The ride this morning, 27 August 2000
It was chaos this morning. Actually I wasn't feeling like going to the Island for a ride. Getting bored already lah. Every week go to the same old cement trails. No fun man. Mountain biking is meant for off road, mud and dirt. No a well paved "single track" like what most farmer trails in Penang. Anyway, I was still going to Penang for ride because number one, my high school buddy said he was thinking of doing ride in Penang. The Paya Terubong-Bukit Jambul-Sungai Ara sounded like fun to him(it was!). Secondly, got an email from Technoman of A2W that one of his group regulars, Dr. Adrian was planning to visit us! So no choice lah. Even though I did not feel like crossing the sea to the island, for the sake of our visitor and my high school buddy's wish, I woke 6am in the morning and got myself for the ride! So I met Dr. Adrian at the Caltex gas station at Green lane, met the others at ST's place and waited for the rest before the get off time at 0800 hours.
You know what happen? Fatt called me up at seven thirty that he couldn't make it because he overslept. He was wrong. He had to make it because he was the one who told me that he wanted to ride in Penang! I shouted at him up and down, told him to move his ass and I would be waiting for him! So I told ST and the rest to go ahead. I would be waiting for Fatt! I really felt sorry for Dr. Adrian because I couldn't ride with him. I am pretty sure that he was taken care of by the group! Fatt finally arrived after I finished reading my Sunday Star. Wasting no time, we went straight to the trail without going to our usual breakfast place!
We went faster than we were used to be. Though I told my high school buddy we would go at our own pace, I had a feeling that we went faster and faster. Maybe it was because of my newly bought Adidas El Moro II(a 2001 model. You won't see it at Adidas homepage. Not after September!), I felt like I was so eager to spin faster and faster! It was at one time that we both went so fast that we both threw out on the bike! It was an unforgettable sensation. The stomach was like twisting around and the body was shivering! But we just went on and span faster and faster!
It took us half an hour to reach Bukit Jambul. I must say it was a record for both of us! My previous ride at this trail clocked one hour. We shortened the time 100%! Of course, the pay off was white faces and twisting stomach! Oh yeah, the downhill. Yes the downhill. The trail was more difficult to handle than before! There were pot holes here and there. If I chose a wrong line, that's it! It was exactly what happened to me. I went down first. Fatt was far behind. I warned him to be careful because of the difficulty to tackle this trail but I forgot to tell myself that trail changes from time to time. I picked a wrong line! Everything went smoothly. Though the previous rain eroded the trail but it was still manageable if careful enough. I wasn't ! I was going at my usual sweep and bomb tactic. Then, all the sudden there was this small drain going across the trail(no cover!). It was a split second thing. I only remember I was immediately shifting my body to the back wheel, squished both brake level with all the energy I could generate and then "wham!". It was a soft landing but it was hurt! No scar! Still hurt! Funny huh? I couldn't go over the drain since the drain sunk about six inches between the bumps. I was too occupied on how to slow my machine to a manageable speed and forgot about how to jump over the bumps. I could have made it if I pulled my handle but hell, only I knew I was already lying turtle on the ground with my Diamondback on top of me!
An usual four hour ride was shortened to one and the half hours! The front pack was going at full speed. That was what making our chase more difficult. Did we manage to catch up with the big group? We were not that good enough to catch up with them. We were five minutes behind! Fatt and I started half an hour after the group started their journey! If the trail were longer, we would have caught up with them! By the time we finally met up with the group at the coffee shop, Farlim. I am pretty sure the color of our faces scared the hell out of them! We were so exhausted and white that we stood there did nothing but gasped for air!
It was a fast ride, and it was quite an experience. The ride was awesome with that technical downhill. We had push ourselves beyond our limit! Yeah it was our first time. Quite dangerous for two thirtysomethings to do that isn't it? Well, at least we are still alive to tell you the story...:)
Oh yeah the shoes. It does make difference. The power transfer is more efficient compare to the soft sole ones. It is very obvious especially during the climbing. On the flat? To be frank, I don't feel much difference! Probably adding the cleats to mount the shoes to the pedals might improve my flat road peddling. Naah, not this month. Maybe after I have got my bonus and I will see what happen!
Stay tuned!