Pengarang Ride

It is going to be interesting ride this morning. We are heading to Pengarang-Desaru to prepare for Desaru HIM in 3 weeks time.

Pick up C and off we go to Changi. Reached carpark(Changi Ferry Terminal) at slightly before 6:30am. Burnz joined us shortly. Once everything ready, we set off to Changi Village(3km out).

R, Regina, Joanne, F were there having their breakfast. I decide that Nasi Lemak wasn't a good idea as we have an almost 60mins boat ride + a 100km ride awaits! I have some pastry + tao hue jiu for breakfast.

We headed over to Changi Point Ferry Terminal around 7:10am. Meet up with Tao and TJ. Total 9 of us travel across to Pengarang.

Surprised to meet up with Roland at the jetty. He and another person are cycling to Kota Tinggi, stay over night. Have a good chat with him.

We are blessed with rains when we reached Pengarang. Sigh. We are stuck there for a while to wait for the rain to abate. The transport from the bike shop came over to pick Joanne and TJ to the shop. No choice, the rest of us brave the rains and head to the shop 3km away!

We waited for out the rain to get softer before we goes to town, which is another 13-14km away. It was a flat road and we make good time to reach town.

Timothy, Sandy, uncle(Sandy's dad) and daugther waited for us at the town. Time check about 10:30am.

Given the time constraint, we have to head out, max u-turn at 12noon. Meet back at "lucky" restaurant at 1:30pm. We consume a couple of ice-cream before we set out for training actual. Nothing feel good to get yourself ready for the Chao Tao ride later. Tao and myself last to start about 10mins later, as we make reservation and order the food.

Weather is getting hotter as we head towards Desaru. A flat few kms, before the crescendo kind of speed humps engulfed us. Wave after wave....which is ok(as expected)...the speed is pretty good and with head wind blowing at my face....cool!

Everyone of us are riding at different pace, thus fixing a u-turn timing is a good way to ensure everyone come in time for lunch. The front group U-turn pretty early...cross my path around 11:45am. Hmm....To U-turn at 12 noon, i would have cycle 80 mins.....furthermore with headwind. To be back at makan place, i have 90mins plus tailwind pushing from behind. I should have sufficient time to back in time for breakfast isnt? Let me go further before making the u-turn.

One after another coming towards me on the opposite direction making their way back, i keep wondering where could they make the u-turn? Could it be at the roundabout which make a turn towards Desaru which should be somewhere in front? On and on i went alone...until i reach a sign board that states Johor Bahru turn left. Hey, this must be the sign....time check 11:52am. okay lah, should arga be here, so i make a 180 degree turn and headed back.

I was surprised when i spotted Regina still pushing the forward. Time check 12 noon, which is the U-turn timing. I signalled to her to u-turn, but she seems determine to move forward. Hmm...let hope she won't be late for lunch later.

Hmm...how come i am still getting the head wind? Damn...look at the speedo...*hello how come 10+km/hr?*...yes, i finally fit up a speedometer, after not having one for the past 1 year(i reckon?)! Something is wrong? After about 10mins of peddling, my worst fear was found. The front portion is actually wind assisted speed...no wonder the pace is faster than average pace(was still thinking i have improve over the last 1 year!Damn!)...

It was china de javu once again...the slopes + the strong head wind, is hard to move on. Actually it is the engine that is no good, nothing to do with the bike!

Slowly i peddle along and try to conserve my water consumption(i brought 2 water bottles as norm). Weather was getting hotter, pace have not increase and the challenges along the roads remains..it is going to be a long ride ahead! No problem, if i can survive China, what is Desaru?

As morale subside. Must look for motivation to keep me focus. Food! Nah...it is not going to be sufficient to motivate me...how about drinks...ice cold isotonic drink awaits? That is something more like it! If only i can get it before the end will be real booster to keep the spirits up!

Oasis? I finally spotted a canteen! Quickly pull to aside and brought 2 bottles of 100+. Top up the water bottles and off i went again. Cold drinks! Super cool! Some springs in the legs again...

Almost finished the 2 bottles of 100+(damn shiok the drinks!) when i arrived back at the restaurant at 1:31pm! Wahaha...i was back on the dot for lunch! Keke...

Given the time based on the U-turn for Regina, i reckon she should be 20mins or more behind. We waited for a while and decide to makan first, leaving some dishes for Regina. Finally she came back 2:15am. A good 45mins behind me! Wow, that must be painful for her!

Time is running short. We have to split the group. 1) to go back to jetty and secure a boat to send us back to SIN!. 2) is to return the rented bike! It was a flat road, but certain portion still have the headwind. After makan + rest, i am more prepared. 3:43pm, i managed to reach Jetty! Finally.....*phew!* Completed 94.4km! Still short of the targeted 100km! Damn! Ok, between carpark + Changi Jetty to and fro should crossed 100km.

We waited for the rest to come back shortly after 4pm.

It was a good session to get use to the terrain. maybe next time i will be much better prepare for the route...would there be one?

Distance: 94.43km
Time:4:28:39hr
Max: 39.2km/hr
Avg: 21km/hr

Lesson learned: Know your pace. There is no way you are going to get an easy ride given all factors remained constant. The only reason is that you are on Viagra(that means die younger due to over exhaustion) or wind assisted. If you are heading it back the same route you are going, be expect the reverse will happen.