It got up to 37° C / 99° F.  Combine the temperature with the humidity of almost 70%, and the temperature felt like 45° C /  113° F.  Even a rare tailwind – hooray – between Jenjarom and Bandar Rimbayu did nothing to cool us down.

Route

We shouldn’t have been surprised that it got so hot.  It felt warmer and more humid than usual at 6.15am when the first R@SKLs arrived at Restoran BR Maju.  Warning sign #1.

Carey Island early arrival

Photograph courtesy of Alfred Chan

30 of us were ready to roll at 7.00am.  Under a cloudless sky.  Warning sign #2.

Carey Island start

Photograph courtesy of Lee Heng Keng

Twenty minutes later we were riding through Bandar Rimbayu, with the sun already making its presence felt as it rose above the horizon. Warning sign #3.

Carey Island riding

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

We were in Jenjarom at 8.00am.  The temperature was 28° C / 82° F.  About half of the group could only do a short ride and were turning back at Jenjarom.  We all flooded into a coffee shop for breakfast before the group split up.

Carey island breakfast

Photograph courtesy of TH Lim

Carey island breakfast 2

Photograph courtesy of Jiv Sammanthan

40 minutes later 17 of us continued on to Pantai Tanjung Rhu, Pulau Carey.  We were very happy to see that sections of Jalan Klang Banting had recently been resurfaced.  Including the section between the Lebuhraya Lembah Klang Selatan flyover and Jalan Bandar Lama, which had been exceptionally badly rutted and potholed.

As you can see from the route map above, Pulau Carey is barely an island.  The land mass of Pulau Carey is separated from the peninsula by the Langat River and a narrow meandering finger of the Strait of Malacca.

When we got to the sea at 9.20am, the tide was out.

Carey Island panorama

Photograph courtesy of Luanne Sieh

There was no shade, which was inconvenient as Jiv had a puncture just as we got to the end of the road.  There was quite a bad cut in his tire, so the fix was a bit involved and took some time.  CK to the rescue!

Carey Island flat

Photograph courtesy of Jiv Sammanthan

We interrupted the repair for a group photograph.  It was too hot to linger, so as soon as Jiv’s tire was fixed we started the return leg to Kota Kemuning.

Carey Island group

Photograph courtesy of Lee Heng Keng

By 10.30am we had covered the 16km / 10mi between the beach and our regular cendol stall.  Wet, ice cold and sweet.  Just what the doctor ordered when it was 32° C / 90° F and felt closer to 37° C / 99° F.

Carey Island cendol

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

The temperature kept climbing as we rode the 28km / 17mi from the cendol stop to Restoran BR Maju in Kota Kemuning.  We needed a short rest in the shade at Kampung Sri Cheeding after 15km / 9mi.

Lots of sunblock and sunscreen were applied today.  Nevertheless, I suspect some of us got burnt over the last 35minutes of the ride today.  It was a scorcher!  Probably hot enough to do this.

Carey Island fried egg

Photograph courtesy of alert-conservation.org

 

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トモエスガのお別れライド *

Posted on March 12, 2018 by alchemyrider

* The Farewell Ride for Tomoe Suga

Tomoe 14

Photograph courtesy of CK Lim

The R@SKLs have been delighted, and privileged, to have had Tomoe ride with us.  Her ready smile and infectious enthusiasm brightened every ride she did with us.

Tomoe is a very accomplished cyclist.  Basking in her reflected glory is the closest most of us got to being a podium finisher!

Tomoe 1 Tomoe

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

It is a measure of the friendships Tomoe has developed during her time in Kuala Lumpur that 47 cyclists participated in the farewell ride the R@SKLs organised for her.

We started from Restoran BR Maju in Kota Kemuning.  As usual, Alfred was early.  Very early!

Tomoe BR Maju Alfred Chan

Photograph courtesy of Alfred Chan

By 7.10am we were on the road toward Bukit Jugra.

Tomoe 6 Pai

Photograph courtesy of Pai Hsing Chou

This was the largest group ride many of us had ever been on.

It turned out to be a day of a few firsts.  The ride from the base of Bukit Jugra to the lighthouse is just 1km / 0.6mi long, but the road rises 111 meters / 364 feet in that distance.  That is an average gradient of 10%.

For some, this was their first ride up to the lighthouse and the Jugra sign.

Tomoe Jugra Top Pai

Photograph courtesy of Pai Tsing Chou

For first-timer and regular alike, getting up that hill is an achievement.

Photograph courtesy of Chew Wee Giap
Photograph courtesy of Lee Heng Keng
Photograph courtesy of Leonard Yee
Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim
Photograph courtesy of Lee Heng Keng

Danial won the prize for Most Daring Cameraman.

Tomoe Jugra 1 CK Lim

Photograph courtesy of CK Lim

Some thought better of sweating and grunting up the climb.

Photograph courtesy of Leonard Yee
Photograph courtesy of Leonard Yee

From Bukit Jugra we rode the 13km / 8mi to the beachfront at Morib for breakfast.

Photograph courtesy of Danial Lim
Photograph courtesy of Danial Lim
Photograph courtesy of Danial Lim
Photograph courtesy of Danial Lim
Photograph courtesy of Danial Lim
Photograph courtesy of Danial Lim
Photograph courtesy of Danial Lim
Photograph courtesy of Danial Lim
Photograph courtesy of Danial Lim

And some posing with the Straits of Melaka behind us.

About 45 minutes later we were back on the road, retracing our route.

Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim
Photograph courtesy of CK Lim

Japan may be the Land of the Rising Sun, but Malaysia has its share of sun as well.

Tomoe Rising Sun

The temperature was 19°C / 66°F when we started the ride in Kota Kemuning.  When we left Morib it was 34°C / 93°F.  By the time we got to our regular cendol stop 23km / 14mi later, it was 37°C / 99°F.  We needed that ice-cold cendol.

The proprietor of Cendol & ABC Santa Sawit Mak Lang was taken aback when I ordered 60 bowls of cendol.  He didn’t think that he heard me right.  It took a few repetitions of the order, helped by the sight of more and more overheated cyclists streaming into the stall’s seating area, to convince him that I was serious.

Tomoe Cendol Martin Lee

Photograph courtesy of Martin Lee

The return ride from Morib had turned into a hot one.  That meant a touch of sunburn, and some cramps, within the group.  But that didn’t stop everyone from completing the ride.  For some it was their first metric century ride.  Another milestone achieved!

Fortunately there were no falls or crashes.  The worst mechanical issues were one dropped chain, and one slow leak.  An excellent result for a group of 48 riders.

The R@SKLs wish Tomoe much success and happiness back in Japan.  And of course, many enjoyable kilometers on her bicycle.

Tomoe Happy Biking

Jepun Boleh!

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A bit like trying to herd cats

Posted on July 17, 2017 by alchemyrider
Morib Banner jkstakent com

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.

Morib 01 J Sopiee

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

From the left:

Morib 07f J Sopiee

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

Morib 07e J Sopiee

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

Morib 07d J Sopiee

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

Morib 07c J Sopiee

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

Morib 07b J Sopiee

Photograph courtesy of Johan Sopiee

Morib 07a J 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.

Morib SKVE Bridge Up Shahfiq Khairy

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.

Morib SKVE Bridge Down Shahfiq Khairy

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!

Morib 12 Winston Wong

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.

Morib Cows Wee Hwee Wang

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.

Morib 03 Shafiq Khairy

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.

Morib Jugra Climb Shahfiq Khairy

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.

Morib Jugra Viewing Shafiq Khairy

Photograph courtesy of Shafiq Khairy

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

Morib Paragliding backpackerzmag com

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.

Morib Flat Shafiq Khairy

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!

Morib Banner north florida bicycle club

Graphic courtesy of North Florida Bicycle Club

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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.

R@SKLs Morib BR Maju Alfred Chan

Photograph courtesy of Alfred Chan

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

R@SKLS Morib Start 2 KK Yee

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.

R@SKLs Morning Tomoe Suga

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

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

R@SKLs Morib First Stop Tomoe Suga

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

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

R@SKLs Morib On The Road 2 KK

Photograph courtesy of KK Yee

R@SKLs Morib On The Road 1 KK

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.

R@SKLS Morib Arriving KK Yee

Photograph courtesy of KK Yee

We all got there safely though.

R@SKLs Morib Sign 1 Daniel Lim

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.

R@SKLs Morib Breakfast 2 Hsing C Pai

Photograph courtesy of Hsing C Pai

R@SKLs Morib Breakfast 1 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.

R@SKLs Morib Hanging Out Lee Heng Keng

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.

R@SKLs Bringing Kelin Home Daniel Lim

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.

R@SKLs Morib Jugra Sign Tomoe Suga

Photograph courtesy of Tomoe Suga

 

 

 

 

 

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