PCC Presidential Ride 2009 - Mountain Biking

I bravely took part in the 65km off-road PCC Presidential Ride 2009 on Sunday, 16 August 2009, at Broga, Semenyih, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The ride started and ended at University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus.

Statistics from my Cateye:
Distance : 67.34 km.

Max speed : 43.3 km/h.

Average speed: 13.3 km/h.

Ride time : 4 hrs 52:57 minutes

Statistics from my memory:

CP1:
Arrived - 0910 hours.
Rest - ~5 mins.
Drink - 1 Revive.
Food - 1 Banana.

CP2:
Arrived - 1050 hours.
Rest - ~5 mins.
Drink - 2 Revive.
Food - 1 Banana.

Cramp - Rest ~15 mins.

CP3:
Arrived - 1205 hrs.
Rest - ~20 mins.
Drink - 1 Revive & 1 hydration salt drink.
Food - One piece of bread.

CP4:
Arrived - 1355 1345* hrs.

All times are estimates, except arrival time at CP4.
* Correction (27 Sep 2009): Arrived at CP4 at 1345 hrs, and arrived at start/end at 1355 hrs.

Other interesting statistics:

Powerbar Gel - 4 sacks; 2 strawberry banana & 2 tangerine flavour.

Water - More than 3 liters (with refill at the checkpoints (CP)).

Fall - None.. yahoo!!

Cramps - Twice at both thigh muscles! Sh*t, sh*t...!

Stream crossings - 3.

Bridges - Too many to remember...

Best uphill - Between CP3 and CP4. Several of them here... crazy but damn fun!

Best downhill - Also between CP3 and CP4. Singletrack descent and the last section of long doubletrack downhill.

Best singletrack - Also between CP3 and CP4. Lots of them.. lovely :)

Best flat section - Between CP1 and CP2. All in big ring (44T).

Love & hate section - The uphill cement climb, singletrack though...

Worst sections - Tarmac between CP2 and CP3.. I got cramped here!

Brake problem - None.

Shifting problem - None.

Suspension problem - None.

Puncture - None.

Traction - Great.

Comfort problem - Slightly and need to consider cut-out saddle next time.

Stupid riders - Plenty..! Especially the one that knocked his pedal on my left knee during an "unrideable" ditch section.

Best booth - Cycling Asia.

Pre-ride dinner - Several slices of Domino's pizza; thin crust, separate Extravaganza & Aloha Chicken toppings. Lots of water and two glasses of hydration salt drink.

Pre-ride breakfast - Yoghurt, one slice of bread with lots of cranberry jam, water & a glass of hydration salt drink.

Post-ride lunch - None. Too tired to eat. Only two glasses of hydration salt drink.

Post-ride dinner - My wife cooking. Great Malaysian nasi lemak, with prawn sambal, fried eggs, fried chicken, Japanese cucumber. There were also lasagna, but I was only tasting it. Oh! yeah.. the dessert was chocolate fondant with ice cream... yummy!

Some of the photos from my handphone:
[Except the first one, courtesy from Phil Bee. Yeahh.. that's me.]

This is mountain biking!

Finally, I personally would like to thank to University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus, for allowing the riders to utilise their campus as the base for the start/finish.

My first video blog

This is my first blog with moving pictures.

All the 3 videos are from You Tube, and I thank the persons who are willing to share it for all of us.

The first one is about the first 2009 World Cup XC race in South Africa, the second one is the 2009 World Cup XC race in Houffalize and the last one in Offenburg.

Enjoy it..

Tell me how do you like them...

True yet Funny about 2009 Tour de France

I was reading this true yet funny article about Tour de France 2009 from Eurosport's Blazin' Saddles:

"The Rocky Balboa Award for triumph in the face of adversity: Alberto Contador, who won his fourth Grand Tour in succession despite having as much support from his Astana team as a papier mache column in monsoon season. He even had to use his brother as a driver to get to the start of key stages after the team bus left without him!

The High-School Biggest Bully Award: Lance Armstrong, who despite his worthy intentions in the global fight against cancer, proved to be both nasty and oppressive at times. One side showed the Texan getting chummy with virtually everyone in the peloton (and Hollywood) while another saw the 37-year-old terrorize his team leader with a series of undermining interviews and posts on Twitter.

Worst Professionals: Armstrong and Johan Bruyneel for spitefully upstaging both Contador and Astana with information of their new RadioShack outfit before the race had even finished. No doubt, had the American been in yellow at the time, the focus would have been somewhat different.

Not Bad for an Old Man: Regardless of his behaviour, third place on the world's hardest bike race after more than three and a half years out is not to be baulked at. Without a broken collarbone in May, who knows what Armstrong could have achieved?

Best Sub-Plot: The fight for the green jersey was a feisty affair, with Cav the Chav unable to beat the Bull of Grimstad despite taking an imperious six stages on his way to completing the race for the first time. Thor Hushovs's solo break in the mountains to net vital intermediate sprint points showed the world why the big Norwegian probably tops Cav in the popularity stakes, but the scene is perfectly set for more fireworks in 2010.

Best Addition to the Tour: Twitter. It enabled you to see behind-the-scenes pictures of riders in their compression socks; it showed a new side to Cadel Evan's personality (the guy loves emoticons); it was used as a battle ground between LA and his many opponents, be it Garmin, AC or the race organisers; it allowed almost 600 contented souls to follow BS on twitter.com/saddleblaze.

Best Bike Handler: After becoming one of the first two Japanese riders to complete the Tour, Skil-Shimano's Fumiyuki Beppu performed an astonishing bouncy wheelie on the Champs Elysees that would make Robbie McEwen green with envy.

Best Boxer (prior to injury): Dutchman Piet Rooijakkers tried to give Cav a rib-crack during one tense sprint finish before suffering a horrible multiple fracture of the same arm days later.

Best Brothers: Despite early pressure from the frères Feillus, with their Erik Zabel-inspired black flattop hair styles, the Schleck brothers came good with a stage win and a podium place between them. With Andy touted to join RadioShack, would that be like taking the thin slice of meat from a ham and cheese sandwich?

Were You Really There?: Quick Step and Tom Boonen- did the Belgian team or their party-boy figurehead do anything of any merit during the three weeks? Poor Allan Davis.

Surely Team Leaders Next Year: Luis-Leon Sanchez, Jurgen Van den Broeck, Vicenzo Nibali.

Nonentity Come Good: Unknown, 31-year-old Italian journeyman Rinaldo Nocentini donned the yellow jersey for a whole week.

Tyler Hamilton Award for Riding When Collared: George Hincapie completed the race despite a broken collarbone sustained four days before Paris. And you thought climbing the Ventoux and delivering Cavendish for a sixth win was hard enough as it is.

So Near Yet So Far Award: Hincapie missing yellow by five seconds in Besancon. That'll teach him for sitting up towards the finish.

Most Bitter Award: Hmm, this is a toss up between Cav calling the Thor's green jersey "stained" and Garmin upping the tempo to stop Hincapie wearing yellow for one day for rival US team Columbia-HTC.

Humpty Dumpty Award: The Giro should have been proof: not that Menchov was a class rider, but that he couldn't stay on his bike if his life depended upon it.

Best Analogy: Bradley Wiggins calling stage 17 "a bit of a brothel" - presumably because it contains lots of up and down. That said, Cyril Guimard's comparing Evans's Pyrenean breakaway to "the last cigarette of a condemned man" must get a shout, if only for its ability to make BS picture Cadel with a fag propped in the dimple of his generous chin.

Biggest Schnozzle: The only thing more astonishing than Pierrick Fedrigo's stage win was the size of his almighty snout. They don't call him The Nose of Marmande for nothing, you know. Even Chris Boardman said it was the most aerodynamic piece of cycling equipment he had ever seen.

Biggest Token Rider: Everyone presumed that Astana's Dmitriy Muranyev was only brought along to the Tour because of his nationality and the Kazakh did little during the race to prove otherwise.

Biggest Disappointment: It's a toss up between 2008 champion Carlos Sastre, the current Giro giant Denis Menchov and the previous two-times runner-up Cadel Evans. All three had complete shockers.

Unluckiest Rider: Even the peloton's toughest nut couldn't get back on the bike after his ghoulish high-speed fall in the Alps. It compounded a difficult Tour for Jens Voigt, who saw an untimely puncture end a breakaway chance in a previous stage.

Biggest Surprise: Brad Wiggins, who lost a lot of weight and became a mountain goat on his way to fourth place. The only previous Tour the Briton had completed was in 2006 when he finished a lowly 124th, three and a half hours down and behind the likes of Robbie McEwen and current team-mates Davids Millar and Zabriskie. Such is his transformation, Wiggo has targeted a victory by 2012.

RadioShack 2010: Armstrong, A Schleck, Nibali, Leipheimer, Horner, Hincapie, Zubeldia, Chavanel, B Feillu"

Intesting huhh...

2x9

A 3x9 is a typical setup for mountain bikes. Three chainrings in front (at the crankset) and 9 cogs of cassette at the rear tyre, hence the 3x9 or 27 gears. However, not all combinations can be used.

A 2x9 has the cassette but only 2 chainrings at the crankset. It only has 18 gears. Is sounds like having less gear is of no good. But, 2x9 setup is reportedly to have better chainline that allow all combinations. It is also lighter.

My riding buddy, Jimmy Kok, swapped his trusted Shimano XT 3x9 crankset with a KCNC 2x9 crackset last month. He said he is happy with the performance, where he is now gathering more traction rather than more wheel spinning when the trail is pointing upwards.

I tried the crankset on one of our Saturday morning rides (on Jimmy's bike, of course), and I'm liking it. It is true that the traction is well within control and the legs opening & spinning are more natural.

However, his KCNC has a 42/29T setup. Personally, this is slightly heavy for me. I would prefer a 40/27T. Since KCNC has only one setup, so I started searching for other options.

After searching from the Net, these are the options that are available:

1. KCNC - Chainring setup at 42/29T. BCD 94mm.

2. SRAM XX - Chainrings setup options at 39/26T, 42/29T and 44/32T. Each has propritery BCD bolt setup.

3. FSA - Chainring setup at 42/29T and 40/27T, with their own BCD bolt setup.

4. Rotor Agilis - Chainring setup at 40/27T. BCD 110/74mm.

For compatability purposes, I like the KCNC and Rotor BCD setup.

Personally, I want the Rotor Agilis 40/27T. As bonus, it comes with Q-ring eclipse rings.

Patawi's "2fnLong" Time Trial @ Bukit Kiara

This is the second route of mountain bike time trial in Bukit Kiara. The first route was using the 2K trail.

Take a look at the map and elevation profile below, it passes several trails in Bukit Kiara and half of it is uphill i.e. lots of lung busting climb, before reaching the peak and heading down through excellent singletrack towards the Taman Tun Dr. Ismail's park.

A photo of me heading towards the end.

I suffered broken chains just after the Lung Buster trail (before the first uphill switchback). Luckily, the chains just snapped away and I also brought along with me a KMC's Missing Link. A quick reconnection and I'm off again. It does felt a little bit tight when shifting the gears.

However, by the time I finished fixing the chains, I was overtook by several riders already. My time was 39 minutes 10 seconds. First place was Ian Johnson at 25 minutes 37 seconds.

Read more at Fakawitribe.

Birthday

On 7 May, it was my birthday. So, I decided to get myself a few good and replacement stuffs for my mountain biking hobby.

I got myself 2 pairs of cycling gloves, one from Nike and one from Louis Garnears (LG). I’m not sure the Nike’s gloves are good enough but they surely put some bling on my riding attire. The LG gloves are just fantastic; their gels are ergonomically located to minimize numb feeling.

Next, remember my previous blog about the top 3 best things for mountain biking. One of them is a tyre from Continental. Yes… I bought myself a pair of expensive, light and sticky Continental Mountain King 2.2” Supersonic.

2009 KLMBH's Epic Ride

[Image is from KLMBH]

KLMBH organises hash (mountain biking event) every last Sunday of the month. Usually, the hash distance is between 20-30km for long rides. For scenic rides, the distance is usually half the distance and nearly suitable for everyone.

The KLMBH's epic is about 50km! Although it is not more than 100km, like typical epic ride around the world, hey... this is not a race! It is a fun ride.

This year the epic ride will be on Sunday, 10 May 2009.

It will be staged somewhere in Ulu Rening and Ulu Yam.

Make sure you join me there!
For more information, go to KLMBH website.

I do not know much the trails for the epic. However, there is a good write-up by the hares (guys & gals who recce and setup the trails for the hash) about the rides in Fakawitribe.com forum. Here are the extracts:

"1. Check Point CP 1
Comment: The first chicken loop for people on a short (scenic) ride.

Description: The first section aka CP1 is relatively easy and starts with a 1.7km road section to a oil palm plantation in Ulu Yam. The terrain in CP1 is moderately undulating and nearly fully shaded. This is the quintessential Malaysian plantation cross-country ride consisting of mature trees and well manicured trails.

There is one river crossing between Ulu Yam and Ulu Tamu. The river is beautiful and scenic and is knee high most of the time. However, after a heavy rainfall, the river can be as deep as waist high in parts and fast flowing and therefore, may not be safe for unsupervised children. This is a fantastic warm up route. Come and stretch those cold muscles here and breathe the fresh air.

Distance to check point : Approx. 16.9km.
Distance from check point to Home : Approx 1.2km.
Closing time: 11:45am(TBC).

2. Check Point CP 2(Water Point)
Comment: The second chicken loop for people on an intermediate ride.

Description: The route traverses kampung roads through Kampung Genting Malek. There is also a small shop set up in front of the owner's house in Genting Malek for riders to buy drinks. This section is characterised by narrow single lane 'kampung' roads that meanders gently around small 'kebuns' and is relatively flat and shaded.

There is a short single track section in a rubber estate just before check point CP2. Riders can replenish their water here at CP2.

Distance to check point: Approx. 26.4km.
Distance from check point to Home : Approx 3.7km.
Closing time: 11:45am(TBC).

3. Check Point CP 3
Comment: HYH's favourite route in Ulu Renning and the third chicken loop.

Description: This section has been used in both the 06 hash and 08 Epic Loop 2. 6km of beautiful and shaded cross country riding through a mature oil palm estate. At the end of the ride to CP3, riders enter the village of Ulu Renning.

There is a small shop here that sells drinks and some food. Riders can take a break here to eat and have their tea break. Riders on an intermediate ride can follow the main road back to the starting point.

Distance to check point: Approx. 32.6km.
Distance from check point to Home : Approx 6km.
Closing time: 1:30pm(TBC).

4. Check Point CP 4(Water Point)
Comment: The fun starts here!

Description: Up to this point, the ride has been civilised. The fun starts here! The first section is a shaded steep and steady climb on narrow premix road. There are some very good views of Ulu Renning here before we enter into a downhill section.

The bottom of the downhill leads to a red metal bridge and riders will face the main climb on the Epic aka Hill Nos 1. The hill is steep. However, when the planets align and conditions are perfect, our stronger hares have claimed to have ridden all the way up.

The subsequent downhill will lead the riders to our second and last refill point. Check-point 4 is located in a cool and shaded riverine picnic area, frequented by the villagers. This is a good spot to take a break and fuel-up before attempting to complete the remainder of the Epic. Riders can replenish their water here at CP4.

Distance to check point: Approx. 38.5km.

5. Check Point CP 5
Comment: Continuous climb in rubber estate.

Description: The ride from CP 4 to CP5 is a continuous 5km climb albeit, on a relatively easy gradient. The trail is shaded by rubber trees and there seems to be a constant light breeze here. This is a lovely ascent, which has been used many times by the hash.

We expect only the faster riders to make the closing time and the rest will be ushered through a chicken loop back to CP 1.

Distance to check point: Approx. 42km.
Distance from check point to Home : Approx 7.5km.
Closing time: 2:30pm(TBC).

6. Check Point CP 6
Comment: ‘First Among Equals'.

Description: You are super fit and strong. After 42km of fast riding, you are still fresh and you should be. You are the uber man/woman. You laugh at how easy our monthly hashes are. You want a challenge. And so, we will throw at you more hills, more sun, another river crossing, more single track, slippery and steep gravel roads...and you say, "Bring it on!." If this fits your bill, then our final route from CP6 to CP 1 is tailor-made for you. Welcome to Valhalla my friend.

Distance to check point: Approx. 45km.
Distance from check point to Home : Approx 6.7km."

The Season Has Just Started

The World Cup mountain biking season for the year 2009 has just started. The second race was held in Offenburg, Germany on 25 & 26 April 2009.

Guest who won the elite men's race? Of course Julien Absalon. He got second during the first event of the season.

As I mentioned in one of my previous blogs.. watch out for the Chinese ladies! Yes.. Cheng Yuan Ren won in Offenburg.



Lets look back to the first race that was held in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 10-12 April 2009. This event is classic because it has all three major disciplines of mountain biking at one place i.e. cross country, downhills and four cross together.

For cross country, one of them said "The climb is much more longer than in Beijing Olympics".

Anyway, here are the winners:

Mens Elite Cross Country:
1. Jose Hermida
2. Julien Absalon
3. Burry Standers

Womens Elite Cross Country:
1. Elisabeth Osl
2. Irena Kelentieva
3. Lynn Byberg

For more results, go to www.cyclingnews.com.

"Wasteland" - The Understated Trail

I always look forward to a bike hash at Bukit Kiara. This year is no different, and it was held on Sunday, 18 January 2009.

Rumours said that there will be new trails replacing the ones that were bulldozed to make way for the horse trails.

Note: Before you read on, this write-up is written such a way that you are familiarised with the trails name in Bukit Kiara.

After the briefing, done by Pat (the lead hare) and Huang (President of TRAKS), we are off to the tarmac climb. Not even half way, we were directed to the short-cut trail which lead to Lung Buster. Surprise it was… Lung Buster is now longer and slightly easier to climb… Yippee! However, it still made me gasping for air after that.

We then rode though the following trails:

Continue Carnival (Lung Buster) > 4K > 2K > Apollo > Tarmac climb > Horse trail (P10) > Tarmac climb > Plan C+ > Horse trail (P3) > Bar-a-kuda (very short section)

[Bridge at 4K Trail - This is the replacement bridge after the old bridge was damaged after the hash]

After the very short section of Bar-a-kuda, the hares led us to the new trail, which the name is yet to be finalized… but currently called “Wasteland”). It was tight yet flowy singletrack and was built along a ridge. Suddenly, there was a bridge… a log skinnies to be exact. After the skinnies, the singletrack continued thorough nicely arrange river stones which looked more like cobblestones. It then led us to a series of uphill switchbacks (six switchbacks I think..) before we ended up at the other side of Bar-a-kuda. Pure joy!

[Skinnies at "Wasteland"]

Then, the following trails:

Bar-a-kuda (the other side) > Lower Short > Upper Short (till the peak) > 5-junction horse trails > Horse trail (P5) > Pure Quill + > Twin Peak > Flinstones > Rock Garden (Carnival).

I must say after the long climb from Lower Short till Twin Peak, the flowy and rocky section of Flinstones and Rock Garden (Carnival) was fantastic and exhilarating.

Plus, the weather was breezy and the trails were dry!

More reading and viewing at the following links:

1. Bikehash - Forum discussion.

2. Blog - Biawaktasik - Excellent photos