POWERBAR MERDEKA RIDE FOR PRIDE PART 4

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

>

STAGE 3 : YONG PENG - JOHOR BAHRU

>

2.30 p.m.
>

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).

>

Ah Swee

Chee Kai Mun - Dropped

>

4.35 p.m.

>

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).

>

Family Portrait

>

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.

>

AhKong

>

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.

>

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.

>

>

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.

>

Azhar

>

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.

>

> 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).