Kukup is Swarmed!!! (2 April 2016)

On our last leg home! 

Delta can never keep it straight!

Agnes, Wonder Woman!!

Voon, The Mischief!

James Bond and his beautiful sidekicks!

Team W Cycle

Team Madcat

Team JEC

Team Singapore?

Team B!!!

Tigger, Sue and Black Panther

Wayne, Lau and Calvin sharing a light moment

Donkey found a partner!

'Who let the dog out?'

Bikes

More bikes!

And even more bikes!!!

Endless row of bikes!

On the morning of the ride, the Head of Security of Horizon Hills approached Claudine. He was flabbergasted with the enormous turnout and wanted to know if there was a "race". Indeed, it was a great coordination and show of support from all riders.

Team JEC came in their black jerseys. Team W Cycle were in red. Team Madcat....were showing off their Halloween cat. And then, there were the odd riders in their own colourful jerseys!

Team B rolled out first. Andy who is a very able rider chose to take care of the group even though he could easily make it to Team A! So was Thomas Ridley who decidedly came in his mtb!

We went out through the Southgate, rode along the Iskandar Coastal Highway, then turned off to Lebuh Kota Iskandar. On the butterfly interchange, Team A were spotted coming from the other side of the road.

At the Eco Botanics roundabout, we rode across and climbed up the flyover. Here, is every rider for his own! Andy was the first to scale it. Chee Kiang was next. Soon, Thomas and Claudine came along. As we were worried some will lose their way, we made a quick regrouping down below only to see Team A overtaking us!

At the cross junction with Jalan Gelang Patah, Team A took the right turn while we went across towards Amin's mamak shop. We cruised along only to realize the ladies have come through but the few men and sweepers were left behind. Andy gallantly turned back and found out the delay. YL's rear light had fell and the others were waiting for him.

We rode along the scenic kampung route, turned back onto the main road that leads to Pekan Nanas and again pass by the Chinese cemetery. Ching Ming period is still ongoing and we see the same big crowd sweeping the ancestral tombs.

Arriving at Shell's Pekan Nanas, Team B were surprised to see everyone waiting!!! It was a tremendous show of support that boosted everyone's ego! After few pleasantries were exchanged, we took a group photo before bidding Team A a good ride ahead.

Riding out along the Pekan Nanas town, Madcat team came up alongside to greet us. It was unusual for Delta and Chun to be so slow unless they had a tyre puncture!

They did have a puncture of sorts!!! Their new rider, Thomas was just getting used to cleats and .... his brand new Cannondale Synapse! They were merely looking out for their friend!

After Pekan Nanas, we turned left to the famed "10km flats" stretch. It was a straight road and with so many sweepers today, Claudine overtook Andy, and cheekily said, "Let's race!"

Meanwhile, Chi Wei was already roaring ahead. He was a peculiar sight holding on to the top of the handlebar with legs pumping the pedals like a piston engine. He was about to achieve maximum torque when he noticed Claudine panting behind him! He then, took it a bit slower for her sake.

After a good stretch, Claudine was feeling the strain. She waved Andy forward. He overtook her, assuring her, "It is okay to slow down a bit!" This time, he pulled Claudine at a more comfortable pace. Chi Wei too had noticed the riders behind and decided to ride together in a peloton. With the 2 men taking turns to lead, the trio rode to the finish line.

At the finish line, we soon see everyone stream in. When VT and Zoe finally arrived, Janet clasped her hand and was eager to go! But wait!!!!! There's Thomas Cannondale and his sweeper still!!! They came soon enough to cheers from everyone. We allowed Thomas a short rest and then pushed him on the last leg!

This time, we use the route that passes the oil palm estates and grazing cows. Andy stopped to forewarn riders at a small cross junction before coming back to lead the group.

We had a short regrouping again at the turning to Jalan Kukup. This time, there was only excitement on everyone's faces as we all know food was just 8 km away!

Team A were just half way through their roti pratas when we arrived. They had taken a longer route just to time their arrival with us! The whole place was swarmed with 27 sweaty riders!!!

At the mamak shop, Cupid was throwing arrows! The ladies fell in love with a tall, dark and handsome Indian waiter. Thomas Ridley fueled their fantasies by introducing him to the ladies! That sent the ladies into school girl hysterics!! Meanwhile, our Bollywood superstar played along by requesting a selfie with them!!!

Soon, we had to part with our superstar hunk. Sue and Claudine said goodbye and promised to visit him more often. It seems we will be making more trips to Kukup in the near future!

We rode back to Pekan Nanas with very good cooperation from Madcat riders. All took turns to stop and direct riders on every turns. We had a few more regroupings to make sure no riders were left behind.

At Pekan Nanas, Team A were falling asleep when we arrived! Yet, they patiently waited as Sue had requested for a group photo with the iconic pineapple. The stop was too long for Team A, yet too short for Team B but yet everyone good naturedly trooped to the pineapple for the last photo before heading home. Some though, went, prefered to get out from the limelight.

Saying goodbye at Pekan Nanas, it was understood that all riders will return at their own pace. Khoon though decided to return with Team B this time.

Not long after Uncle Lim's durian farm, a lone figure was seen doing tai chi by the side of the road, next to a nursery. Chee Kiang was suffering from cramps. Thomas Ridley stopped for him and ushered everyone ahead.

We all waited for everyone at the scenic kampung route. Then, we moved on with a conspiracy to stop for drinks at Amin's. It was already noon and the sun was sapping us dry!

Meanwhile, Zoe called it quits at Amin's. Her knee was hurting, probably from overdrive! Her speed was commendably faster than last week's!

Leaving Zoe to be picked up by her husband, we braved the sun, the hills and the nasty headwinds to get back home. While most of everyone packed to leave, Sue and Jolin sneaked into Coppola for a celebratory drink.

Cheers, everyone!