The 'Mendum' ride...

"Saya memang cuak jugak nak ride dengan grup ni. Diaorang semua ni kuat, kayuh beskal memang laju. Naik bukit pun laju. Makan apa la agaknya?" - Enche Bon

The ride this week was dominated by the Disco boys. One third of the riders are Disco boys. And one from Astana. That must be one of the reason why they ably gobble up the hills, even the formidable Mendum and then spits it out. Easy, peasy... for them that is.

Anyway, I was having two minds about joining this ride. There are some things needed to be done in office, but upon securing some help at the very last minute, decided to tag along. I do not fully understand it but the mere mention of 'bukit'/hills, make the whole ride so much more desireable. Could it be some psychosomatic manifestation of some sort? Or some unseen primal connection to conquering hill(s)?

I reach the RV just as they were rolling out. I haven't met a few of them for quite some time, like Suhaimi PPZ. Hey, even I was surprised I was there :) We rode slowly at first, catching up while I have the nagging feeling that my rear wheel sprung a tiny leak. Ayie catches up with us shortly before Teras Jernang, and we continued in a single file towards Semenyih.

Like I said, the Disco boys drive the pace quite high and before long one of us at the back of the peloton suffered a puncture. I chased the front riders to slow them down, and we stopped for a while. The ride to Semenyih was hazardous, negotiating potholes and fighting 'lori hantus'. Once Bro Syarul's wheels given extra air at Pekan Semenyih, we zipped thru the UNotts highway all the way to Broga.

My suspicion is stronger with each kilometers that my wheels sprung a leak as my wheels are getting heavier but maybe the leaden legs are caused by the 60km ride yesterday. I haven't really recover from my fever on Wednesday and Thursday, and maybe, just maybe, the dehydration/overtraining effects lingers. All of a sudden, I was alone. Left behind by the front pack, I decided to push on all the way to Lenggeng, when I temporarily got lost. Lost?

Have not been to Mendum before, so I do not know where to go. Retraced my route, yet failed to see any rider. Stopped and ask one pakcik, and he confirms a group of cyclist did ride thru just a few minutes ago. 'Macam mana boleh miss ni?'. There is only one other junction to try, towards Pantai/Kelawang. After a few kilos, I read a sign which says 'Kg Mendum'. Most probably I am at the right place. Then I saw the view...

As I slowly make my way up the incline, Wari, Ayie and the rest of the crew came zooming down. One corner sets you up for another corner. Once you exited that corner, up it goes another 20 degrees towards another corner. Just 25 meters before the third corner, I admit defeat. I almost unclipped myself. Bukit Mandum will have the last laugh, today...

Broken, I make my way back down, hitting 75kmh. Cycled slowly towards the nasi lemak ikan keli shop, where I joined the rest of the crew. I do not have appetite to eat, my mind were elsewhere. After the crew almost finished everything at the shop, we make our way back. My wheels are getting flatter by the minute and luckily for me, I was rescued 10 kilos into my ride back.

My mind were still on Bukit Mandum. And how I let it defeat me today. One fine day, I will climb all the way to the top, and conquer it... one day.

Pics courtesy of http://manciocc.blogspot.com (Thanks Abg Man!)