Pengarang revisit - more tanned lines

A revisit to Pengarang as part of the built up for March event is on the menu this sunday.

As per each workout there is something new to learn from this experience. This time round, i will bike from home to Changi Point and back as part of the strategy to built more mileage.

Meet up the 3 outriders at upper paya lebar and lead them to Changi point by Bedok Reservoir(which i feel is the shortest). 1 super hero came in slipper after completing a swim(i assume in darkness in his condo)! This person only bike 3 times per year. 1 for Desaru race, 1 for langkawi race and 1 prepare for langkawi!. The other 2 came in with 1 bottle in the cage, 1 still under age and the other trying to find a bus stop in Pengarang.

We reached Changi Village at 6:30am. Not before having to stop twice working and look at my bike. Bad omens! Maybe i should call for re-enforcement to rescue me.

Have our breakfast before we head to the jetty. There are full of bikes there as well. Not surprising as the Trifam and other group are going over for the training rides preparing for the Langkawi. Our boat set sail by 7:20am. Cool.

We bike off at 8:20am towards Rengit. Rendezvous with Timothy, keat, sandy and grace. Grace has grown to a chubby gal from the last time i seem her.

We head for training proper at 9:20am. U-turn at the roundabout(35km away), else 1.5hr later OTOT head back and rendezvous at 1pm(latest) at Happy Valley Restaurant.

Taking from last trip experience, we ought to be careful on the return leg whereby the headwinds are a killer! Slopes and weather and water resupply become a HOT challenge awaits.

As we head out of the town, we are welcome by headwind. Hmm...strange indeed. Don't remember we experience this at the early stage at this moment. The first slope was a bit challenging...hmm...

As i cycle along(last one), i keep look around. Look at the tree(the leaves), the tall grass(vegetation) on how the wind is blow and trying to gauge am i going against the headwind? My usual pace is a challenge to maintain, but not really too bad. Winds from all the signs pointed that i am going head on with the wind. Am i? Still unsure on myself.

With the kind of pacing i am going, i doubt i can reached the roundabout point. Furthermore seems like struggling from time to time. I can't imagine if the return leg is the same as last trip here. That one sure going to long ride ahead. Grit my teeth and move on. I am here for training and whatever obstacle in front. It just a matter of timing, i shall make it back.

I am surprise to see Freddy came back on the other way. It only means that he has reached the roundabout, time there is about 10mins to 10:50am(1:30hr point). He looks at his speedo and indicate, 5 more km in front to U-turn. Next saw Timothy give chase behind. Wei Ming is next. Ask him how far to go....his reply "quite some distance away". Alamak what is this kind of response? Next came Ray, he reply 3km way(at least "human" reply). Ben just say not far ahead. Keat, half of the time can't understand what he is talking about!

I know it is not far ahead. I know i will surpass 10:50am if i try to reach it. But.

If the return path is as bad as last trip, i really have a long ride back. I am the last rider(slowest), should i let other waits for me for long period?

I thought of this as group effort. I shouldn't let the other wait for me. At 10:53am i make the u-turn at the same spot i did the last trip here.

I sort of regret my decision after i u-turn as my perception of getting tailwind of the return leg is TRUE! I am riding easier and faster now! Damn it! I could have make the roundabout and still make the time at 1pm! On the other hand, when unsure err on the safety side. Sigh, guess we learn something new today.

It was an easy ride back with renew confidence. The only draw back is the resupply vehicle has MIA. I should have topped up when i can, not waiting until supply draw low. I didn't expect Sandy to runaway! Lesson learned.

I try to conserve water and make it back to the "mama" shop along the way, which i knew exist. It is about 12km away from the town. By the time i reached, Timothy has drive the vehicle to meet up with me. Offer me water and a ride back. I just topped up the 100+ water and continue the cycle back. Timothy stay on my back(dunno to escort me or pressure me to cycle faster). Knowing him, more likely to the latter. :(

Not going to fall into his tactic and continue to cycle with my usual pace. He left me after a few km.

Just as i am about to reach the town wei ming came out to ride back with me. Nice to see this young boy.

We choose Happy Valley for lunch because Wei Ming has mentioned he tried the Mongolian chicken before at that place. We are keen to try it out. :p

Before i settled down, HR went berserk. I still have a long way back after lunch. I took the medicine without much hesitation and shortly it went down. Strange. As though it is just a blip and nothing else, from the sign. It is acting strangely.

Decent meal i can say. A good break as well. It is nice to catch up and joke around. Wei Ming, seems to have dehydrate and didn't feel "normal". I hope he get smarter from this experience.

HR was low on the way back from Rengit to Pengarang. I try to up the pace but couldn't sustain. Felt tired. Hmm...something is not right. According to theory, this shouldn't be the case. Although 17km to Pengarang, the ride is slightly challenge with the bike keep giving out signs of breakdown. I just hope nothing serious happen to it.

Have another drink(cooling off) session at Changi Village before i started the last leg home alone. The rest decide to go via Coastal Road. Just before i hop onto the bike, i felt another blip on HR. Upon checking, it does seem to have agitated slightly based on the circumstance.

From there onwards, HR felt okay but seems strange. Maybe I am paranoid. Take it easy, strolling along and take almost an hour to reach home. Finally get off the saddle! Time: <5:40pm

Almost 12 hours journey today. Can see the red tanned lines clearly. Going to be "Ouch" soon!

Spent some time cleaning up the bike. Ironhorse has served me well today. Phew.

Distance: Estimate 130km