IPD JBU's First Bike Event

Increasing awareness and interest in cycling has becoming noticeable among government servants. Its a good sign and a good start for cycling community in Johor Bahru. For the first time, Ibu Pejabat Daerah Johor Bahru Utara, also known as IPD JBU, organised a community ride. 

Most of the riders are police personnel which are new to cycling. With free helmets as goodies, definately attracts non-cyclists to join in the fun. As for me, its a joy ride, where friends gets along and have fun. Thats all. Its ok, because the purpose of the ride was to make good public relations with the general public especially the Skudai area. With the suports of the top brass of IPD JBU, I'm sure they will be more active in cycling in the future.

OK, enough with the campaign. Lets talk about the ride itself. Joy Ride. with only 20km covering the area of Taman Tun Ungku Aminah, Skudai, the events sure raises the residents eyebrow. There were only around I think 100-150 riders, but it creates an impression. With non riders participating, sure gives me a giggle when they know now how difficult it was and  the necessity  of  proper riding techniques. Hopefully this will not be their last endevour in cycling.

Our first check point was an old folks home. I really did not catch the name of the home, yup, too busy looking for banana and mineral water I guess. Continue the ride around Taman Ungku Tun Amina or TUTA they called it, I feel like a Rela Personel doing a security patrol or something. But it was fun to ride around housing areas with the police sirens all the way. Sure to wake the neighbours. 

The next check point is at a Dewan in one of the housing area. with speeches all around, then we continue to our last chech point which the Balai Polis TUTA. here we had some lunch. Mee goreng, quite tasty though. Compliments to the catering service. With stomach full, we end our ride back to IPD JBU. after a short goodbye to everybody, we depart ways.

Scorpion Army Aviation 2013 Jamboree

Need to trim thoes abs.

As early as 0530hrs, rise and shine, all geared up for my trip to Kluang. The plan was I am to drive to Kluang with my fellow rider, Bahri. So had to pick him up at his house at Stulang Laut. 

After setting up the Rear Rack and bikes mounted, we head to Kem Mahkota, Kluang, Johor. Took the PLUS hiway as we do not want to be late. Reached Kluang, after a short stop at 7Eleven, we entered into Kem Mahkota. We were among the earliest to arrived, so got my self a good parking spot. 

Met with my Team Mates from Team Mercury. So officially this is my first ride with them since I moved to Johor Bahru. There new members of Team Mercury which I'm not familiar with, that ok, we are riders, that important. The starting line was at a grass landing field, so it was quite a sight. Impressive actually, as many of the riders had the oppurnuty to be in the front line. 

Me and Ismanor, the founder of Team Mercury.

Its good to involve in such a jamboree. All the finishers were given medals imprint with the placing. For me, I only manage the number 762. Its really disappointing to see even beginner riders can overtake me. Its ok, since I suffered some minor cramps on my calf and thigh. The only personal record that I achieved was that I managed not to stop for cancer break or resting. So, this is the first time in my experience riding in jamborees, I did not make any stops. 

Even at the checks points, The marshals manage to put the stickers while I was riding. 

It was after passing check point two that my thigh caught the cramp, so had to pedal slow and crank up granny gear. The good news is there are quite few medical personnel, so thanks for the cramps spray, as I called it. 

It really helps for the next 20 minutes of riding. The trail was a Speed Trail. It was good for beginners to test their endurance, and for those pro and hard core riders, an oppurtunity to metted out theis guts against each others. Annuar Manan, our National Rider was also presence and ride. So you could only guess whats its like at the front line riders. All trying their best to match Annuar Manan. For me, once the cramps came in, I enjoy the ride with an occasional, makan kacang sambil kayuh. I considered my self lucky as I did not suffer any serious injuries that follows from the carmps. 

Towards the finishing, we had to ride again through the grass landing field. Its such a turn off, when you can see the finishing but you cannot sprint to it. The after ride lunch was pretty good. So, had time to enjoy it while watching tje arm-wrestling competition on the stage. After the lucky draw, me and Bahri head back to Johor Bahru. It was a good day and a good Jamboree, or shall we call it Jamborace. Congratulations to the organisor.

Parenthon Ride 2013.

It’s a Fun Ride. Again, I had to indulge myself with a fun ride. Organised by Sekolah Sultan Ismail and Ronda Riadah. I really had not much to say about fun ride, so , briefly, on day ride, I decided to ride from my house at Setanggi. The initial plan was to ride with my fellow rider, Bahri, an old school mate from English College., from his house at Stulang Laut. As It turns out, I’m a bit late in the morning, so had to text Bahri and told him that I’ll be joining him with the rest of the MBJB rider at MBJB building instead. Arrive early, as usual, I’m the first to arrive. We started to ride from MBJB at 0800hrs. And I was there since 0700hrs.  So, the five of us ride to Sekolah Menengah Sultan Ismail, or SSI as it was commonly called. Most of the MBJB riders were begginers. Just started riding a year or two.

Reached SSI around 0830hrs, collect my goodies and wait for the VIP to flag off the riders. The school was holding an event, I’m not sure what, cause I was not concerned with the school events. I’m here just to enjoy the ride.

 Actualy, I’m quite surprised because a school helds a biking event. Too bad it was not my former school though. Maybe I could suggest to the head master. 

Nevertheless, I ride wherever as long as I can enjoy the ride. 

They say it’s the unluckiest number cause never in the history of bike jamborees, the number wins anything. I guess there’s a truth in it. As long as I can remember, in my experience yes, its true. The curse has not been broken yet.  A bit funny though putting on numbered plate on your bike on a fun ride, maybe its more for souveniers. 

VIP flags us of at 0845, a bit late actualy for a morning ride, but then again, is a fun ride. Our first check point was Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Johor Bahru Selatan (IPD JBS). As the founding member of Ronda Riadah is a police officer, we had the oppurnity to use IPD JBS as our check point. After a simple bite of banana and mineral water, we are off. The marshals decided to change the route  as planned earlier. Its ok, as long as the weather is ok today.

here we passed in front of the famous Johor Bahru Zoo. The last time I visited the zoo was during my primary school days. That was the first and last. Maybe I should re-visited, just out of curiosity.

Most of the riders were young age groups. And not many hard core riders. Maybe they were saving energy for tommorow’s jamboree at Kluang. I’m going to Kluang also, but I consider this ride just for fun. No serious ride.  

And yes, everybody seems to be enjoying the ride. With traffic police as our escorts, it sure give us a piece of mind.

As usual, in a fun ride, I like to take videos during the ride, and from the looks of it, I’m the only rider who took video while riding. Its becoming a habit nowadays to video log my ride.  1 km to the finishing, the marshalls decided to spice things a bit. They gather up all the fixie riders and and sets them off to sprint to the finish. It sure made the kids jubilate           

For me, the ride was not even sweat breaking at all. Mostly because we were riding at a slow pace, and had few stops to wait for the last group of riders. Well, they are begginners. Its ok. As long as they have the enthusiasm to ride, its ok    

    Have to wait for the lucky draw, cause I was planning to ride back with the MBJB riders and my next destination will be the food court at Wadi Hana to meet my wife for lunch, and from thereon, my bike will enjoy the comfort of the car’s boot. The lucky draw I had a close call, as Bahri pulled out the number 002, what a luck. Missed by a digit. The main prize was a fixie bike. Left SSI after the lucky draw and we ride back to MBJB.  Reached MBJB and we depart from there.