The race was on - the triathlon in Melaka and so I thought … finally a week of non-riding activity, sleep late, relax … Then it had to happen, the first of many phone calls arrived! As always happen, calls will be flooding my handphone asking where our ride will be for the weekend. And to think that it was someone else who was supposed to be the ride leader for this month of March! So it looks like I still end up having to do the lead and decision!

In my haste to decide on a trail, I had actually chosen Pangsung and little did I realized that Sungei Buluh - Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) would end up being today's trail instead! The last minute detour came about when I was informed that some riders were already waiting in FRIM to join us.

Well, with 19 riders, we drove straight for the orchard farm in Sungei Buluh. Parking our cars in the hospital carpark grounds, we were soon all yearning to go. It was quite a sight to watch 'Uncle' unloading all the Shimano rider's bike from his pickup truck. And an outstanding sight here - most of them had the Rock Shox - Jett front suspension on their bike! The red color of all the bikes stood out very elegantly as they formed a team of their own.

As we rode off from here, we were like one large formation of bicycling gang coming to invade this peaceful orchard farm of Sungei Buluh! All the potholes in the ground did not deter any of us from taking a leap over it or actually going into it! From here, the trail can be termed as a mixture of nice and not so nice road ride mixed with off-road. Finally we reached the entry point into the secondary jungle of FRIM. This is where most of us, with the exception of the riders from the Shimano gang, had to get off and push part of the way up the slope. The ground was slippery and wet from yesterday's rainfall. It was no easy task trying to cycle even on the highest gear as our wheels spin a lot under our weight. And most of the way, it was narrow and a single track; where one had to stop just to let the faster rider through.

As if that was not enough, this time round, the mud pool was really deep and wider spread. None could escape, as we had to go in and out of it! Trying to cycle through was no help either as I eventually got trap in it! Thick mud covered all our wheels and splashes of mud were all over us. Even as we spin away from the mud pool, the splashes of mud kept flying up from our wheels and into our body and faces!

Finally we arrived at an open space, the assigned main meeting and rest stop area. Some of the Shimano riders were nowhere to be seen as they had already started their ascend up this very steep hill. I can still recall this was the hill which one of our CycleFlex rider (Grant) tricked me into. He had even dedicated this hill to me - the Paul's hill! Well, to my surprise, even 'pussy-cat' and 'coca-cola' went for it - they actually rode up this hill with so much courage and enthusiasm! I really must admire their courage and determination on a ride well done (rode!).

With so much show of strength in them, I must surely not let them down by not completing the climb too! So climb I must and even if I had to push part of the way. My physical self kept on telling me to get off and push while my mind keeps branding me of what an idiot I am - to even started climbing this steep hill! What a kiasu! But thankfully, I was not alone as most of us started getting off the bike to push too! The torture and punishment is much too unspeakable! And to think that some of the riders have already gone for their second and third loop up this hill!

The downhill here was great. I was tempted to let go off my brakes as I rode down this hill very fast. But as my wheels skipped and bounced under me, I got tensed and realized that it is no hero to fall and injure oneself! After all, we are out here for a nice ride and to enjoy every minute without having to injure ourselves.

Unfortunately, one of the Shimano lady rider had to fall! She was not even going down fast when her wheels got caught and jammed in between a deep cave-in. A good thing too that she was slow else the worst would have had happened! Just some bruises on her legs and a messed up t-shirt, she managed to escape the worst of it. She was tensed but still managed to laugh about how she had forgotten and went jamming at her front brake!

It amazed me how some of the riders did three (3) loops up and down this torturous hill! Even Hansjorg and his brother did 2 rounds! I just wonder where they ever got their energy and strength? One suggestion given here - Hansjorg said it would be easier to do the reverse. That is, cycling up the downhill side and going down the uphill side! Well, maybe next time we will try this out.

Not wanting to venture into the main grounds of FRIM, as this was to be an easy and short trail. Instead, I led the group to another steep downhill ride. Here everyone went down except the five (5) of us! I was privileged enough not to have to go at this steep downhill since I had to watch over the four (4) riders - they are rather new to the biking scene! What a good excuse! Our poor 'Man-in-Black' was wondering - whatever happened to the rest? He was all alone and puffing away as he climbed back up to join us!

Well, the ride came to an end with us cycling back out the way we came in. It was a very nice ride for today. Though we started late (09:00am), we managed to finish early at 10:50am! A good workout and sweat out and seven (7) of us were soon enjoying our lunch at 12:00pm in a Thai restaurant! We kept asking Ai Foong - how come you know about this Thai restaurant in Sungei Buluh?

The greatest pleasure of it all was when 'Pussy-cat' and 'Coca-cola' telling me that they had enjoyed today's ride very much! So it goes to prove: we need not cycle long and tough to enjoy and get a nice workout!

Next week, we ride the favorite Kuala Khubu to Frasers Hill road. Again, news of this road about to be closed forever but the main question still lingers on … when? They just seem to be postponing it month after month?