First Try at Bt 18 Hulu Langat-Sg Tekala

Not to dissapoint Pak Wan Sabri and GEDEBE, i reluctantly turned up at Bt 18 at about 0820.
They had already left the starting point by then, at the designated time 0730.

By reluctantly, i meant that i am still having this flu and cough.
Had a late night out last night at the Putrajaya Bowling alley, with other PERs gang. I did not bowl, but stayed on to chit chat with them.
Was tossing and turning till about 0300, my breathing tube was giving some problem, sort of wheezing away, and the coughing was picking up.
My wife woke me up at about 0630 for subuh...
Still i was contemplating, whether to just sit it out at home or go to Tekala or GCE.
Prof Fuad last minute email and Wan Sabri's sms were both tempting, in addition to Shahrin's suggestion of PMR.
By the time i was dressed, it was already 0715, and i know that the GCE train would have left...anyway i did give a call to Dr Azmi and Taufik...no answer and that confirmed that they have started.
Called up Pak Wan and he says that he should roll out at 0730, and he was already at BT 18, wheras at 0720, i was only out of Putrajaya.
Told him to carry on and i will follow from behind and will either meet him on their way back or whatever since he will take the same route back to Bt 18.

Just as i thought, when i arrived, i asked another group the way to Tekala.
Mind you this is my first time there.
Tried to call Pak Wan, no response...(i was told later that when i called he was speeding downhill at 50 kph...}
Braving myself i cycled alone to follow them
Saw quite a few other riders wheezing past...i must have looked unprofessional with my jacket on...well it was rather chilly and i am still nursing my flu and slight fever....
Arrived after about 10 km at the junction going to Peres and Tekala.
Managed to ask for direction from some locals by the road and i was told to turn right.
At the same time , managed to call Pak Wan and he said that they are about to reach Tekala and will wait for me there since they will be taking their carbo loading there.
Wow, another 14 km to reach Tekala!!
I was contemplating of hitching a ride on any pickup truck passing by so that i can catch up with the GEDEBE gang.
It was at that time that another group arrived at the junction and was having a short rest.
A rather plumb guy called up to me and says that he is TSB.
Told them that i was trying to catch up with Pak Wan.
Well, this guy TSB, being a nice guy as what i have read in the Le Tuang e-list, switched his groups destination to go to Peres and offered to escort me to Tekala.
Being a nicer guy too, i hesitantly agreed.
There goes my intention of tuanging some distance and getting a free ride on a truck!!!!!!!!
Anyway, TSB,thank you for the kind gesture...and added another 14km to my distance.

Huff and puff, arrived at Tekala.
True to his word TSB stayed by me and delivered me safely to GEDEBE group, who was already into their second nasi lemak.
After a short rest, it was another 24 km plus back to Bt 18.
All in all i covered about 50 km today, and that despite the wheezing sound of the breathing and my yet to recover flu..
This time around Pak Wan stayed by me and ensured that i arrive back in one piece.
Mak Wan and the other Mak Cik, terus lesap ta nampak nampak...
That's when i started asking this poisonous question
"'Is their bike better? My humble Proton T Sprint R despite the Ultegra group set, is still slow.".
"Definitely, they can't be faster than me?"
"Wah sebab tu lah basikal mahal lagi laju"
Well, i guess this is the 'racun' that we have been talking about.
Bila laju na laju lagi?

I think i will stick on to my Proton for the time being.
Let's see in future ride.
Is it the bike or the man?
OP SK if you are reading this,let me have a few dry runs first before i join the Ironman group. I can cope up with the Rubberman, but Ironman, give me some time to prepare first....
By preparing means either man or machine?
The scenic and kampung view of Hulu Langat is more suited to mtb, in my opinion, because, on mtb we can take leisurely ride and enjoy nature.
I highly recommend this route to my PERs Plasticman on our mtb.
Maybe we can mandi manda after a leisurely ride.
On roadies, you have the urged to simply kayuh laju and take advantage of the draft of the peloton..

BTW i was doing 60kph on the way down to Tekala.....
It did cross my mind if the tayar meletup?
What do i do?
Anyway,there were not less than a hundred cyclists using this route this morning.....
Gang yang naik motor pun ada juga....maybe doing the Broga loop...
And what crosses my mind too about talks of volunteering to go to Gaza....i suggest come and cycle first and try Peres or even Tekala, before even mentioning of volunteering!!!!!

My doctor Tengku Mohamed advised that i take some Panadol and rest.
I think i will do just that now.
Azudin
1500 hrs.