endorphin May 22nd, 2009
Yes yes yes, it has been 3 weeks now after IS 09. So here you go……..:)
As usual, the excitement of interstates 09 started when interstates 08 ended. Familiar members of PCC was already looking at the calender & anticipating a change of timing as fasting mth falls in Aug.
Sure enough, rumour was out when the ride leaders went receeing the route sometime in Feb/March. Everyone sat tight in anticipation for the annoucement of registration. And yes, it came in March. Then it was the rush of booking a spot. Less than 3 weeks, it was done, fully book.
PCC Sun rides started to build the mileage and simulate the ride. It was getting more and more interesting each Sun. Then disappointingly, came my crash. It was very frustrating at first but once I accept the fact & change the approach, it became a much anticipated holiday especially with all the speculation of how the route will be.
There were talks about the 1st day climb will be as steep as Bukit Hantu, a 10% and followed by big time rollings, similar to the route to PD/Lukut.
Finally, a week before, the briefing.
Collected the ID tag, bike tag, tulips, t/shirts, sticker…etc, it was time to pack !!
Everyone clear their timetable, getting ready to travel down to Seremban. A car load full of travelling light except the crocodile in the middle who has 3 bags for the trip, size L, M & S :) Paris Hilton going on a biking trip…..Oppsies……wakakakakak :p
It was crazy jam on the way to Seremban. It took a good 2 hours to make it to Allson Klana !! We quickly settled in, prepared for the next day stuff & retired.
Chillipadi with her potent drink for the next day ride.
Day 1 of Interstates 09.
I drove support car for Bahri & Clarence. LK used my bike to conquer the much talk about killer climb. It was a much anticipated climb. LK had quite a fair of hiccups in familiarising with the bike initially and she ended up dead last with MTB Adrian. MT & I kept check on her but she caught up by the time we reach the killer. Power.
It turns out, the climb was a good 14% over 2km distance with absolutely no chance (taper) to take breather. KILLER !! It’s so steep that majority of the cyclists pushed bike. That includes even some season strong riders. But all make it through safely.
fooh…female power…
All different strategies to take the climb…the straight up, the snaky, the push bike…whichever strategy, still reach the top :p
When it comes to a wall of 14% climb, where semi pro is also of the opinion that it is harder then Genting, fitness is relative…….ego becomes the games & enemy..;)
If these do not convince you of how tough it is, lets check the elevation !!!.
The ride leader has strongly strongly emphasized the need of safety & the target of zero casualty from April 28 briefing itself. Unfortunatetly, there’s a little drama after the 60km pit stop. AC fell and had a small but deep wound that needed medical attention. Excellent support work from MT to send her from seremban to Segamat, made 3 hospital/clinic stops, 4 stitches & big bunch of pain killers, anti-inflamatory & antibiotics,….all were good. Phew….
Day 2 Interstates 09
It was my goal to ride at least 1.5 days in this IS. If all go well, I will push it to complete 2 days. So, Day 2 is in fact my day 1. Was I a little nervous ? Of course! This was my first ride after the crash. Can I still balance on the bike ? hmm…:) I hardly have any chance to build any mileage in my legs.
We woke up early @ 5.45am, down for breakie @ 6.15am. and by 6.30am, we were all down infront of the hotel, preping our bikes.
2nd day saw us through the most rolling hills ride through the estate into Gunung Ledang. I was fortunate to catch Azahar & PK’s peloton. Knowing I have no mileage on my legs, just recovered from crash injury, it was very nice of them to promise me a ride to the destination. We had an early refill and made our way to the critical juction into the estate. It was nice to ride under the canopy of trees but it was unrelenting rollings. It sucked the energy out of the cyclists, physically & mentally.
By the time we exited the estate, 2 of our members, Jeff & Wong CC, were suffering big time. Apparently, both of them had upset tummy and wong has bonked. There were so many waiting pit stops that even newbie AC catch up with the help of Azahar & PK pushing her up the rolling hills. By the time we were left with 8km to go, Wong CC given up & call for support car despite we coaxing him, reasoning with him what if there’s no more rolling ahead. But it was just too much for him. So, he stayed to wait for Dennis to pick him up and we moved on. True enough, it was only one more climb and flat all the way like Ijok to Gunung Ledang Resort. 
But the highlight of day 2 wasn’t over yet. When Clarence & Bahri have the priviledge of being roomie with #1, it was a comedy court from 3pm at the cafetaria till past 10pm. Hillarious !
Day 3 Interstates 09
Day 3 was the shortest in distance, 103km. The ride started a little later then usual. Everyone was more laid back & chill. Chin Hoe who had 2 days of food poisoning finally recovered & got to ride on the 3rd day. Yay. Our peloton started from behind. We cruised & overtook quite a number of groups, riding into the kampong of Malacca.
As we were having a good ime, suddenly, all of us saw from a far, #1 was talking to some kampong people in front of their house. Upon seeing us, he was trying to get on to his bike. PK shouted, “big chainring, big chainring !!”. Peloton speed shot up to 38kmh all of a sudden. We pulled for quite a good distance. As we slow & LOLs, Clarence signalled # 2 ! #2 ! And the speed went up again. Crazy sprint sessions.
The farnie part was, unknown to us, LK was chasing hard to hop on to the train on her 15 yr old steel bike from behind. She couldn’t understand how come the peloton sped away from her all of a sudden. :)
Thank goodness, there was a pitstop for refill & reload at about 50ish km. After refill, the peloton hang between 25-28kmh into Malacca.
The hotel was not ready for checking when we arrived, so we did the most obvious thing - EAT !! Cendol, laksa, rojak……Results ? most of us kena food poisoning…..:D 
Check out the after 3 days ride & load full of lunch look :)
The event wrapped up with nice dinner & our laughters ring through Jonkers Street.
Now is time to go home………….and wait for next yr
Special thanks to William, Jesster & Cycling Asia for the pictures.
