Yes sir, u read the title! I cycled up genting! What was a long ago dream when i was just into the cycling world is now a reality come true!
I wont talk abt how i climbed Sempah coz its boring and u all pretty much know the route. And i wont talk much abt reaching Gohtong Jaya coz ive done that before. Only difference this time is I took things slower to save energy.
In the beginning me and Jeremy cycled from wangsa maju to HOA to meet up with Bahri, Clarence and Kevin. Mr Soffian was there also. So we took a slow 1+++ hr ride up to sempah. Arif , Adrian and Adeline were already waiting up there for us. Celine (Kevins gf) also came as support car to transport us down. She went to genting first to wait.
So after climbing sempah, we all went up and met the other 3 guys just after the first check point. So 9 idiots are going to attemp Genting Higlands on this very day in history. For me, dgm, clarence, jeremy and adeline it is our first time up all the way. Wonder if we can do it.
So after reaching Gohtong for s short pit stop we continued to start hell up the mountain. Its classical even more with the cold air and wind blowing. Heavy clouds all the way up. The real deal starts after passing the Lim Goh Tong memorial.......and just 1km later the monster climbs came. Easily 10% - 17% gradients. From beginning till now my speed varied from 6kmh to 10kmh going up.
The first beast was the left hand turn up. On a bike u see the steepness closer. Even a car stalled just at the corner. And i pushed really hard to go up..........fortunately i can keep things going. Along the way up even more climbs came. I just sat down and slowly pushed the pedals. We did pit stop a few times to see how are the rest. Adeline Arif and Adrian all were ahead. I was a sweeper to take care of the rear.
Once i found all were ok, i proceeded. After passing the chinese temple things got more worse as the road is long and up. Passing the cable car line. Then passing Peacehaven again. I though it be the best way to have some closure on leaving camp. Still miss it somehow. Haha. I stopped there to eat a banana. Arif and Adrian was there too coz Adrian had a puncture. Kev went straight up. Another 3 fellas behind. So i continued. After Peacehaven its only 1.2km to the top. But its the worst climb of the whole mountain. At one point i was standing to push a mere 5kmh. But after a short suffering i managed to reach the top with Kev. Took me nearly 2 hours to climb up a 17km mountain.........gosh......
Cant really describe how i fell to finish the 4th toughest climb in the cycling world. We went to Starbucks at First World Hotel. Got lots of stares. Who sees riders up there everyday? Along the way up we got lots of honks and cheers from drivers as well. Found Celine and waited slowly for the others. After we all gathered we went down. Arif and Adrian rode down. Rest of us got support car ride. Clarence DGM and Adeline went to Gohtong. Then me n Jeremy were sent home by our kind Kevin Han. Hehe. One note............wearing cycling tights n shirt up there sweating is FREEZING COLD. I suffered more in the cold than on the bike. Id rather suffer on the bike. :P
But it was a pretty darn crazy and amazing ride. And the most amazing thing is, Jeremy Clarence, Adeline me and Bahri made it on our first try. Though Bahri n Clarence had to walk on certain places but.........as long they are up here........doesnt matter! Congrats and im proud of them.
Order of riders arrived :
1 - Kevin Han
2 - Darren Chan
3 - Arif Adrian n Adeline
4 - Jeremy
5 - Clarence and Bahri
Some photos to share : (taken with permission from Jeremy's Friendster)
Regroup at Sempah
The other brave souls going up with us........Soffian only made to Gohtong.
The road after the first check point.......steep eh?
Red bus!!!!
How steep u think is that?
Second pit stop at the round about
Gohtong turn left......but go up first......
Bahri@dgm. See how sexy his butt is?
Awana Resort.......nice view
L - R :Jeremy Clarence Bahri. Clarence in pain i think.....
Look at the monster behind Bahri.......
Pit Stop 3
Good ol' me climbing like a snail.......
Kevin with his new carbon wheels climbing like a slug........
Like i said......long winding uphilly roads.........
My rear end and 7km more to the top
Corner just before the temple
If he didnt hold the post he would have fallen on the right side........
Desperate times...........
The pagoda
The cable car lines......
Another monster......
Almost there.......within last 1km
Its a long road.........
Finally reached!!!!
Misty n cloudy.........and cold.......brrr
Resort Hotel
Yipee!!! At First World!!!
Our elevation.........1630 meters .....almost 5000 feet above sea level.
My bike and Kevs.......they made it too.....
Clarence's one
Either that is a smile or a painful expression........
Bahri's little one......
Jeremys ride
Me and Jeremy......with our bikes......in starbucks first world.
