Bt18 to Genting Peras on Scott CR1

First ride report on my brand new Scott CR1 Team :))

Its been many months since I rode at Genting Peras so the fitness was a bit off. As expected I suffered a bit on the accent. Another reason for the suffering was due to the fact that I'm used to the gearing ratio on my mountain bike 32X26 compare to 39X25 on the CR1. I still need to ride in the Tuesday night ride or to Genting Sempah to find out whether there's any drop in speed. Oh! By the way, no speed data because my old bike meter & front light cannot be fitted to the large diameter handle bars, so need to buy new ones.




I really enjoyed the CR1 on the descents. It was steady and goes where you point it to go. Descending on the drops is fun.

The carbon frame soaks up bumps from the road expertly. I adjusted the handlebar, flipped the stem and moved the saddle forward to a comfortable position as possible. However I still feel I need to get a shorter stem.

More about the CR1 as the mileage adds up :)

Kitten at the coffee shop

Wet Wet Wet

Because of rain and minor illness, I didn't ride much outside. So yesterday after the rain I went for the usual Tuesday club ride. 1KM from the regroup point its started to rain. I decided not to wait for the others as I was worried the rain will get heavy.

I took a shortcut to skip a hill but the rain caught be right before Sime Darby Convention Center. It was pouring. I had to take shelter in one of those rain shelter for motorcycles. After waiting for about 15 min the rain slowed down and I was able tp continue my ride home.

Riding in the rain is no fun but somehow I feel it distracts me from the pain so I think I was cycling a bit faster in some sections. :-)

Failed Genting Accent

599 Meter (Altitude from 115 to 714 Meter)
Total ascent: 926 Meter, Total descent: 929 Meter

Happy Chicken

I've been trying to be a vegetarian for a long time especially after my visit to India in 2006. 90% of the time in India I was eating vegetarian food and I love it.

Back home it's was difficult because mom is cooking and my workplace canteen servers lousy food.

So this time with the help of some people in the office I'm giving it a go and see how far I can maintain my new diet.

Tuesday Night Ride From UIA!

I've been trying to do this for the last 2 month but every time something for sure goes wrong. It's either the GPS software acts up or me who didn't set the device properly.

This is not perfect either because I only realized that the GPS software was set to off at the traffic light near UIA PJ. This new software called Trail Explorer is better that Nokia's Sports Tracker because of the quality of the lock and the reliability.



With this new route I save about 20KM of fuel and I get back home around the same time as the old route via Jln Maarof.

Willful loss of the fitness

"One of the biggest crimes in human performance is the willful loss of the fitness gains made during the course of the season; and it’s about time you stopped the cycle." ~ Chris Carmichael

Last Tuesday night ride was good but can be better. Can be better by cycling minimum twice a week....every week.

Strange Illness

Well it's been ages since I last update this blog. I have been riding mostly the Tuesday Night ride after my usual gang decided not to ride! 1 guy sold his bike & another guy decided not to ride because he wan to concentrate in his studies! To each his own!

On July 17 I begin to experience pain on my left leg and when I went home from work I found my ankle has swollen! I don't know the cause. Long story short; visiting the doctor produce no result, so went to see a traditional Chinese doctor for a massage. It offer some relieve but still the same. My Mom helped massage my leg and this helped a bit.

After 1 month the swelling went down. Last Saturday I was in a 2 hour traffic jam in my manual shift car. The next day the same left side ankle was swollen. But this time without pain.

24 May 2008

Went to Genting Sempah. Start riding at 8.00 AM. I rode alone & meet Shah on a mountain bike like me. turns out I meet him at the Zoo ride before!. Rode with him for a while and then decided to challenge my personal best time of 59 min.

Reached the top at 56 min, which is cool considering it's been a while since I rode here. Going down took 20 min +.

Ordered Milo ice and I was joined by Shah. Few minutes of small talk, I saw Dennis and Wilson on his way. About 10 AM + I rode the the usual gang again to Sempah. Legs did feel a bit tired but i begin to spin in the lowest gear and to my surprise I managed to catch Dennis 1 KM to the top.

He blew up trying to keep up with a tri- athlete but it doesn't matter...I caught Dennis!

Max speed: 49KM/h, Distance: 62.6KM, Time on Bike: 2h 56min, Average speed: 21.2KM/h

Broga, The Defeat

No energy to go into the details. In summary we started at 8am from Bt 18>Peres>Titi>Jeram Toi (killer climb)>Lenggeng.

At Lenggeng is already 3.30PM and we have another 40 KM to go! Asmadi was having cramps and decided to hire a van back to Bt 18.

All I can say is that its a good decision because I don't think we could make it to our cars before dusk!




Max speed: 59km/h, Distance: 81.46Km, Time on the bike: 3h 57m 47s, Average speed: 20.6Km/h


Breakfast : RM 6
Lunch : RM 6
Tea : RM 3
Van : RM 20
Bruised Ego : .... Priceless!

08 May 2008

I don't think I'll be joining the Malakoff charity ride. My fitness at the Tuesday night ride this week was down. I really don't know how a week earlier I feel great and the next week, I was struggling!

Even a day later I still feel tired and my back ache from that 1.30 hour ride. Yesterday I did some core muscle training just enough to get rid of the back pain.

I also notice my weight have increased by 1 kg thanks to peanut butter and weight training!

02 May 2008 Conqured

Not sure if its Bukit hantu or Bukit Ampang but I managed to cycle up none stop after climbing Perez at a relaxed pace.

30 April 2008

The unexpected happen on yesterdays Tuesday night ride. I managed to stay with group! After my poor performance on the last ride in Hulu Langat, I expected my lack of fitness to accompany me on the hills of Damansara yesterday.

This was not the case and I did some decent riding. So what went wrong in Hulu Langat? Maybe the distance before I hit the climb. The last good climb happened when I started from Bt 18 instead if Bt 14. Soon I will find out.

Btw I saw the Liège-Bastogne-Liège race. Totaly unbelieveable! These guys rode 200KM + and the last 20 Km they hit 10% gradient climb for 1500m and they can still attack! Now that is power!

26 April 2008 - The struggle to get back

Went for a ride alone today. My last serious ride was like 1 month ago. With just the occasional session on the trainer in between, I have lost considerable amount of fitness.

Todays ride started from Bt 14 Hulu Langat. The plan was to ride to Perez then u turn to Semenyih dam and to Bt 14. I have never ridden the last bit and according to riding mates its tough.

I started alone from Bt 14 around 7.40am. When I was nearing Bt 18 town I was passed by NSC riders and their van. I drafted the van until they decided to stop 3KM from the junction to Peres. I rode solo again but not far because riders from PCC was in front.

The faster riders went fast in to the climb and I only managed to catch up with Wong or Vong (sorry mate!)and 2 ladies. In the climbs the 3 of them smoked me! The climb felt extra long and steep for my under trained legs. They just don't have the stamina.

At the BN signboard I rested alone and decided to turn back when Arif asked to join them. I decline as I know I'm not fit.

I entered the road to Bt 14 from the dam and I know I'm in trouble. Firstly it is steep continuous climb of 2 KM. Secondly my water bottle is bone dry. The climb is exposed with little shade. I was struggling and have to stop couple of times even while using my granny ring and the lowest gear at the back.

So you can imagine my delight when the road finally points downwards and its 3 KM of normal road back to Bt 14 town.

Max speed: 52.5 KMh, Distance: 52.86KM, Time: 2h 46m, Average speed: 21.1KMh

16 April 2007

Training have started for the ride with Malakof. Monday I just spin around trying to condition my leg. Today it's interval and my legs was feeling much better than they did on Monday.



Virtual training partner!

14 April 2008

My body is aching from not cycling and lifting weights. I need a proper training time table.

PCC Interstate 2008 Kajang-Bahau-Kuala Rompin-Kuantan

PCC Interstate 2008 Kajang-Bahau-Kuala Rompin-Kuantan



Open for registration now. I booked my seat!

20 March 2008

Not a good week health wise. Stomach upset almost everyday. The day before work sucked too but today it was great because it's public holiday!

Woke up early to meet Wilson & Hasmadee in Hulu Langat. Arrived there at 0740. Got down from the car and notice my house key on top of the car! Luckily it didn't fall because nobody at home!

Then my stomach started to act up and I decided to go for it. looking around Bt 18 town, I didn't find any suitable place to do my business. Then I saw the bt 18 police station behind me. I went in and there's nobody inside. The place is almost empty except for a police radio. Went in into a not so nice toilet beside the lockup and did my business in record time! :)




After the Genting Perez climb we went to Sungai Congkak recreation area for some delicious nasi lemak. Nasi lemak shop coordinates N3 12.558 E101 50.578

Contrasting Weekend

This week is the opposite of last weekend.
Monday: Weights
Tuesday: 26Km cycling
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: Jogging on the treadmill 3Km
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 68Km cycling
Sunday: Macro shooting

16 February 2008 Treadmill!!!

Hopped on the the new condo treadmill today. This is my first attempt at running after about 10 years. The main incentive is the heart rate function.

Pity the stationary bike don't have HRM, but it has the normal cycle computer. I use it for a while but it started to make noise. Disappointed I moved to the recumbent bike. I was not satisfied because couldn't go faster than 18 KM/H! So next I move to the treadmill.

I did 2KM in 30 min. Feel pretty proud of myself until I found out the norm is 3 miles or 4.8 KM in 30 min! I have to run constant 10 KM/H to achieve that! Today I was running at 6Km/H @ 6ºincline (183bpm ♥) before I hit the cool down button.

13 February 2008 Return to the Hills

After many months of not joining the Tuesday night ride, I went yesterday, bringing along my GPS.



It's an all guy affair, minus Arif. The first hill was tough as usually and I managed to stay behind Patrick's wheel. I reckon I can climb faster but not knowing the real condition of my fitness I decided to take it easy. A wise decision because on the second hill I thought I shit myself! On subsequent hills the suffering continues.

The good news; my riding times remained about the same. :)

Brain music: Kutty Pisase from 'Kaalai' & Ennai Thedi from Vijay TV serial 'Kadaillika Neramillai'.

19 January 2008 Hulu Langat

Going up. The above data from Nokia Sports Tracker, the graph dosen't look smooth. *read update below

Finally figured out how to display Nokia Sports Tracker data in Garmin Training Center. More on that later.

Today I went to Hulu Langat again. Another solo ride but I was joined by Yin who I met during the Fraser Hill ride. He was not riding. He was mapping a training route around Semenyih area for pre Fraser Hill ride in March.

The ride was tougher that last week's because I didn't do any training this week. When I reach the climb my legs went noodles but I I was determined to make it. The climb is not tough as Genting Sempah, it's just your legs are not fresh when you hit the climb.

Today I stayed in the middle ring and keep off from the last & second last cog at at the back. Halfway couple of pros overtook me! They were firing on all cylinders! Their cadence seems to be a lot higher. Amazing.

Reached the Jelebu/Selangor border and Yin arrived a few minutes later. He decided to be my support car for the journey down to Bt 18 town. We had drinks at Bt 18 town as I forgot to have my snack before cycling down the hill.


There's a loop on Google Earth above because I took a wrong turn and have to detour. Looks like from the image I should have went ahead and take the bridge to join my normal route.

Bike meter says;

Max speed:49KM/H, Distance:58.2KM, Riding time:2H 20Min, Average speed:24.9 KM/H




Going down. Data from Garmin XT

*Update; since Nokia Sports Tracker logs at 1 sec interval it will have more data compared to Garmin XT (4 sec) which makes the graph look bunched up. I have to filter the points by 4 sec or more in Mapsource to make the graph look smooth in Training Center.

16 January 2008

It started to rain as soon as I got out of my front door. I waited for a 10 minutes and then decided to stay home. It probably didn't rain in Taman Tun and the Tuesday night ride would have went on as schedule. Will try next week.

So this week I managed to fix the data transfer error between Garmin XT and Mapsource. I format my phone! I did backup my data using Nokia software but it didn't backup my data in the card! After re-installation the Garmin applications works.

Another problem I notice was the GPX format in Nokia Sports Tracker program. It doesn't put the actual speed in the tag. It writes the speed information without a tag. This is why every time I convert the data the speed is all wrong! Emailed the developers. So for now Nokia Sports Tracker is no good if you want to download your training data and display it on Garmin Training Center. However I'll still use it to do non- workout tracking for geotagging my photos since the application is lightweight compare to Garmin XT.

11 January 2008 Hulu Langat

Went to Hulu Langat alone after couple of weeks of no activity. This is my second ride, the first with PCC. this time it feels 'easier'. It took me 1hr 18 min to reach the Selangor-N.Sembilan border. If you start the climb at 8.30am you get to see magnificent view of the mountain range. The valley below was covered in mist and the mountains in the distance looks like snow capped with their tip covered in clouds.



The let down of the trip is my Garmin GPS software crashed when I reach home. All the data gone! I have to reinstall the program and upgraded to a newer version( XX.XX.60). So far the performance is good. Better and faster lock... indoors!

I've been emailing Klaus Bechtold of GPSies.com for him to include Nokia Sport Tracker GPX files in his converter so that I can view the ride detail in Garmin Training Center. Please visit his site.