Red, Blue ... Color of the day

Red, blue … nice helmet, sweet lady … the menu for the day or what??? “Lai-dong, lai-dong …” What is all this talk about? This was a chance encounter with the Vietnamese mountain biking riders who were here to train for next week’s ‘Simbo 2000’ race event.

Once again, a Saturday morning ride? It is not always that I join any group for a Saturday ride. So today is indeed a very special occasion since tomorrow, we plan to do a road-ride from Mimaland to Awana in Genting Highlands! Actually, I am also wondering myself, am I going to ride tomorrow?

For the eleven (11) of us, today’s trail is at the RRIM (Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia), Sungai Buloh – where the ‘challenge’ will be held next week. The Selangor International Mountain Bike Open will be officially raced here on the 26^th and 27^th August 2000. Already so many riders were here today training very hard for the race day. We could see many new as well as familiar faces in the trail. It looks like the mountain biking interest is really very big! The exciting part must be when we met one of the Sungai Long rider, Simon’s son. He was fully geared and training for his downhill challenge for next week. We understand that he is being sponsored for the race.

The trail seemed simple enough for the race. But the thought of having to do three (3) laps is questionable enough! Anyway, like I have always said, me taking part in a mountain biking race? No way and history would have been changed if I do take part! I guess I will stay with my usual ride, the safe and casual weekender’s ride! Like today’s ride, simple and not too hard nor too easy. It was enough to sweat and burn out some fat from our body.

With no one to take care of, we just rode on without stopping. We were so fast that we actually forgot about the three (3) slower riders who were left very far back. Once again, the ‘Man-In-Black’ (MIN) proved that he is the King of sweeping the rear! If he is riding, then the slower ones will have nothing to worry about because he will be there not just with them but for them! Looks like we have to officially crown him the rear sweeper’s title! Bravo!

And who was it who said that riding with a hard tire is good and easier on the body? You may need less energy to ride up the hill but there is always a disadvantage side to it. Well, I found out – almost the hard way! The ground's been so very hard and dry with hardly any mud, I was literally skipping and hopping away under every bit of stones!

I had inflated the tire with too much air especially in my rear tire. Indeed it was less resistance felt on the ground, which made the ride easier, and sort of softer feel on the crank (pedal). But when it comes to the downhill, it was just the opposite! The ride down was harder to control and seemed too dangerously fast for me! I had some difficulty trying to hold on to the handle bar at certain downhill stretches! The whole bike seemed to be bouncing and shaking uncontrollably. And finally at one of the last drop offs, I had to let go of my bike and take a tumble! Not a crash but just more like jumping off my bike due to loss of control! No scratches, no damages, no big deal, just an uncontrolled fall! So if you are thinking of inflating your tires with more air … watch out!

Towards the end of the first lap, there they were, red, blue … everyone was so excited upon this chance meeting with the Vietnamese mountain biking team. They came in a big MPPJ truck. Dressed in nice soft blue and red, they looked all ready for their training. It was indeed very strange why they can create quite an interest among us, what made us so excited? Trying to talk to them proved to be a problem too as the only words they could manage was ‘Selamat pagi’ coming from one of their lady riders in red! But this was enough to create an even stronger interest to have us taking a group photo with them!

Everyone did a second round but Matthew and myself decided to wait and rest – with obvious intention! Unfortunately, the both of us almost had to wait in vain as only the ‘blue’ came riding the trail where we were resting (waiting?).

As we were about to leave for home and lunch, a big coach came along. The Perak mountain bikers were here to train too! Looks like we are going to have a very big and exciting race next week. And by the way, we will not be having any ride next week since most of us will be there either watching or taking part in the Selangor International mountain bike open race. Will you be there?