Seven hills ride

For the first time in my life, I did a ride which my friend (CHEW) calls a seven heavens ride.

Left the house (Pandan area) around 7 am. The seven hills are:

1. Ampang hill to pekan batu 14

2. Tekali hill

3. Lenggeng

4. Bukit Tangga

5. Perez reverse

6. Tekali hill

7. Ampang hill

NO SUN AT ALL

Reached home at 4 pm.

Total ride time was 8 hrs 20 min.
163 km
Average speed 19.5 km/h.

Chew told me he did the same ride in 2003, ride time 6 hrs 48 min. Well he's the man.

Miri Hotel Tip

If u call the hotel, they will tell u a room for participants is RM150/night with breakfast.

The Sarawak Tri web-site is here.

If u go to the hotel's on-line booking, its RM90 / night without breakfast. the only accept VISA credit card though.

Divine Intervention

Incredible

Job done

Goodbye Adrian

Lest I forget, I wish to record my goodbyes to Adrian Holdman who will be leaving for Dubai in two weeks' time. He is a nice bloke always not forgetting to convey his greetings as he passes me on the bike.

Adrian writes two very good blogs:
tri.my and klinklangman. I wonder who will now be updating the tri.my blog which actually might be the most informative general tri blog in the country.

Adrian, all the best to you.

BUSSELTON here we come

I have signed up for Ironman WA Busselton which will be held on 7 Dec 2008.

By chance I read in the star of "free tickets" being offered to Perth for two days. So I booked two tickets (leaving on the 3rd and coming back on the 13th). The "free" tickets actually cost RM 2,400 return for two.

Then I signed up. Add carbo and awards dinner tickets for the wife, entry fee was AUS 710. Thats already about RM4,600 and counting.

This is a very good site to get all sorts of tourist information :

Very simple accomodation is about AUS 90/day. So far I have identified two places (Eco Park something and Paradise Motor Inn)

Add a hard bicycle case, a swim wet suit, that "free" ticket to Perth is very $$$$$$$$$$$$$.

Malaysia boleh

More Famosa pics (sorry)

Finish pic by Jaja (thank you)

P M Tey (thank you), Wobbly legs
That white top was not white after the swim

Tyson was there

(no offence meant)

A Famosa 11 May 2008

With Joyo Commando before the start

Starting the bike
Starting the run (felt terrible here)
The finish, about 2hr 59m or 3 hrs
About to go home
Wife posing (accomodation was OK)
Wife scared
With Hoo Ching Cheong, a very nice chap
Trying to cover the tummy
Old friend Jamil Mat Esa (he beat me today)

As usual a very good day. I don't why I don't race more often. We meet old friends, go to a nice location, change of environment. Even the wife was happy.

The last time I did this race was in 2002. So it was a sort of a home coming. Mr Chan took a dig at me during the briefing that I "was so out of touch". He commented on my Kona exploits and the other triathletes applauded. I only get applause in Triathlon, until I tell them my times, then everyone giggles.

Whilst the water is not clean, its actually OK. The problem however is the mass start. First of all the water scooters people squashed everyone back, scary. When the start gun when, people infront doing breaststroke were kicking anyone behind. These kicks are powerful. No wonder we had a death at the PD race start last year. This is the only weakness of the race.

I swam wide clear of anyone. I tried to go as hard as I could. Don't know my swim time as the watched received a kick. I was so surprised to see Ngae in front of me. He finished the Langkawi swim about 35mins slower than me. I train with him, he actually can't swim. Looks like the swim training he did with Peh has really paid off.

I knew the trick of the bike is just to wait for a train to come along. Many trains came from behind, but my cycling was so useless I couldn't stick to any train. Nice route, many hills. It was fun. I felt tired with 28 km on the meter.

Total time was 1 hr 22min. 38 km. Average 28.xkm/hr. I suppose its poor statistics for a draft legal race.

I felt terrible at the run start. My last run was the Langkawi Ironman. That exploit has made my planta pain worse. So I had no expectations for the run. I was surprised to overtake Brian Ng from Spore soon after the run start. I thought I was the slowest runner in Triathlon. Funnily I felt better as the run progressed. I did overtake two or three runners. Of course the usual 100 runners did overtake me. Reaching the gate felt forever. It was so fast using the bicycle before. I just maintained my rythmn over the undulating run course. The trick is not to experience any pain with each step, I thought.

I finished the race in 2 hr 59 min according to a time keeper. It wasn't painful like the half Ironman or full Ironman. Races here we come.

Today's ride, Sunday 4 May 2008

It was a lovely ride.

Started from the house and on the MRR2 was overtaken by a cyclist who has only one leg. He was cheerful as he overtook me just before 7 a.m. I will never complain about my injuries again.

Met OP Chief Kutu (Fadzil), OP IM Shahzly, OP Kam, Farook (the best cylist in the group) and Rashid (son of OP) At Taman Melawati junction. First stop was at Orang Asli where there were many cyclists (Edwin's group), IM Azmar (who joined us) etc.

I cycled to Genting Sempah with Chief Kutu and gosh I really got to know him. We found out that we are genuinely related. We knew so many common relatives including our cousin that passed away recently.

Re-grouped at GS and headed down to the ice kachang place at Bentong. The ice kachang was of course good.

The group split big time on the ride back up to GS. We waited a good 45-50 mins at GS and still left two behind. I think the waiting made me hungry and I struggled home. CK was finishing very strongly (raisins), this is a very good sign.

Rashid wanted to have lunch at Orang Asli, very sorry the missus has cooked lunch. Rashid is putting in sacrifices for Triathlon. Good for him.

Ride data: 6 hrs 38 mins, 156 km, average 23.5 km/hr. I am very happy with my ride as I had struggled on 1 May. Joo Ngan had adjusted my cleats and it felt so much better today.

Next stop A Farmosa (Ikan Bakar)

The Title is Still Far From Certain

Old Trafford was rocking, West Ham had key players missing, so Man U easily won even with ten men.

I think Man U can still very much loose the title.We need a favour from the passionate geordies on Monday. Chelsea's last game is against Bolton (who are now safe) at home. Chelsea is at home, definitely their fans will want a win. Man U's last game is against Wigan, away. This game is a local derby similar to the Blackburn game. Wigan just beat fifth place Aston Villa, two - nil away, very impressive. So we need a favour from Newcastle.

Impressions of China

Outside the office building (just a little chilly)

Bicycles (the average person is fit)
Tea drinking is an art
At a tourist spot
A modern looking building

I was in China (Fuzhou) for the first time in my life from 23 to 29 April 2008.

My overall impression is its OK. People are well behaved, no riff raff, you do need to know Mandarin though.

Fuzhou must have the best airport / pax in the world. Its modern and clean, but no passengers. The immigration officers are polite, but no one can really speak English.

Its a pity, the city is a bit polluted, its ok to live just can't view the mountains. There are good highways, some massive and modern buildings, stadiums. The Hotel (Best Western was very good).

Everyone essentially commutes by bicycle. The average person is fit and slim. They are going to win the Olympics, mark my words.

Today's ride (1 May)

Met OP AJ and for the first time OP Fadzil (he tried to rag me to do "pumping" )

Only a few years ago, Chew would organise a 200km ride to Frasers to celebrate Workers' Day. Well those days are for the moment gone.

I just came back from six days in China (Fuzhou). I have never been this fat in my life, so it was interesting what I would do this Workers's Day.

It was raining at 6.30am, but I knew it wasn't a serious rain. I left the house at around 7.40 am after watching a recording of MU's semi final. Cloudy and a slight drizzle (perfect).
Went up the Ampang Hill and was surprised to see Joo Ngan's van at Batu 14. Joo Ngan is recovering from a fall in the Velodrome (he fell whilst sweeping the Velodrome floor). I was slow.
Saw National cyclists (Falanie Ali - he always smiles) coming the other way. Just before the T junction Chee Seng came in a van followed by his two sons and others absolutely tearing away. They turned right at the junction. Gave my pleasantries to CCS and headed up Perez. There were many cyclists and big motor bikes around Ulu Langat that day. IM Shahzly, AJ, Yusran, Dr K I think and others were flying down. They invited me to turn around,,, no way I was going to try and catch them. Reached the top in 40 mins versus 33 mins normally. Took my time going down to the Dam.

At the Dam coffee shop met OP AJ, OP Fadzil, Yusran etc. It was a very nice conversation talking to them. I was genuinely happy. I sort of use OPs as a motivation for me. My drive to the office everyday actually passes by the RMC turn off at Tasik Seletan. It is a silent motivation for me each time I pass that junction. They left the coffee shop before me.

At the T junction I was day dreaming and headed towards Batu 18. As I had told senior OPs I was going to do Perez again, i doubled back and went up Perez in the heat. Anyway to cut a long story short I completed my out and back along the same route ride.

It took me 6 hrs 8 mins, 125 km, average speed 20.3 km/h.
Normally without the double back error, the ride is 120km and takes me 5 hrs 20 mins. So, I am really unfit. Its judgment time, however I think I will get back my fitness, albeit slowly.

YES ..................

We are in the Final. Got to take leave I suppose that Thursday.
Its the first time I have seen United play so defensively. But they still created quality chances. Maybe they should take the same approach in the Final. Roman apparently has booked all the hotels near the stadium. The stadium would probably have much more Russian fans with the Abramovic connection.
The League is still nail biting. What a finish.