Sunday, January 10, 2010

Le tour of Sepang-Port dickson-Sepang

End of the year 2009, this trip was planned by Aze, he used to long distance cycling. So to make year 2009 meaningful, we planned (actually last minute) to paddle to Port Dickson.






We, 7 of us started from Bandar Baru Enstek that morning about 9am. That morning was very clear and the sun already shined hot. It was a good start but just a few kilometers away, Azad's bike which borrowed from Aze tire bust cause of the pot holes. Luckily, Aze was fully equipped with tube, repair kits and even pump made a quick repair. We continued to cycled to Lukut. On the way there was some up and down hills but still we manage to overcome it. It was a lovely scenery where we passed the fruit, palm and rubber plantations. Just before we entered Lukut, we made a quick stop to refresh ourselves. At Lukut, the traffic was quit heavy because we had to run through the town area. As we enter the Port Dickson, we can see the seasides and we knew we nearly made it. We manage to reach Port Dickson about 11am and have a an hour and half rest and enjoy the sea view.


Lunch in front of the Malacca Strait was awesome. Felt like a vacation trip. After we refilled and refuel our body, we headed back to Sepang via same route. Along the way, we had a positive feedback from the locals, some thumbs up, some waving at us and even gave a support gestures. On the way back, due to hot firey sun, it was like hell. but just we enter Tanah Merah, the heavy rain wet us which we had to stopped at the bus stop for shelter. About 10 min, we continued paddled to Sepang. We reach Sepang just in time like we planned, which about 4pm.


All i can say, this particular road cycle trip, we try to push our boundary to limit...Even though, the sun burn our skin, the rain wet our underwear, the hill cramped our muscles, the distance dry our energy, at least we made it safety. total of 76km of pain and joy. Lovely day isn't it.

BMX POLIGON DAWG 20"

Last week, as i reach to Bukit cermin for DH run, i stopped by the local bike shop here at Putra Heights. The Bike shop seems just newly open by the simple arrangements of the item there. The bikes sell overthere pretty low budget type which suit for the local hometown use. But there is one bike catch my eyes. It is hang just infront and first row of the shop. You wont miss the bike. It is BMX and it is Poligon Dwag. Eventhough it is made in Indonesia which is pretty obvious here in Malaysia and consider the low end bike, but this BMX look pretty sweet , nice earthty colour and equipped with good performance parts as well. I love to have the rig especially for my daughter who getting bigger. Actually, i will againt all my friends who wanted to start to paddle to buy the Poligon mtb, but in this case i will recommend this for the BMX riders. The price tag was rm725.00 and i believe the shop owner, of course willing to negoiate the price l'ill bit lower. Next time we will meet again Mr. Dawg




The spec is like below

Frame:CrMO Dirt Jump frame
Rotor:Gyro G3
Front Fork:Hi-ten Freestyle Fork
Handle Bar:Steel Jumper H. Bar
Handle Stem:Ahead alloy
Handle Grip:Velo Kraton Rubber Grip
Saddle:Velo - Freestyle saddles
Seat post:Steel - straight type
Clamp:Alloy clamp
Chain Wheel:Cr-Mo 3pc Solid 170mm Crank 36T
Pedal:Plastic Platform
BB Set:Compact Ball Bearing BB - Hexagonal axle American
Chain:KMC heavy duty single speed
Free Wheel:16T Freewheel
Tyre&Tube:20X2.125" AV Tubes
Rim:Alloy Double Wall
Spoke:14G stainless
Front Hub:Formula Hub 14mm Axle
Brake Lever:Tektro
Brake:ektro U Brake

Monday, November 16, 2009

Carbon Fiber handpump by Beto

When ever i had i punctured tyre, i will realize that i need to buy a hand pump. it been keep going on until past a year now. So, eventually i really had a flat tyre during my last section in single trail at FRIM. Thank god, Aze was there with me, he is like the Mr. ER. he was prepared and had almost everything in his bag. But on the same time, after replacing the tube, his hand pump not working. At the end i had to push all the way to the car park about 2 km away. So. on the way home, i stopped by at Samy's and look for the hand pump. And i found this little lightweight carbon fiber hand pump. It was Beto brand but with Hits sticker to cover it up. Look awesome with my rig.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Ariena's first ever rig

This will be a story can be a memory page for my beloved daughter, Ariena. This is her very first bicycle for her. This Lerun was purchased about RM2++ at my local bike shop here in Melawati. This particular colour personally picked by my wife. Pink is very suitable for a 3 years old child that time. The reason i put this page up just because it will be a nice remembrance of her first bike where she can embrace this picture in future. It been 3 years now this bike served my daughter's childhood. It begin where the bike actually purchased with 2 training wheels and over the years, one of the training wheels came off which left only one. She progressively learn to cycle and i decided to pulled out the remaining training wheel. She happened can control the bike and made me and my wife a happy couple. Years came by and this bike have been go trough several modifications and parts replacement. the handle bar was changed to longer size, paddle replaced and add a chain tensioner. Until now this bike still served the family without disappointments. Wait until she grown up, there will be much more nice rig to replaced it. Perhaps a BMX? why not!



Ramadhan Nite Ride

This year the holy month of Ramadan eventually arrived. Ramadan is the holy moth by Muslim where eating and drinking (anything insert into a body) is prohibited during the days. It’s like cleansing the soul and it’s a month good deeds. Unless like previous year, I stop cycling for a whole month, but this year, some of the guys try to pinch a wee bit of time to get the sweat out. It is not like we ignore the holy month, but the good time of the day to cycle is after 10pm.

So this year, I try to get out and as every last Friday of the month, Putrajaya Criticalmass still continued this month. The difference is, it start a bit late which is 11pm. Last Friday, I packed up my bike and headed to Putrajaya for the night ride. That particular night was quit a night for the cyclist, where I spotted 2 groups of cyclist did a run in Duke Highway as I passed by.

As planned, I arrived there and waited for Aze and Aidi. I arrived about 1030pm and look like quit a numbers turn out that night. Its not as many like normal night, but it still reach about 50 people participated. Due to some people arrived a bit late, the event started about 1130pm and the organizer made a simple brief where the route will we paddle to. From the Hall of Justice we started paddle to the PICC, there we circle around the PICC which there was our first up hill climb. It was a slow paddling pace, I wonder when is the real push going to be, it is will be a slow pace all night long? Then, we all head up to the Alamanda, until there we been cycle about 10km in slow pace. From there, the real action is begun where we cycled in huge open highway to PICC. That route was where the speed action begins, where the roadies made a sprint and the mtb trying to catch up. We all gather back at the PICC and had a quick break, waited for the rest. Unlucky, one of the riders had an over limit energy consumption. He vomited and had to rush to nearby hospital because of dehydration and lag of energy. Later, after the event, I told that he only had a bread for breakfasting, training for the whole evening and been cycled from Bukit Jalil to Putra jaya. No wonder he passed out.

We end back to Hall of Justice about 130pm and made a 36km run that night. It is unusual for me to cycle in Ramadan and this time the route took quit tougher that any previous months. At least, I was being continually maintaining my fitness, even though in Ramadan.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Abe's Kona Blast

Here again, we welcome once more the newly mtb rider in the house. He's been secretly felt on love to the mtb scene and try to gather bit of info's on what bike to purchase. It begin when out of bloom, which one fine morning, he pop the question. " What bike can i buy for beginner?". As experience mtb cyclist yet realistic adviser, usually i advised to look for low budget rig which is the price is between rm1-rm2k. Usually i will struck with this answer .." that's expensive!!!". The beginner usually don't realise the price of basic mtb, they will compare it to mtb which sell in big hypermarket Giant or Carrefore. It is common to educate the public and the beginners to purchase the most affordable yet function for the rides. We usually met of see advertisement which say " Wanna Sell mtb - rode for 2 -3 times only",that indicate the person realize of buying the wrong cheap unreliable bike. So you all now know, why it is expensive.

So I'm very happy to assist him on getting his first baby. Firstly i took him to local bike shop to have an idea what kind of bike for the big day. The is various kind of rigs such as XC, DH, DJ and Freeride. It just like buying a new car and i will tell you you gonna get an headache..i personally took me 6 month to purchase the right rig. About a month after that, after seeking second, more opinion, he decided to go with Kona Blast All mountain hardtail. For me, he did a right choice for a beginner to spent about Rm1.9k for his first bike. Kudos to you " Abe". Hope your rig wont be a "tukun".

So here is the spec of the bike


Frame sizes 17"

Frame tubing Kona All-Mountain Aluminum Butted

Fork RockShox Dart 2 w/Turnkey 100mm


Headset TH

Crankarms FSA Alpha Drive


Chainrings 42/32/22

B/B FSA Powerdrive


Pedals Wellgo LU-A9

Chain Shimano HG40

Freewheel Shimano Alivio (11-32, 8spd)


F/D Shimano Acera

R/D Shimano Deore


Shifters Shimano Acera

Handlebar Kona XC/BC Riser

Stem Kona XC/BC


Grips Kona Race Light

Brakes Hayes MX4 Mechanical Disc

Brake Levers Avid FR-5


Front hub Formula Disc

Rear hub Shimano M475 Disc


Spokes Stainless 14g

Tires Maxxis Ignitor 26x2.1

Rims Alex ACE-18

Saddle WTB Speed V Sport SE

Seatpost Kona Thumb

Seat clamp Kona QR

Color Black Metallic













Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Batu Dam Ulu Yam (11.07.09)

It been quit a long time i didn't update the blog, but it doesn't mean i stop paddling around. I and my usual riding partners been riding a same old tracks and trails all the time. So one fine day, after discussing where our next riding venue, Shawal suggest us to try out the Batu Damn trail. We all been dreaming to try out the trail but there no one of us can guide the rest. Shawal been trying to organise the ride and luckily there is someone who can took us there.

In the lovely Sunday morning of 11/7/09, we met the riders at Petronas Sg Tua. And there was quit impressive turn out where the was 2 team consist of more than 10 peoples which are Geja Matoba and Pujimax. We been lead by Danny who quit fluent of the trail. The trail started by ride through a small construction area. The track was slippery due to raining season for a week, we basically rolled onto the mud in one section and some of us caught up in the middle. Then, we continued downhill to the side of the Batu Damn Lake. I can say the view was so surreal and magnificent where we all rode along the side of open lake and enjoyed the sight. The trail was single track and we had to encounter small and medium running water which cross the trail. It was nice because it was very pleasant ride where no up and downhills.

We stop at this cool area where we actually took a break on the river it self. The river was so shallow and it got many rocks where we all can sat, relaxed having a good break time. About 15 min break and smoke break, Danny again continued guide us into the jungle. And here is the real, tough, heart pumping and legs stretching trail begun. It was gradual climb but what made it tough is the trail was bad because the rain water made lot of water tunnels. This made the rider had to chose correct and right path to climb the hills. This uphill track good for those who can combine the balancing skills, gears and energy. At very top of the hill, we spotted a Mat salleh with complete gear, hiking alone. Very impressive, he's just guide by his GPS to move in and out. From the top, it was a very, very long and quit scary downhill. The bikes continued to speed up like no tomorrow, it all about controlling and braking. Well, as the fun is continued, one of the rider punctured his rear tire. Luckily, the was a spare tube hand out from our kind friend. Then, we all continued to stroll down until the end of the track. Our guide, Danny try to look for and alternative route, so that we don't have to cycle back via the main road. But there's no luck. That time it was like 40 degrees of the mid afternoon sun. So, we all decide to have a cool dipped in the river near by. There, we can actually have a chat and get to know each other. After about 30 min break and quick rigs wash out, we all stroll along the Ulu Yam main road which headed back to our starting point. We made a detour or short cut, by rode inside the Batu Damn area. We actually across the damn and the open sky made it very realistic. We arrived at the front of the Batu Damn gate where we park our cars about 3 pm.

This ride was so nice and easy where there was a mixed level of fitness of the riders who involved. The view was splendid and the crowd was hilarious. Hope, next ride can be more participant, the more the merrier.