If yesterdays ride wasnt enough.........i dont know why i made a crazy decision to join Bahri and Clarence and the PCC group ride today. Finally my name CrazyDarren is justified.
I just wanted to do a short ride today........coz i duwana punish my legs anymore beyond repair. yesterday was punishing enough.
Okay heres a recap..........
5.20am
I had to wake up really early today coz i have to ride to Centerpoint, near 1 Utama.......FROM Wangsa Maju. Zzzz.......this is what happens when i dont have a car. I ride there. Google earth says its 22km to the gathering point at Centerpoint, Damansara. So got up........legs felt better than yesterday.......hope they can survive today. By 6am i was on the move to CP. Im taking the MRR2. A faster route is the Sprint highway from Jalan Duta but at this dark and early morning........i rather take a route i know very well. So........cycling on the MRR2 alone in the wee hours was.......err......interesting. And i managed to keep steady pace of 25kmh........and by simple estimation.......i should reach CP in under an hour.
6.50
After all that navigation on the highway and slowly taking my time..........i finally reached 1 Utama.....and went straight on to CP abt 1km away. I was just in time. Just had 10 minutes of rest. I saw Bahri and Clarence. They were obviously stunned i actually cycled from wangsa maju to damansara..........im pretty amazed myself. Saw Kenny also from yesterdays ride. He also gave me the thumbs up for making it. Vong was there to. He memang is power rider one. Not a problem for him. PK Yeoh, ride organiser was on scene to coordinate and brief everyone before we left at 7am sharp. I dont know what hell im going to go through. Well........kayuh jer lah. Die die la
So we left CP........went on to Kota Damansara........then took some back road till somehow we reach Sg Buloh........i also duno what route is this coz its my first time. Slow first 20km. Well slow means 25kmh above.........with some pro riders in the field i am a bit worried at times if i can catch up. Then someone had a puncture........so we all avoided colliding into him and he stopped by the side to change tube. I guess he was ok.
SO after we stopped a while at the Guthrie exit where the 45km riders will turn back.........i was feeling quite sayang........how nice if Clarence n Bahri also were taking here......then can go back early n sleep more. Zzzz.......about 7 ppl took the route back. Still we had like 25 people in the main pack. We zoomed off towards Ijok from here on. Roads were undulating as PK said. And the pace was fairly high, 30-35kmh. Somehow, thank God, the legs felt good and can keep up. No cramps or tireness from yesterday much present today. Got abit la..........but bareable. By now about 30km or so covered. Ijok not far actually but today everything just seemed further and time was slower.......zzzz........half regretting now tat i followed.
Now this road from sg buloh to ijok and to kuala selangor i know very well coz its the same road me n my dad takes to go home. And after the small undulations we will hit the snake road.......it twists and turns for about 2km...........a tiny uphill. As we entered the snake.........i lost the first group. I cant follow. Bahri was infront. Clarence n kev were behind. Forgot to mention Kevin also joined. Finally saw his new frame.........Trek 5500 carbon frame.
There were ppl still behind me.........but i was by myself when suddenly Debbie caught me halfway in the snake. So well i did the job to pull her along at a steady 30kmh. The first group was like 200 infront. After exiting the snake i manage to catch Bahri and we reached the Petronas station in no time. Everyone regrouped. Bought loads of 100PLus, chocolates, bars, bread. Refueling time. And coz we are pretty large sized group in a petrol station..........we got attention ALOT. Haha.......nice thing is we are cool and healthy people. Who needs Paris Hilton?
I was talking to Kenny asking him how was he after yesterday. He seems fine. And he will do the full distance 140km. Bahri also doing. Clarence at first doing 80. But Kevin n Bahri poisoned him to go. Idiot fella. Betray his own words. NOW all 3 of them attacking me to go also. Coz i wanted to turn back from here with the 80km group. I didnt want to go any further.
Bahri : Come la Darren, even PK's son go all the way
Darren : That is PK's son. IM not PK's son!
Clarence : Come la, if u come Bahri sure send u home........u no need pedal back.
Darren : No la.......i really duwant.
Kevin : Come la........u are Darren u know............u can one
Darren : yeah so? U guys go la
Bahri : Aiseh........this fella.......cis
So after about 20 minits we left. The 80km ppl go back the same way. The 140km ppl go on ahead. Bahri left. Kev left. Clarence left. Then i left as well. Pedaling slowly. I just hope i made the right choice..............
Well...........u know me..............crazydarren.............
At the last possible moment........i chose the 140 group. I duno why i did it. I just lay it all before God and hope He just takes care of my legs.
So now i had a nice game to play...........creep up and quietly follow them. For 1km they still didnt realise i was following behind. Then clarence n Kev saw me......so cat out of the bag. Bahri was way in front. As soon as clarence wanted to spring up to bahri to tell.........i had a plan. I sprinted pass all of them........and stuck behind bahri for a while. He didnt notice me right behind his wheel for a long time.
Then our traffic commander of the day.........duno whats his name........decided to sprint ahead to catch the front group. We at the back about 8 of us were taking things slow. Then suddenly........we all heard a loud squeal........and our commander was virtually drifting sideways and 45kmh........holding on for dear life. His back wheel has locked.........i noticed his chain is stuck. We all slowed and let him some space IF he was going to crash. But thank God he handled the bike superbly...........manage to get to the side........and do a checkup. We all stopped to help him. the lead group was far in front. But we attended him first. Hes ok. Mechanical problem. And he also lost a screw and spring for the rear brake......with out it........he has no rear brake. After some time he gave the all go to continue.......salute him. I checked with him and he was ok. Told him minus the rear brake more challenge mah. Test skill now. Haha.
So we found the lead group waiting.........we all went on to the outskirts of Sg Tinggi. But before we reach there........its a very long long long straight road.......no end ahead and we were doing constant 31- 35kmh. I drafted behind the whole time.........legs were starting to get some burning felling.......but was bearable. As long i was behing someones wheel at least 1 foot.......im safe in the slip stream. It really can be felt. If i just peek out of the persons rear wheel........i can feel the wind pushing me.......then when i get back behind..........i get very still n quite air. Saves 30% of energy to draft behind riders, which is why group riding is an important skill to learn if doing long distance. You have to be able to ride in the group behind a rider in double file with the rider next to u just 5 inches away. Some people find it hard to ride even 2 feet beside.......let alone 5 inches.
Drafted steady when i notice lots of activity at the front. I was guessing a sprint and attack coming. True enough they uped the speed to almost 40. I didnt want to be part of the attacks for today, My legs gotta get me all the way back. After some really boring 30km long straight road........we reached our stop of the day a fruit stall. Lots of bananas and coconuts and drinks. We had a fruit feast. Me and clarence got some coconut water......me added a coke and 2 bananas later. Then we talked abt the incident earlier. Really like Tokyo Drift. Haha. Jokingly i said he must have been practising at Sepang.
My meter reads 97km now........officially its 71km......extra 26 was from house to CP. So at about 10.30 we left for CP again. So we went back the same way to Ijok. Just as we got in a smooth pace......someone puncture and so we stopped to wait........I welcomed another opportunity to rest actually. Haha.......at the expense of anothers problems. We all waited under some shade and joked abt for 10 minutes. Later we got on track again back the long potholed rough and dirty road. Reached Ijok petronas again at abt 11.30..........stopped to refuel more again. Somehow half the gang decided to lepak in the station with the aircond munching away chips and bread and more 100Plus and coke.
Almost 12pm now........and we were off again. Grouped up.........and rode as a unit.........that is when we reached the snake again. This time Kenny picked up the pace..........and another rider followed. So happen i was in front also.........4th rider........so me and 3rd rider gave chase. Steady 40kmh we did...........and we split the bunch into pieces. After a while for about 3km i gave up........even PK's son faster than me.............but hey.......i did Broga the day before k? Excuse me.
Then i caught Kenny........and Debbie was behind me drafting. About 7 guys were infront going well at 40. They disappeared from sight. For sure cannot catch. I just did 28- 30kmh slowly pulling Kenny n Debbie. I knw they are tired so i took liberty to pull them. Then down the road the stopped at and underpass waiting. The lead group was in a shed 100 meters ahead. We waited for PK and the rest.......Clarence Kev and Bahri. Abt 5 minits later PK Kev and another 2 came up.........Clarence and Bahri still behind. Then as soon we saw them we left. The lead group was long and gone.
We turned into the Guthrie Highway which is a shortcut back to CP........slightly faster than using Sg Buloh. But that place was like pure highway.........ntg but open road and hot sun beating down on tired legs and not to mention........pesky uphills again. The remaining 10 people were split up again.........riders in front and back of me. I went slow at a comfortable pace. This time was like almost 1.30pm. I was really praying for CP to come sooner.......my legs almost cannot tahan. We got off the Guthrie after about 20 minits...........slow ride..........then we stopped at another petronas...........hogged the aircon and ate more. I had ice cream. ^^ hot days............
10 minutes rest we went on for the final push.......i sense we are not that far. Lots of signs pointing to Kota Damansara and Tropicana. So i led the group this time........pulling them again at 30kmh. Till we reached a hill............which reduced me to 23kmh..........i knw ppl at the back were like cursing me for being slow.......but hey..........i did 290km prior to this.........now meters were reading 150+ on mine. Shouldnt be far if estimates are right. So we entered Damansara area finally after 10 minutes. A malay chap, Kenny, Debbie me and Kev were together........riding towards CP. PK and wife n son were slightly ahead of us. Behind us further were Bahri Clarence n Jeff.........apparently all 3 of them cramp. Zzzzz...........kesian..........
I overshot a traffic light to turn right. But somehow i backtracked to catch up. Luckily got hill to slow them down so i can catch up. Then i saw tropicana golf and country resort. We are really near the finish now. I began shouting like no ones business. Just little bite more to go. After some corners.......and another 1km+ riding........i saw CP......... OH MAN!!!!!!!! Something i have been asking to see since 7am this morning. Man.......i really cant believe what i just did.
Arriving at 2.30 i just really sighed a huge relief and let off more steam. Even Kenny had some encouraging words......we both did Broga 135km the day before.......and today we did 140km Ijok..........well 167 for me.......so i did 302 km in 2 days. Think of it as preparation for Interstate in August. But for now........im just so damn happy i finished. The lead group all cabut earlier. They got here 1hr ealier. Zzzzzz........
Now all i had to do is wait for bahri and clarence. Bahri promised to send me home. And THAT is why i chose the 140 km. I rather have a car home then ride home. Coz if not i be riding home alone on the MRR2 in mid day which i dont want to do. Rather suffer with riders.
Both of them came in abt 10 minutes later. Relating their problems and ordeals.
But they both were also drained...........them? Drained? Even Kev complained it was tough. Yes it was.........but unless u did 135km Broga the day before they have yet to know what my poor legs have gone tru. Now im almost like a fried sausage........from raw color to cooked color.........
But after 10 minutes rest we all cabut home. I just wana be in time for church sevice at 5pm. Yes i knw im tired. But still God deserves the same attention always.
Until now my legs have finally felt the pain. Comparatively todays ride was hard but not as punishing as the previous days ride. Its more bearable. But its still an achievement in my cycling experience. Duno if i will do another crazy thing like this
CP - Ijok - Sg Tenggi - Ijok - CP
Dist : 140km (Original), 167km (Darrens meter)
Time : 6hours on the bike , 7.5hrs total time
Avg speed : 27kmh
GILA!!!!!!!
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