Another "easy" ride in Juru Firetrack, 18 March 2001

Well, I got up late. I have been lazy to wake up early lately. When ST announced that he would lead a group of riders to "conquer" Sungai Rusa on Sunday, my first reaction was "Again?" I really admire his love for climb. Not for me, climbing is not my favorite cup of tea...err...coffee. I climb on weekdays. That 17 minutes of steep climb at Batu Kawan hill is more than enough for me. Saturday and Sunday should be the time for XC fun, not another torture climb! Well, anyway it is just my feeling. Sometimes I still want to torture myself to death. So, ST keep on doing more rides that has killing climbs. When you start to think about doing K6, let me know!

So after I was done with my "wife", I called up Julian and Fatt to see if they were riding in the morning or not. I got the same reply, "Lazy to wake up early lah!" Okay! Lets do Juru Firetrack and probably recce a trail that I had been thinking of doing for quite some time! The recce thing ain't happen, because Julian brought his office buddy with him! I would have to loan this chap one of my bikes. It was a difficult decision man. Normally cyclists don't loan their bikes. At least I don't. You will have to kill me to loan my bike unless you are Christina Applegate or Sharon Stone...:) But it was because of Julian, I decided to make an exception. So Julian, next time bring SYT, I will let her ride my baby. No more "batang" okay??? Oh, for our non-Bahasa speakers, batang means stick. Stick is...err...a Malaysian way of connotation for male. Got it? Stick? That thing? Hehe... Oh yeah, did I mention that I burst my VooDoo front tube? It blew after I changed my slick to knobbies! Luckily Julian had a spare presta tube. Otherwise, we would have to say sorry to his friend! We met at Fatt's house at 1645hours. After a brief introduction to Julian's friend, Eugene, and adjusting the bike for his height, we all set to go.

I decided to make the ride a little more exciting. Instead of going the usual way, I decided to extend the distance a little bit. Fatt and I did that extension before but it was like one and the half years ago. We did not do it afterwards because of the disconnection of the trail. Certain of that extension made way for the water pipe burial job. We decided to go check it out if we could ride at that extension again or not. It also gave Eugene's opportunity to have taste of what recce is all about!

As usual, we proceeded to the trailhead from Fatt's house. The trail was dry and dusty due to the recent dry weather. There was no rain for quite a number of weeks already. After a short distance from the trailhead, before the entering into the oil palm estate, I led them to the left and began our "recce"!

It was a hot evening. The situation became worst when the trail was not shaded! But it was windy. So, it was more or less taking the heat away. We discovered that the dig out had already been covered. So, we decided to continue to complete the whole loop. The ride became more interesting as we made turn under the bridge to the twisting singletrack, which led to the fireroad at the riverbank of Sungai Juru. It was a twisting singletrack. Although there was virtually no climb at all, it was quite tricky to tackle the twisting trail. When ride on it at high speed, I found I would have to concentrate more not hit the front tire to the shoulder. It was no fun to hit the shoulder! I was leading the group and I was charging at full speed. By the time I reached the junction to the riverbank, the rest was still far behind. So I took the time to have a few sip from my "Kamelbak" and allowed myself to settle down. I was quite impress with Eugene. He took it lightly. It seemed he enjoyed the ride. After a brief stop, we continued our journey at the rest of the trail to Kuala Juru.

I was leading all the way to Kuala Juru. Julian was with Eugene. Fatt decided to take his own sweet time to enjoy the breeze. It was nothing spectacular. I was expecting Julian to "attack" me on the way to Kuala Juru, but he decided not to do so. Something was not right but I could not figure it out at the moment. After a teh tarik(sweetened local drink that is made of Ceylonese tea and condensed milk. The tea is "pulled" before it is served) time at local mamak store, we began our journey back to Fatt's house. I was thinking of going back by the road. But due to the 3-1 vote, we decided to go back via the same singletrack!

I told the rest that the ride back would be a slow one. Everyone except Fatt agreed that we should go slow. So we chatted and joked along the way. And then, Julian started to tell me that he had an urge to go fast when we hit the singletrack. And he was already in the attack position. I just remembered I said, "If you want go fast, no one will stop y...." Poof, he was gone! That bugger stood up and pressed the pedals all the energy he had. I was chasing after him on my saddle. I couldn't do the stand sprinting because of my yet to recover wrists. E went faster and faster. Our distance was getting further and further. I was trying in vain to catch up with him since I could not stand up and sprint! Luckily he decided to stop to wait for the rest when he hit one junction. We both were panting like hell. I was like a fish in desperate gasping for air!

We continued our little race after the rest met up. Since we were already in the narrow singletrack, and twisting and tricky too, whoever got to the front first the ride at the back will have to wait 'til the trail opens up again. Julian just stuck to me even though I had pedaled my lungs out. I expected him to overtake when the trail finally opened up to be a wide laterite trail but he did not. Apparently, both of us were exhausted after the chase. It was one hell of work out!

After discussion with the rest of the group, we decided to cut the ride short by taking a short cut. Julian would have to attend a dinner at 2000. That means he only had one and the half hours to get himself prepared!

It was a nice ride. Eugene got his first taste of what mountain biking is all about. And also he learnt a lesson of the difference of well maintained bike(ahem) and not so well maintained ones. But when I asked if he's gonna get himself a Giant, well...I know lah. Recent economy is so good. Anytime we have to be prepare to lost our job. Seriously, he is a rider. I hope that I will see him again at our next Saturday ride, with a new bike!

Stay tuned!