Date: 8 Apr 2006

Venue: Bukit Kiara

Punctured my rear tyre at the beginning of the ride!  I let Zali, Asri and the gang started without me.  Arif brought a girl along.  She nearly fainted during the first road climbs.  Me and Arif started the full loop together.

The singletracks were very slippery.  My rear tyre skidded 3 times, however it managed to hold on.  I also tried bunny hop on the 1 foot log, I cleared the both tyres.  However, the landing wasn't a foot height, it was about 18 inches.  I nearly endo myself.  Luckily, my REBA suspension absorbed the impact very well.

We caught Zali, Asri and the gang at Devi's Corner, and all of us continued to Plan C, Boulder and Snake and Ladder.

Date: 2 Apr 2006

Venue: Bandar Kinrara

The ride was part road and part doubletracks.  Approximately 6 km of roads and 4 km of off-roads.  The doubletracks are made from unused PUAS road leading to Bandar Kinrara very large water tank.  It was about 750 meters of climbing that constitute of small streams with rocky stream bed.  Slippery yet ride-able.  It was so exciting that I had a second run of climbs.  The water that run in the stream was very clear, and they look like diamonds under the bright sunlights.

The descent was a fast gravel doubletrack.  Next to it is the Ayer Hitam forest reserve... ahemmm...!

Date: 1 Apr 2006

Venue: Bukit Kiara

No report yet.

Date: 26 Mar 2006

Venue: Ijok

Organiser: KLMBH

We joined KLMBH in their hash on 26 March 2006 at Ijok.

Our report:

Ride type: Long

(approximately 23km, my ride time is 1 hour and 58 minutes including stops at checkpoint and "sesat")

Singletracks: Mostly short singletracks, but a lot of long doubletracks made of palm oil vehicles.  At the peak, the view of very large palm oil plantation covered by the mist is quite remarkable.

Climbing: Easy climbs on the doubletracks with mix terrains.  One terrain mimic the rock garden at Kiara, but easier.  I even tested my KHS XC904R for "bob" effect.. middle and small rings with various rear cogs, sitting and climbing positions.. the result.. none, zero, nothing, or at least I didn't feel it.

Descending: Early ride descents were cut of slopes of palm oil terrain - short, steep and continuous multiple terraces, in short - exciting!  There are also a couple of long doubletracks descents.  One of them was right beside the cliff, facing a large palm oil estate and forest, with TNB high voltage power line cutting across them.

IMBA trail rating: Green (I think), but the first descend is rated Blue.

Date: 19 Mar 2006

Venue: MK Land site at Damansara Perdana

I took part in  the Selangor Mountain Bike Open (SEMBO) 2006 on 19 Mar 2006.  This is the story of amateur rider.

As usually, I woke up early and say my prayer.  Then, I filled in my Deuter Hydro 6 with 2 liters of cold water from the fridge, grabbed 2 sneakers and 2 chocolate buns.  I drunk about 2 cups of milk.  I upload my KHX XC904R onto my Honda Accord, and drove to Damansara Perdana.  I left home at 6:55 a.m.

Unfortunately, I left my wallet and handphone on the diner table, and had to turn back to get them.  My RM15.00 race fee was in my wallet.  It was 7:20 a.m, and I really though I was late for the race.  When I reached at at the event site, it was 7:45 a.m.  I was furious to found that the registration counter was not yet opened.  Then, my usual group of mountain biking friends arrived (Zali, Asri, Adika, Megat and Arif, but not Wan Johan).

By the time the registration counter opened, I was forced to enroll myself in the Men Elite event that consist of several national and state riders.  Men Elite category consists of 8 laps of 2.5km circuit, hence a total of 20km. The race started at about 9:30 a.m for the junior and women categories.  By 11:45 a.m, Asri had finished his junior veteran category ( 4 laps).  He finished 6 out of 9 riders. 3 riders pulled out.  He look really tired during the last 2 laps, but I'm proud of him.

My category started at 1:30 p.m, during the fierce mid-afternoon sun... ridiculous!!  About 35 riders were at the starting line.  I took my position behind Zali on the left hand side of the starting grid.  The first 200 meters were roughed, everybody wanted to go first on the BMX bumps.  A lot of riders fell down on the rump.  I let a couple of enthusiast riders thorough first just to get some room on the tight BMX bumps, and started pacing my self behind them.  I saw Zali trying to keep up with the national and state riders.

Due to my relax pace, I was able to spot Arif, Megat and Adika by the race track giving me support and taking my photos.  By the 5 laps, I was lapped by the 2 leading riders.  One of them simply hit my rear tyre without any warning during the u-turn climb.  That was very unethical!  I also finished my water supply.  Lap 6 was very tiring with the sun rays biting my skin.  I saw my sweat evaporating from my hand, shirt and gloves.  I had to push my bike on the first steep climb, and took a minute rest.  Then, I pedaled all the way through the u-turn climb and to the starting line.  At the start of lap 7, I retired myself.  The leading rider was on his final lap.

Overall, the trail was not meant for mountain biking.  They used BMX trail with a lot of construction site road that full with rock and sharp boulders.  I saw several riders fell down with severe injury.  Furthermore, the race started at mid afternoon!  But, I can see the different between the weekend riders and coached (national and state) riders.  They have a lot more stamina but very little skill.  No wonder they didn't compete in the MTB Carnival at Bukit Kiara, where the trails are a lot more technical and steeper.

We had our lunch at 3:30 p.m at Penchala.  The photos that Arif took were excellent, with a lot of angles and panoramic views of the actual race scenario.  Click here for the photo shoot.  As a conclusion, now I know the position of my stamina and skill.  I'm a trail rider that love mountain biking, and continue to ride all the mountain, with all the riders, all year round.

Singletrack: Up and down the u-turn with a lot of flying gravel, large rocks and sharp boulders.

Climbing: 2 major climbs with a lot of short-burst steep climbs.  Not to forget, BMX style climbs.  The first major climb has loose palm-size rocks and loose soils, but ride-able.  The second major climb is at the u-turn singletrack that full with loose gravel and rocks, and also sharp boulders.

Descending: Not too steep and mainly on loose gravel and rocks.

Crossing: No river crossing, but one monsoon drain crossing.. weird.

IMBA trail rating: In my opinion, this in not a mountain bike trail, rather a construction site road.

Date: 12 Mar 2006

Venue: Bukit Kiara

Again, Arif didn't joined us for the downhill group ride at MK Land trails.  Zali, Asri, Adika and xxx catched us at the Janie's Addiction junction.  Today, Janie's Addiction trail felt easy, although I didn't ride the first downhill.  Adika and Wan Johan were fast.  Me, Asri and xxx were riding at our own pace.

On the way to Kg. Segambut Dalam, the Indonesian's "rumah haram" were teared down by the authorities.  I saw the Indonesians were salvaging their properties, and I also saw the women trying hard to calm their young.  It was a sad side of my mountain biking life, but I believed the authorities were right this time.  For the foreigners, come to Malaysia legally, and we treat you equally.

We took a break at Devi's Corner today.  Wan Johan needed the break.  With the recovery, he then climbed all the way up the steep uphill leading to Boulder trail.  Meanwhile, I hit a rock 2 meters near the peak and lost my momentum.  Everyone laughed at me.  The 4K trails contains several steep descents, I rode them all except the last one.  I couldn't see the trail line as it was filled with leaves.  Then we rode the 2K trail.  Zali was busy trying to do the jump at the purpose-built ramp.  Me and Wan Johan continued riding the 2K and eventually rode the Carnival trail.  I just love the Carnival trail!

Date: 5 Mar 2006

Venue: Bukit Kiara

This time me, Arif and Wan Johan were early.  We climbed the Twin Peaks.  When we arrived at the Janie's Addiction junction, Arif pulled off to catch the downhill group ride at MK Land trails.  Me and Wan Johan continued to full loop.  Somebody cleared the fallen tree at the Janie's Addiction trail.  Thank you.  But, I got off my bike there because there were lots of loose branches.  Safety first.

We rode the Clintcher's trail quite fast today.  We straight away cycled to Plan C trail.  This time, I rode up the steep hill leading to Boulder, and all the way to Snake and Ladder.  Today, the downhill at Snake and Ladder was dry.  We then took the Carnival for final descend.

Date: 4 Mar 2006

Venue: Bukit Kiara

We rode along with Zali, Asri, Kevin and 2 other guys (forgot their names.. sorry!).  Arif and Wan Johan didn't show up.

We went down Janie's Addiction and found a fallen tree on the second diamond rated downhill.  We broke the branched so that we can get through it.

We didn't stop at Devi's Corner and straight to Boner.  After Plan C trail, I couldn't rode all the way up the steep uphill leading to Boulder trail.  The downhill at Snake and Ladder was quite slippery today.  Zali and the group continued to 4K.  I, however, go straight to Carnival to catch for daughter's birthday.  Happy birthday Julia!

Date: 26 Feb 2006

Venue: Broga

Organiser: KLMBH

We joined KLMBH in their hash on 26 Feb 2006 at Broga.

Our report:

Ride type: Long (approximately 26km, my ride time was 1 hour and 55 minutes including stops and "wondering around")

Singletrack: The singletracks were at the beginning and just before the long tarmac home ride.  A lot of doubletracks.

Climbing: Easy in the beginning until you reach the steep cement road. Then came the ultra-long palm oil estate climb, but not as slant as the cement road.

Descending: Many palm oil doubletracks descend, with quite an exciting final singletrack slope.

Crossing: About 6 river (stream) crossings.  All exciting!

IMBA trail rating: Blue (I think)

2005 achieves

The 2005 rides achieves were censored for safety and sensitivity reasons.