KEMBAS - Pengkalan Balak, Melaka (Day 1)

Spinned off from the talk during KEMBAS - Sungai Sendat in November 2013, followed by solo trip up north to Teluk Intan a month later, I (we) materialized an ambitious longer and overnight cycling trip down south to Pengkalan Balak.

Si Kilat, a newly setup touring rig.

There were 4 of us namely BC Kelolo, Anuar and notorious tourer Subki. From my judgement in term of strength for touring, we are in the following order: -

1. Subki
2. BC Kelolo
3. Anuar 
4. Myself

It is important to ensure each cyclist fitness since the fastest cyclist can only be as fast as the slowest cyclist. Fast cyclist may be hampered if the his fitness is far fetch by the slowest cyclist and he will end up spending more time waiting than cycling.

Subki is fast. He is very fast that even he ride on knobbies tyres, he can beat us in skinnies tyres. Having him around indeed was a good knowledge sharing experience for the rest of us.

Our first bicycle casualty was Anuar's crank. We got it fix at K Pro Cycle located at Sungai Sikamat, Cheras.

It was a break for us until proceed further to UKM, Bangi.  I had 2 bowls of cendol here to satisfy my hunger and thirst.

We had lunch and prayers somewhere in Sepang then proceed to PD via Bukit Pelanduk. As the name goes, this part of the leg was hilly and twisty.  As we completed those hilly section, Subki had a flat tyre. His approach of quick patch tube was a failure, just like what I had experienced before.

Port Dickson is not as flat as pancake, that was what I learned when we crossed this leg. I guessed it was due to our hectic pedaling for the last 100km had already taking toll on us.

Continuing the hilly section at Pasir Panjang Port Dickson until we stop over for a break at the small town. It was a surprise reunion for myself to bump into an old friend during my bachelorhood.

Sani, now owning a tour agent business.

At Kampung Tanjung Serai, Kuala Sungai Baru we had our prayer break before proceed another less than 20km to Pengkalan Balak.  At about 9:00PM, we reached Pengkalan Balak and had dinner at the food court. I guess at that juncture, any food would be that delicious due to our hunger. At 10PM, we reached the destination. After quick unloading and nice shower, we sleep before continue our return trip journey the next morning.

Photo album
-to be continued-

KEMBAS: Teluk Intan aku datang

Lokasi: Bandar Baru Selayang

30 November 2013 - Perjalanan aku ke Teluk Intan bermula dari rumah pada pukul 7:30am. Keluarga aku akan menyusul kemudian, melalui Lebuhraya PLUS. Walaupun dengan pelan kecemasan sekiranya aku tidak dapat menghabiskan, boleh aku mendapatkan bantuan mereka. Hati ini degil agar aku dapat menghabiskan perjalanan ini tanpa bantuan. Err.. sedikit bantuan daripada Si Isteri dengan membawa persalinan aku.  Yang aku bawa alatan pertukangan, tiub gantian, pam, t-shirt, tuala kecil, selipar dan kain pelikat.

Cuaca sungguh redup hinggalah ke Kuala Kubu Bahru. Selebihnya, hujan rintik-rintik menjadikan perjalanan sejuk dan lembab. Handlebar rama-rama (butterfly) yang aku baru beli dari Billy Bike Shop agak membantu dalam mendapatkan berbagai variasi mengemudikan basikalku bagi mengurangkan kekebasan.  Sungguhpun begitu, masalah yang aku jangka ternyata terjadi. Kedudukan handlebar yang rendah dari seatpost menyebabkan berat lebih condong kehadapan ternyata memberi kesan kurang selesa untuk kayuhan mod berkembara.

Jalan Pilihan

Menyusuri Route 1 (melalui Rawang) untuk perjalanan ke Teluk Intan ini dipilih oleh kerana ianya lebih pendek berbanding dengan Route 5 (Kuala Selangor).

Cabaran, Masalah dan Penambahbaikan
Berikut adalah antara cabaran dan masalah yang aku alami : -

1. Kedudukan beg pannier perlu dianjakkan ke belakang kerana kedudukan sekarang menyebabkan tumit kasutku bergesel dengannya.
2. Kedudukan fender hadapan perlu direndahkan lagi dan ditambah dengan mud flap oleh kerana percikan air dari jalan menyebabkan kasut cepat basah dan berpasir. 
3. Seluar dalam biasa agak kurang sesuai oleh kerana getah dicelah kelangkang boleh menyebabkan lecetan.  Penggunaan boxer brief nampaknya lebih sesuai.
4. Elakkan penggunaan earphone pada kedua-dua belah telinga.  Ianya mengganggu pendengaran pada alam sekeliling kita.
5. Di tempat-tempat yang jalan selorong dan agak sempit, bersedia untuk menghalakan basikal ke bahu jalan dengan segera sekiranya deria dengar anda mengatakan "aku rasa macam dekat je lori/bas ni kat belakang aku".

Statistik

Jarak perjalanan: 158km

Jumlah masa perjalanan: 9jam 30minit

Jumlah masa berkayuh: 7jam 30minit

Kelajuan purata: 20.9km/h

Kelajuan maksima: 50km/h

Berkembara ke Sungai Sendat

Gambar oleh BC Kelolo. Diubahsuai sendiri.

Lama sudah tidak berkembas (istilah baru: kembas, kembara berbasikal).  Sejak kegagalan aku menghabiskan perjalanan ke Teluk Intan pada kembas yang lalu.  Berbasikal sejauh hingga 100km sehari bukanlah asing bagi aku, cuba sejak akhir-akhir ini masa kian kurang memihak pada aku.  Sementelah kemalangan kecil yang aku alami pada bulan Ramadhan membuat aku berehat dari berbasikal (dengan agresif) selama hampir 2 bulan.

Kembas yang telah dipersetujui bersama Saudara Subki ke Melaka pun terpaksa aku batalkan kerana keadaan kesihatan yang tidak mengizinkan.  Sungguhpun begitu, Saudara Subki meneruskan kembas solonya ke bandar bersejarah tersebut.

Kembas ke Sungai Sendat yang jarak keseluruhannya sekitar 80 kilometer di hari cuti umum Maal Hijrah ini bukanlah sesuatu yang besar bagi mereka yang biasa berkembas.  Cuma aku berharap ianya akan menjadi suatu titik tolak untuk perjalanan yang lebih jauh dah lebih mencabar di masa hadapan.  Terdengar bisik-bisikan dari BC Kelolo rancangan seterusnya pada hujung tahun ini dengan jarak yang lebih jauh.  Terus sahaja aku mencadangkan Pengkalan Balak, Melaka menjadi agenda kembas seterus kami.  Jauhnya sekadar-kadar boleh untuk dilakukan tanpa perlu bermalam dipertengahan dan destinasinya yang semakin popular dengan tarikan pelancong.  

Pengkalan Balak, insyaAllah kami datang!

Gambar-gambar

BC Kelolo

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/100224456191284305811/albums/5942817138929673873
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/100224456191284305811/albums/5942808156435568913

Norizzuddin
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/105372317387593713383/albums/5942978582194202289

KEMBAS 2010 - post ride

My First Touring
I was tempted the moment BC shared his plan on touring trip up to Ipoh. My touring plan year 2008 to Langkap didn't materialised when 1 of us had last minute job commitment.

I was contemplating either to setup bare frame Shogun up or just fit the pannier rack on Kona. Kona had all the necessary tabs for fitting the pannier however had a little issue with protruding rear brake's caliper. Issue that can only be solved by getting disk brake type pannier rack on which I'm not so keen to invest since touring isn't going to be like a monthly event for me.

2 days before the D day, a kind gestures from Shaque in form of seatpost mount pannier rack was a perfect solution since I wasn't planning an overnight. I deciced to use shallow tread knobbie tyres as to avoid pinch flat situation.

The D Day
I left for BC's house about 0630h before heading to Greenwood, Gombak. From there, 3 touring cyclists, 1 escort cyclist & 1 motocyclist heading Bandar Tasik Putri. After 38km, 2 hours later we were greeted by BBB team and led to makan place for a breakfast. From there, we headed to Kuala Selangor via Kampung Kuantan. My sit bones started to develop pain as we approaching Kampung Kuantan. While the pain can be cured with few minutes break, it didn't last for more than 10km for another break. I was on and off the saddle a number of time till I reached Hutan Melintang (20km away from Teluk Intan) when the pain become unbearable. Wife was willingly fetched me there to her kampung in Langkap. In short, it was fun but I was under prepared and under estimate what a flat terrain can be.

My choice of rig

Kelolo camwhoring

Subky close-up

The firestarter of this touring trip

3 tourers in front of me. From right, Langgark, Adam & Kelolo.

1 tourer at the back adjusting his saddle. Subky on the right.

Adam's rig. Don't under estimate :)

Photos of the ride
Kelolo's entry
Entry by ijass of basikal.wordpress.com