Gunung Tunggal Ride (60km)

Sunday, May 24 – 60KM is the total distance that I gonna ride for today. The route begins from Giant Hypermarket, passing by Kg Acheh towards the first small climb (Tengku Bainun bridge). Right after the bridge, there will be rolling hills up to T-junction (Pantai Remis – Ayer Tawar) through Segari town. Turn right and second climb comes in 5km (Gunung Tunggal). After Gunung Tunggal, it will be all flat until Ayer Tawar town but there will be lots of headwind.

At 7am, all riders is already waiting at Giant Hypermarket Gate. Me, Yong, Kwong Yew, Rafi, Remy, Anuar, Ah Chui, Saiful, Malakoff Boy(sorry I forgot yr name) and Rizal. Did I forget anyone?
The tires start to roll as soon as Remy & Anuar arrived around 7.20am. They are late due to puncture in Anuar’s bike. There is an early breakaway by Kwong Yew as soon as we passes Kg Acheh. However, he being caught up just before the first bridge. Everyone was together with two rows side-by-side all the way till Tengku Bainun bridge.

There is a sprint on the Tengku Bainun bridge and splitting the peloton into 2 groups. I was following the 2nd group and we began to chase the 1st group. We manage to caught up just before Damar Laut junction and soon the speed has pick up around 30km/h – 32km/h. Rolling hills begin after Damai Laut junction and we was still together. With Saiful pulling the front at a steady rate, everyone seems to consume their energy. The second breakaway comes with Remy accelerate alone follow by Saiful. They successfully splitting up the peloton leaving most of them at the back struggling to follow. I was tired at the rolling hills and drafting behind Anuar. I was with him for the remaining distance till the T-junction (Pantai Remis – Ayer Tawar) where the front breakaway group had stop and rest.

I arrived together with Anuar and had a quick rest stop before Yong & Kwong Yew arrived. After a quick chat, drink and rest, we soon began our journey until Ayer Tawar town. Everyone was together and taking their responsibilities taking turn leading at the front. Rizal was leading when we passes Gunung Tunggal. There is another breakaway by Remy after Changkat Keruing. He slow down again for us after 800m ahead of us (I guess he’s boring with our riding speed)

Passing by an oil palm factory and lots of oil palm estate by the roadside, we all still together. Another breakaway done by the Malakoff boy but there is no one is chasing after him as most of other riders consume their boost for the last kilometer before Ayer Tawar town.

However, the Malakoff boy unsuccessfully breaking away from the peloton as the headwind is the strong. He has being breaking away a cuople of times, accelerate up to the front and soon he'll drop back from the group to regain his power. He's no where to be seen leading the peloton. Anyway, as we were maintain at a steady rate 32km/h, one by one rotating and just after Kg Raja Hitam village, I was in second position riding behind Rizal. Rizal was leading about 500m in distance. As soon as he open up and goes to the back of the peloton with 2km to go, I accelerated and hoping to pull the whole peloton faster before sprinting at the end towards the junction. I guess it was too early.

I was hitting 40km/h before I open up the rest of the group sprinting to the front. As I look back, Remy, Saiful, Rafi and almost everyone is sprinting. Its like a race towards the finish line. As usual, Remy was sprinting hard and almost no one able to catch up with him. However, it seems too early to sprint actually as it’s still around 700m to go.

I didn’t know who reaches the junction first as I was riding behind Yong & Saiful around 50m at the back. Kwong Yew was behind me. The Malakoff boy is dropping to the back.

Anyway, we stop the the traffic light before turning right into Ayer Tawar town. Right after the traffic light, my eyes caught a lady riding a motorbike at steady speed about 35km/h. I take my position and draft behind the motorbike. Yong quickly draft behind me and we both drafting at a steady speed. Suddenly, i can hear a loud VROMMMM sound coming from the bike and she is accelerating until 40km/h – 45km/h.

Yong didn’t manage to follow as the headwind became stronger. I push myself and maintaining at the speed rate of the motorbike. I soon overtook Remy, Anuar and soon joined with Rafi, Rizal and Ah Chui up front.

Upon reaching Ayer Tawar, I was tired and slowing down to regroup. After the first Ayer Tawar traffic light, there is a bunch of break away done by Remy and other riders, attacking in the centre of the town. Wow! I was surprise seeing lots of spectators from the roadside excited with the attack.

Anyway, we all regroup and have a good laugh and chat at the Taman Dindings Mamak Stall. Rafi went on as he got a date awaiting for him.

From Ayer Tawar, we cycle slow and chit-chat most of the time till we reach Sitiawan. I split up with the remaining group and cycle along with Yong and Kwong Yew. Yong was leading the whole way back to Sitiawan town. Kwong Yew nearly fell as he didn’t realize he was cycling at the edge of the road, lucky for him.

It was another great ride for all of us. Some tired, some feel great, some feel boring…but most of all, everyone had fun and safely return home.

NOTE :
Many apologize to our Farmasi Hing’s owner, Mr Ting as he had a puncture 16km from Sitiawan (near a temple in Damai Laut) We were pacing and didn’t realize that he had bike difficulties. I only got his message half way point to Ayer Tawar. However, we confirmed that he safely return home as his support car arrived within 30mins.