#238 - KIP Mart MTB Jamboree 2012



Twas the day before race day ...
pics from our group's FB page

     

Saturday, the day before the 'race' and I struggled

to do ... nothing! I was expecting to suffer tomorrow
and so I made sure I conserved each and every calorie
that I could. I slept early the night before and I
slept 2 hours in the afternoon.

Some of my friends cycled 60km to their hotel in Masai.
From their pictures in FB, it looked like they had fun.
But it also looked like they all have sworn an oath to let
things that 'happened in Masai, stay in Masai'.

... and so, while my other friends were enjoying their
overnight stay in Masai, Deck, Efren and I stayed wide
awake at night partly due to race jitters and partly
because we were scared that we can't wake up in time for
our ride (thanks to Enrico) to the Cause Way.

4AM finally came and so the four of us went to Woodlands,
crossed to JB and waited at Shell for our ride to the
race site. It was there at JB Shell that Roadie Rio
joined us. Also, waiting at JB Shell was an eye opener.
There were sooo many racers from Singapore who made
their 'pit stop' there and it made me wonder if half
of Singapore's mountain bikers will be racing today.

The starting line at around 8:10AM. Race start is 8:30AM.

Hehehe Roadie Rio is missing in this pic. He said he
has learned his lesson and he went to the front.

The race catered to every one. I saw a few kids in the trail.

met some guys from Attitude Bikes

Our journey to the race site was quite smooth. There were

already a lot of people when we showed up and a few of

the eager ones were already staking out their place at

the starting line! We on the other hand were waiting for

our 'Team Captain' Fast Paolo as we don't have our race

numbers yet. Fast Paolo showed up with 15 minutes to spare

and everything was sorted quickly. However, the rest of

our friends haven't showed up yet. I told them to get a

massage and drink a bottle of beer to help them relax so

that they could sleep soundly instead of lying wide awake

on unfamiliar hotel beds but the one bottle of beer must

have turned out into a party ! But finally they showed

while the Malaysian National Anthem was being played.

After the National Anthem, the announcer told all racers

NOT to overtake the pace car (apparently, there were very

eager and fast cyclists who have done that in the past)

and after that announcement, the race was on!



Despair !
pic from Ronald's FB page



Rico on his way to #57th in the race
pic courtesy of An Sun-gard (KiP MOUNTAIN BIKE JAMBOREE 2012)



There was plenty of ice cold water, 100+ and bananas in the CheckPoints
pic courtesy of An Sun-gard (KiP MOUNTAIN BIKE JAMBOREE 2012)



Me!
pic courtesy of An Sun-gard (KiP MOUNTAIN BIKE JAMBOREE 2012)



 Roadie Rio pulled a veteran move on us as he didn't line up

at the end of the peloton. He was somewhere in front. All

of us led by Fast Pao, IronMan Randy, Ryan, Deck, Efren and

Enrico were weaving in and out of the peloton. It was 2km

from the start to the trail head and so the strategy was get

as near to the front as possible before we entered the trails.

When we entered the trail, the peloton was greeted by TWO CARS

going the opposite direction, one at the right of the trail

and the other on the left. There was no choice but to slow down

and it was here that we all got separated. Once we cleared

those cars, we went to a very fast and surprisingly slippery

downhill section (later on our friends said it rained hard the

day before). Braking was tricky because I thought we will be

racing on dry, hardpacked dirt and so my tires were pumped up

quite hard. Whenever I pull my brakes, the rear of my bike

fish-tailed. ... and while I was contemplating how difficult

these conditions will be, I saw one cyclist lying on the middle

of the track. He was unconscious and he had blood on his face.

He was being attended to by another cyclist (NoLights Louie

told me that she later saw the cyclist seating at the side of

the trail, he regained consciousness but he looked dazed).

I hope that guy is ok.

Well, when I saw that accident, I slowed down a bit and told

myself to just complete the race. I don't want to end up with

an accident and judging from my past endo record,

I do need to be careful.

But all caution went out of the window when I saw my
friend Bal's jersey going very fast away from me! I gave

chase but I couldn't catch up with him.

One of my ride buddies, Ronald announced his presence

behind me by showing the front end of his Yeti 575 to

me a few times. Beside me was a rider from Attitude Bikes

(I think) who was on a Specialized Enduro (I think. I'm sure

he wasn't on a Nicolai). It was like this up to the

first checkpoint.

After the first checkpoint, I rode alone for a while and then

I saw Bal's jersey again. I tried to go beside him but the

race route took us into a singletrack... and this singletrack

is really just for one bike at a time. You couldn't go at

the edges because there are trees on both sides of the trail

... and so I had to patiently follow the pace of the leading

guy. Once out of the singletrack, I finally caught up with Bal.

I caught up with him at a hike-a-bike section and the first

thing that we both did after clearing the section was to pee

at the side of the trail LOL.

I rode with Bal up to the seemingly never-ending rollercoaster

road ride. This is the stage where I saw the first walkers.

After the road ride, we turned right into the trail again.

Once I went into the trail I started riding with a guy who

is using my dream frame : Titanium Helix frame by Lysnkey.

I asked him where he got his frame. He told me he got it from

Singapore. I asked if he is from Singapore. He said yes and

whether I am from Singapore also. Hehehehe funny making these

light conversations while racing inside a jungle in Malaysia.

I rode with him for quite some time because it seemed

to me that since he and I were alone and both were from the

same place and it looks like we're on the same pace then

maybe we should 'help' to 'pull' each other.

All this, however, changed when I saw this green jersey in front

of me. The green jersey looked like the jersey worn by my other

friend IronMan Randy! So I said 'Aha! My friends are all very

near now!' and so with renewed strength I tried to get near

Randy ... then I noticed something... This guy seemed to be

struggling ... Is this Randy? Sigh when I finally got to the guy,

it was not my friend. I rode from that point to CheckPoint 4

alone.

From the race blogspot, I know that after checkpoint #4, it should

only be 3Km to the finish. Since it was just 3Km I told myself to

just go all out hehehehe but after 3Km on my Cateye there was still

no finish line (Later on NoLights Louie told me there was a sign

at CP4 that that is the 40Km mark and NOT 42Km)... The thing is

I can feel my right leg starting to cramp ! ... and then I saw it!

We all had to cross a muddy field before we get to the finish line.

I started spinning slowly, trying but miserably failing to make my

bike go on a straigth line.

After what must have been the longest muddy route that I have

cycled on, we went by road again back to Kip Mart. The organizers

were all signalling for us to sloowww down as the race should be

over for us. I went to the finish line (finish queue?) where only

one cyclist can go one at a time. I think I was 5th or 6th on that

line and I saw the first guy was being handed a gold medal. Oh,

Goody! I'll get a gold medal! So I drank the rest of my water

and poured some on my head and got off my bike. I waved to all

my friends who were already there and when it was finally my

turn to be handed a medal ... the organizers gave me a silver one!!!

Huh?! But the front guy was given a gold?! I was given the lunch

voucher and sent on my way to have lunch ... I wanted to ask

'have you really ran out of gold medals?! I just slowed down a bit

because I was gonna cramp, you know? can I exchange the

lunch voucher for a gold medal instead? '

NYAHAHAHAHAHA



Me with IronMan Randy showing the gold medal
he got for coming in #66.
Background is Fast Pao who was #93.



NoLights Louie came in as #3 in the Women's Cat.
Too bad the price money was cancelled by the organizers.

We were wondering how we are going to take this bike home
if ever we won in the lucky draw.

Roadie Rio didn't ride a MountainBike for 6 months and took
#76. Ryan (in red) took #60.

You can get your bike cleaned after the race for just 2RM.

The 2012 version of KIP Mart MTB Jamboree is
my first race/jamboree in Malaysia. Actually, I raced once in
Singapore in 2009 but it was stopped due to rain/lightning.
So I think it wouldn't be wrong if I say this was my
first race.

As a participant all I was expecting was that the trail
should at least be well marked so that I wouldn't get
lost. However, the organizers didn't just post arrow
signs on the trees, they also scattered confetti on the
trails. So when you can't see confettis, most probably
you are lost.

The CheckPoint was also well stocked with ice
cold water, 100+ and bananas. You don't even have to
pick up the nourishment you need. The officials hand
the water bottle to you unopened. You just need to
drink. If you give them your water bottle they refill
it for you while you drink from another container.

There were race officials directing traffic when you
cross a road. You literally really just need to pedal.
The organizers have taken care of everything for the
participants.

Not just that! In the end when my friends approached
the organizers because they had a change of plans
and don't have a return ride to the SG/JB Border,
the organizers brought my friends there in 2 vehicles
and they were refused to accept payment!

I think I will make this race a yearly pilgrimage.
As for my friends ... there are already talks about
a race coming up in May again in Malaysia.