Yo~! Hello~ It has been a long while I never update my blog about my sports journey! Lazy, for sure is one of the reason. And of-course, now with more social media platform, more recorded in forms of pictures and videos. (p/s: I have a youtube channel too) So, what bring me back to this Blog? My forgetfulness! I have setup my gopro adapter on my bike, and planned what to shoot during my trip to desaru. Mana tau!!! I left my Gopro on my dining table! I brought all the Gopro batteries, charger and cables, but not it camera itself!! So... this "iconic" road cycling event, tak jadi la video.
Pre-race
Ok, we have registered quite some time ago, because of the never end MCO lock down, it has postponed. We're so excited when it finally announce the new date and so looking forward to an actual event. During MCO, all virtual ride, virtual run, virtual dua or tri... we miss outdoor!
This round, I'm sharing room with Miyoki, so we decided to carpool to beat the boring long journey, and save petrol la. First time we need to put 2 bikes at her car, we thought it will take us forever to fit it, so we plan to meet up earlier. In the end, just took us 10 minutes to settle it. So we departed from KL quite early on Friday, so lucky us, avoided jam.
Half way meet up with Yen, Zizi, Kristy and Sharman for early lunch at Kulai. Carb load time!! We also dapao our dinner as we not sure if there's enough restaurant option in event area.
We booked a 1-bedroom suite in Lotus Desaru, it was so spacious! So as usual, we unload and unpack, then chill. We even go swim with Yen to ease our tension, after so long, we seldom ride with this much of cyclists together. After swim, makan dinner at room and then prepare our bike and race kits la.
 |
Our dinner - Curry rice, Lei Cha, and Chicken Rice |
Race day
Kill the alarm, and lucky me this time have a good night sleep. May be I'm not that nervous at all. As usual, do the pre-race ritual - breakfast + coffee and ready for toilet to unload some weight. Meet up with my Sifu - Vong at Resort guard house and we ride together to the starting line which is just 2km away. Quite a good warm up as there's some ups and downs.
The check-in was so messy, no proper signboard to show which entrance for Wave 0 and others. I almost got into Wave 0! From the sea of cyclists, manage ti regroup with Yen, Zizi, Kristy and others. Everyone was anxiously waiting for the honk of flag off! Supposedly Wave1 flag off at 7.30am (refer to official guidebook), but delayed for 10 minutes. Finally we started to roll at 7.42am! Carefully navigate forward and in between other cyclists because the road was narrow and some tight turning not far from the start line.
 |
| When we're still all together! |
First 2 waterstation was ok, no drama. We even tried to follow some fast pace peloton of 60km category when they have catch us up after WS2. And because the fast pacing, almost follow them turned into the 60km junction. If I never notice the not so eye catching signboard for the junction of different category, the story would be shorter la, i will unintentionally did only 60km.
WS3 was the best! Because they served the best pineapple!! Personally I love pineapple, so it was offered after a 70km ride, and it was so sweet and juicy (it can be soaked into sugar water but i don't care). Honestly, this is the only water station i enjoyed the most! After pineapple, another gel and not forget to take the "Geng Yea" - Hammer Anti-fatigue. This is something once you tried it, never going back. That's why we also called it "The Illegal Drug"! LOL!
 |
| The best Water Station! |
 |
| Best Pineapple ever! |
I think because of the Caffeinated gel, I'm so pump, or actually was the pineapple? Take turns with another cyclist the be train head before we enter the Felda Kampung. I really enjoyed a lot on the WS3 - WS4 section. The kampung road was not so stressful for me unlike the highway section of WS2 - WS3. There's plenty of traffic police and marshal at this section, traffic was well control at the kampung and Felda area. There was this beautiful scenery at Tanjung Sedili when we passing by a bridge. Irresistibly, I stop for photo! It was just before WS4 and you need to climb toward the water station. In contrast with WS3, this is a nightmare, almost nightmare for us. There's no water, no ice, no isotonic! Luckily a very generous and kind gentlemen spare us a can of 100plus, and he sharing with his friends. We asked the staff there is there any shop in front so may be we can ride there to get water. Too bad, we were told there's no more shop ahead. Haiya! We should have stop at the mini mart or kelapa gerai at the Kampung! We're informed that they fetching waters from WS1, but not sure when will reach WS4. We need to hide under the shades to cool our body, and praying the water come earlier. without refill, we were worried whether we able to reach the next water station. Lucky us the water supply came and we do not need to wait for longer! Not sure any cyclists went off before us without refill.
 |
| My partner! |
 |
| The spot that I couldn't resist to stop for photo! |
If anyone go without refill, I'm do not know how they can survive, as there's this we call "The Boss" rolling sections! The section from WS4 - WS5 really did beat me up quite badly. Rolling, ok la, I just keep pedaling, just spin my legs la! But, it was super windy! The wind so strong until I don't feel it was downhill, i feel like riding on flats! We fought ourselves with the crazy wind that come from all direction just not from the rear. What even more despair, WS5 also running out of water!!! Zizi terus take off her cleat shoes and sit on the chair giving up to continue. It just repeat what happened in WS4, we just sit under the shades and chit chatting with other cyclists while waiting for the water. When finally the water is here, we quickly refilled and pushing Zizi to continue the last 20km.
From WS5 to finish like that 20km was like forever. What make it more challenging is there's few rolling wait ahead of us! Still need to torture us before we can cross the finish line! Ok la, spin saja, just keep pedaling, like Cycology class. When the pedal is hard, push harder! Finally we reached the Penawar roundabout, then finally then finishing arch!
I'm not a professional or season cyclists la, but this is the first event has such a bad arrangement. The finisher medal collection tent is not around finishing arch, and we need to ask people around where to get it. No signboard or any direction, no marshal at all! We're just like the abandoned child! So tired, so lost and so confused. Finally found the medal tent, but where to get finisher T?! I am not sure is the the France's style la, finisher items meant not to put together and it designed like a treasure hunt mission for us. After the 140km, we're entitled another extra mission, treasure hunt for the medal and finisher T. Again, we have to keep asking people where's the finisher T collection? What is the most ridiculous part? Finisher T was out of size!!!!!! WTF!!! I really lost it! Then what for you asked us to choose size during registration?! Such a big event but with lousy planning like this!! Unbelievable!! You can called us slow rider, blame us being slow, but you charged us the same fees! Next time might as well specify la, not welcome slow riders! I chosen XS and was only given option for either 2XS (will you wear something supposedly to be proud of but super tight?) or M! No PIC was there to manage only leave the mess to staff, and let them to handle the wrath of cyclists!
What supposed to be a very fun and enjoyable ride, become full of anger and disappointment!
Post race
Seriously, the route was nice, distance is not too over or under-distance. Distance between Water Station was well planned if only they also have this good calculation for supplies of the water, ice and isotonic drinks. I feel they organizer do not care much for cyclists, may be only those fast one and VIP la... I really speechless for this event, either nothing to say or full of complaints. That's all! Such lousy planning even worst than some local budget events! I even feel sorry to use those local events to compare with this!!!
Grandma story temporary end here la... i need to avoid having high blood pressure because of this!
Sign up here with your email
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon