#287 - 99.9 MTB Jamboree

 

 

 

Hey there stranger! I was busy procrastinating and planning

on how to come back to my blog ... and I thought what better

way than to tell you guys how the 99.9 MTB Jamboree went.

 

Funny name, isn't it? 99.9 ? Anyway, the organizers' promised

that the course will be made up of 99.9% canopy trail. Nice!

Also, they promised 99.9% no chicken ... not sure what they

meant by that since lunch provided came with chicken.

I interpret it as the course is easy such that there is no need

for a 'chicken line' 99.9% of the time.

  

And so! My friends practiced in Lorong Asrama, went for long

road rides while me on the other hand cycled to the Marina Barrage

on to Kallang Wave and back home most of the time. Hehehe I hope

I wove my excuse seamlessly in that statement.

Finally, the day came. But of course before we get to Masai

I will have to give props to 'The Man' Alan of AlanMark Bike

Transport. Alan was on time (4:30AM !) on race day. This surprised

me because even the bus drivers we engage from Malaysia during

our past races are seldom on time. Every thing that we needed to do

was done very smoothly. He did his research well before he fetched

us and the GPS coordinates of our destination was already on his

phone. In fact, we reached our destination in record time.

It was still dark when we got to Masai!

 

As a result of us getting to the race site early, we got to

the front row of the starting grid. We could have literally

started on the front row but we didn't want to be seen as

'eager beavers' and so we settled for the second row. That means

we left the front row open even if we were first to come to

the grid.  .... and then we had to wait for close to 2 hours

... tick tock tick tock.

We got to Masai so early that the marshalls were not yet at their
designated posts.

I didn't know this at the time I took this pic but the
trail to the right is where we will be climbing from on the
 way to the finish line.

We started just to the left side of this football field

 

At first I thought the racers will be around a hundred only but

people started pouring in. TKL who was registered for Batu Pahat

Jamboree was there to my surprise (and he finished in 20th place!).

BYX mechanic (sorry, I didn't get his name) was there and we

were chatting away. He mentioned that it seems many fast riders

were not present. I agreed and said that he may well take

first place (wink wink).

 

Everything became lively when the National Anthem was sung.

Later on a group of ladies went to the stage and did some aerobic

exercises which was supposed to be mimicked by the cyclists.

I think this was a good idea since some of us have been just

standing there for more than an hour ... and so I followed their

movements (that is, I danced).

 

My friends who are all anti-social just stared at me and

slowly walked away so as not to be identified with me.

They only came back when the count down to the Race start

started. Yes! We started from a football field! There was no

5km of road sprint towards the trail head. Looks like the organizers

were serious with providing 99.9% of off-road trails. Everybody

hurtled towards the right to an unpaved pebbly 'road'

and within a few meters we turned left and the

canopy trail started.

In the end, there were more than 600 cyclists.

From left : Paolo (Bolo), Efren (Alfred), BYX mechanic (who
eventually came 1st) and me (who can't fit into my race kit)

That was the good part. The bad part was that I can't remember

much of what happened since the whole course looked the same.

I remembered the water crossing where most people waded

in waist deep water. I stopped and looked at where all the people

were going and there was general pandemonium. I managed to snap

a few pictures and then put away my phone quickly for fear of

dropping it into the water. I approached the part where people

were wading in knee deep water ... I waded in and I can't remember

how my bike got into the opposite bank. I think the other racers

were helping me carry my bike and pulling me up! Thanks a lot guys!

 

Next that I remember was that whenever there is loonnggg uphill,

the checkpoint will definitely be at the end of the climb. This is

good for the organizers because the cyclists are going sooo slow

that they can just take their time attaching the stickers to our

race numbers. Hehehe also due to the climbing part, there are always

lots of cyclists sitting at the check point which is very well stocked

with water and bananas. They give out the water bottles unopened.

You don't even have to open them. Just gulp it all down.

 

Lastly, I remembered one of the organizers PUSHING ME UP

a climb! I must have looked like I was dying for him to come and

push me ;-). 

 

Even getting out of the stream was not easy.
I crossed to the left of these guys.



Pic from 99.9 MTB Jamboree FB site.
Deck saw a big catfish and instinctively tried to catch it.



Pic from 99.9 MTB Jamboree FB site.
Efren (Alfred) on the way to the first checkpoint.

Although I am unable to recount most of the trails don't get
the impression that this is a bad course. In fact I find it to
be very good. Next time I come here, I will make sure that I 
am fit as this is the kind of trail where you can just open up
and let it rip!  The lunch provided was delicious. There were
lots of places where you can wash your bike. There were places
where you can take a bath. What more can I ask? This place is
perfect.  .... and when 1PM came, ever dependable Alan came
back for us and sent us back to Singapore.

 

That was 99.9 MTB Jamboree and I think they have really fulfilled
their promise. The organizers did a great job and I hope they
do it again next year.