Route: Centrepoint-K Damansara-Sg Buloh-Ijok-Btg Berjuntai-Tg Karang-K Selangor-Kg Kuantan- Btg Berjuntai-Kg Jawa-Ijok-Guthrie Corridor-Kg Subang-K Damansara-Tropicana-Centrepoint (160KM)
After riding with PCC for almost 2 years, this is the first time I am writing a report about our ride. It is not an easy task as it forces me to recollect some details of the ride just two days ago. The problem is. I have a short memory …..
As usual, PK ride was always started at 7am sharp and as usual you can expect a long ride with short stops in Petronas. The plan was to revisit the same route that we went through just 3 weeks ago and this time everyone knows that it was a 160KM challenge. 160KM of endurance and 7 hours of sunshine (maybe less for some fast riders).
Arrived at Centrepoint at about 6.45am and saw a few riders already there setting up their machines and weapons ready to concur the challenges ahead. Knowing PK reputation for pushing off at 7 am sharp, I quickly got out of the car and got my stuffs ready. I did not count the number f riders turned up but it was estimated to be around 30 to 40 riders.
The ride pushed off at 7am at a decent pace of 25km/h at Kota Damansara and soon after Sungai Buloh, pace was increased to a decent 32-35km/h. The peloton was holding up well until the Indian temple near Ijok where several riders made a break away and peloton broke into smaller groups.
We made our first stop at Ijok Petronas to refill our bottles and also filled up out stomach. Shortly after that, the group from Kepong lead by "Jelly Belly" arrived at the same station. After a short rest, we pushed off to the next regroup point in Kuala Selangor. A few riders who opted for a shorter route turned back to Centrepoint lead by Don. "Jelly Belly" group joined us to Kuala Selangor and made the total group to be around 20+ riders.
I can still remember the mind weakening "long, flat and never ending" road that we rode in the last ride to Kuala Selangor. So, I knew I needed to conserve my energy in order to "survive" this ride. When I found a "first class spot" just right behind my hero "Jelly Belly", I drafted behind him as long as I could to enjoy the "vacuum" effect created by him. Thanks mate. Unfortunely, after several KMs of enjoying this privilege, I have to give away this position when a dog that decided to "commit suicide" dashed across the streets, cut through the peloton in between me and my hero. The dog hit my front wheel and I had to slow down. I was lucky enough to be able to hold my balance to avoid crashed and kissing the tarmac. The rest of the journey was quite uneventful until everyone reached Kuala Selangor, the "Kampung Kelip-kelip" Petronas station. The time check then was 10.30 am and the cyclometer shown reading of around 100KM. We have made a reasonably good pace this far. The sun started to turn violent and we started to feel the heat above us.
After resting about 25 minutes, we pushed off again toward Ijok via Kampung Kuantan, Batang Berjuntai and Kampung Jawa. The peloton was divided into 2 groups with the front group lead by Daniel Lim, Shahrin and the other "Speedy Gonzalez" gang members. I started to feel tired and butt was painful by now. But what choice do I have? I just had to "tahan" as it was still about another 50KM to go. Suddenly, Azahar shouted "KOM depan" and he just sped pass me flying up the hill when we entered Batang Berjuntai. A few riders followed suit but unfortunately, I was too far behind to see who the winner was. I was dropped miserably about 2-3 KM before IJOK Petronas, rode alone to the station.
After refilled our bottles and short rest, we started our journey for the last 40KM via Guthrie Highway. The faster group pushed forward and they were lost in sight in no time. To me, this is the most challenging stretch of today ride as body was tired and the sunshine penetrated deep into my skin layers. I had to make 2 more short stops (one under the bridge before Guthrie Highway and the other in Petronas Kampung Subang to cool down and rest. Better to do that to avoid "heat stroke" that can be detrimental to body.
Reached back to Centrepoint at 2.30 pm with body "well tanned", extremely exhausted and just in time to avoid the rain. Rainfall started to pour right after we reached Centrepoint.
Overall, it was a good ride and it felt harder compared to the last ride 3 weeks ago. I completed the ride 1 hour later that the last one. Probably, it was due to the hot weather. It was relatively uneventful ride with some small incidences in the peloton. Thanks all for the ride pals.
By CC Wong
No comments:
Post a Comment