Resolutions? Nah…

It has come to that time of the year where you look at your accomplishments and charted your resolutions for next year. But before that, lets check this year’s resolution…

1. Cycle and row as much as possible in 2009 (basically kena work out la ye tak?)
2. Ride these climbs (in no particular order). Perez. Sempah. Broga. Kelawang. Fraser. Cameron?
3. Do at least a century ride (100 miles or 160 kilometers)
4. Starts running again (in preparation for No.5)
5. Do Powerman 2009 and hopefully finish within the stipulated time (nak try gak dapat medal)
6. Pick up swimming (in preparation for triathlon, hehe)
7. Do a cycling tour (maybe a few days ride with friends, kan guys?)
8. Influence as many friends possible to pick up cycling (Circle of Influence kan Bro Zizan?)

Oops ;(

No.1 is haphazard and haywire at best, not been riding as often. Rowing? Lalalalalala… No.2? Done Perez early in the year, but not many else (even failed on Mendum, huhuhu)

The planned Ipoh Century Ride clashed with a working weekend, so there goes my century and Powerman tinggal kenangan je la nampaknya…

Cycling tours will need to be planned early, and with much details. Tapi memang macam best je bunyinya, amik a few days leave and ride.

So, how would 2010 look like? Guess I’ll better plan to put in some extra rides every few days. Err, riding to work seems doable. More so CH has been secretly training all year round. Tak boleh jadi ni…

Tekala Ride Report :(

Received a SMS from AbG Man, that the Clan will be riding from Hulu Langat to Tekala this weekend. I haven’t been riding at all for the past few months, and on the last ride with the ISN crew, even catching up with CH is hard work (I suspect CH had secret training. Really)

Got up early, nasib baik basikal dah ada dalam kereta. Can’t really sleep that night, too excited actually. Ye la, boleh ke tak nak kayuh ni, dah la the Tekala route is a bit hilly. Anyway, I reached Bt18 at 0730 and prepared my bike. We waited for Cikgu Hisyam, and rode out shortly after.

Indication of the upcoming torture came soon after, as I somehow felt that the 10km ride to the Tekala/Peres intersection is much longer than I last remembered. Checked my GPS, but everything is where it should be. I somehow dropped my water bottle, and was left behind by the rest in a jiffy. Fuh, laju betul diaorang nih…

Nearing the intersection I was out of breath. Really out of breath that I even contemplated turning back, but no, I could not let that happen. Then, one uncle ride alongside me on a steel old-skool MTB, and he actually rode past me just like that. Effortlessly. And he even give me some advice on how to regulate my breathing (I must  surely sounded terrible)

Then another kakak/makcik and uncle passes me over, then the whole PER group left me in their wake. I must be in such terrible shape then. I was passed over by more than 20 cyclist and I could never ride alongside them, what more to catch them :) CiOCC clan jangan cerita la, berdesup perginya, tak nampak bayang langsung!

Made it to Sg.Tekala and I was the last person in. Make fun of myself, what else to do and after the customary refueling session, rode back with the CiOCC clan, and sure enough after 4kms, I just could not keep up. Their average must be nearing 30kmh while I was struggling to hit 24kmh. Adohai.. confirm la kena tinggal kat belakang macam ni :(

Finally I reached the RV point and most bikes are already in the car, so this ride serves a reminder that if you don’t do the miles, you will be left behind.

And CH has been having secret training sessions all these while. Ceh, nak kena kayuh pergi balik kerja la macam ni…

Travel notes to the Land of the Dragons…

I do not travel often but today sets a new history of sort. My flight was scheduled for 0935hrs so to make things easy, dropped by to the airport at 730am to check in. Met a few of my colleagues there, and proceeded to check-in our baggage.

Once we checked in, then as I thought of having breakfast, we were told that the flight will be delayed by two hours. So, extra time to have breakfast, I thought.  Little do I know that, it went past extra time all the way to overtime :)

So, at around 1030 I make my way to the international departures gate, and having some extra time (I thought), visited a few shops even if just to check the price difference. Once I got to my intended gate, the plane is not there yet. Huh? Luckily, in just a few minutes later a A330-300 taxied in. Phew…

It got me thinking, as the passengers are just disembarking, most probably it will take another half an hour to refuel, food, baggage, so basically we will only flying around 12noon or so. Rightly so, shortly after, an announcement that the flight will only be ready at 1205noon… Nasib baik I had a hearty breakfast just now.

Shortly before noon, we are called to board. Finally, I thought. I got a window seat (but, I lost my camera last two week so bummer). Get comfy in my seat but was suspicious when it took a long time for any announcements/safety video etc from the crew.  Hmmm..

After a good half an hour, then only we were told of some kind of technical problems, and in the worst case scenario, we might need to change planes. Huh? And surely enough, the doors were disarmed and we are told to go to another Gate for boarding. Alamak…

Another Gate it is then and we are now scheduled to fly at 1405, which I doubt will be on time this time around. Took my own sweet time to reach there, and after waiting some more, finally we board. After the usual apologies of the delay, off we took off and…as of now, I am flying over the South China Sea :)