RIDE WITH CHIEF MINISTER (PENANG)

Riding day....

Sunday, 25 Oct - 5.30am I and Yong wake up and begin to gear up our bikes. At 6.15am, Sam is waiting at hotel lobby and he decided to ride with us to the start line in Penang Town Hall. We move out together with Kwong Yew and Kong Hing.

When we arrived at the start line, there is already lots and lots of participant, around 500 riders were already getting themselves warming up for today ride. I’m excited with some nervous and had a feeling it could be really a fast ride.

7.00am sharp, the ride begin with 80km to finish with the time limit of 5 hours. There will be a long fast flat road with windy condition, there will be 2 hills to conquer and rolling hills towards the end before finishing back here at the starting line.

The ride jammed with just 100m in as a lorry is blocking in the middle of the road. All participant had to stop and slowly push passing by the side of the lorry. The ride splits into small pieces. The front peloton is no where to be seen. I ride along side with Yong and soon we were speeding up to get ourself into a bigger peloton. For more than 10km, we were doing 35km/h to 40km/h, chasing the middle peloton as the road is relatively flat. Its quite windy with the morning breeze as we were riding next to the sea.

Passing by Jelutong and into Bayan Lepas area, we turned in and passes Queensbay Mall Shopping Complex. From there, the road became narrower and soon we passing by kampong road with lots of potholes and manholes. We managed to get ourself into a moderate size of peloton with about 15 riders. 22km passes by and the first climb is just 5km away, I have a bumpy ride on my rear wheels. I very sure my rear wheel is punctured and I stop by the road side to inspect. Yong saw me and stop too.

Oops…mistake, my wheels seems to be ok. I and Yong just about to continue our ride but luck doesn’t shine on me again. BOOOOMMMMM!!! A loud noise coming out from my rear wheels and flat out immediately. I stop again and begin to change my tube. However, my tire has a big cut on at the corner.

NOOOOOOO!!! I shouted myself and I know this is the end of my ride. I can replace tube, but I cannot replace my tire. I felt frustrated and sad for not able to continue this ride. Lots of rider passing by and I have no idea what to do.

Sam saw us and he stop by to check on us. Not long after that, Hamid and the gang passes by. However, Kong Hing saw us and stop too but he continue after resting for couple of minutes as I got nothing to do except transporting back to the hotel.

Sam phone his wife for the pick-up and we were sitting down at Caltex Petrol Kiosk chit-chatting. 30 mins passes by and soon the last riders has passes by our side too. While we still waiting for Sam’s wife to pick me up back to the hotel, suddenly, Sam come up with a very good idea. He offer his tire to me and he decided to not to continue riding. (he’s my safer and my hero)

According to him, he will be riding his MTB later and catch us up in opposite direction. My luck shines again and I begin to change his tire into my wheels. Soon we are back on the road with no rider to be seen. Depending on the RELA, they guide us into the correct route and soon we already on the foot of Bukit Genting. Yong were climbing steadily as I were struggling up the hill. We begin to catch up with the few last rider and decided to overtook them on the slope. I’m trying hard to get back my rhythm as I had lost during the stop for about 40minutes. The road up to Bukit Genting is quite bad as the repair construction is still on although its Sunday today.

5km is the distance to the top of Bukit Genting. By the time we passes Bukit Genting, we have already managed to overtook lots of slow rider. Going downhill it’s the best rewards after a hard climb. Coming into Balik Pulau area, I and Yong were changing lead to push ourself faster.

Waterstation – we stop to pick up a few isotonic drinks. We didn’t stop for long and soon we are back on the road to Teluk Bahang. 2nd hill begins just right after a small town. Yong begin his move and Im trying my best to follow his pace. 7km is the distance to conquer the Tropical Fruit Farm hill.

With winding and twisting road up to the Tropical Fruit Farm hill, I’m pushing hard to keep up with Yong pace. We overtake many riders towards to the top of the climb. I’m so happy when I see the green signboard “Tropical Fruit Farm in 800m”, that’s the end of the 7km climb and its all downhill to Batu Feringgi. We speed up while taking sharp corners on the way down.

After a 7km with twist & turn down the hill, soon we passes the dam. There is another steep downhill before reaching Teluk Bahang. At this point, I decided to push all out together with Yong. 15km to go and we passes the waterstation without stopping.

There are some rolling hills while passing through Batu Feringghi. On the second attack, my legs cramp and I have no choice but slowing down. Sam with his MTB met us and U-turn to join us. My legs cramp badly and I decided to take my own pace.

Sam and Yong slow down and wait for me. Upon reaching Georgetown, my legs feels better and I managed to get myself into a group of riders with their jersey “GHOST”. I keep up and soon I overtake Sam and Yong up front. Yong join and together we speed up passing Gurney Drive. 3-4km to do finish, they group split up and Yong join them. My legs cramp started again
and I decided to take my own pace will the finish line.

2km to finish, Yong were waiting for me and together we reach Penang Town Hall, the finish line of today’s round island category ride. My total time is 3h 25mins. My total riding time is 2h 53m. It was a great ride. Thanks to the organizer for this great ride event.

Many many thanks to Sam Koay - offer me his tire and gave up his ride.

RIDE WITH CHIEF MINISTER (PENANG)

We have successfully completed the round island category ride. A total distance of 80km with 2 giant hills to conquer. (Bukit Genting & Teluk Bahang)

No major accident and all sitiawan riders safely arrived at finish line.

the night before...

It was the day everyone waiting for….the round penang island event of the total of 80km in distance.

I, Yong, Kong Hing, Kwong Yew, Kumar, Anuar, Hamid and the gang representing Sitiawan is going to complete this round island event. “Ride with Chief Minister Campaign) organized by PBB Club of Penang.

Saturday, 24 Oct – As we going by separate car, we decided to go by ourself before meeting up with the rest of that gang in Penang. G Hotel is our destination to pick up our ride no & goodies bag. As I and Yong were travelling from Sitiawan to destination, Kumar, Anuar and Hamid the gang had arrived earlier to collect their goodies bag. We begin our journey at 2.45pm and arrived at 1926 Heritage Hotel in Penang at around 5pm. We check-in and drive ourself to G-Hotel.

A lot of participant had collected their ride number & t-shirt. We check our name and discovered that our ride no had been taken by someone. We only manage to pick up Kwong Yew and Kong Hing ride number. I begin to worry and calling Kumar, Anuar and Hamid, I’m hoping they might be already picking up me and Yong ride number. The luck doesn’t shine on me either as no one picking up my number. I double check with Ronnie(race captain) and together we begin to locate our ride number.

We waited for 20mins before Ronnie(race captain) found our ride number mixed up with other participant. He had remove it from the main group and set it aside to be pick-up. Fuhhh…what a relief, luckily I and Yong manage to get our ride number. Otherwise, we will intend to ride without them tomorrow.

After the collection, we went back to 1926 Heritage Hotel (our stay) and unloading the bikes. We rest and around 7.15pm, Sam Koay(UMW Regional Sales Manager) also a friend of Yong taking us for a great dinner (carbo loading) for the night. Kwong Yew and Kong Hing arrived
and together we go supper at around 9pm.

After a long chit-chatting with good laugh and jokes, we sleep at around 11.30pm.

Ride day stories ahead….

TOKEN PRODUCTS (In Stock)

I'm taking in lots of TOKEN products for road and MTB biking.
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TOKEN Full Titanium Skewer TK236/TK237

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TOKEN Chainring Bolt lightweight Aluminium

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I'm now officially a dealer for TOKEN Products (Manjung district).
(Many thanks to a good friend of mine...Keong (very supportive person)

For any inquries, question, order and just chit-chat - you can reach me at 014-6043366.

Ipoh Century Ride 2009 (DVD) for sale

To all Ipoh Century Ride 2009 participants (Sitiawan & Manjung riders), a video footage of the briefing, ride and lucky draw ceremony is out for sale at RM20.

Thanks to our man Ridzal Sham that able to provide these DVD for our viewing pleasure.

For those interested to get it, please dont hesitate to SMS/Call me at 014-6043366 (albert) to get one copy of your own.