Climbing up to Batu Kawan - in reverse, 23 July 2000
I was supposed to join othwer knights in the Tikam Batu ride this morning. Shit happens. All the sudden thunder storm strut in and the ride will have to cancel. I felt apologetic for those who were on their way to the meeting at Sungai Dua. Azmi, Gary and ST called me early in the morning and asked me what was the plan. Still bugging by the hangover due to two bottles of Carlsberg on Saturday night. "No plan. Leave me alone. I wanna sleep!" 30 minutes later Ong called to tell what happened. Apparently, there was funeral going on in one of the kampungs that we would be passing by in Tikam Batu. It would be a disrespect to the deceased if we rode pass with flamboyant jerseys. So the ride was canceled! "Shit, couldn't you tell me a night before?" "Sorry lah, I just got to know in midnight. Too late to call you guys up already. Somemore I will have to go to Sg Dua to check if anyone shows up!" Poor Viper! Since I was still in bed when the decision was made to ride in Mt. Erskine, I decided to skip the ride in morning and joined my old folks to yum char at Chew Chuen, Raja Uda. Boy it was good. I haven't had such a nice "har kow" and "siew mai" since the last visit of A2W!
Okay so what happen to the ride on Sunday? After another 4 hour sleep after yum char with my old folks, I called up Fatt,"Wanna do Batu Kawan in reverse?" "Lets go man!!" The plan was on! We did Batu Kawan hill - in reverse!
I met up with Fatt at 1630hours and reached the foot hill of the Batu Kawan hill 15 minutes later. There wasn't anyone at the foothill at that time. Maybe because it was Sunday and already reaching evening, most regulars(hikers) decided to give themselves a break. Wasting no time, Fatt and I fixed our trusting hardtails(his Lerun Alu Rocky Mountain and my Diamondback Vectra SE), and we were already on our way to the back hill in just 5 minutes! Speaking of which, Fatt's LeRun only weighs 26 pounds. Who said locals don't make light bikes?? Brand conscious lah. Having a super duper expensive branded bicycle from the States won't make you fly ok?
How should I describe the climb? It was surprisingly moderately easy! Fatt and I had no problem to climb to the top nonstop if not because of falling trees along the trail. Although the trail was a little bit slippery due to the rain a night before, it was a fairly easy trail to tackle. It might be difficult for newbies to climb if they were not used to climbing offroad uphill but for experienced riders? Piece of cake! We also discovered lots of branch offs along the climb, which we never took notice. Maybe it is because they are concealed from our sight when we go downhill using the same trail. We decided to check the branch offs during our next visit!
This is a nice introductory uphill trail for new and intermediate riders. The climb was not as tough as Penang Hill or Ceruk Tekun, yet it is technical enough to provide some fun for the ride. The ride was quite technical in certain portions of the trail. If we were not careful, we would lost our momentum, come down from our machines and push the bike! It was especially true in one steep but short climb, which I always enjoy the technical downhill, I virtually lost my balance and had to push my bike up!
It was a nice one hour ride, which was not too tough and not too easy one. Fatt and I agree that this is the trail we should bring newbies to have a taste of what offroad uphill climb is all about before we take them to Sungai Ular or Penang Hill that would definitely send them to "Hor Lan"!
Lets see what happen to the Sungai Sedim camp cum BBQ trip this coming Sunday. If the trip is off again, I am going to check out the branch offs! Fatt, get yourself ready for another Batu Kawan back hill adventure??
Stay tuned!