I think something must be wrong with my brain when I decided to join a century ride! Probably my math not so good, and when I do the calculation, I did not factor in the tiredness and my fitness.
Just like all my other challenge, sometimes you just need the
I have never thought of this before as our plan was as usual I will accompany my parents to join the 30KM, and my bro go for 160KM, a cycling vacation to Port Dickson. However, when it open for register only found out that they have changed categories for this year, only 160KM and 60KM. So no more 30KM, I am opt for 60KM. But after persuaded by Gavin (tauke from Bike Elementz) and my bro I just felt so confidence at that time and decided to join the whole BE group for 160KM. (Later they actually added 30KM category due to high demand)
So, that's how I up car again, never learn from past experience huh...
Pre-race
MEX Ride was actually my "LSD" for this century ride, to test myself whether I can tahan for 160KM. After i got cut-off (did not get DNF but obviously over-time) in MEX, I started to worry. Other than the MEX, I only did one long ride (~90KM) with NNJ-Riders which is from Kota Kemuning to Morib, and was a flat route.
Obvious case of lack of training.
When I saw the course map released from ACR organiser, I was gloating because there is going to be a chicken loop! LOL!!! What a relief!! Anyway, in my mind secretly I was giving up for this but just keep quiet from my bro. When I send my bike to BE for checking (FOC service by BE, a sweet gesture to comfort first timer like me), I was telling the staff that I am going to sight-seeing and perhaps hitch-hike the lorry (kena broom finally) back to finish line.
See the chicken loop exit? Lol~
Another reason was the rainy season, I can only get some mileage on trainer at home. I did feel that trainer do help a lot to train my leg endurance over fatigue, but it was still far beyond the sufficient training.
Since the event was in PD, I convinced my bro that we should stay a night before the event, so that we can have extra rest time and not get tired of driving before the ride. Thankful for Gavin to arrange for homestay and race kit collection, so lesser things for me to worry about.
We drive to PD after early dinner nearby our home and final checking on bike before off to bed. I was in my super kan-cheong mode again, but luckily manage to fall asleep, for some hours atleast I think.
Race day
Woke up, stuff in usual breakfast, get changed, and off we go to the starting line. Our homestay is actually very close to starting line which is Avillion Admiral Core beside Avillion Resorts (just around 1 to 1.5km i think). So this was my warm up.
Group photo at gather point (24hrs mamak nearby homestay) [Photo credit: BE Cyclist]
Big group of us too, I should just be support car! [Photo credit: Cycling Magazine Malaysia]
I told my bro I was so nervous and feel like going to throw up (DRAMA!!), he just told me to follow him, I sure can do it as long as I do not give up (sound like he has more confident in me than myself). While we were waiting at the start line, rain drops falling~ according to weather forecast, it has high chance of raining during the day. Lucky us, the rain not here yet. The flag off was punctual, no time for me to think more about it and it is ready to roll. Good thing to stay close the start line and arriving just before the flag off!
Start! The begin of suffer! [Photo credit: Cycling Magazine Malaysia]
The beginning was smooth as many of marshals were escorting us riders, police to be at junction to stop the car allow us to pass, and to alert traffic from opposite direction to slow down and keep to their right.
Of course, I was still fresh at the starting, try my best to stick to my bro back wheel. Spinning and spinning. After like about 10KM, riders started to scatters and form peloton according to own speed. I only able to, or should say feel secure enough to follow a few people, one of it ofcourse is my bro. I have yet to overcome my phobia to riding close to other riders. After a few more KMs, we joined a group of peloton, and without realizing it, my speed actually went up to ~37km/hr. The power of peloton! Lol~ stay with them and approaching to first water station at around 32KM.
My bro - Vkey, all the way was pulling me [Photo credit: Cycling Magazine Malaysia]
Quickly get some 100plus, stretching a bit and we back on the road. Just like Cultra, I dare not stay long at water station, have to keep going to prevent my body going into rest mode. My neck started to feel sore and pain at this time. Drama start liao lo~ I started to complaint to my bro that my neck pain and he just reply calmly: "It's ok, you just not used to it, everything will be ok" Since I forget to take my energy bar at the first water station, we took a pit stop at roadside for me to stretch my neck and take few bites of bar.
60KM, still fresh, legs spin like fortune wheel! [Photo credit: Vkey]
Second water station was outside of a school at around 70KM, we stopped longer here due to toilet break. Saw some BE riders here and my bro urges me to hurry up as he heard from Gavin that the course has no mercy, once you catch up by the sweeper, you will have to get on the truck and no chance given. Before that I was still on my chill-follow-saja-mode, and now suddenly getting like beast mode on!
However, fatigue kicks in and my legs now getting heavier. My mind just keep thinking when is the next water station and why it is so far away! Kept drop off from my bro, and he has to keep slow down for me to catch up. The scenery was indeed amazing at certain point but I have no more energy to admire, just focusing to keep up and not get dropped. When you are tired, anything can be a stimulants, such as cow dung! Lol~ we passed by some kampung and there's cow dung on the road, and also some free running goat to watch out.
Then we reached a junction where a few cyclists stopped and talking to marshals, we found out that that was the chicken loop junction. The planned route was to turn right but if you go left, it will be the chicken exit. As usual, the drama side of me tempting to go left and the evil trainer who all the way leading and guarding me make sure that will not happen. So we quickly take our right turn after the marshal stopped the traffic for us. Not long after the turning, there was a police car come from opposite road broadcasting through speaker that we all should u-turn and go back to chicken loop as there were not marshal onward. I was for that one moment getting panicked and shout to my bro we should be follow the instruction because the rider behind me was u-turning and I have no sign of any riders. My bro being himself as always, waved his hand and asked me to keep moving, do not stop or attempt any escape. So, I die die keep going lo!
My bro told me not to worry, still have some spare time to complete as I told him before even I can make it, most probably will be like 7hours55mins (COT is 8hrs). After hard pedaling, we reached the third water station at ~102KM, and we again met some friends here. My bro asked me to stretch and he ran to get 100plus and refill for me. My body started to shut down and I cannot swallow the bar, have to flush the bar using isotonic drinks. Again, kena drive to keep moving. My stamina still ok but my legs started to give up especially this was a rolling route which has lots of ups and downs, you will have to keep pedaling.
Met Alan at third water station, struggle to survive my ride compare to these 2, so fresh still! [Photo credit: Alan Lim]
I tried my best but can not stick to my bro back wheel like beginning, my neck in pain, my feet is numb, left leg started to get numbness as well. Then I keep drama liao, so my bro told me that we will have a pit stop once we pass 120KM to motivate me. Lucky us that there is a petrol station slightly pass 120KM. So touching when my bro run into shop to buy me icy cold coke, the coke give me kicks to keep going. I dare not rest for too long afraid that the sweeper truck will come anytime.
The difference after 60KM, legs jelly! [Photo credit: Vkey]
There were some riders along the road too, and marshals have come to our rescue. They pushed riders who looks struggle to go up hills. At first I rejected the help, but to my surprise my bro allow it, so at the last hill, I asked a marshal to push me up and he said to me that water station just not far away. What a motivation!! The last water station!! I feel like forever to come to this water station. All riders at the water station looks exhausted and I am one of them too. Only have around 25KM after this water station, so even no point for me to stay longer. Flush in another bit of energy bar and back to the journey with my bro.
When I was waiting for my bro during C-cycle 2 weeks ago, I see some riders shouting or should say is roar when crossing finish line. I have yet to cross but already feel like roaring, the last 25KM seems forever and never ending! Shouted a few times just to push myself keep going or just for the drama effect, but it worked.
Told my bro to go for the last 10KM as I am completely bonk, my legs can only spin like ferris wheel, not much he can do for me now. He agreed, as he said if I give up at the last 10KM, that would be up to me. But both of us know it will no happen, unless is mechanical failure. So he off to go, sprinting all the way and surprised other riders. I keep grinding, there was few times I am tempting to stop and rest but told myself not to, it was just 10KM!! Then finally saw the signage of how many KM to finish line. I keep looking at my watch, the counting of meters instead of KM, count down to the finish line. Tearing up especially approaching the roundabout and I knew it is really close now. I can't believe myself that I can actually hold on to this far.
Turning into the finish line, saw my bro at the side taking video. And I heard someone called me when I crossing finish line too. It was Ken, one of the marshal on duty, and I know him from Powerman early this year. I was so happy that I complete it and the suffer has turn into joy of satisfaction! Finished at 6hrs54mins, 1 hour earlier than my prediction, and finally a ride that I am not cross with the tiny margin of COT.
Ken, marshal on duty! [Photo credit: Ken]
Meet up with the BE cyclists and I ran to get my name engrave on the finisher medal! Lol~ I doubt I will get another medal for century in future, so this might be the one and only.
Proudly engraved my name on it, with the price of RM10, nowadays many race have this service after the event.
Post race
We did not stay long at the finisher area as there were nothing much leave. So we followed Gavin back to homestay, to freshen up and get some rest. My body was covered with dirts and crystallized salts from sweat, collected all the way of 160KM!! Lol~ I was amaze by myself that I can still walk, talk and move around after the ride. We decided to head home after shower and ate some instant noodle, even thought the owner of homestay kind enough to extend our check out time. We afraid that if we take nap, it will straight knock out may be until midnight.
Proudly wear the finisher-t, even thought the organiser gave it out together with the race kit. Officially claimed myself - One-time Century Rider. Lol~ One of the most important thing I missed out, the weather was super nice!! It was all the way cloudy, in shaded, not get expose to sun like usual for that timing. I was blessed, lucky to have the weather on my side, else I could be give up at the chicken loop junction.
The two elements of my fortunate completion were my bro and weather. I think my bro is making up for his FFK of MEX ride. He was all the way be my domestique to pull me and whipped me keep going at the latter part. The experience was a bit similar of one doing full marathon, like what many told me, and the end, it was all about mental. So, if I able to finish it, I think you can too! *get a brother to be your domestique and pray hard for good weather*
#Siblingslove [Photo credit: Gavin Low]
Big thanks to all the volunteers and marshals! When we stopped at petrol station, I saw a marshal drove in to refill petrol and then out again to support and escort riders. Not sure do they get any allowance but I feel safe during some part of route as they will stay with us to escort for some distance. Especially at the last part of route, I see they all communicating thru walkie talkie and going back and forth to helps riders and support each others.
Now I feel proud that my route looks like the map from orgiser
According to my bro, I was indeed blessed, because this route was way more smooth as compare to C-cycle. Honestly, I only get sore neck and jelly leg after the ride, probably the road condition was good and less bumpy.
I would not be able to achieve this if without my brother!
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