"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.