Short Spin with GCC (25 June 2016)

At Horizon Hills

Girl Power!

The elusive Kai Weng and his friend, Shirley!

While The Return of the Prodigal Son, a painting by Rembrandt depicts the return of a repentant son, The Prodigal Daughter, a book with similar genre by Jeffrey Archer tells a different story of success and acceptance...

This morning sees some of us returning to the folds of Graziella Cycling Club, by invitation of a gentle lady. After training hardcore on endurance and speed with JEC and Ad Hoc for the past 6 months, we decided to ride with our old friends again.

It was a homecoming of sorts, seeing Patrick and Hsiao Chun as loving as ever by the car park. Desmond who had just recently welcomed a baby girl was entertaining new riding friends, Kai Weng and Shirley.

It turned out that Kai Weng was never meant to meet VT, TH, Maggie and Claudine until today. Having signed up for the Tour of the Waterfronts ride on 10 April 2016, he did not make the ride because of car problems. In fact, even before actually meeting him in person, Claudine had known him to be Ying Chang's riding friend from Singapore! Only today, did their stars finally crossed!

Amy was as cheery as ever and we finally see Daniel on a roadbike!!! Meanwhile, Ronan came with his usual cycling buddy and even roped a new friend on a La Pierre roadbike.

We rolled out via the Horizon Hill's Eastgate, breaking up as we crossed the busy junction. As we rode towards the forked road, again some of us had to stop for traffic rushing towards the city. After overcoming the two hurdles, getting on the butterfly interchange and the Iskandar Coastal Highway was a breeze.

Turning off towards Lebuh Kota Iskandar, TH and Claudine started to mash their pedals. They got to the top of the slope in no time, then turned left towards Marlborough College. Once there, they slowed down for everyone to catch up.

The ride into Kampung Sg Melayu was yet another high speed chase. Claudine led the way, all the while trying to shake off TH and the young boys. They gave her a hard time.

Arriving at the jetty, the leading group waited for the rest to close up. When the last rider finally streamed in, Patrick led us out again after a short 5 minutes break.

Jack on mtb is a force to be reckoned with!

Once we left the kampung and started on the palm oil trail, the race continued again. This time, Jack tailed after Claudine. Everytime they hit a slope, Jack will have an advantage and try to overtake her. Everytime, she will prevail.

But it was TH who surprises everyone! Just before the last climb, he rolled down a slope at high speed, taking advantage of his mass! He slingshot himself up the last slope followed closely by Jack and Claudine! It was his day of triumph, for the other 2 never managed to take the lead from him!

Outside at the Marlborough junction, TH led the rest of the riders on a slow ride towards the Kota Iskandar roundabout. Meanwhile, Claudine waited for Maggie as she was down with flu and they had agreed to ride only 1 kampung. Together they proceed to find TH, waiting on the designated spot.

Agreeing to return to base together, they bade farewell to Jack and his wife who were helping the young boys with a tyre puncture. The other riders though had disappeared up the long climb and turned left towards Sunway Iskandar.

Arriving at the cross junction for Sunway Iskandar and Gleneagles Medini, the four returning riders chanced upon the waiting group. The bigger group will be riding to another kampung located at the mouth of the Pendas river. Shouting their goodbyes across the road, the four turned off to the mini crown arch, rolled past Gleneagles Medini, raced past Medini Mall, got back onto Iskandar Coastal Highway before arriving back at Horizon Hills....their shortest ride so far!