ST's "easy" ride in K6(?), 17 September 2000

Sun morning started off with breakfast at the usual place in Farlim. To tackle such a climb as K6 requires that we "grab something" to eat first. Besides my usual group, Derek decided to join us. Bad decision!! We promptly start off at 7.35am after confirming that Siang will not be coming...need to study for his PMR next week. It was a small group of 7 riders, the ideal
size for a ride this arduous. It rained the night before, so many parts of the cement trail was wet and slippery and the scene was not as scenic. Normally, with the sun rising in the horizon, the scenery stretching all the way to the mainland would be breathtaking, but this morning, there was plenty of haze and low hanging clouds, making it a pretty gloomy day. We took a slow ride to the trailhead, starting at the arch to the "Tai Siang Loh Koon" temple. There was much chattering as we rode slowly on this short undulating stretch through some kampung houses.

This was a virgin ride for Derek who began to wish very loudly that he should have stayed in bed that morning as he saw the start on the steep unrelentless climb adjoining the hill railway station. This was supposed to be just a "half ride" to the middle station, with 50% of the climb and 100% of the scenery. Alas, it was not to be. With the rain, haze and low hanging clouds, we only got 50% of the scenery and 100% of the climb due to the slippery trail which made traction poor and you have to really control your pedaling power to ensure your rear tire don't spin. Everyone made it to the 1st regrouping point at the farmer's hut in pretty good shape. However, we could see the tailenders starting to push. Ben, who had his usual Friday nite out with the boys, began to deposit some red fertilizers to the plants when his undigested red wine decided to come out to look at the scenery as well. Poor Ben must have wished he didn't drink so much. Then we had Derek wishing he had brought along his hardtail instead and save some 4 pounds of weight. Yeah, yeah, we've heard it all before. Hell, we made up many of these excuses ourselves. Ask Azmi. ;-)

At the front pack was our veteran tengkar...go, Roger, go. Score 1 for the veteran riders. He went so fast that he didn't even stop at the 2 regrouping point beside the flower garden to smell the flowers....yeah, there is a huge plot of flowers which the farmers grow for sale ala Cameron Highlands and its a sight to behold when they are in full bloom. After a short breather while waiting for the tailenders, we resumed our ride to the middle station. The ride down the K5 trail to Hye Keat estate was pretty uneventful, with no crashes as everyone went pretty slowly, mindful of the wet terrain. Then it was back to Air Itam market for curry mee at the "keoh thou" beside the bridge where this guy has been selling curry mee for the last 25 years at the same spot every morning without fail, no holidays or MC.

Without question everyone in the group agreed that K6 is the ultimate mountain bike climb in Penang and anyone who can clean it without dismounting will truly have earned the accolade of "King of the Mountain"! Any takers??

Well, for one, Derek is already planning his mountain bike to conquer this trail with only a 20 teeth front and 34 rear sprocket, no shifters or deraillers, with only the front brake. Everything else that is not required for the climb will be discarded to save weight. Anyone else want to beat him to it?? For the rest of us mortals with limited energy and budget, we can only stand back and cheer you guys on.