45km Epic @ Ulu Tamu

Some quotes taken from various cycling forums about the recent KLMBH 45km Epic at Ulu Tamu:

Quote from em97y:
“Wow. The mud”

Quote from Rocketboy:
“A fantastic ride”

Quote from pigpen pat:
“No doubt about it, that was an epic, one that is likely to be the benchmark for some time to come”

Quote from jhiggi10:
“A top ride and huge fun - although feeling pretty stiff today! Really enjoyed the longer distance, especially with 2nd half being 100% rideable”

Quote from Basje:
“Absolutely PERFECT ride. It took me 5:57 to complete both loops, and I must say, the family jewels didn't feel very epic anymore after that. The route was really nice, completely rideable with the rare exception of some bomb craters or UFO landing area's, not sure what that was”

Quote from unkaleong:
"Bee Stings, lost cyclocomputer, mud and all..It was truly an Epic ride. Many thanks to the hares and the organisers! What really made the Hash memorable was finishing with Lee Nya, Roland and Shang. The 2nd loop just seemed to roll by (chain suck non-withstanding) with the clan"

As for me, it was a great off-road ride. The first loop was challenging, with excellent combination of singletracks and doubletracks, plus the hills were reasonably steeo. There were lots of mud that easily make your chain sucked. I finished the first loop at 12:15 p.m.

The second loop was nearly no singletrack. It was rolling up and rolling down of the palm oil and rubber plantation estates... fast and fun. I liked certain parts of the doubletracks because they were laid with rocks to reinforce them. It was still muddy though.

[On the second loop - Me in the middle]

[After the ride - Still smiling with helmet hair]

Safety Always Comes First

Recent development of material manipulation and crafting, the mountain bikes are getting lighter. At the same time, there are tremendous improvements in the shock technology. These two progressions promotes longer travel full suspension, hence more aggressive riding. Consequently, the freeriding and downhill riding are becoming more popular than ever.

When more people pick up freeriding and downhill riding, there are bound to be a few newbies that eager to ride more. Riding more, for new comers, can be risky. The first recorded bicycle accident is probably a collision in 1842, allegedly between Kirkpatrick McMillan, an early rider of the velocipede, and a young girl in Glasgow. The report, however, is vague and the identification disputed.

There are a few causes of accidents, but the one that I would like to discuss here is sharing of trails.

Sharing of trail means respecting each user, irrespective of their riding style. Cross country riders have the niche to climb every hills presented to them, however downhillers love gravity to do its function. One up, one down… if they share a trail, they are bound to meet at a point. The meeting point, if adrenaline is high, is probably where they collide.

The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) is an excellent resource on trail system design, trail building and maintenance. They advocate that, if the trail is shared, then safety always comes first.

In Bukit Kiara, there is also a rider ethics being advocated. Again, safety always comes first.

Don't get this saddle..

Just don't get this saddle. Look at the photos...

[Crocket titanium rail]

[No balance]

[Thin saddle, with crocket rails]

[Left: Dirty but usable saddle; Right: Clean but deformed rail]