Another FRIM ride - where else? The drive to Sungei Buluh is not too far and we get to finish the ride earlier. These are valid reasons enough for us to ride here in this Forest Research Institute of Malaysia.

Today, 14 riders too to the back trail of FRIM again. It is also very nice to be meeting riders and old friends like Andy, Wai Quan and Greg. Much to Andy's dislike, he has frequented this trail very often but he came along anyway.

The ride, as before, started off from the car park of the Sg Buluh hospital grounds. Cycling pass all the rows and rows of flower stalls and long stretch of untarred road, I had a nice time chatting with Greg. Finally, we reached the opening into the jungle trail with Greg leading the way.

With everyone following behind, the start of the steep hill climbs ahead. I believed I could have gone all the way to the top without having to jump off my bike if not for CS Lim in front and pulling a sudden stop! After a while of pushing, it was Andy leading in front now. Thank goodness he was in front of me as this huge mud pool trapped us. Andy went straight in and was stopped in his muddy track halfway! With both feet planted into this muddy pool, he had to push his bike out. I managed to escape this share of mud as I quickly and carefully went to the trail on my right side. So it goes to prove that it does pay to have someone in front of you all the time!

Out in the clear and the famous 'Paul's Hill' awaits us! Here it was suggested that those who can are most welcomed to do a double or even a triple loop of this torturous hill climb. Well, we did have a rider doing not just a double loop but completing it in only 6 minutes and 3 seconds! Tom our Belgium rider was just incredibly fit and I think most of us still do not believe that he actually managed the climb up and down within such short time frame! Is this guy a machine or what?

Soon, it was down hill into the grounds of FRIM. At the junction, after much socializing among us, Sanny lead the way minus 2 ladies and myself! It was a good excuse for me to stay behind and 'protect' the ladies - I was actually feeling not in the top to continue the ride with the rest! As they say, just one of those days!

Andy was the first to arrive back from the ride and the rest of the riders were nowhere to be seen! So without wasting anymore time, the four of us continued with our ride back up the hill and to Sugei Buluh. During the downhill, I went over what I had initially thought was a tree branch. What a fright it gave me when I realized that it was a black long snake crawling across the track! It seem like I am coming across so many of these natures live stock in my cycling experience lately. Am I lucky or what?

Next week, a special request by Andy and Wai Quan, we ride Sugei Buaya.