weekly newsletter – 2 september 2009 / issue number: 456-35-2009

8/14/2019 Weekly Newsletter 2 September 2009 / Issue Number: 456-35-2009

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Weekly Newsletter 2 September 2009 / Issue Number: 456-35-2009

PCC, Your Perfect Cycling Companion

This issue

The week ahead M+D P2

The week ahead T+G P3

Rules of road riding P5

Guidelines to Trail Etiquette P6

Upcoming events P6

Spare wheels project P7

Club membership P7

Editors Note

It was another one of those evenings when I got

back late from work and with everyone having

eaten; I plonked myself with dinner in front of the

laptop to catch up on some emails. Oddly my

browser opened up to bikes of 2010, and then

sub 1kg wheel sets (just in case you get confused,

Ed is a MTBiker, so sub 1kg is pretty darn light).

Sigh, this may just turn out to be one of the most

expensive home cooked meals I would have ever

had.

Why the need to get a new bike? Mine is still

going strong after 4 years of abuse, and several

replaced cracked rocker arms. The sudden

thought of a cows head on the front of the bike

riding through the streets, will require the serious

need for a 1kg wheel set matched to a super light

frame to ensure lightning fast acceleration,

snappy climbing speed and descents through

areas at blurs that nothing else can follow. Oops,

sorry, this is what happens when you are going

through the highlights on facebook at the sametime. Cow heads, poking friends, pregnant

friends, 2010 frames...

Cow heads aside, going lighter generally has fat

arses like me looking for tested products that

can support the thumping mass of lemak and

bone...Im sure theres muscle somewhere in

between. The other alternative of course is to be

motivated to work harder, so that you can you

spend your kids education fund before they turn

6. But more importantly to lose weight!! Who

cares about the health side of things...I just want

to ride a lighter wheel set!! Lipo, Atkins, Ghandi?

Whatever else bring it on. Looking back at the

history of my browser, it started with the latest

in oil & gas, then just moved on to 2010

Ellsworth, Titus, Innolite, Stans, Weight Weenies,

How to lose weight in 2 days...

See yer at McDs before we get onto the trails...

Ed

(Ed is a little silly. He has no idea what he is doing

nor writing and his diet varies from corn flakes tovarious brands of whisky and beer that little kids

shouldnt try. If you take whatever he says

seriously, you are an idiot Ed)

Articles: Lee Yu Kit / Yellow Manta Photos: Used without permission. So if they are yours, can we use them please?


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The week ahead M + D Sunday ride 6 September 2009

The week ahead T + G Sunday ride 6 September 2009

Tar + Grime by The DonTheres a ride we havent done in the longest time. A ride that shouts SCENIC. A route that is

surely MEMORABLE. A tingling sense of DISCOVERY & ADVENTURE; even for an mildly-old

geezer like me (ya, Ill admit Im 32 years Jurassic). Since its a long weekend for those who workin Selangor (Sorry,KLites doesnt it just suck big time? Muahaha); the question begs: Why not?

We will start from town of Bentong & climb up to Frasers Gap via Tranum. A shaded windy road

with low vehicular traffic, after we turn off Jalan Tras. Many of you havent had the pleasure of

riding this route before. However, this is not a newbies route. You will be looking to be least 5

hours in the saddle, and back to the car by 1:30pm. Remember, this is a self-supported ride, so

please pace & refuel yourself.

Date: 6 September 2009

Time: 800am sharp (please be ready 15mins before)

Start/End: Kedai Kopi Kow Po (KP) (3deg 31.339N 101deg 54.649E) / 2 Bentong Heights, off Jln Ketari, 28700 Bentong, PahangBentong famous ice-cream shop

Distance: KP- Tranum Junction (Regroup)-Kg Teras (Refill)-Gap-Tranum- Kg Teras (Regroup)- Bentong- KP (118km)

How to get there: Head east on Lebuhraya Karak (23.6km)

Slight left toward Jalan Kuala Lumpur (0.4km)

Turn rignt at Jalan Kuala Lumpur (4.2km)

Turn left at Jalan Ketari (shop in on the right) (2.0km)

What to bring: $ / 2 full water bottles / hydration salt / Energy bars / Mobile / Spare tube & tyre levers / Hand pump / Helmut

/ Sun Block

Ride leader None other than our very own Pain Kaiser: PK (016-666 6110). Please revert any questions about the ride to Don (017-883

0538).

Mud + Dirt by Ed

This weekend we are heading out to towards the KLANG in Klang Valley. Not really all the way, the ride will be in the Setia Alam

housing development area. Kind enough to show us the way will be a member of the Wild Geeks riding club is Jovee. It should be a

ride that is very similar to the Elmina ride which is palm oil trails of approximately 20km. Should be a good work out and a changefrom the norm. Beginners are welcome.

Date: 6 September 2009

Time: 730am meeting after the Setia Alam Toll (NKVE). This is the toll after Bukit Jelutong, but before Bukit

Rajah. Keep left at the toll as the road is very wide.

Distance: Approximately 20km

How to get there: Get onto the NKVE (E1 Expressway) towards Klang. Exit at Setia Alam. (Please look it up on Google Maps)

Ride Description: Palm oil tracks similar to Elmina ride. Suitable for beginners, but note the estimated distance.

Ride leader Jovee Lee (012 298 4578)


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Capping the Hash with a Kiara Merdeka Dash byYellow Manta

The 6 of us (Kenny Kwan, James Yap, Teres, Adam, Mary and me) were gathered at the pondok at the Cross Roads, taking a well-deserved breather

after Kenny led us on a blistering ride of the 2K, via Apollo 13. It was the first time that Kenny was ever leading a ride and knowing how fit our young

old man is, you can imagine the kind of suffering he put us through. No wonder Debbie decided to go for a run instead. She must have knownbetter. Or she couldnt bear to see how Kenny was gonna trash her Giant Anthem

And because our PainMaster James was the only one who could stick to Kennys tail, our conversation invariably turned to how he (James) managed

to do so. Was it his youth or his technical skills? Or simply his fatness which combined well with his hardtail that helped propel him at light speed

down all descents whilst his extra kilos prevented his hardtail from jumping all over on the roots and rocks?

A classic case of an older but very fit rider on a full susser versus a very much younger but fatter rider on a hardtail. Discussion somewhat

inconclusive. But that Merdeka morning, we had one other rider, Adam, on a hardtail too but he was nowhere near Kennys tail. But he was

nowhere near James surplus kilos either. Not sure about his technical skills but if he were up to par with the Painmaster in that area, then we could

only conclude that, under the circumstances, you got to be fat to ride a hardtail better.

Now, what am I doing on a 6-inch full susser? Im fat. Get me a hardtail!

As matter of fact, just the day before at the Ulu Rening hash, someone was asking me, Pete, how come you ride so much yet your tummy still so

big ah? Aiyah, cant he see that I was wearing a very tight Presidential marshal jersey? Told James Bak not to make those jerseys so tight around

the middle but he never listen one, haha.

And talking about the hash, it was a pretty good ride albeit very muddy (not to mention hilly). Thank goodness the hares had worked into the route

a couple of really big rivers after each mud bath so that we could stop smelling (and looking) like wild boars by the time we got back to the cars.

Wondering off trail on more than 3 occasions brought my total mileage to beyond 30km when it was supposed to be just 28km officially for the

long ride.

That was when I was asking myself if I had agreed too soon to James request for a Kiara Merdeka Special the next morning. St ill, I hadnt ridden

Kiara in a long time, at least not since we started recceeing for the Presidential. But Im mighty glad I did, as trail conditions at Kiara that morning

were just perfect! All the roots and rocks were extremely friendly and rideable and oh, it was such a joy riding all those tight switchbacks. A very

refreshing change after weeks and weeks of cross-country riding at Broga and most recently the hash at Ulu Rening.

Being my first time, this Apollo 13 is a really great way to ride the 2K. So twisty yet flowy. A real joy. But the long climb that followed was a killer too.Except maybe for Kenny and James, the rest of us pushed up mostly.

Laying off from the bike for a wee bit too long proved painful for our one-time KoK (King of Kiara). Not only did our Wrench Teres have to hug

trees (me too, once) and wiping out on the roots, he was completely limits up by the time we hit Snakes n Ladder after doing the climb up Twin

Peaks and taking the Pure Quill way down. And with myself also quite thrashed (after that long hard hash, ahem) I joined Teres taking the tar back

down to KSH whilst Kenny, James and Adam continued up the Twin Peaks to ride the Carnival trail down.

Oh well, its been a great weekend of rides for me. Cant wait to do Kiara again, unless of course it rains the night before. See all you Marshals at

Mums Place this Sat!

The week that was that was that was M + D 31 August 2009


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The week that was T + G 30 August 2009

funny thing happened on the way to Lukut By Lee Yu Kit

ot having cycled for several weeks, I was chary of undertaking a 100-plus km, ride, but what the heck lifes short anyway! The morning was dry as I

urned up at the MTDC together with some twenty others, but the sky looked pregnant with the possibility of rain. Because of Puasa month, our numbers

ere depleted with the notable exception of Azhar, doing two completely incompatible things cycling and fasting.

he morning was cool and cloudy as we pedaled out towards Lukut, keeping a steady pace, but as we approached Salak Tinggi, some 22km distant, the dark

ouds began to leak.

valiant foursome continued on towards Lukut in the pelting drizzle, but the rest of us did the Malaysian thing brought our bikes out of the rain, settled

urselves in the nearest coffee shop for noodles, hot drinks and spinning yarns.

he drizzle did peter out after a plate or twos worth of noodles and a big mug of coffee, and after some hemming and hawing, the group elected to

ontinue towards Lukut.

fter Salak Tinggi, we turned left at a sign marked Kampung LBJ. (In the 1960s, Lyndon Baines Johnson, who was declared President of the US upon the

ssassination of John F Kennedy, visited Malaysia. He was popularly known as LBJ and the kampong was named in his honour).

he road was wet but it was moist and cool, and if you could ignore the thought of cleaning the bike at the end of the ride, it was really rather pleasant. Wetoads aside, the pace picked up a bit as we hit the undulating straights, with rubber plantations on either side.

t Taman Gadong Jaya, some 38km from our starting point, 4 sensible people, including yours truly, turned back, while the rest, obviously on a caffeine-

duced high from drinking too much coffee, didnt even pause in their headlong rush towards Lukut.

With Teik pulling like a newly-lubricated diesel locomotive in front, the 4 of us headed back at a steady pace. The few months break from cycling began to

ell in the last few km back to the car park, and I was happy to finish the ride at noon under a cloudy sky.

was a great way to put some mileage back into those legs for the next long ride.

KB to Frasers Gap Ride By Lydia Tan

s Sunday morning and its time to get on two wheels! I was glad to be offered a ride there and the journey was longer than I thought! Little did I realizehat the skies where were headed was as dark as a Sith Lord, and suddenly, out of no where; it began to pour. Time is not on our side either. We reached

he stadium a good 45min late. But wait were not alone.. =)

didnt take long for the rain to stop as we head up to the Gap. This route has the best of everything! The climb is decent, which still allows me to chit chat;

he air was simply refreshing; and cars were minimal with the occasional monkey that wont chase you.

he ride up didnt take long with good company. Before I knew it, the Gap was in sight and there the whole gang were; with big smiles plastered on their

aces! Debbie had good training, climbing the whole way in a big gear as something snapped, and Victors rear mirror is a good idea!

Most riders decided to descend while only four of us decided to hit the Clock tower to make the long drive there worth while! After a toast with syrup, I had

he most rewarding downhill ride ever! Taking every corner as fast as I can afford without crashing! Lovely!

Upon reaching the stadium, I found a poor helmet, sitting miserably next to a curb. Upon a closer inspection, it has a name on it =) without contactumber though..


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Impromptu Saturday M + D rides

Spare PartsChoy with his ever willingness to ride, be it morning, noon AND night will be taking calls with his mistress

Rachel from the Yeti Clan by his side, he would certainly ride anything and everything as often as he can. So contact him

for the Saturday Goodness at +60123955255. All levels and ride suggestions are always welcomed.

Change positions correctly Slower moving traffic stays to the left; faster traffic to

the right. Never overtake on the left of the group!

Pass slower moving vehicles on the right; announceyour intention to do so

Announce hazards Most cyclists do not have a full view of the road while

riding in a group

Announce potholes and other hazards so others canavoid them

Call out the hazard and point down to it, either left orright. No need to yell like a maniac tho.

Watch for traffic from the rear The last rider should frequently check for overtaking

cars

Announce "car back" clearly and loudly It is also helpful to announce "car up" on narrow

roads or when riding two abreastWatch out at intersections

Leader should announce slowing or stopping atintersections, if necessary

Cyclists should not follow others throughintersections without first looking for themselves

Each cyclist is responsible for checking cross traffic; ifyou must stop, signal

Leave room for cars On narrow road or during climbs, leave space

between every three or four riders

Motorists will utilize the shorter passing intervals topass the group

Good relations with motorists is the responsibility ofevery cyclist. Remember, we share the roads with

others; its not our Grandfathers road.

Stop off road When stopping for mechanicals or regrouping, always

move clear off the road

Always indicate you are stopping with your right handasking them to overtake you on the right.

Always yield to traffic in the roadway

Rules of Road Riding T + G

Practise Good Peloton Etiquette Everyone in the peloton has to contribute to the

workload. That means taking your fair share of pulls at

the front. Its ok to do shorter pulls, especially if you are

tired. Just do a token pull, indicate and pull off to the

right & back after youve established it is safe to do so.

When you go to the front, always keep a constant &steady speed. Do not accelerate or show how fast you

are. It is not a race, moron!

Typically everyone climbs at their own pace. So after aclimb, recover & regroup before setting off again.

Do not pull too long at the front. Always reserve someenergy

Ride single file It is illegal in some areas to ride more than two abreast.

Avoid doing this.

In our country, the roads are narrow and winding. It isbetter to ride single filed in this case, unless it is safe to

ride a double pace line.

Rules of Road Riding

By The Don

Weekday T + G rides

TUESDAY NIGHT SPECIAL TAMAN TUN (SUITABLE FOR ALL LEVELS)

Ride distance: 25km (TTDI Damansara Heights TTDI)

Time: 830pm (check in 15mins before)

Meeting place: In front of KSH (Taman Tun Dr Ismail)

Contact person: Kevin (012 354 7181)

THURSDAY NIGHT RIDE NEW (SUITABLE FOR ALL LEVELS)

Ride distance:

Time: 700pm (70km) / 830pm (35km)

Meeting place: Putrajaya Mosque Car park

Contact person: Vong 016 287 2066

Ride Guideline: Well maintained flat to undulating

roads.

Objectives: Improving endurance,leg strength and

road bike skills (eg. Drafting technique,

signalling, road safety)

COMPULSORY TAIL LIGHTS

FOR ALL NIGHT RIDERS

NO HELMUT, NO RIDE


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Guidelines to Mountain Bike Trail Etiquette

FROM VARIOUS SOURCES IN RELATION TO SHARED TRAILS AND NON BIKE

SPECIFIC TRAILS.

PERSONAL SAFETY- Wear a brain bucket (yes..thats a helmet) whenever you ride.- Do not travel into remote areas without informing others- Ride within your capabilities. Ensure that if you want to push your

limits, your buddies are around to support you.

- Know your bike and bring the necessary/essential spares.RIGHT OF WAY IN RELATION TO OTHERS (NON RIDERS)

- Give way to non motorised trail users, i.e. hikers, horse riders, becausepeople judge all cyclist by my actions.

- Give way to motorised trail users, i.e. motor cross bikes etc, becausegenerally we will end up worse off in a an accident.

- Alert others when approaching. Get a bell, or Excuse me works quitewell.

RIGHT OF WAY IN RELATION TO OTHER RIDERS.

- Riders have the right of way. If you are pushing your bike, leave theriding line open for others to go past.

- Rider up hill has the right of way.- Allow faster riders to past

SPEED

- Approach turns and bends in anticipation that theres someone there.- Make your presence know when approaching someone or any turns.

IMPACT ON THE TRAIL- Leave the wildlife and fauna alone. Magic mushrooms are bad for you.- Stay on designated trails and avoid destroying vegetation if possible- Dont take short cuts over/around technical sections. If you cant ride

it, walk it.

- Learn how to use your front brakes so that you minimise skidding yourrear wheel. If you refuse to learn, then ride only in bike parks where

people are paid to maintain the trails.

- Do not litter. Take out whatever you take in.- Practise minimal impact riding, take only photos and memories with

you.

FUN- You are to have loads of fun, talk lots of cog, and make good friends on

your ride.

- Develop of sense of humour. Some people say its good for the soul.

FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO ADD TO THIS? DROP US A LINE. WE WILL ADD IT IF IT MAKES SENSE.


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PLEASE DO NOT CALL US AT THE 11th HOUR ASKING FOR A BIKE. ALLOW 2 DAYS NOTICE MIN

Spare Wheels Project

Your friends have heard you rant about the drops and

the endos and have seen the breathtaking scenery

from your flickr, Facebook and not to forget the fridge

door photos.

They finally want to get off their bum and join you for

a ride but running behind you, sitting on your top tube

or dinking them are probably not the best ways for

them to experience it with you. Of course, he/she

could be shit hot, then no one would probably say

anything.

In any regards, PCC has the SPARE WHEELS PROJECT

underway. Currently made up of generous owner's

bikes, they are available for people to borrow and

ride. Some of them have been ridden more than thevillageernever mind. They've been ridden a lot.

Boon Foo has recently offered his assistance to put

together a few hard tails, and together with what we

have now, we should be able to cater for height

ranging from Snow White's pals to the Yang Mings

who want to give this ago.

In all SERIOUSNESS, if you have someone who wants

to join us for a ride, please do not hesitate to drop us

a line and we WILL do our best to get them a bike for

the next suitable ride. Take note that there will be a$15.00 charge to cover expenses such as ferrying the

bike around (only if you are riding with us), washing it

and of course its ongoing maintenance.

Rob (012 6191 308) / Peter (012 227 4443) /

Alvin (012 3070 830) / Adrian (012 383 2618)

CLUB MEMBERSHIP

Be a member of PCC. Sign up at our site at http://pcc-

cycling.freeservers.com by downloading the form and mail the

completed form to [email protected]. or sign up by

simply joining our yahoo groups site at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pcc_newsletter which also

automatically subscribes you to our weekly newsletter Spokes

n Nipples.

Membership is FOC, no subscription fee. All

that is required is your commitmentto Ride!!

(bicycles that is) Welcome onboard and

have fun.

The Spokes & Nipples is the official newsletter of the Pedalholics Cycling Club. Unofficially, its the medium by which members and regulars will kay

poh amongst themselves! Target is to publish it every Wednesday but do not be surprised if you receive it only on Thursday or, worse still, Friday. After

all, we got another job to tend to which unfortunately demands more priority from us.

We welcome ride stories and articles from everybody as well as your feedback but do try to submit them to us at [email protected] before noon

each Wednesday; otherwise well pin the blame on you if the newsletter is delayed! And of course, like they always say, we may edit all articles

submitted for publication. Just to make sure you say nice things we like to hear! The Spokes & Nipples is distributed via the eGroups.com portal. If

this newsletter has come to you unsolicited and it irks you like heck, please unsubscribe through the address listed below. Otherwise, we welcome you

with open arms and legs to our little circle and, most of all; we look forward to riding with you!

Group URL: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pcc_newsletter

Group Email Address: [email protected] subscribe: [email protected]

To unsubscribe: [email protected]

PCC Website: http://pcc-cycling.freeservers.com

PCC Forum: http://pcccycling.forumup.comPCC on Facebook: PCC Malaysia Group

weekly newsletter – 2 september 2009 / issue number: 456-35-2009

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