POWERBAR MERDEKA RIDE FOR PRIDE PART 5

The Support Crew - Front (L - R) Lee, Eric, Eason, AhMeng (photographer1) & Don Junior; Back - Norman (photographer2), Chin2, Janet, Michelle, Mrs Don, Shirley

Who were the 2 Fools?
Don & Jacky Loh

What happened to the RM100 (collected by the Head Fool)?
Refunded. Everything was taken care of by sponsors, Chin Woo, PowerBar and Selesa Hotel.

Was it harder than Ironman?
No.

Will I do it again?
You Bet !!!!

POWERBAR MERDEKA RIDE FOR PRIDE PART 4

THIS ENTRY IS DEDICATED TO THE SUPPORT CREW WHO TOOK CARE OF US THROUGHOUT THE RIDE

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STAGE 3 : YONG PENG - JOHOR BAHRU

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2.30 p.m.
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We took off again and headed for JB. Things started to turn bad for me at around km300. I was dropped by the main group at a long climb that stretched for 5-6km (I think). When I looked around, I realised I wasn’t suffering alone. Some of the younger riders for LeTua were seen hanging onto support vehicles and was taken for a free ride. I remember vaguely that someone offered the same to me but I declined. Instead, I drafted behind a support car driven by Eric (with Chin Chin and Tan Lee Lee inside).

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Ah Swee

Chee Kai Mun - Dropped

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4.35 p.m.

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Eric & company stayed with me until we reached our next stop. I was too blur to figure out where we were. I remember checking the time and exact mileage but the info didn’t register (must have been around km320 because I vaguely recall that someone said we had another 50km to go and I got the time of 4.35 p.m. after reviewing the photos taken by Norman). I also did not sms my wife (otherwise I would have the details).

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Family Portrait

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It was only a short break and we didn’t get any food at this stop. Everyone seemed to be smiling and in high spirit except me. I didn’t talk much and quietly walked to one corner (with my bike) and sat down to rest my tired legs.

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AhKong

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4.50 p.m.

We pushed off for the final stage of the ride and I was told that the main peloton was instructed to go easy as we were going to approach JB town area. Unfortunately, it was really difficult to ask for such a thing when everyone seemed to be in great shape (still) and was eager to complete the ride. Shortly in the ride, I was dropped again inevitably. I rode the remainder of the ride with one other rider from the LeTua. Eric’s support car plus one of the ambulances stayed with us and the traffic got rather heavy by then.

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The guys in the ambulance came up to me and ask if I want to quit and jump in. They must be really bored and tired after such a long day and driving at snail pace. But I wasn’t going to give up. I swallowed my last PowerGel and kept going.

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6.33 p.m.

We reached the final regroup stop at an ESSO station 2km from Selesa Hotel, JB. The guys who were already there applauded. If there was a tortoise award, I would have shared it with that Le Tua rider. Azhar and some JB cyclists came out to receive us at the ESSO station.

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Azhar

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7.01 p.m.

We rode into Selesa Hotel at around 7.00 p.m. Staff from the hotel came out to receive us. By then, my cycle computer read 373km (inclusive of the 6-7km from Don’s house to the official starting line), my average speed dropped to 28.7km/h (from 29.7km/h at Yong Peng) and my total bike time was 13:00:10 (excluding stoppage time). A check with the others in the main peloton showed that their average speed was about 30.0km/h. And according to the other support cars upfront, the main peloton actually went faster in the final stages of the ride.

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> Babe, We Made It !!!

> Ah Soon

> Randy

> Sam & Carmen

At the post ride presentation, we received our completion certificates which stated that our official finishing time was 14:52:00 (inclusive of stoppage time).

POWERBAR MERDEKA RIDE FOR PRIDE PART 3

THIS ENTRY IS DEDICATED TO THE SUPPORT CREW WHO TOOK CARE OF US THROUGHOUT THE RIDE
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STAGE 2 : TAMPIN - YONG PENG
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8.10 a.m.
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We took off and headed for Yong Peng. This turned out to be the toughest stage of the ride – 157km and the sun only got HOTTER. As instructed, we went to the front and started taking turns to pull the pack.

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Off We Go Again


Sam Moving Up

Simply Unforgetable !!!!
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Then, not too long into the ride, one of the more senior and experienced cyclist from LeTua went to the front and started waving two fingers at us. At first, I was clueless with what he was trying to do. Then, it became apparent that he was giving instructions to ride in a 2 by 2 formation.
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Don And Randy Falling Back After Pulling In Front

2 By 2 Formation

Jacky-Easy Ride For Him?
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The formation worked very well. It was easier to pull upfront with someone beside you. The peloton picked up speed and averaged around 35km/h without much extra effort.

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Eason & I

Eric, Mrs Don, AhSoon & Chin Chin

AhWah-The Animal

AhBen

David

AhBeh & AhKong Opening Up

Entering Town

Move Aside !!!

Wish You Were There Ehh ????
Azwar

View From Above

Thanx PowerBar !!!!

I Shouldn't Have Come

We've Gone Too Fast

Easy-Lah

Chee Kai Mun - No Comment

Barry

Things Got A Little Tougher

Finally !!!

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1.45 p.m.

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Arrived at Yong Peng for lunch and I sms my wife again:-

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“Reached yong peng 145pm now 261km av spd 29.7km/h total bike time 8:47:31”

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We had gone faster in this stage. Average speed increased from 28.1km/h to 29.7km/h. Naturally, we weren’t as fresh as we were at Tampin. But our spirits were still high as we now had only about 112km to go and it was not even 2.00 p.m. We were ahead of schedule and if we could maintain our pace, we would reach JB before dark. We had duck rice and cold drinks and again everything was paid for by the organisers.

POWERBAR MERDEKA RIDE FOR PRIDE PART 2

THIS ENTRY IS DEDICATED TO THE SUPPORT CREW WHO TOOK CARE OF US THROUGHOUT THE RIDE>
Friday, 31 August 2007

3.30 a.m.

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2 teams, 30 riders, 7 support cars, 2 ambulances and 2 outriders gathered at Cheras-Kajang Highway. Destination Johor Bahru via old trunk road (>350km) – ETA 8.00 p.m.

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Team LeTua was represented by Shukor Yassin (team leader), Rahim Kadir, Shaharin Razali, Saiful Scott and 10 other young riders (mainly teenagers).

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Team Chin Woo comprised Don Khor (team leader), Ben Ko, Jacky Loh (AhBee), Chan Yew Wah (AhWah), Christopher Low (AhKong), Carmen Leong, Sam Pritchard, Barry Lee, Tan Jit Soon (Ah Soon), Cheo Kim Swee (AhSwee), Randy Tan, Hairul Azwar, David Cheam, Ma Hong Choong (AhBeh), Wong Ze Yee and myself.

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Those in the support cars were from Chin Woo gang with their family members comprising Li Shen (event organiser) and hubby KC, Tan Lee Lee (Mrs Don) and son, Eric Chan and wife Chin Chin, Khoo Wei Yeng (Mrs AhSwee) & daughter, Eason and Janet, Lester, Norman (photographer1), Michelle, Lee, AhMeng (photographer2) and Shirley.

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Simon Cross came out to send us off. He rode with us until our 1^st pit stop somewhere near Beranang.

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STAGE 1 : KL - TAMPIN

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4.05 a.m.
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The journey has begun. We rode in the dark during the 1^st 3 hours. The average peloton speed was kept at conservative 25km/h initially for safety reasons but picked up pace to around 30km/h after the sun came out. I stayed at the tail-end of the peloton for most part of this stage and had no idea of who was pulling upfront (too dark to see). Later, the sun came out and revealed that Don and Sam (the 2 most senior riders in the pack) were upfront doing most of the work.

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Simon

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Don & Shukor

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First Pit Stop Near Beranang

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Sam

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Randy

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Carmen

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Don

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7.35 a.m.

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Arrived at Tampin for breakfast and I sms my wife to keep her updated:-

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“Reached tampin 735am, ave spd 28.1km/h, distance 104km”

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Everyone seemed to be in high spirit during the break. We had fried noodles, hard boiled eggs and hot drinks and everything was provided for by the ride organisers. During the break, Don gave us instructions to go to the front and share the workload for the next stage of the ride.

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Azwar

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