Drowning in Lard at Layang-layang (2 July 2016)

Kulai Tree 91

Some of the Madcats

Getting ready to roll out

It's always thumbs up before the ride!

Months after LEKAS ride, riders are still proudly displaying their feat by donning the jersey!

Big Men on Little Wheels

Cupcake found some friends to play with!

Loading up on Lard

Loading up on Lard

Loading up on Lard

 

Recently, Bob our Ironman friend had just bought a TT bike. Most Saturdays find him training the hills at Sedenak all the way to Renggam, and sometimes beyond!!! We were thrilled for him and in awe over his achievements. Wanting to rub shoulders with an Ironman, this week found us making another trip to the residing cave of the Monkey God.

Lured by Claudine with the promise of good food, Kai Weng, our new riding friend from Singapore made another border crossing. Our resourceful friend found his way to Kulai's famous beef noodle in the wee hours of the morning to get his hands on a bowl of the famed noodle. This noodle is so good, it is said to be sold out by 10am!!

The Madcat and Kulai Tree team came in full swing! Some of them were on roadbikes, some on Foldies and a few on MTB's. Many of the Madcats donned their new yellow jerseys, which did away with the Halloween Cat!

There were at least 40 of us at Sedenak, thus the themed title, "Drowning in Lard!" Saito, Chee Kiang, Thomas Moy, Jolin and few others were only gearing up at roll out time, thus we could not assemble everyone for a group photo. In fact, we had to ride out without them.

 

Leading the pack during roll out were the Madcats on roadbikes. Then, the Foldies followed behind. Just a few kilometers later, JM Chong overtook Claudine on his 16 inch Brompton wheels. Leon came along on his 700 Bike, a folding bike from China equipped with a built in speedometer which is sync enabled to a smartphone via Bluetooth.

Right after Legends Golf and Country Club, David Lai was seen bending over to pick up a dropped water bottle for a "kitten" on mtb. Quite a few of his team mates stopped or slowed down. It was a great opportunity for Claudine to overtake but soon, they attacked her again. Not accepting defeat, she tried drafting behind the men on little wheels but once they hit the hills, she was on her own again!

It was quite some time before the Ad Hocs overtook Claudine. The first to overtake her were Ollie and Hea right before the railway tracks. Then, Thomas Ridley and VT bullied her just as they were all making the crossings. Zoe, came soon enough in her new BH roadbike.

Under the canopy of the Palm Oil fronds, TH came from behind. He explained that Bob and Suzanne had stayed behind to wait for another late comer, JM Lew. They rode up 2 slopes together before TH whizzed down a slope and was gone!

Leaving the estates, Claudine turned behind to see an orange figure with broad shoulders approaching. It was Saito. They had a short exchange before he overtook her followed by SK Wong and another friend.

Passing by Lew Peng chicken farm, the nauseating smell of chicken droppings were both welcoming and disgusting. Welcoming because it marks the half way point or more!

A motorcyclist honked and gave thumbs up when he overtook Claudine. Another family on a pick up truck waved their support. The children pressed their faces to the windows for a second glance!

The white and black Layang-Layang signboard was most welcoming. Then, the sight of many Ad Hocs waiting by the roadside just before the junction to Guang Fatt Wantan Mee shop marks the end of Part 1!!!!

Even though the event was hyped with Option 1,2,3 and even 4, many riders chose Option 1. Only Andy, Thomas Ridley, Zoe, Chiam, Kai Weng and Bob made it to Option 2 which is Renggam.

JM Lew and Suzzane never made it to Layang-Layang. JM suffered a puncture midway but had no tubes with him. He had to take Suzanne's MTB to ride back to base and return for her with Bob's car.

Claudine rode back to base mostly in sights of the foldie team, VT and TH. They stopped by the railway tracks for a group photo before finally reaching Huo Guo Shan. Packing up to leave, we received a Whatsapp from Ollie. In his haste to get home, he had left his Campagnolo Zonda wheels behind!!!