FRASER HILL

It was raining on the night before we travel to Fraser’s Hill for the climb on 19^th April 2008. Everyone was excited and couldn’t sleep well on the night and finally decided to travel early to Ulu Bernam R&R instead.

We travel at 11pm and it’s still raining. The bike already wet all the way to Bidor (a small town) half way journey to Kuala Kubu Bahru. We stop for “petrol” and one of the cars having trouble with misfiring engine. We woke everyone up from the car and start looking for tools to dismantle the engine “spark plugs”. Unfortunately we couldn’t find any suitable tools to remove it and decided to stop for “minum pagi”. It’s already 1am (where got workshop open rite). The engine needs to cool down and we stop for nearly 40mins.

Journey continues and we finally arrived at Ulu Bernan R&R. It’s about 2am and we decided to sleep till 5am before traveling to Kuala Kubu Bahru for the climb. Sleeping in the car it’s not the best idea at all but that’s where the excitement is.

5AM.

I and Ho decided to get ready first while others still “Alice in wonderland”. After a short bath, I and Ho wakes everyone up and soon everyone is ready and having breakfast in the R&R.

6AM

We gear up and drive down to Kuala Kubu Bahru about 15km away via Tanjung Malim Exit. On the way, I manage to take in a Power Bar sponsor by Yong, thanks to him.

Pangkor senior veteran rider, Kheong rang me up and waiting for us at the mini stadium parking lot. We stop by a petrol kiosk for some refilling (water, Gatorade, red bull, anchor beer, etc etc…)

7AM

We arrive at parking lot and starting to gear up, assemble the bike, filling up 100plus into water bottle and soon we are all ready to hit the road. We manage to snap a group photo before leaving Kuala Kubu Bahru town up to Fraser’s Hill on this very chill cool morning.

7.30AM

11 riders hit the road and begin to climb after 1km from the town. 3 TNB riders where waiting for another rider that is getting ready quite late. We are 20mins in front of the TNB guys before they leave the parking lot.

As decided, 15KM is the distance ahead for our first regrouping area. The group splitting up into pieces right after we reach the Kuala Kubu Bahru Dam. With the sunshine, the view is superb although the road is getting steeper after 3km down the road.

Sam, Remy, Ah Chui, Rafi, Yong, Kheong were speeding up fast and leaving me, Hamid and Ho struggling up to the 15KM meeting point.

Once passes the Dam, the big two way road become narrow, the entrance to the jungle of mystery. Fill with green trees & waterfall is what we had to pass for the whole 30km climb to GAP.

Upon reaching 15KM meeting point, I try to break away at 12KM mark pushing myself to the meeting point, Hamid is behind the wheels and Ho is struggling to keep up. Did I say he’s on mountain bike? He’s really strong.

I finally arrived at 15KM meeting point and seeing all the fast, front riders already cooling down and I guess they have been there for quite a while already.

There is a discussion going on whether we should wait up the TNB guys before hitting the road again. We confirm from our support car driver and somehow they are still 8KM away from us and we decided to leave them and meeting up at GAP. (Before the gruel 8KM uphill steep climb).

I’m trying hard to keep up the pace that the front group is leading and finally at KM20, I am really tired and decided to leave the pack and cycle by my own. For nearly 10KM I’m alone all the way up to GAP.

I was quite happy to see the 15KM mark point to Fraser Hill knowing that I was near to GAP. I was doing 39x23 all the way which at some point, I need to use my lowest gearing 39x25. I was doing 11-14km/h for almost the last 5KM climb.

I was hoping the back group to catch me and cycle together in the group but there is no one to be seen. Corners and corners, up and up and finally I saw the GAP Rest house knowing that I’m few hundreds meters away from the Gate (one way road up to Fraser’s Hill).

I arrived and before I manage to cool myself down, Ho arrive follow by Ming (another Pangkor representative). 30mins later, the TNB guys arrived and we all waited together for the next 8KM climb when the gate opens at 11.00am.

I’m doing 2h 50mins for the 30km climb.

11AM

8KM to go, that’s my finish line up on top of Fraser’s Hill. Gates open and we all 15riders started the climb. The few corners were so steep making me think “Will I arrive at the top”. The gradient becomes steeper and steeper and we only 1km into the 8km climb.

One by one passes by side leaving me in the middle of the pack. My gearing is at 39x25 all the way up, hardly drop 39x23. On 6KM miles stone, I was doing 8km/h on the climb.

Remembering I had my Power Gel on my back pocket (again sponsor by Yong), I ate half and kept another half for the final 1-2km to go. Almost instantly, I regain my power to push 10-11km/h up the hill. On the final 2km miles stone, I ate the remaining Power Gel and start to speed up to 30km/h. There is a flat portion for about 500m giving me hope to catch up with a rider in front of me.

I saw Kheong just around the corner and pushing my legs as fast as possible to overtake me before the top. 1km to go, the flat portion begins to get steep again. Knowing I got 1km to go, I push as hard as I could with the aim to overtake Kheong. Surprisingly, I manage to catch up with him and overtook him just 20m before the gate (Fraser’s Hill Top).

While waiting for others to arrive at the top, we manage to sneak around Fraser’s Hill (this is my first trip here). Like on the advertisement, Fraser is mini England. The building, gardens very similar to European styling.

11.35AM

That’s when I reach the clock tower. The statue monument of Fraser’s Hill.

12PM

Its downhill time and I finally decided to follow the support car instead.

It was a great experience going up Fraser’s Hill for most of our riders here as everyone first time here. We will do it again soon. See you on next climb.

Our Top Riders

TNB Team (thanks for their support)

Our Brave Man
(involve in accident on the way down)