Today’s Question:
Question (SMS Question):
For your Malaysian leg, considering the weather, what is the best cycling gear to have on taking into account the distance you’d be doing and with all the weight?
Answer:
To be honest, there is no right or wrong gear for you to be putting on. There are many other long distance cyclist here and I think each and every one of us has a different preference. But since you asked, I will share with you what I have tried, and what works and what doesn’t.
I tried the casual gear on my first day and those were my favorite attire. The yellow cotton shirt and my kaki bermudas. I wore that practically daily for my casual cycling outings and sometimes during trainings. I felt good the first 30-40km on the first day of my trip and that was very early in the morning. As the sun started to rise, it got uncomfortable and began to bother me, as well as hindering my cycling momentum. I changed to my proper cycling apparel, 2XU (sponsored by Kepypower International) and from then on I would never think of riding long distance without 2XU apparel again. Of course there are other brands of cycling apparel you can get in other bike shops, and if budget is no issue, give 2XU a try. So yes, for long distances with unpredictable weather especially the heat, try to put on something proper. For me the good thing about the 2XU apparel was that I it kept me cool when it was hot and when I rode in the rain, it dries up in no time. The long sleeve compression top was also awesome to protect my arm and give me warmth when I rode in wet weather. What I brought was two pairs of cycling jerseys, 2 padded cycling shorts and a pair of compression top.
* You can get 30% discount if you mention, Rahim Resad, Adventure Cycling for Humanity 2011 – Indonesia *
Day 15, Friday: Ipoh, Perak – Singpore (00km)
Total mileage: 825km
* Going back home to get the knee and ankle checked *
It was pissing down with rain last night and my plan to ‘people watch’ didn’t happen as there wasn’t anyone out on the street last night. I didn’t sleep well either. The accident during the day affected me really bad. I spoke to couple of people and I want to take this opportunity to thank David and Alison for taking good care of me even though I was very far away from them.
Basically I had two plans. One, was to stay put in Ipoh, rest and work from here (if there was any work that needed my attention) and spend about RM500.00 on lodging and food. Two, head back to Singapore, sort my knee and ankle and get whatever gear that needed to be repaired and fixed done (my riding shoes and rear panniers needed stitching after 12 days of solid riding). I chose plan No.2, and faced another problem. After a few calls to the bus companies in Ipoh, none were willing to take the bike on the bus, citing that there was no space for a bicycle.
* This is not true. I did check before, the compartment below the long distance 22 seater bus in Singapore and in Malaysia has a special compartment to slot in 2 bicycles. *
I browse my phone contact and saw an army friend that is currently working in Five Stars Tour as a Branch Manager. From there I called up Five Stars Ipoh office and was told that it’s possible for me to go home with the bike if the bus is “High Deck”. What is “High Deck”? There are basically 4 types of long distance buses. The 40-44 seater old busses plying the inter-state in Malaysia, like those you see that operates the Singapore – Johore leg. The other one in slightly modern 40-44 seater going inter-state in Malaysia. The third, 22 seater High Deck. Like double decker buses but can only seat above. The lower deck is for crew to sleep and luggage. (See picture below). The fourth is a Double Deck. Seats above with a chill out lounge below. You learn something new every day reading my journal. *smile*
The Five Star High Deck bus
I was asked to go to a pre-arranged location the next day at 0900hrs (9am Malaysian time) to see if they could do something to help me. This was not as easy as I found out today, usually the local branch won’t know what sort of bus will arrive in Ipoh from Singapore. I know Five Stars operates the 22 seater Single Deck, 22 seater High Deck and 22 seater Double Deck. If the worst was to happen, I would leave my bike with David’s friend in Ipoh and wait for Alison to come pick me. I left everything for tomorrow to sort itself out. I rubbed my knee and ankle with the special oilmen and tried to get to sleep. I couldn’t, no matter how hard I tried. I just couldn’t get the accident out of my mind. I’ve come this far and going back was not something I am looking forward to do. I went out from my room, sat at the café outside until I was tired and went back in to try to get some rest.
Time Check: 0500hrs (5am Malaysian time)
I was wide awake by this hour. I got up, packed everything and went to shower. I had no idea what is going to happen today. I didn’t have any concrete plans, like I always did for the past 14days – wake up, pack up, ride, take pictures, makan, ride and ride into new places.
Time Check: 0600hrs (6am Malaysian time)
I did some yoga that June Koh thought me while we were in Malacca for a cycling holiday 4-5 weeks ago but the pain stopped me. I wrapped my ankle and just laid on the bed some more. Funnily, I had this crazy idea to pedal slowly to Kuala Kangsar – 10kmh and I could arrive Kuala Kangsar by 1700hrs (5pm Malaysian time) if I leave now. Not that I would, but I could. The question was, how far could I keep going?
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My ankle this morning
Time Check: 0700hrs (7am Malaysian time)
I brought everything out slowly and steadily. I spied the same X-trail police car (this is the civilian colored car and I can tell it’s a police car – don’t ask how I know) upfront and this time with two gentlemen out behind standing facing the street smoking. I took the back streets behind quietly as I didn’t want to attract attention. I rode around Ipoh’s back streets from the place I stayed last night to check if my ankle could pedal to the pre-arranged bus meeting point.
The back street behind my hotel
Time Check: 0730hrs (7.30am Malaysian time)
I rode to the Five Star office and there wasn’t anyone there. Next door were a few long distance bus offices and with people in it so, I went over. I asked at least 3 bus companies and none were willing to take in me & my bike on their bus. Feeling a little disappointed, I rode the back streets again back to the motel. Why the back streets road? I couldn’t handle the bike well, pedaling with a bad ankle. I thought using the back streets would be good for me as I don’t want to endanger other road users and of course I do not want to fall in the middle of the road and get hit from behind.
Pedaling around Ipoh
One thing I must comment is that the Ipoh back streets were really clean. There was no rubbish. Try riding in Singapore back streets between 5-8am, you’ll see stuff you don’t want your kids to see.
Pedaling through the clean back streets of Ipoh
Time Check: 0800hrs (8am Malaysian time)
In no time, I was back at the café outside the motel. I had arranged to meet the same gentleman from yesterday for breakfast. We reached the kopitiam almost at the same time and I bought him and myself breakfast and chatted away.
*Yus, if you reading this, thank you for everything. Do contact me if you’re in Singapore with the family. *
Time Check: 0900hrs (9am Malaysian time)
I rode back to the pre-arranged meeting point and saw a huge Five Stars bus parked along the road. I rode straight to Five Stars office and the branch manager was there. Everything was sorted within minutes. I unload my panniers and loaded it on the bus. All within minutes and the bus left Ipoh, Just like that. Five Stars has got the best customer service compared to the other three that I visited. The best part was that I got see the old road that I used to ride into Ipoh because the bus needed to pick 2 up dudes from some part outside Ipoh. I was quite impressed with myself looking at the road that I was on, pedaling a bicycle with a 50 kg load. I smiled and just sat there thinking, “wow, having never ridden long-distance on a bicycle before this, it was hard to believe that I have come this far and can now say - I have done it”.
Time Check: 1000hrs (10am Malaysian time)
We were now on the North-South highway heading South towards Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor and all the way to Singapore. If you have the opportunity to be on the bus to a destination which takes longer than 8 hrs, don’t be on it! They distract you with drinks, foods, toilet stops and movies. After 3 movies and with all the toilet stops are done, there was still freaking 4 more hours to go! I watched three movies that I missed watching in the cinemas. All good but I couldn’t remember the titles as I was dead tired. I fell asleep couple of times and didn’t even wake up during the lunch stop. I didn’t know how tired I was until I got on the bus. The adrenaline of the cycling adventure and the will to finish it made me forget everything else. I was glad that I was on the bus home to do some body repairs before the big one ahead of me – Indonesia.
Time Check: 1700hrs (5pm Malaysian time)
We arrived in Johor Checkpoint and everything went so smoothly. I like the efficiency on this side of Malaysia. All neat and nice and I can see in 5-10 years down the road, Johor will be something like the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. The real test was on Singapore side, where I needed to unload my panniers and lug through customs. I was limping and carrying 5 bags with me and no offered me any help. Not that I needed it, but it was just disappointing. I mean come on, a guy with five bags limping and no one bothered to offer a helping hand? Welcome to the world’s most self-centered country on earth, Welcome to Singapore – where everyone thinks only for themselves.
Editor’s note:
I don’t know about the title of the “most self-centered county on earth”. But I guess with all the smuggling of contrabands and illegal stuff going on and all the tricks these people use to try to get pass the authorities, travelers sometimes have to be self-centered for their own protection at all border checks (road, sea or air). It probably is a combination of both of these that causes travelers to be cautious and self-centered. I would want to help but this thought would come into my mind and stop me from helping.
Time Check: 1800hrs (6pm Singapore time)
Arrived in Golden Miles and it took me only 5 minutes to set my bike and off I went, slowly home. I did call up my few old bros to tell them I that I was am home.
That it’s it for today, and while waiting for my journey to continue, David and I will write on some stuff that I couldn’t write while I was on the road. I will also answer more questions, and yes, the picture of the two hand signals would be up on my next posting. Feel free to call me, sms or email me if you do have any question(s). Don’t be shy.
Three things that made me smile today:
- Despite having to make a very difficult decision, I made the right one.
- Knowing I have friends everywhere I go.
- Knowing that I did total of 825km on a cheap bicycle with load and saw more places than when I was driving my car.
