Recently, I posted on my fb wall and each 'like' that I receive, will translate to 1km on my roadbike regardless of elevation. The cut off time to like my status (to add mileage to my ride) is before September 2016 (PCC Interstate 2016 will take place during Malaysia Day weekend).
I glanced at my friend's list, and I had about 1000+ friends. Assuming 50% of my FB friends liked my status, there is a possibility that I will have to cycle a total distance of 500km. So I prepared myself mentally as I posted it on my FB wall.
To my surprise, not many of my friends liked my post. In other words, I did not get 500 likes (phew). My post managed to get 192 likes. Phew again. Not all of the likes came from my cycling friends, and not all of my non-cycling friends like the status. Regardless, I now have a distance to cover, which is 192km.
Some of my friends withdrew their like(s) and some also chose to comment instead of liking my status. Apparently some of my friends sympathized the idea if I got too many likes and had to complete a ridiculous distance (they were not aware that the longest distance I cycled was 225km). There is also another group of people in my friend's list that would prefer to like more than once, but since it is a limitation set by FB so they decided to comment and indicated a comment would add 10km.
In any case, I have decided to round up the figure to 300km. This is in lieu with PCC Interstate 2016 as well as Audax 300 or 400. I have drafted a few routes, and for those of you who know me - flat roads are boring. I don't mean that in a cocky manner, just that flat roads do not require any training unless you aim to ride on an average speed of 35km/h. Ever since I was able to cycle more than 100km , I realized that anything below 100km will not satisfy my legs. It has to be more than 100km or the very least has elevation gain similar to Perez or Bkt Hantu or Broga.
That's a tall order, to some people. 300km distance combined with elevation gain does seem a tad too demanding. In any case, I am not going in blindfolded. Obviously I need to train myself in terms of strength and endurance to safeguard my completion.
Just so you know, some time in February 2016 I got hit by viral flu which made me sick for 3 weeks. Actually 4 but in the last week I tried cycling and to my surprise, I could not even maintain a 30km/h speed on a flat road for 10km. Climbing Pantai Hill (Jalan Bukit Pantai) with 100% effort drained all my energy which left me with almost zero fuel in my metabolism by the time I entered Federal Highway.
Well, I need to train my legs back. I need to start running and hiking since I have been out of these disciplines for a few months now. Just waiting to get myself a new pair of shoes (my Asics Gel Excite 3 was stolen recently) so that I can start running again.
Back to my 192km route, so far I have managed to come up with the following:-
1. Bangsar - Gombak - Genting Sempah - Kg Muhibah - Fraser's Hill - Batang Kali - Ulu Yam Baru - Gombak - Jalan Ipoh - Bangsar (total 246km to and fro)
Description:
Starting from Bangsar, the route will take us through KL town passing by Titiwangsa Sentral and onto Jalan Gombak until we reach Kg Pusu. From there its just a straight road all the way to Janda Baik, Raub and Kg Muhibah. The climb starts from Hospital Orang Asli Gombak until we reach the flyover before Genting Sempah RnR.
Following climbs are located in Raub (heading towards Frasers), Fraser's hill (1 loop) and Ulu Yam Baru.
In my books, the difficulty level of this route is probably 10/10.
2. Bangsar - Old Klang Road - Kinrara - Puchong Jaya - Taman Wawasan - Bandar Puteri - Puchong Perdana - Taman Tasik Prima - Putra Prima - Taman Mas - Kg Lombong - Jenjarom - Banting - Morib - Tg Sepat - Sg Pelek - Sepang - Lukut (total 286km to and fro)
Description:
Again starting from Bangsar, this route would be mostly flat grounds until we reach Sg Pelek area, all the way to PD where there will be plenty of rolling hills. No continuous climbs compared to option 1 but this leg would feature heat and multi-directional winds all the way until PD.
The alternative for this route is following MEX highway from Bangsar, and head towards Puchong and on to Kg Lombong, Jenjarom, Banting, Morib until PD.
3. Bangsar - Federal Hiway - Klang - Kapar - Sg Besar - Lumut (total 230km one way)
Description:
This route is similar to the Audax BRM200 route, only difference is will be starting from Bangsar and will extend the leg until Lumut. This ride (if I were to be accompanied by a few other cyclists) will be a supported ride. As a friendly note - the support car will bring our fresh clothes and misc items to the hotel in Lumut. The support car will not tail the peloton (perhaps wait at every 40km or so to make sure everyone is ok).
This route has no climbs (probably just a few small hills or rolling hills) but the challenge would be heat and never ending flat road (I understand that some riders dislike continuous flat road, especially when this route has 100+km of flat from Kapar all the way to Lumut.
Oh I also forgot about the side/head winds that would probably be a challenge to those on high profile rims.
For now, I am still contemplating between the 3 routes. I love climbs, but in order for me to survive such distance and elevation I definitely need to train. Which is the crazier part. I have been out of cycling for 2 months now and I am almost certain that whatever stamina or strength that I have built is all gone. Now I need to train, and get more sleep.
Other than that, I have yet to decide the date yet. The main challenge in setting the date is that there are some who would want to join my insane quest, and because of that I am pretty much stuck. On one hand I can't ride alone, but on the other I can't fix a date because have their own thing going on.
Which leaves me with my last option - solo ride. I know many will discourage me or even disagree with the idea, but to be honest planning a 300km ride takes months to prepare. In the end, its much easier if I did it alone. I can go my own pace/speed and all I need to take care of is myself.
- My 2 Wheels -
