CAMERON HIGHLANDS

CAMERON HIGHLANDS

It was a last minute decision that Cameron Highlands is our next destination before the year 2007 ended. On 20th December 2007 is the date we will climb and preparation had to be done as soon as possible.

The night before the climb, we begin to prepare all the necessary stuff – helmet, spare tubes, nutrition supplies, power gel, bike (of course), checking the brakes, tighten all the screws and bolt. 2 hours later, all the bike is in the car and ready to launch to Tapah (foothill of Cameron highlands). Yes, Tapah is where we gonna start the climb until Brinchang, a total of 70km one-way.

The clock 10pm, I tried to call a few other local riders and finally ended up with only three riders are going for the climb as it s a last minute preparation so most of them couldn’t have enough time to prepare. So be it.

2am I woke up and couldn’t sleep well the whole night. Keep asking myself, should I climb CH, can I climb CH? Questions that keep playing in my mind causing me to sleep again before my alarm rang at 4am. IT IS TIME!

Get myself ready and drove my car out to meet up with Yong/Sam and soon we heading to Tapah. At 6.00am, we stop by in Teluk Intan for early breakfast. Should I climb CH, can I climb CH? I still kept asking myself this few questions when I was driving towards Tapah. At 7.00am, we reach Tapah. We manage to find a secure car park just in front of local mosque and begin to gear up for the climb.

Weather looks cloudy, looks like it is another damp ride ahead of us. Soon we begin the climb at 7.30am. At 2km point, the gradient become steeper just before Kuala Woh (Hot Spring) I begin to feel the pain in the thighs and these question begins to play in my mind again and again - should I climb CH, can I climb CH?

Yong/Sam had been away for couple of minutes in front leaving me struggling up the hill alone. At Kuala Woh intersection, they waited for me and we begin to climb together. I’m using 39x27 at that time for the climb. Using a low gear and pedaling fast its not the correct way to climb a long hilly route. Soon I begin to gear down to 39x23 and started to push myself every pedal. Surprisingly, my speed manages to increase to 20-25km/h.

I continue and keep checking my cyclometer and wondering where is Lata Iskandar, a spectacular scene of waterfall in between Tapah – Ringlet town. I was relief when I saw Lata Iskandar signboard ahead of me, I know its resting time again.

We manage to took a couple of photos for remembrance and continue of journey before our legs cool down. The gradient becomes steeper than before causing me to use 39x25 and sometimes 39x27 to keep up with Yong/Sam.

Corners and corners, up and up and soon we reach a long bridge with an outstanding view of forest so we stop to rest. Since we only 3 guys, there is no rush to reach the top and we decided to go slow and complete the whole course.

We continue to ride and after 15mins trailing behind them, I felt exhausted and tired, soon to discovered that I was leave behind quite far from Yong/Sam that still going strong.

I continue cycling, with very less traffic, I begin to take inner route on each corner to reduce my distance and keep focusing that I’ll reach Ringlet before I gave up. There are a lot of small huts on the roadside own by orang asli villagers. Most of them give me support whenever I pass them. Some even say “Laju lagi, laju lagi”. Thanks to my 2 others guys, there waited for me at least 3-4 times. Otherwise, I already give up and might be heading down at that time.

RINGLET TOWN

It was a downhill for at least 2km to ringlet town and we stop for food and drinks. We rested quite a while before we decided to continue up to Tanah Rata. After all it’s only about 15km away. First 5km was relatively flat and I begin to get excited that I manage to reach Tanah Rata soon. I was WRONG. The last 10km it’s all uphill (passing by Tea Garden in between) before reaching Tanah Rata town.

The gradient at least 12% for the total 10km and I’m cycling at 8-10km/h using my last granny gear 39x27. The climb that’s so steep and I had to stop in between.

I’m so amazed that I finally reach Tanah Rata and asking my friend to stop for photo. The pain, exhausted, sore, numb all disappeared when I put my foot down on top on Tanah Rata.

Passes the 10km climb makes the next climb quite easy, from Tanah Rata to Brinchang that is about 5km away. Passing by Brinchang town, there is a long 1km with steep uphill. The last 100m causing me stop immediately. It was so steep and I need to push the bike for the rest 100m to our resting area.

We stop for lunch at local restaurant. We spend nearly an hour at Brinchang town before we realize its time to go down back to Tapah.

It was fun when riding down as most of the route its downhill. There are a few uphill before reaching Tanah Rata. Again we pass Tanah Rata without stopping and soon we are already at 10km steep downhill. I manage to reach 55-60kmh. With too many sharp corners and cars, it was dangerous. Hard braking causing my hand numbs forcing me to switch holding position every 15sec.

At Ringlet it was starting to rain and we are still continuing down the hill to Tapah. Road begin to be slippery and with lots of tight corners, I was left behind couple of meters from the other that is going fast on the downhill.

I was lucky when Yong slow down and waited for me to join him for the downhill. Turns and turns, I keep wondering will the next turn it’s the end. Lack of concentrating while cycling into one of the tight corner throwing me off the road. I’m lucky somehow there is no incoming vehicle.

Unfortunately, my front tire flat out about 20km to go.

I stop and with the help from Yong, we change the tire on the roadside. The rain its still heavy and knowing the lightning might strike anytime, without any inspection to the tires, I quickly change the tube and soon I’m on the road again. Without proper inflate, I begin to cycle down and when I pass the Kuala Woh junction, I know I safely pass the forest area.

At car park, I inspect my wheels and the tires had been cut about 2cm long and the tube is already inflated out from the tires. It can be easily puncture but luck really on my side, I have no problem till car park.

At 4pm, we safely arrive at Tapah town and already begin to load the bikes into the car. Soon we heading back to Sitiawan and it were another successful achievement in my cycling career.

Lata Iskandar (a spectacular waterwall view on background)

Sam at bridge (half way point to Ringlet town

I did it! I'm at TANAH RATA!

My latest ride

This is my latest ride

Frame : Trigon Full Carbon Frameset with Trigon Carbon fork

Drivetrain : Ultegra 10s with Pazzaz Carbon Crank

Handlebar + Stem : Trigon EX Carbon Integrated

Saddle : Selle Italia

Seatpost : Trigon EX Carbon Integrated

Bootlecage : Look Carbon

Wheelset : Cosmic Carbone SSC

Tire : Continental Tubular Tire

Meter : Cateye Double Wireless Meter with Heartrate function

Pedals : Ultegra

"Tube" day

On 25 November, after 2 weeks completed this year Powerman 2007 and being resting since then, we decided to give ourself a long distance ride. After a few ideas from our fellow cyclist, we decided to give it a 120km distance, from Sitiawan-Lekir-Seberang Perak-Telun Intan and back.

It was the most adventurer route with only paddy field, rubber tree and oil palm trees all the way. Although is generally flat, the heat and wind is the only challenge. No tail wind, all head wind to-fro and sometimes when we are lucky, the wind able to pick up to 40km/h causing you immediate full stop.

On early sunday morning, 6 guys turn up for this torturer ride. We set off at 7.30am and our first tube goes off somewhere along paddy field, half way to Teluk Intan. With the sun rises so quickly, the road condition become warm and soon turn to hot. Without properly check what's causing the puncture, we change the tube and soon we off again.

Upon reaching Teluk Intan town, the tube goes off again. Rather then changing the tube again on the road side, we push the bike about 700m to a malay stall for breakfast. Noticing there is tiny metal stick out from tire causing the tube flat out again. Thats the second.

On the way, a rider decided to get into the wind tunnel created by a big truck passing by us travelling at about 55km/h flat road. Unfortunately, in less than 1 km, the front wheel hit into a manhole and causing my 3rd tube to be used. Luckily the wheel still straight.

We continue the ride and one of our rider seems to have a slightly puncture in the rear wheel causing air to go out bit by bit. We are however out of tube and decided to inflate every 3-4km of riding. However, due to heat and time comsuming, we decided to stop and waiting to be pick up by a lorry about 30km from home.

45mins gone, while chit-chatting by the road, its my turn to have a flat. A very loud SSSSssssss heard from my rear wheel causing flat almost immediately. It might due to heat that increasing the pressure inside the tube.

At 1.30pm, we safely arrive home and that day had causes us 5 tubes out of 6 guys.

Note : Pic above showing us resting under a tree while waiting to be pick up.

POWERMAN 2007

POWERMAN 2007

11th November 2007 (Seri Manjung, Perak)

Being as a spectator for 2 years, i finally make up my mind to participate this event. All started 1 month before the event. This topic brought up after half way cycling for 45km in distance with friends in a malay stall for "teh tarik".

First year entering powerman, i'm not ready for full category distance so i decided to try out sprint category.

Since i never did any run before, I did my first 10km run over an hour and have to take 2 days leave from work. Planning to drop out from the race after my 10km run but with the support from friends, i register myself and getting all the goodies stuff on saturday, 1 day before the event. Heart pounding so strong causing me couldnt get enough sleep on the night before the event.

Once i get ready my powergel, helmet, bikes and jersey, i went out to the transition area as early as 6.30am. With so many athletes - local and international participant, nearly over 700 of them makes my spirit higher and higher. "i know i can do it" i say to myself.

With no background on running, i did my first run about 35mins. Not bad for first timer, i say to myself. The bike leg is quite fast as i manage to complete just over an hour. However on the 2nd run, i was terrible tired and goes walking for a couple of times. Many athletes overtook by my side about half way to go.

Thanks to the support by many athletes, i manage to goes on and completed the whole course. I position myself 76 out of 87 finishers for sprint category at 2h 34m 41.

It was a great experience for a first timer into international event. i'll be joining again next year.

Note: Pic above taken after the Sprint Category has ended.