Ipoh Century Ride 2009 Ride Report

4.30AM
Ringggggg! My alarm clock had rang and started to wake everyone up. Eng Chong & Shaiful is among the first to ready to roll out to the starting point.

While I began to gear up myself, I manage to loaded myself as much carbohydrates as I can with bread, power bar, chocolate bar and bananas. While waiting for others ready, we have another round of good laugh in the hall. Some planning how they gonna attack, some planning how to follow the peloton to complete the ride but I’m planning how to survive this ride.

5.30AM
Everyone is ready while the bikes & luggage is all loaded into the car, we headed out to Bukit Kinding (our start/finish point) somewhere near Tanjung Rambutan, Ipoh. While we arrive at the starting point, there is already lots of cyclist getting ready for the ride. Without wasting any time, I quickly change into my bike gearing, pump air into my tires, refill my water bottles and pack myself with Power Bars & Power Gels into the back pocket.

6.30AM
I ride myself to the starting line (there is a short steep climb at the top of the hill) I begin to wonder myself if I’m able to complete this year century ride. With my new bike only with me for few days, I didn't have enough time to test it out or get use to it. Anyway, time had come and I have to go on.

7.00AM
After NEGARAKU song had been played, the horn sound and a total of 500 riders is rolling out to the open road. For the first 5km, I was speeding up together with Yong as the front peloton has been pulling very fast. I didn't manage to follow Yong pace and soon I manage to get myself in a small group of 10 riders and started to chase the front. Yong is out of my sight as the day is still dark, I’m trying hard to follow my own group.

I was not properly warm up and soon discover I’m having hard time catching my breath. I slow down and stick onto the rear group and begin the calm myself down. At 10km point, I overtook Eng Chong and soon I was together with Kong Hing. As the route become hilly, Kong Hing slip back while I’m still stick myself into the group.

The route become tougher as the gradient of the rolling hills became steeper and steeper. Passing by Jalong intersection and we begin to head ourselves to Sungai Siput town. My group became bigger and bigger as we were joined by lots of solo riders dropping from the main peloton up in the front.

SUNGAI SIPUT TOWN.
Passing by Sungai Siput town, most of the road condition is downhill, the pace became faster and faster causing my group to split into few bunch. I’m still trying hard to stick with the front peloton around 5-6 riders left. Approaching Kuala Kangsar town, I was thinking to myself, should I maintain this hard ride or should I wait for the rear peloton to join in. As I looked back, I saw a big peloton (around 100 riders) is closing into my back. I quickly make my move and joined into this big peloton.

I saw Hamid and together we chit-chat for a while. Riding in a peloton its way too much different compare to ride alone. Passes Kuala Kangsar town, I have no problem following the peloton. Soon, the peloton headed to an open highway road leading us to Grik town.

Stay tuned...