Then the event get postponed due to the historical election
Then register again, for 45KM to go leisure ride
Then kena upcar change to 90KM (TWO LOOPS OF 45KM!!!!)
......
That's how the whole drama start...
Why I would sign up for 90km? I hate looping! Even just 2 loops, it is still looping!
It was because my bro Vkey said:" Aiyo, why u go 45km? Potong stim liao la. Come la, i will lead u finish, sure can do it. U see, extra 1 loop extra RM20 only."
Then, I am in for 90km. Then, he remembered wrong date and he actually got date on the same day. Then, I am doing it alone.
How I wish my buddy Shwuni can be riding with me just like the old times.
So, as usual, I have done a lot of calculation la, estimation la, simulation la... bla bla bla. Just to comfort myself to go for it.
Pre-race
Thank you Yen for helping me to collect race kit, as I having a super busy weeks, perhaps the whole month.
After we "studied" the event booklet, decided to park at Aeon Equine Park, because it mentioned shuttle provided. So it is better for us to park there because the MEX highway will be closed from 5.00am to 12.00pm.
It has been a long time I have no insomnia because of race. Even for previous month CULTRA, I can't believe I actually can sleep! I was on bed quite early because need to be on the event site early to setup and checking bike. The problem is, I CANNOT sleep... T.T Super long time never join cycling event, and it is 90km. My longest record was 78km only, and it was on foldie. I think I did fall asleep just awhile and my alarm rang.
Race day
Packed my breakfast, drank a cup of oat and off to go. The entrance of MEX were block even before 5.00am, what a joke. Luckily the volunteer allow us to go in after we show them our bib.
The traffic control was very good, they stationed Rela, police or even volunteer to direct participants who drive to the designated parking, which is Aeon. After we parked and did final round check before we look for the gather point of shuttle. Then only we found out the shuttle service is for "visitors", means supporters or whoever, but not for cyclist, because it is using van. If it is only for visitor, please indicate or put remarks BIGGER in the booklet la, the booklet is for participants, so whoever read it, will assume everything mentioned in the booklet is meant for them, not for others.
Cyclist, not VISITOR!
All the food trucks! [Photo by: Maju Kuala Lumpur]
Waited for almost 1.5hours, finally is our time for flag off after the 45km Team Time Trial. Yen manage to spot Vong Sifu before flag-off, so decided to follow his lead.
Scary! Is ok, selfie while we are still fresh!
Not far from the start line, there's a ascend waiting for us. Take it as a warm up, let the legs spin! Then it was downhill rolling, I couldn't resist to press brake during descending. Drop a bit from the group but manage to catch-up after that. The first 5km was smooth and fresh, but we have been warned about the climbing after U-turn. Passed the Putrajaya tol, downhill again, but wait, the U-turn is at the end of rolling! Going downhill already make me pounding, with a U-turn that would be like the ultimate boss in RPG game. I slowed down quite a lots, and U-turn
- The whole drama starts here -
*you may skip this whole big chunk long-winded story if you are not a drama-person*
I can only see the team backs at half way of climbs, try to pedal harder and then I heard the siren from behind. The escort cars and motors were signaling and honking us to make way for the leading peloton from 45km catogery. My own mistake to miss out this important information, 45km flag off just 5mins after us. No wonder they are closing us so fast. I was pedaling hard but still slow, keeping myself at the left side of road to let the peloton thru. But there's a cyclist in front of me going zig-zag, blocking me and no way for me to overtake he/she while peloton still zooming pass beside me. "Shit!" loud OS in my mind, losing balance and momentum because of the slow down. And finally the peloton gone, I am too far to catch up with the team.
After the climbing, around 7 or 8km, it consider the real starting for me. I could not risk to push too hard just to catch up then bonk at the beginning. Besides, I still yet to find my "threshold" feel yet, so I plan to just try my best to chase from behind, knowing that I might not be able to catch up, but always something for me to go forward.
The beginning, was just overtake someone and someone overtake me, can't form any small peloton as most of us actually having different speed and I always holding brake at the descending. So I just enjoying the route and scenery, it was so different when you are not inside a metal case. Feel the sunlight, the winds, the shades, and replying to those volunteers' cheers.
The organizer put up signage not just distant markers (only at the way back) but also like "KOM Start", "KOM summit 1km to go", "KOM Summit". It scared me but also exciting to imagining yourself like a pro. Since I have no confident to go with off saddle, so I just sat on, practicing and experimenting gears changing during the KOM rolling parts.
When approaching the Kuchai Lama exit, I was thinking can I just exit from here to go home?? LOL! But it was just a few KM away from the U-turn after Salak Selatan tol. Keep going and paying attention to oppposite road for those who on the way back. Trying to spot the team but failed. Finally, the tol, exit the tol, stop at the side to take the N8 Refuel gel which is FOC from race kit. BOOM!! It was tasty beyond my expectation. It was not like other refuel gel, it is jelly!!! So refreshing and yummy! Another product of N8 that I like, previously was N8 endurance sachet. Ok, no time to sit and enjoy, quickly finish it and head to the u-turn and get my timing chip checked.
Now, it is on the way back to start/finish line, almost there, almost there. Started to feel tired and wondering why i wanted to do 2 rounds? If just 45km, I'm on the way back. But now I have to keep going. In my head was all the thoughts that just give up at the start/finish point, 45km is enough. While all the "evil voices" in my head running, suddenly I saw something shiny stick on my front wheel and have some noice when the wheel rolling. I panicked, thought it was something puncture my tyre. I was hesitating should I stop and check. I keep looking at my front wheel like every 10seconds, just to make sure it did not goes flat. If just normal puncit, I have the tools to fix it, but if puncture, then case close and bye! Comforting myself that I am now heading to start/finish line, atleast have to make it 1loop -45km.
Climbing back the "KOM" rolling section, the front wheel so far so good, no sign of low pressure. Approaching the start/finish line, to be safe I stopped and check my front wheel. It was just foil/i dun know what glossy thingy stick on wheel, not nails or what-so-ever sharp item. Relieve, good to go! I was so tempted to stop just 1 loop, but after the incident, my mind shifted and told myself just go, see how far I can go. Either really puncture or out of gas, then forced to naik kereta and DNF.
Passing the start/finish line, my second loop of challenge started. Then suddenly a lorry drive near beside me, the person at the passenger seat look at me.
Asked: "Moi, u competitive ke?" (i can't hear clearly but sound something like this)I was like WTF, why naik lorry, I just pass the start/finish line, I would have stop just now if I can't go further. And I saw the sticker on the lorry "BROOM", it is the sweeper! O.M.G!! I do not wanna become rubbish and swipe away by broom la!!! Immediately said bye to the guy and speed up!
"Ya." and give him a confused look.
“Nak naik lorry ke?"
And then i saw a few cyclists in front of me, aiming them to chase from the back. But at the more open section, it was super windy, you can feel the wind from side, from front, from back and at the end you just feel like the wind is everywhere to catch you. Perhaps I have used to the speeding during descending (warmed up after 45km) or the head wind is strong enough to make me feel ok to just go without pulling brake. Finally, saw the team at opposite road, but too far to say "hi". Soon is my turn to reach the u-turn point which I get dropped. Telling myself that now is on the way the to next u-turn, I can do it.
Doing the same route twice is not fun, but you will prepared for what is coming, at least mentally prepared. On the way I saw a bike lean on the divider at roadside with no sign of cyclist, I thought he/she went to do business at somewhere. Another 2 bikes similar situation closing to the tol, wondering what happened. Then I saw the team again at opposite road, envy that they are on their way back to finish line. My watch beeped (lapped) every 5km, so I was actually counting down like 5laps to go (25km), 4laps to go (20km) etc. After U-turn, down another tube of N8 gel, looking at my watch 11.05am. Don't think that I can make it back with just 25mins.
Is ok, as long as the highway still close, and no official marshal to pull me onto lorry, I will keep going, finish it. When I was on the way back, saw the broom lorry was picking up those leave alone bikes, I assume the cyclists actually was back by cars/ambulance? Hmmm... The way back was just so challenging - you know is getting closer, but in the mean time you know that before it will have how many climb to pass.
Seeing some cyclists struggle to continue due to cramp. Somehow it motivates me to keep going, what is my excuse to give up? And there's one - numbness of my left leg. I have to stand-up once in awhile to flex it so that it would not feel tingling, or would feel, better. When the time closer and closer to COT, more and more motor and police car were patrolling. Once again, a police car slowed down and came close to me
Police officer:"Ah moi, ok tak?"Then they speed away and I continue my final bit of journey to complete 90km.
Look at him and replied:"ok, kaki masih ok, tapi tak dapat laju."
He laughed and said:"Takpe, kaki tak cramp ok jer, tak laju takpe."
The only thing in my mind on the last part of road was "Die die must complete 90km, no medal, is ok, no timing is ok. I want my 90km (strava record matters)"!!!!! LOL! And grinding all the way back to finish line! Ashley and Yen was sitting under the tent beside finish line, and they rush to record my final "sprint" (everything happened like a dramatic slow-mo epic finishing sprint in my eyes). When I pass thru the finishing arch, technical supports were packing their timing mat. I am so good at reaching finish line during packing stage.
Finally...!!!
Lucky me still get a medal as souvenir, and thank you very much Yen waiting me at the exit to pass me icy cooling isotonic drink!!! Ofcourse, is photo time!!!!
The team - Ashley, Vong, Yen and ME!
Another hard-earned medal
Post race
Feel paiseh that my team was worried about me because they can't spot me from the opposite way. But after the ride, so far so good other than the numbness of left leg and tightness shoulder. Missed the COT by 16mins, but consider ok compared to my previous 78km LEKAS ride, used almost the same time to finish.
My timing recorded! Extra bonus! Never expect that so few female cyclists joining 90km, really upcar!
Kudos to the organizer, police officers, marshal, photographers, volunteers etc!!! They did a great job! I did enjoy the ride very much (except the shuttle service!!!! XD) Plenty of chairs prepared, fans under tents, icy isotonic drinks and bananas (even thought I never eat it). The volunteers really cheered me up especially during my second loop. They were so cheerful even they have been out there so long and under hot sun.
Definitely is a RECOMMENDED cycling event, worth to have it annually. Will I be back if they do it next year? May be yes, may be no. Lol~ depends on how much left of my "painful memory"!
Me with the "Broom" - Thanks to it, motivate me to finish
*No official photographs yet*
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