Today was suppose to be the day that i am introduced to one of malaysian cycling's most daunting routes, Broga. Above is the map of the route roughly sketched by a fellow rider. Curi for a while ya. Hehe
So it was to be a 138km hill torturing ride more than 5 hrs long.
Saturday (26/4)
6. 00am
I got up and brushed teeth. Did all the usual. Packed a little the night before. Day before i bought 3 bunches of bananas and 2 big 100Plus bottles as a sponsor for this event. Proved handy later. Then my ribena softpack was nicely strapped to my seatpost with electrical tape. Never know when u need Vit C and glucose boost on long epic journeys.
As i was done and changed.........SUDDENLY.........i felt this sharp pain on my left tummy side which literally got me to the floor. Man, i tot this was it. I cant go. Somethings wrong. Of all times. But i remembered one thing, pray for healing! So i layed my hands on my tummy and prayed in tounges for healing. Literally SOS call to God for healing coz i really wana ride this trip. Every cyclist should at least try Broga once in their life. So after 3 minits of prayer.......the pain gradually subsided. THANK GOD!!! Hallelujah! I got up.....quickly got ready and left house at abt 6.30. Meeting Axy (W2R rider and ride organiser) at Shell station beside Carrefour Wangsa Maju.
6.45
He reached with brother along. So we packed my bike in the boot. 2 bikes on roof. And we shot to Batu 18, which is in Hulu Langat, the edge of Selangor and the Titiwangsa mountain range, which is Malaysia's backbone.
7:25am
Everyone gathered at a small carpark and got ready for the ride. About 10 of us. Mostly guys from W2R. Loaded 4 bananas in my rear jersey pocket. Need it man. Bottle up with 100Plus n plain water. Unfortunately we had a small hiccup with Axy's brothers bike. We cant change the pedals so tat he can ride. Sad. Tot of going home.........first find the missing car keys. So we left.......and i knew Axy's brother was disappointed.
7:45am
We are off! In the map the arrow shows a counter clock direction which is the classical route normally ppl take. This way is u will go on flat roads then tackle the hills. Which is more torturous esp when in the mid day sun. But today we take the hills first and then flats last......at least its not TOO bad, but still looks bad.
From here on as we steady head to Perez, which is the longest climb of abt 10+ km long. I got and idea suddenly for Axy's brother : Why not he become support car with our supplies? I still had loads of drinks n bananas in the car. Axy rang his bro and he was glad to be our support car. Yay! After about 8-10km or so tru kampung roads (this place really is ULU)........we came to the junction to turn left to Perez. And we started climbing immediately. Guys like Arif, Alwin all kuat kuat belaka climbed in front. I just wanted to enjoy the ride and see what this route is like.
Perez is much like Genting Sempah, but it has many flat areas. Only the peak u have to push up more. But the view of the hills, mountains, forests from up here is beautiful. Cool air in the 8.20am morning sun. Really nice. By 9am we all regrouped at the top of Perez. Two ladies, Michelle n May Senn came in with Vong companying them. Ate some bananas. Then continue.......see........i told u the support car was handy! What goes up must come down..........and so i thought. Just when i tot going downhill was about to be fun coz the corners here are nice and long and some really sharp and technical........the road goes up more abit. Sienz..........
From Perez we passed Jelebu, yes that means we are actually in Negeri Sembilan liao........at this point mileage is abt 30km+ i think. Maybe 40. Long lonely winding roads before we stop at Kuala Klawang. Axy and me got chased by two dogs but i told him to relax and just keep pedaling. Usually dogs that chase wont bite. They are just protecting their territory from strangers. So just ignoring them will be good enough. Regrouped finally at Klawang. Waited for the tail end. Chatted. Got to know each other. Then view the bikes. And funny enough........Alwin noticed my calfs being huge and with all the veins popping out. I admit yes........they are really cyclist legs........just tat i duwana brag abt it. Now they all refer my veins as tali dawai.......just coz its so huge and........errr..........exposed? Purely cosmetic i assured all of them.
From KK we will proceed to Lenggeng, a fairly quite town. But we had to tackle the famous Bukit Tangga hill. When i first saw it i was like..........in awe. It just goes up.......moderatel gradient but its for 4 solid km u have to climb. Even the lorries are struggling in 1st gear. The mental part is when we reached a corner.........it just winds going up even more.........me and Axy were like......HOLY CRAP. Slowly we paced up. The champ of the group is Amin. 19yr old malay boy. But a very very strong rider. Used to ride for Wilayah Perseketuan Team. So......theres real cycling blood in him. He went up Bkt Tangga........came down........and went up again! At that time we still have yet to reach the top!!! Nuts wei.........seriously........
After we finally got to the top.......caught our breaths, and then the fun part...........DOWN! The downhill was really fun.........not technical like sempah.........so we can go faster and worry less. Headwinds were very strong.......it just slams to ur bike and can throw u off the bike. But i managed to handle. After down, we regrouped again at the road leading to Lenggeng. By now about 70km covered........i tink. My meter was a little cuckoo today......wont read my speed sometimes. So off again to Lenggeng. And just as i thought hills were over.......this one big monster just stared right at us. I was like shouting "Hooi! Apa benda itu???!!!" I was almost at the point of cursing. This was a solid 2km climb as tough as Bkt Tangga. Man these things just never end..........and after we got down this monster......another one pops up after that.........cant get any worse can it?
12 noon
Finally after much huffing n puffing we got to take lunch at Lenggeng. Yes it was 12 noon. We were all under the sun and on the bike for 4 hours. Good time for some carbo loading. Had 2 Ais Sirap and Maggi Sup. After about 30 minits eat n chit chat, we had to get going. By now already 80+km covered. Anoter 50 or so to go..........zzz.......when will it end.
As we exit Lenggeng onto some new roads still under construction and in repairs.......the 6 guys in front started to pull away with speed. At this stage i couldt catch up with them. I was actually just bent to keep riding at my pace. Axy i saw him struggling too but he was far in front. And Vong with the 2 ladies was behind me abt 100 meters. They caught up. Axy and the 6 guys were gone in front. I though i would just join this slow group. Slow.......was........an understatement. They were faster than me. And i had to play catch up alot. And Vong happily offered services to push the ladies forward. Not to me...........buat duh ajer dia. Ni yang tak aci pulak..........
After some time i got to go infront of them........and some how after some water and a banana.......i manage to get the power to push hard forwards. The road was widing........but thats what i like.......coz to me i go faster on winding roads.........probably there was tail wind as well which pushed me. I left the 3 behind. And far in the distance i saw Axy slowly riding. I notched up a gear.....and got into race position and finally caught him after about 5 minutes. We slowly rode.......and no sooner we were in the outskirts of Kajang. We had to use a short section of main roads..........civilization after 90km. Thank God.
Then we turn into the road which links back to Kuala Klawang and Batu 18. From here it was a very long straight busy road. Lots of potholes.......and my chain jumped off at 1 point. But i managed to get it back in without stopping.
The time at this moment was approximately 1.30 in the afternoon. more to 2pm i think. I wasnt focused on distance. I was just focused on getting home. I was in mid day hot sun. My arms have turned red......my legs are getting tired and im almost out of steam. Even Axy looks fresh than me. And he keeps complaining its boring coz the road is too straight and empty. Zzzz.........we entered Semenyih.......yes back in Selangor. I just reflected the last 100km or so when we crossed the Titiwangsa range and into N.Sembilan.
We passed the Nirvana Memorial Park and Christian Memorial Park which was super huge and really nice scenery. We had to cycle abit more to Tekala, a recreational spot with rivers and waterfalls. Finally we met the front guys there........happily sitting down drinking. Now its like 2.30 afternoon. We needed the rest........i was really almost unable to go further. Legs hurting. And theres still 23km left to the carpark. Stone markers help alot in times like this. AFter a milo ais and another banana.........we were on the way again. As soon we exited the Tekala rest area.........the last climb of the day looms ahead. Its not steep.......but long also. About 2km i think. The front guys always get away.......just me in the centre and the rest at the back slowly climbing. From here i got to see what the Semenyih Dam looks like. Its relatively a small dam........the front of the dam was nicely decorated with grass n trees.
But when u get pass the front wall........u will see the huge lake that forms behind it. It was HUGE! And awesome! Really beautiful scenes. It really took my breathe away.....apart from the climb that i was still doing. The road goes along the lake shore.......and since it winds in some parts........u can see different views of the damn and lake. The km's ticked by one by one slowly as i go through more lonely ulu roads. Some winding and a little downhills. Which im happy coz i almost dont wana pedal anymore. Finally we reached the junction to turn back to Batu 18 that we passed earlier in the morning. Now i got a little motivation to go fast. Just 10km more.......and im through with Broga. Funny i didnt mention Broga itself coz it was actually a small town, ntg much. Just ride through it only.
The final 5km seemed like eternity to get back. Takes abt 15 minutes or so but i felt its likt 30 minutes. Maybe coz im starting to get delusional. Lack of brain matter. But no doubt after suffering the final few km..........i reached back at the car park. Alwin, Arif, Amin all sampai dulu. I came in later followed by Axy the Vong and the two girls.
I really got of the bike and let off some steam........btw.......the time at the point was 3.50pm. We have been riding for almost 8hours........6 hours on the bike........2hours for rest. My legs were all stiff and literally out of shape. Walking was like an impossibility. I really felt the suffering of the climbs, the long roads, the heat and the exhaustion. This was a really epic ride. I think for this year.......Broga is enough for me. We packed the bikes and had more food at a stall beside. Then by 4.30 we are on the way home.
Man..........sickening tiredness was all over my legs the most. And i stood in the shower at least 10 minits to cool off.
Now i just had one tiny problem...........im riding tomoro (Sunday 27/4/2008). 80km........why? Coz i made a promise........which i tink was a wrong one to make.
I just hope the legs can recover fast..........or else im dead.
Broga Ride
Dist : 135km
Time : 5hrs 50 minutes
Avg speed: 24kmh
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