Saturday, July 25, 2009

Weekend ride : 25/7/2009

Menu : Bt14-Bt18-Genting Peres-Kuala Klawang-Bt18-Bt14
Actual : Bt14-Bt18-Genting Peres-Kuala Klawang-Bt18

Big group today. There were easily 12-15 riders at Bt14. Another 4-5 waiting at Bt18.

The train from Bt14 left around 745am. We met the Bt18 train around 20mins later.

By the time we got to Simpang Tiga, there were easily 23 riders going up Peres.

From Peres, when i thot most of them were going to Klawang, it turned out to be most of them turning back to Tekala. Special note to Senn, "You conned me again.. and again.. and again..!

Only 10 of us were stupidly brave enough to head to Klawang. And most of them were Ironman. IM Azwar, IM Bacin, IM Dicky, IM Ishsal, IM Abu, IM Adeline, Dek Dush (not sure an IM or not but he's damn strong), Alwin, Vicky and me.

Ride to Klawang was smooth. But riding back was not. It was hot, humit, hazy and hell.

While the rest were blazing up reverse Peres like Contador, Vickey and me were left behind to suffer. Well, i for one, has gottten used to being dropped by these mutants.

Anyway, on the way down from Peres to Simpang Tiga, Vickey alerted that my rear wheel was wobbling. We did a quick check at the Simpang and it turned out to be that one of the spoke had gotten a bit loose. As we were riding towards BT18, the wobbling got worse. It made me worried, now.

We catched up with the rest while they were having a drink at one of the stall 7km frm BT18 town. Alwin examined the wheel again and the news was not good. It was at that time i decided to search for a rescue. Luckily, Mac was still having lunch at BT14 and I SOS him for help. Mac being the ever helpful guy, had turned back came looking for me. He rescued me at a bus stop 500m before BT18 near the bahulu shop. Thus, my ride ended there.

Not the kind of ending which i had wished for but it's better to be safe than sorry. I was told that if the wheel condition deteriorated further, i could risk an accident should the wheel collapsed all together.

By then, i had covered 114km. The first long ride of the year. I'll take it anytime.

The Klawang ride and the torturous reverse Peres climb stood true to its name. I wish to conquer it outright, one day. Perhaps, one day i will but until then, it will always haunt me.

3 comments:

Ishsal said...

This will be one of our classic rides toward Feb 27, 2010 bro. It shall be conquered full steam!

kookykash said...

nice ride, Upiq. I, too one day hope to conquer this route.

Upiq said...

ishsal - i will protect your yellow jersey bro.

kash - reverse peres climb is evil. my leg muscles were thrashed.