Archive for March, 2009

Really toasted….medium rare

endorphin March 29th, 2009

Was it just me or does it happen to everyone ? It seems like everytime when I wanna go riding on Sun, I will have problem going to lala land the night before. Excitement ? Can’t be. Nervious is more like it :p. Last nite was no different. Due to some technical prob, I only get to go to bed @ 12.15am. But I just can’t seem to sleep till after 1.30am. Very Very tempted to drop the idea of riding but I have given my words to Clarence to work together. So, alarm is 5.15am. Barely 4 hours sleep for a hot ride. sigh.  

It was 6.15am, I was on Fedaral Hwy to Mega Mall to meet AC & convoy. As I pulled to the side of the hwy to call AC, I heard some honking and saw a BMW with 2 bikes up top. Aha…same gang :) All for 124km to PD. Too bad, AC overslept again despite my 3 morning calls and she doesn’t know the way to Bangi from KL city Center. (I know, I know. I know what ya are thinking :)  ) As I was driving along Seremban Hwy, I can’t help but amazed at the distance we go just for a Sun ride. Serious disease and is infectious. Warning Warning :)

l1010039.JPG  6.50am. There are already cars at the open car park next to UPM-MTDC, preparing bikes & etc. A quick setup & a short briefing. We are ready to roll. I need to do a last minute adjustment on my seat and I ended up with the sweeper group which was cool coz safety is assured. :)  The start was pretty cool too. Imagine riding @ 24-25kmh…woohoohoo…Well, good thing dun last long I guess. After the 1st turn back point, the speed pick up a little but the worse was the big arse killer rolling starts. We chased one hills after another, trying to catch recovery as fast as possible at the top of at hill & get back to work. Else we will miss the chance to use the downhill to work on building momentum going up the next. I can’t even remember how many rolling hills were there. There brain is not there to count anymore :) It was about 38km of up down up down up down up down……… Turning off @ 50km to Lukut, I guess the thing that keeps the gang going was the refill at 61.3m.

20 min of regroup & refill and we are on the same road we came from. Yes, back to big arse killer rolling, doing it all over again !!!! I know I know. I know what you are thinking :) The only difference now is, it was early morning with cooling morning air just now. Now, it’s 10.20am, Papa Sun arised & shine. I decided to go by my own pace instead of catching train. It’s no fun to burst your lungs & legs for that. When you ride under the hot sun, weird things happen. I was yearning so much for cold coconut water all the way. Giler betol.

101.3km, we got another chance for quick refil and YES, coconut !!. Clarence, Vincent, Me, Jeff and another 2 guys decided to stay for coconut while the rest of the peloton moved on. I guess we took a good 10 minutes. Vincent seems to have “bonk”. Poor fella. He wanted more time to recover. So, it was Jeff, Clarence & me hit the road together. Well, rolling always seperate the gang. After a short while when I glance back, alamak, mana dua budak tu. Clarence was saying his thighs very tight. Can get into cramp any time. I wanna wait & see just in case he has trouble. But is dayem hard to wait on a rolling portion as you need to keep the pace as you climb, use the downhill momentum for the next climb. As I hit the turn @ 92.9km. I still didnt see anyone at the back. After about 3km. I decided to give Clarence a call. He didnt pick up but I saw hin from afar. Phew. If he is at the back, then where is Jeff who was sandwich between us ? Oppps..but neither of us has his number. I guess Clarence was really tired so we maintained 25kmh & below as there are still a wee bit of rolling still.

I guess Clarence got his 2nd wind after the De Palma Hotel climb & rest. (or whatever the name is :p ) We managed better speed together after that. I tummy started to growl before 115km. There I decided to just suck gel instead of eat clif coz it’s easier and I just wanna finish. wakakakaa….

The last 12km reminds me of 2007 IS 1st day last 10km. Butt pain, stiff shoulders, neck pain…gosh. And I hate that dayem headwind !!!

At about 6km more, I saw another 2 cyclists infront. I picked up speed a wee bit, hoping to suck on  them :p. I only managed to close the gap after 119.3km turn. Sorry Clarence, I thought you were still behind. Opps. I guess I was all one track mind for home base…

I rolled into the carpark @1.39pm. And yes, Jeff did have a little detour but it was all good. He reach back about 10-15min after Clarence & I.

All in all - Dayem, I HATE THE BIG ARSE KILLER ROLLINGS !!!

> 100km…110.46km Bentong

endorphin March 22nd, 2009

Meet @ AWE Soup food court, oppossite Sekolah Menengah Teknik Gombak by 7am. This was the instruction.

Route : Up Sempah, enjoyed down Janda baik to bentong & grind what you have reap all the way back to Sempah top to earn the another 16 km down hill again & 5 km flat back to back  .

EB, AC, Bern & Me was the original pack. EB over trained & pulled out.

AC still on pedals instead of cleats. But Don Don was so generous to allow her the ride coz the route is straight one way to & fro ! She will not sesat. :)

It was a large turn out. The food court carpark was absolutely full. It was great to catch Ade. I have seen her for ages.

A comfortable pace out to Sempah. It was pretty much individual pace. Mid way, a gang of some IM strong legs & strong cyclist came blasting by. These are machines, they rode from PJ !!!

For me, my brain was pretty much still stuck at my past Sempah experience set by Oliver - his warning of a big arse climb on the last bit to the workshop still in my mind. But surprising, every turn that I thought will be the big arse climb, it was not. Before I knew it, it was at the workshop. 

A quick glance as I approached the workshop,  I do not know most of the waiting faces. They were shouting, ”go, go, go, don’t stop.” May be the 1st paloton was already gone, that’s why they asked me to continue. So downhill I went. After a good 4-5km into it, I still havent seen any cyclists. Glance back, no one either. Hmmmm,  am I on the right route ? But Don said STRAIGHT !! Stop ? No ? No sure, I pedaled on. Then Coach Joe & his team in training blast by. His appearance gave me a little assurance that I am on the right track. But in the end, I did 25km all alone. It was a little scary coz the road was quite. Anything can happen. I finally saw Bern @ about 45km mark. It was a big relieve !!!

Then, I start to worry about AC. Did she stop at the top of Sempah ? Did she continue ? Bern & I contemplate turning back quite a few times. But we both need to refill & replenish in order to last the distance back. So we agreed to stop @ the 1st stall. Well, our worry was unfounded. She has the priviledge of being chaperone by Don Don !!! Hey, how come I didn’t this priviledge when I 1st started ? Can still claim ar ? :P

A quick refill and we are on the road again. Well, we had good 35-40km fun of downhill earlier. Now, is payback time to grind back up. As we rolled out, I was on the train with Ade, Faaisal, Bern…AC attempted to keep up. Then a “kuai Lou” dropped from the train. His pace was comfortable. So, I thought “great, then can work with him & include AC”. But his pace just keep dropping that AC & I just have to ride it out ourselves.

AC did really well. In fact, she was ahead in the climb for a good distant and made the attempt on the 1km killer climb behind McD on her own. Well done babe !!

After 16km of downhill from Sempah top, the last bit was not as easy as I thought. Headwind was really strong, often bringing the speed down to 27kmh. I rolled into the carpark @1pm.

Yay, I pushed beyond 100km. Cyclometer : 110.46km. 50% climb !! But really, the endurance legs & lungs wasn’t there. There are still lost. Sigh.

   

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Any idea where are we cycling to this Sun ?

endorphin March 15th, 2009

It all started with a message from Kayoh Auntie Elaine - Any Idea where are we cycling to this Sun ? It got me thinking..hmm, may be I should ride this Sun too. As a result, AC, RL, LK, Me & Elaine decided to ride. But in the end, it was only AC, Elaine & I with a large group of PCCs, I heard it was a good 60+. Woohoo. Whenever there is a long ride, this always happen…pain suckers :)

It was still dark when we all gather @ CP before 7am. The words from PK during briefing - “we are heading to Ijok, regroup @ Petronas, then Kampong Kuantan. From Ijok to Kampong Kuantan, pls keep pace & keep in the peloton. If you are slower, then you take care of yourself. Fooh…what a stern warning. hmmm…….it sync with his famous reputation :)

We rolled out sharp on time 7am. A quick intro to PK that AC is new to ride, new to the group & new to the route and riding with pedals, not cleats. That was as we were moving along BU. When we entered Kota Damansara. PK rolled up to me & said - Jo, your friend is no where to be seen. I slowed & look back, hmm……I decided to stop & call but it went into voicemail. A short 1+ min later, I saw 3 cyclists from afar. It turn out to be Pat, Mannaf & AC. Phew, she is in good hand. So, I pick up & told Manaf that I am gonna tail Pat.

By then the front & mid peloton is no where to be seen. That is cycling. You can’t afford to slow or stop. One min makes hell of a different. All the way, it was me & Pat with an average of 28kmh . Nice of him to allow me to hitch a ride all the way, taking the strong headwind. Thanks Pat :) Gosh, he has thighs of Josiah & he sure crank big. We rolled into Ijok Petronas @ 8.30am. A glance at the gang, no wonder PK issued that warning earlier at briefing. All the big guns were there - Ironman Daniel, Le Tua Lim, Ironman Bern, Wai Lam (turned back at 30km), Ironman Ah Thiam…no wonder that super sonic speed. It’s sure not a ride for the average & newbies :)

With the stern word from PK during briefing, I really doubt the idea of going to Kampong Kuantan, no doubt AC certainly has the endurance to last the distance but she sure can’t keep the pace of the peloton. So happen, Elaine decided against her initial idea of riding long in order to do her last bit of bricks before Kenyir Tri. So, AC, Elaine, Kai, Ang Mo (sorry, dunno his name :)), Melvin, Azman, Cina (dunno his name too) & I rode back via Gurtrie. Elaine, from the exit of Petronas, rolled up to the front & set the pace @ 32kmh for the peloton. Ala, Elaine, don’t do that lar when you have the big boys with you. Big boy got ego ler. Give lar some face. ;) A short distance later, the Ang Mo rolled into the front and the pace went into 35 - 36kmh. I glanced back and saw someone in black jersey. I thought to myself, “Dayem, if newbie AC can be on my tail at this speed with pedals, she will certainly over take all of us in no time.” After about 10km later, the figure in black rolled up to me and hey, is not AC !! It was Kai all this while. :) We decided not to chase the 36kmh speed but maintain our speed of 30kmh and work together. He pulled me on the flat & I returned favour on Guthrie. Little did we know that Cina was sucking on our tail. :) He over took us on Guthrie & flown on the down hill. We caught up with him a little further down on Guthrie. And this Cina actually peeled away wanna hitch a ride again instead of working. Aiseh. :( Nevertheless, he is not a climber. So, when Kai accelerated & I followed …..bye Cina :p.

We rolled into CP 10.50am. Cyclometer : 84.7km. Waited for AC. They came in 11.40am coz Azman led her via a “shorter route” but distance 100km. :D It was a nice weather for riding. Legs were ok although I thought they would have been busted from the Tues - Sat teaching. I wish I had gone for the 120km to Kampong Kuantan but 10 months, > 100 is abit of stretch now. Dayem. It used to be the norm. Arghhhhh. 

PS : Cycling god..no copy & paste :)  

All Set for 42

endorphin March 15th, 2009

3 weeks ago was LM quarterly. Now all the tuition is done. All set for next week launches.

FF - Maxis (16/3); Axis, MBF & Curve while TF is USJ & Pavillion (18/3)

It will be played for two weeks - FF : 21/3 - 4/4; TF 19/3 - 1, 4 working tracks remain from 2/4 - 8/4.

So, RPMers !! Come & ride strong :) ;)  

RPM 42 is a roll over from 41 changes. The key focuses are 3Ps - Position, Push, Pace.

The working together of these 3Ps is important. LM is doing their best to translate the outdoor feel into the indoor ride in order to close the gap of riding experience and they all work together to bring you results. The right resistant correctly simulating the outdoor terrain will automatically bring you to the riding position. The right Pace (RPM) then will train your stamina & fitness. I wish I can emphasize it enough and that all RPMers will take heed to commit themselves to raise the bar. It is for your own good and to reach the goal of you doing RPM. :)

RPM 42 Track list :

Track 1 - Pack Ride - I Could Have Loved You - Lighthouse Family  - 3.58min

Track 2 - Pace - Dance Floor Anthem (I Don’t Want To Be Loved) - Good Charlotte - 5.03min

Track 3 - Hills - Right By Your Side - N-Force Vs Darren Styles - 6.13min

Track 4 - Mixed Terrain - Human - The Killers - 4.05min

Track 5 - Intervals - New Future Weapon - Billy Idol - 6.30min

Track 6 - Speed Work - Going Wrong - Armin Van Buuren & DJ Shah Feat Chris Jones - 5.25min

Track 7 - Mountain Climb - Because The Night (Manox Remix) - Cascada - 7.09min

Track 8 - Ride Home - With You - Chris Brown - 4 min

Track 9 - Stretch - You Make It Real - James Morrison - 3.30 min.

See you in class !! :)

Roll it out…….

endorphin March 8th, 2009

Exactly Ten (10) months and eleven (11) days. I finally dust it off & roll out the wheels. Phew. What a long time. All thanks to VC & AC who are itching to ride. :) Too bad AC overslept though :p

My real last ride was April 20, 2008 broga classic.  After that, for some reason, I have not ridden since. I must say I had a little doubt if I can keep pace with the season riders. Well, I got to start some where, right ?  

All gathered @ CP @ 645am. about 25 of us with a couple of ironmans :). Apparently, recovery ride. Fooh….Dragon back as recovery. Truly Iron. :) We rolled out sharp on time, thanks to PK the ride leader, aka the Pain Killer who has a reputation of starting ride punctual & early. It was a comfortable speed all the way to Guthrie. The slopes @ Guthrie splitted the group. The fast riders spin off at 35km/hr & above. I caught a guy whose speed that I can keep up with & hitched a ride all the way to Ijok Petronas regroup point. Sweet :P Thanks dude. Too bad never had the chance to get to know his name. :p

After a short refuel, it was decision time.  Long & hilly (dragon back 105km) or short & flatish (82km). VC was not up for it as this is her maiden ride after 2 years break. So, we decided for short. PK led the bigger group to Dragon Back & the rest of us follow Soh.

Well well, as we rolled out of Petronas,  Soh said, “Guthrie highway very boring lar, Lets take Punchak Alam route. More or less the same distant but more interesting :)” hmmm…..with that fishy smile on his face, I can smell the short & flatish route went out of the window. Opps, bicycle has no window. No wonder.

It was certainly more interesting than Guthrie. There there were three (3) nice climbs, one (1) of which is quite long. Pearli was taking the lead with hubby Don in her new TIME machine (nice & gorgeous one babe). As we entered Sg Buloh @ the mamak, the fast & furious truly live up to their nicks. Lim & Wai Lam fr Dragon Back caugt up with us within 5 min. Dayem. They are simply machine. Admire & salute. ;)

Reached back @ CP b4 12noon, my cyclometer registered 90km and I got my tan line back, yay :).

Though the climbs was fine, I can feel the tightness on my quads. Certainly due to the lack of miles in my legs. Something needs to be done if I wish to match IS distance. Lets see lets see. Other than that all good & happy :)