Taiping here I come...I think.

It's Monday 11.09pm as I write this.

6 days to a big ride event in Taiping, about 450km from Malacca where I am staying. And what happens?

I am down with Diarrhea and fever! What happen? Did I eat something wrong, is my body immunity not strong to fight the outsiders from within?

Whatever it is, it feeling sucks. And I have to try everything in the book to recover fast or else it's pooping along the trail!

Dramatic week

This week has been pretty dramatic. It started with Sunday while we were shopping at Carrefour. I received a call from my 6 year old daughter, Samantha that a monkey is in the garden. She said my dad is trying to chase the monkey away. I told her to stay indoors and to get my father to not to agitate the monkey because he has heart problem and this will not do any good making him all excited.

We went out for dinner and when we came back, found the monkey (beruk) had a good time exploring the workshop at the back of my parents house. It toppled boxes, broke a few glass casings, pulled out water lilies from the small pond where I kept fishes and open the cupboard where we kept soap powder and spread it on the floor.

We decided not to look for it at night and wait till morning to do something.

It was then that I found the beruk had open the cage door of my yellow rump finch and bit off its head. My favourite singing bird that I had reared for 4 years is dead.

My neighbours came and asked if the beruk had visited my place coz it had gone there and left its destructive mark. My neighbours (2 houses away) is an aquarium and tropical fish seller. The beruk had gone there and helped itself to a feast of gold fishes and broke an aquarium when it jumped on it. A reporter from China Press was around to report on this news and that's how I got myself in the front page of the Malacca edition. My dad is the one pointing to the broken glass casings.

Last I heard was that the beruk has been shot somewhere in Pokok Mangga area.

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Tuesday, As I Was Cycling back from Jonker Walk area in the evening, I came across this accident when it had just happened. It was just before the traffic lights of Ong Kim Wee and Tranquerah road. I suspect this old man must have grazed the back of a Proton Saga while riding his motorbike and he fell front face onto the road.

The first thought was whether he was still alive but after a while I saw his body moving. I asked other bystanders if we should move him as my first concern was to make sure he can breath but someone said we should not move him for fear it might create more problems for the injured man. I phoned 999 and got an ambulance to come.


Help came in about 15 - 20 minutes which I thought was fast and the medics did their thing and got the poor man to the hospital. Hope nothing too serious and that he will recover soon from this accident.

Bike jumping

Last Saturday, Lee CH, Willy and myself went to Bertam Ulu for cycling. We came across an area where the rubber estate ground is about 1.5 feet higher to the outer part. Lee CH suggested we try jumping and we took turns doing it. Lee and Willy executed perfect jumps but unfortunately for me, I had to choose the cameraman (Lee) as my wall of all the open spaces.



Willy's jump. Not bad for a fresh mountain biker.



The best jump by Lee CH.

Photos

Some humorous photos to put a smile on your face.

1 foot lower and you have 6 men with smaller or no family jewels

An interesting way to carry the chickens and ferry the wife.

Got this photo from FakawiTribe. Manyak terror

Environment Cycling Club members should emulate these people for their commitment in car pooling thus reducing the usage of fossil fuel

Survive the Sahara

ECC recently had their Survive the Sahara ride in October. I bet you all the photos taken then are nothing like the one below which is more deserving of the caption Survive the Sahara. I am proud to say that I am one of the riders somewhere in this photo eating the dust.

Stories and photos will up soon as I am getting back to mood of story telling.

Cycling Photos

To continue on photos that say a thousand words.

Does it give you chills?

Very confident biker. So close to the edge yet able to wheelie.

This photo gives you the idea of what is extreme mountain biking.

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Last but not least. I wonder what goes in the mind of an extreme mountain biker before he takes the plunge. Please give me your feedback on the photo above on what is running in his mind.

Cycling photos

I am a bit lazy after all the work during ECC's Mtb Jamboree. The stories are in my head, but my fingers are not willing to type it out. So I am taking the easy way out for now. Photos that say a thousand words.

No, it is not the Malacca Night Riders but Night riders of Canyon Country, California. I like the silhouette figures against the sunset background.

I love this photo taken during ECC's Jamboree. Good timing in capturing the essence of the story. My compliments to niwla for a well taken photo.

What can I say about this photo? If you are a macho looking man riding a pink bike, this is how the photo will turn out. (Former U.S.A. National Cross-Country Champion Travis Brown takes a fast corner).

Cycling Distractions

Sometime you get unusual sites that is related to cycling. Like today when I was reading one of my favourite forum site, FakawiTribe and came across a link to Cycling Distractions. Mmm.... I wouldn't mind this kind of distractions.

Click on this link you'll see what I mean. Plus you get a nice pair of cycling socks if your submission is accepted.

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=dds/dds08/distractions-oct08

ECC Goody bag factory

ECC Goodies bag assembly line. This is what happens when you have a clown in the middle of the assembly line.

The Environment Ride event that is this weekend is taking a toll on me. For 2 nights in a row, I dreamt about the event. Hopefull all will go well for our first big event. The stage is set, the play must go on.

ECC committee members after the press conference

Question and answer time during the press conference

The press people

Camelbak Podium Chill bottle

You may be wondering what is so special about this bottle.

I am one of those who will get the water bottle ready the night before the ride day, fill it up with my favourite beverage and leave it in the refrigerator. The only problem is that I only start drinking from it after about an hour into the ride and by then it has lost most of the chill.

This bottle by Camelbak promises to keep your water nice and cool when you are ready to rehydrate yourself.
This review on cyclingnews says the closed-cell double-walled construction of its new Podium Chill bottle will keep liquids cold for hours, even in high heat.

Selamat Hari Raya

Lessons in BM

This hilarious. Just follow the conversation and laugh it out loud.

Murid : Selamat pagi, cikgu.
Cikgu : (Menengking) Mengapa selamat pagi sahaja? Petang dan malam awak doakan saya tak selamat?
Murid : Selamat pagi, petang dan malam cikgu!
Cikgu : Panjang sangat! Tak pernah dibuat oleh orang! Kata selamat sejahtera! Senang dan penuh bermakna. Lagipun ucapan ini meliputi semua masa dan keadaan.
Murid : Selamat sejahtera cikgu!
Cikgu : Sama-sama, duduk! Dengar sini baik-baik. Hari ini cikgu nak uji kamu semua tentang perkataan berlawan. Bila cikgu sebutkan perkataannya, kamu semua mesti menjawab dengan cepat, lawan bagi perkataan-perkataan itu, faham?
Murid : Faham, cikgu!

Cikgu : Saya tak mahu ada apa-apa gangguan.
Murid : (senyap)
Cikgu : Pandai!
Murid : Bodoh!
Cikgu : Tinggi!
Murid : Rendah!
Cikgu : Jauh!
Murid : Dekat!
Cikgu : Keadilan!
Murid : UMNO!
Cikgu : Salah!
Murid : Betul!
Cikgu : Bodoh!
Murid : Pandai!
Cikgu : Bukan!
Murid : Ya!
Cikgu : Oh Tuhan!
Murid : Oh Hamba!
Cikgu : Dengar ini!
Murid : Dengar itu!
Cikgu : Diam!
Murid : Bising!

Cikgu : Itu bukan pertanyaan, bodoh!
Murid : Ini ialah jawapan, pandai!
Cikgu : Mati aku!
Murid : Hidup kami!
Cikgu : Rotan baru tau!
Murid : Akar lama tak tau!
Cikgu : Malas aku ajar kamu!
Murid : Rajin kami belajar cikgu!
Cikgu : Kamu gila!
Murid : Kami siuman!

Cikgu : Cukup! Cukup!
Murid : Kurang! Kurang!
Cikgu : Sudah! Sudah!
Murid : Belum! Belum!
Cikgu : Mengapa kamu semua bodoh sangat?
Murid : Sebab saya seorang pandai!
Cikgu : Oh! Melawan!
Murid : Oh! Mengalah!

Cikgu : Kurang ajar!
Murid : Cukup ajar!
Cikgu : Habis aku!
Murid : Kekal kami!
Cikgu : O.K. Pelajaran sudah habis!
Murid : K.O. Pelajaran belum bermula!
Cikgu : Sudah, bodoh!
Murid : Belum, pandai!
Cikgu : Berdiri!
Murid : Duduk!
Cikgu : Saya kata UMNO salah!
Murid : Kami dengar KeADILan betul!
Cikgu : Bangang kamu ni!
Murid : Cerdik kami tu!
Cikgu : Rosak!
Murid : Baik!
Cikgu : Kamu semua ditahan tengah hari ini!
Murid : Dilepaskan tengah malam itu!

Cikgu : (Senyap dan mengambil buku-bukunya keluar.)

MTB Cycling Jersey

I just joined this Mountain bike forum and saw that they are taking orders for cycling jersey. It really looks hot!

The cost is about S$60.00. I have placed my order. Any body else interested?

Mtb Riders http://mtbriders.informe.com/index.php

A Trail Too Far

I saw this war movie called A Bridge Too Far many years ago. It's about a covert unit sent to blow up a bridge. Straight forward operation except that the journey towards fulfilling the goal was full of obstacles and challenges.

Last Sunday ride was suppose to be straight forward. The plan was simple, Group A consisting fast and fit riders will ride the whole trail, Group B will try to complete as much of the Jamboree trail, Group C consisting of newbies will ride till they can't and then turn back.
Not that easy.

The obstacles came in the form of heavy rain and muddy path.
Nav showing off her brand new rims complete with fat tires.

Just as we were getting into the mood and warmed up, the red mud started to stick on the tires like super glue. It made our 2.20 tires look like down hill tires after a while and the worst was yet to come.

Wee YC with his brand new "single speed" Merida

The mud started to eat into the chain and went into the rear derailleur. First bike casualty was me when I felt a hard jam in the crank and saw the hanger twisted upwards. I knew that was the end of the ride for me and was prepared to push back. As group 3 was catching up, Susan said there's something wrong with her bike. The hanger snap and the rear derailleur was dangling. As we were assessing the damage, a shout was heard coming from the front. Group A came back and said Wee's hanger had broken off. Exactly the same angle as Susan's bike.

Susan showing the dangling rear derailleur

My precious with a bent hanger. She is now at Keong's bike shop and I was told this is a special size and hard to find a replacement. By hook or by crook, I will search the ends of the world for this hanger.

Keong cutting Susan's chain to convert the bike to single speed.

With 3 bikes having the same problem, we had to cut short the ride. If only I had read Ying How's article on KLMBH website a day earlier on "The Perfect Mountain Bike For Muddy Conditions", it would have saved the day and money as we now need to replace the spoilt parts.

It was coincidence that I came across this article that describe our experience, quoting from Gary Fisher in an interview about the future of bikes

....The problem is that derailleurs were never intended to be used in the muck and mud of mountain biking, and even today, they are little more than adapted road components.
“The derailleur systems we have work great on the road,” says Fisher, “but off road especially when you get into filthy, muddy conditions, man, it’s expensive to keep that going. A lot of [mountain bike transmission design] has been based on having a race team and a full time mechanic.”...

Jessy Cycling Accident

A few weeks ago when we were about to start during one of the night ride, a phone call came to inform us that Jessy, a fellow cyclist met with an accident that evening while cycling and she is undergoing operation to mend her fractured collerbone.

She is one gutsy gal, riding like there's no tommorow and we're glad she made it through the operation and is on the road to recovery.

How Much Do You Love Your Bike?

Love for someone or something is expressed in many ways. We hold hand with our spouse and we can fondle lovingly with our bike.

I heard this true story from a biker who is a doctor. "Doc" as I will call him, was cycling fast towards Cheng/Bertam Ulu traffic lights when he skidded. The first thing he did when he regained conciousness was to ask if the bike is ok. By the way, he broke his hand in that accident.

How far is home?

Looking at this photo can make a person feel dizzy.

And we think we have problems with Ah Longs pasting everywhere. More

Merdeka Night Ride

Merdeka Night Ride

Date: 30th August, 2008 (Saturday)

Starts at Sin Bee Hin Bicycle shop. Please park your cars at former Orchard Square car park.

Time: 8.00pm (be there earlier to set up your bike).

Distance: appox 50km covering town areas to ourskirts and back to town

Up coming events

Seat Post

I have been thinking about this problem whenever I ride off road.

You set your seat height at a comfortable height and when after you reach the peak, you know it's downhill after that. What you do you? You dismount down from the bicycle and lower the seat. Sometimes I do it, sometimes I just try to ride it through with the seat at the current height. If the seat is lowered, somehow you will stop to increase the height again when you reach level ground or else you just cannot get the power to ride effectively.

I don't know about the other riders, but I find this troublesome. More so if you need the Allen key to release the seat post.

When I first saw Crankbrother's adjustable seat post that let you change the height without getting off the saddle, I thought, "wow, this is cool!"

The convenience of not getting off the saddle will cost about RM1,100.00 for the one with remote control on the handle bar which weighs 534g.

Or a cheaper one that cost about RM950.00 with a lever under the saddle that weighs 461g.

More details are available here

I am excited when I saw Specialize coming up with the same idea. Just hoping the price will be more reasonable

Developed by the Suspension Technology Group at Specialized in Morgan Hill, California, the Command Post provides three saddle height options, so serious riders can change their stance mid-ride depending on the terrain and conditions—all with the flick of a switch. Its 100mm of adjustable range is denoted by three saddle positions—Power (when the saddle is at full height); Cruiser (35mm below the Power position); and Descender (100mm below the Power position).

No price yet from the manufacturers.

More information available here.

1/9/08 - Wow, this must be a hot item coz this is the 3rd write up that I have come across.

This time by a manufacturer called Superstar Components

More details available here

Cycling photos and news

Mountain Bike Event in the Beijing Olympic

Christoph Sauser of Switzerland (front), Jean-Christophe Peraud of France (C) and Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos of Spain compete in the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008

Lt Col Joshua will be so proud to see this photo because he endorses ORBEA.

Jean-Christophe Peraud of France (R) and Nino Schurter of Switzerland compete in the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008.

France's Julien Absalon reacts after winning his gold medal at the Mountain Bike Men's Cross Country Cycling event, at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008.
Julien Absalon's Orbea Alma Team There's no doubt that Julien Absalon could probably have ridden any bike and still rocked away to another gold medal in the Beijing Olympics, but that didn't stop Orbea providing a special bike for the champion to defend his title aboard. More

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Zimbabwe's Mtb contestant in Beijing Olympic

Stray lions and herds of elephants - Antipass Kwari of Zimbabwe has to contend with some unusual distractions as he trains outside his country's capital, Harare. "One time there was a lion, that really made me go faster," said Kwari, the first Olympic mountain biker from Zimbabwe and one of three African starters in Saturday's race. More

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Shocking Moments

News and photo from Yahoo Sports Coverage

Sarah Hammer of the United States reacts after crashing during women's points race event at the Laoshan Velodrome on Day 10 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 18, 2008 in Beijing, China.

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Beautiful sight as Tour de France cyclist cycle past but I doubt they have time to appreciate it.

Message to AJEE

Grace and I recently went to Bangkok and we managed to catch one of my favourite band, Queen’s musical show WE WILL ROCK YOU.

We happen to sit beside a nice Thai gentleman by the name of Ajee. Before the show started, I talked to him and found that he is the same age with me and we grew up in the same era listening to the same kind of songs.

It was the brief moments during interlude that we talked and found we had so many things in common.

After the show ended, Ajee walked us to the roadside and stopped a taxi to help give directions to the driver in Thai. He then paid the driver and that caught us by surprise. As it started to rain heavily, we could only express our thanks and gratitude in a short and rush manner.

We managed to exchange e-mail and I also wrote down this blog address on his programme cover.

This message is to AJEE, if you are reading this blog.

Hi Ajee,
We want to thank you for the hospitality that you gave us. You made an impression on us that we wanted to repay you by taking you out for dinner or drinks.

We wrote you an e-mail on Saturday night to the address you gave but it bounced back. We were hoping to catch you on Sunday or Monday at the airport since you are working there.

Please keep in touch and we hope to meet again someday.

With regards and best wishes,
Ben and Grace
ben.tvaddict@gmail.com

Upcoming Events

BATU PAHAT HASH RIDE
Date : 12th July 2009 (Sunday)
Time : 7.30-8.00am (Registration)
Venue : Dataran Batu Pahat
Distance : 55 Km (35km for chicken run)
Fee : RM15 (include nasi beriani)
Organiser : Nature Bikers Club
Contact Person : Terry NBC (0127372337) Ben NBC (0127650503)

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UUM Mtb XC Race & Jamboree
Date: 19th July 2009 (Sunday)
Venue: UUM, Perlis
Distance: 55kmFee: RM50.00 early bird (before 5th July)
Event blog: http://uum-xcr.blogspot.com/

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Hungry about real bike hashing?

With paper to follow, check-points, chicken and Rambo rides, technical sections, hills to claim, rivers to cross, a lot of fun and real sport action for your Sunday morning on the mountain bike!

Or simply hungry to support again M2BH?

For all these excellent reasons, JOIN THE NEXT M2BH BIKE HASH
http://malaccabikehash.blogspot.com/


ON ON

M2BH Committee


Ride details

Bike Hash #: 102

Hares: Cedric Bourquenez & Stephane Baribeau - Co-hare your GM

Ride: Two rides, ~40km and 25km, in various and undulating areas covered with oil palm and rubber tree foilage , jungle tracks, river to cross and nice hills to claim. Waterstop provided after the first loop, ~17km.

Start: 09.00hr at Bertam Impian housing eastate at Bertam Ulum (Malacca)

Directions to the ride:

From Malacca:

Take Malacca -Alor Gajah high way. At Cheng intersection turn left direction Sungai Udang, Bertam Ulum.Put click O meter at zero, after approx. 4 KM turn right at the housing estate Bertam Impian.

From KualaLumpur- Singapore:

Go of the highway at Air Keroh, after the toll turn left direction Sungai Udang, Bertam Ulum, follow the highway, at your right handside you will pass the Sport Complex Hang Jebat, cross the Cheng intersection fly over, follow direction Sungai Udang, Bertam Ulu. At the fly-over put click O meter at zero, after approx 4KM turn right in to housing estate Bertam Impian.

ON ON

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Nite ride with CM (Part 1)

Last night ride was special to me. Not because we got to ride with the Chief Minister of Melaka but because I got to meet my first cyclingben fan.

A couple of days ago I got a sms from Pei Wen that she enjoyed reading my blog. Wow, imagine getting a response for something I think only a handful of local riders read. Well, that sms made my day and the sun seemed to shine brighter which is a relief during the rainy season.

Juin Wee, Mei, Pei Wen, Lee Ling (Pei Wen's sis) and me
The hotest bicycle at the moment in Malacca. "Harley Davidson" self powered bike
Keong fitting the helmet on CM

CM in our ECC jersey and all ready to go
Cycling past Kampung Hulu riverside
A Kodak moment in front of Taming Sari Observation Tower, Dataran Pahlawan
The newest pride and joy of Melaka, Menara Taming Sari

Yes!! Melaka Boleh!

Candid photo of a tourist couple on the trishaw as we cycled passed them
Somewhere along Melaka Raya area

Ah Chye leading the pack
Thumbs up from the committee members on a fun and good ride

More photos and stories when I come back next week. Where will I be? Exploring the city hustle and bustle of Bangkok with Grace.

Till then, take care to all my readers.

Part 2 reading is available on ECC's blog.