Cycling in KL - feature by The Star (Living)

The Star's (Malaysia) Living section ran a three-page spread of the Cycling Kulala Lumpur, Bicycle Map Project on Monday.

The links to the articles begin with "Pedal for change," by Leong Siok Hui. The Star, 18 Feb 2013.
See also

• "For the love of cycling"
• "Stay on the safe side,"
• "How you can help"

Utter joy - cycling the streets of KL!

Gong Xi Fa Cai folks!

This is a really happy memory from last month - the second OCBC Cycle Malaysia at Kuala Lumpur, on 19-20 Jan 2013!

Jalan P Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur

I saw the advertisement last year and thought myself, 'January's too busy a time at work' and decided I could not go. But then Julian Lim from OCBC Singapore invited me along, urging, "Just come along and blog about it. Join a bunch of cyclists and go!"

Magic words. I am typically buried in the frenzy of starting up a semester at NUS in January which eats into my weekends. But I kept thinking about KL - I had walked those streets in the 80's and 90's and knew the layout well. It had changed dramatically and this would be the only way to ride the streets in the company of fellow cyclists.

After an unbelievable delay, I asked myself, "what's more important than cycling?" No answer to that so I agreed to go and began working to get ahead of my deadlines (and ignore a few). Then the cycling event was shifted a week to avoid a rally in KL - and that was perfect timing!

Kevin Lim rides to meet point at Newton car park on his Surly,
all packed for an overnight stay in KL

We loaded up our bikes and warmed up to a constant chatter on the bus, between Julian, Kevin Lim and our new friends Shawn Chung and Adrian Tay. The conversation on the way up was ALL about cycling - bikes, gear, routes, safety, deaths, policy, local events, and stories from blog, videos and memories, both funny and sad. We talked until exhausted and then snoozed - mrbrown and Ryan were already in KL would add even more to the mix later.

That conversation, like a few more we had during the trip was instructive - if only we had video-ed those! It was great to hear so much constructive and very funny talk about Cycling in Singapore and the two days would transport me a lifetime away from the grind. Cyclists have lots of discuss and share even without an event, this shared, relaxed outing just amplified our discussions.

The roadie in our group, Shawn Chung, ready to ride like the wind!

So what's the verdict?

I had gone up eager to see if the event would be suitable for my cycling kakis, the Zendogs. I was happy to report back enthusiastically that we should definitely head up next year - in fact, I already paid up for OCBC Cycle Malaysia 2014!

The route in KL is more urban than the Singapore ride - it's really street-fare amidst the heart of KL town. Enough sweet little hills are interspersed during the ride to make it interesting but not too much so you'll break!

I actually did some sight-seeing during the ride and slowed down to enjoy the views. I recognise many of the old buildings and streets but the new ones flummoxed me. Some were vaguely familiar, having changed purpose. I understood the feeling Singaporeans must have when returning to our city after an absence of a few years.

At 48km long, the Challenge in KL is also a longer, more satisfying ride for me. I am used to fairly leisurely 60km and 80km rides on my mountain bike, and a half-century sprint is a unique and thrilling experience!

As the Challenge sees cyclists ride four loops of 12km, we are able to go faster during latter loops - well some of us as some others had over-stretched themselves in earlier laps. So by their third round, many cyclists were zipping down hill faster than 50km/h on what were now sun-lit roads. It was certainly exhilarating!

Oddly enough, those who took a toss (there were a few), seemed to have done so on relatively flat stretches of the course. One roadie left a kerb blood-splattered and I hope that looked worse than it was!

Jalan Dang Wangi, Kuala Lumpur

The road was not uniformly flat and sealed for sure, and pot holes peppered certain parts, and areas near construction sites were very rough. But that is really all regular city-fare. It did get splashy when water drained across the road unexpectedly. And a sump point appeared in the road too - but a large and loud road marshall positioned himself in front of the gap in the middle of the road and yelled strenuously for the entire duration of the ride, "Cyclists slow down!" His actions prepared us well kept us clear of danger; our hero for sure.

Mostly, the mountain bikers rode over problems, as did Kevin on his fat-tyre Surly. The thin-wheeled bikes were careful to manoeuvre around it all. I was on a relatively thin wheel for only the second time in recent decades and this made the ride much more interesting for me!

I loved the early start of 6.00am for we get to see the sun rise over the city. It did involve me frightening a hotel security guard at 4.30am though.

The poor chap was slumped over a chair, securing the door to the bike store. It took great effort to shake him out of his deep sleep and when he woke, he saw my helmeted, googled face peering down at him. Fear enveloped him and he jerked upright with an arm held out to protect his body! Adrian and I contained our laughter and I felt quite apologetic.

Eventually keys were produced for us to claim our bikes and head off to KLCC. We finally laughed about it later.

Adrian Tay (right) and myself; we scared the security guard
when collecting bicycles at 4.30am

A short part of the course was dark as we climbed uphill. Happily Kevin and I were sporting bright NightRider lights which lit the road. Our fellow cyclists thanked us, and we realised hardly anyone had strong front lights!

In this second year of the KL ride, some 5,000 people rode in various categories. I didn’t feel crowded, so the spacing of cyclists by timing worked well. Sure, there were a few tight spots but as always, safety above speed.

The Malaysian cyclists are chatty - one chap told me with concern to take it easy as I huffed and puffed up the first hill! I chatted with several others along various parts of the course and Kevin's Surly was a natural conversation opener especially with cyclists on lighter bikes.

It'd be nice to meet and chat with some of the Malaysian cyclists next year, before and after the event - read the blog posts in the links below and you'll realise they are kindred spirits!

Many friends are becoming regular recreational cyclists along park connectors in Singapore. They stay clear of our roads but enjoy the obstacle-free OCBC Cycle Singapore's 20 and 40km (Community and Challenge rides). If they want to add one more event, I'd recommend OCBC Cycle Malaysia, just a short bus ride away.

Certainly Zendogs will be adding this to our annual calendar alongside NTU Bike Rally and OCBC Cycle Singapore.

Ahem, Malaysian and Singapore PMs announced today, a high speed rail to create a 90min train ride between SG and KL by 2020. Link.

On the bus ride with us were two Singaporeans. They had taken up the rather quietly offered option of just a bus ride up to KL. They loaded their trusty bikes which they use on the PCN and had sussed out their own bargain accommodation in the city. When the bus dropped us off at the hotel, they simply cycled off to their nearby hotel.

They took on the foreboding 48km Challenge the next day, did well and travelled back with us, happy.

Lovely!

Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur

---

My tweets tell the story: Saturday 19 Jan 2013

• Cycling in KL with OCBC Cycle Malaysia! goo.gl/fb/ZxRoU
• Right on cue! Transporting bike in rain, will bring lube! RT@NEAsg: Heavy rain warning: thundery showers 7:20am
• On the outskirts of KL, after a morning of bicycling conversation @motorman @mrbrown @brainopera @OCBCcycleMY #ocbccyclemy2013
• Bus driver warns us, "Once in KLCC, cannot get out!". Sounds like KL needs more people on bicycle and less cars. #ocbccyclemy2013
• Ooh goodness they're doing that horse dance at Jln P Ramlee, in front of start line of OCBC Cycle Malaysia Men's Open Criterium.



• Watching Men's Open Criterium guys zip by in an hour over 50km @mrbrown @brainopera #OCBCcycleMY2013 pic.twitter.com/F0GQdWfF



• The pro riders in the Men's Open Criterium whizz by in 2mins, shaking railings with their turbulence. Surprising number from Terengganu!



• Remembering not to hi-five passing cyclists on their sprint lap around KLCC. They really shouldn't give me a media bib. #ocbccyclemy2013
• One cyclist pulls out of Open Criterium, looks like he bust his chain. So it's not just me! #ocbccyclemy2013

Sunday 20 Jan 2013

• All set for the the 48km ride; woke at 4am, prep, now to collect bikes and head to KLCC by 5.30am #ocbccyclemy2013 pic.twitter.com/dy6gZmYX



• @brainopera @motorman @mrbrown door to bikes locked, security says no one around. No signs left! Checking for access now. #ocbccyclemy2013
• Shocked an exhausted security guard. Guess I look scary this early! I really need my bicycle! #ocbccyclemy2013 pic.twitter.com/t2NcGgKt



• mrbrown fixing the timing chip on his pink Moultin @mrbrown #ocbccyclemy2013 pic.twitter.com/yPIowNHK



• Watch my run right now with @RunKeeper Live rnkpr.com/a2d9czx?live=t… #RKLive #RunKeeper
• OCBC Cycle Malaysia@OCBCcycleMY: Today is an exciting day ahead for everyone! The 48km Challenge Ride will begin in a few minutes. Share with us... fb.me/2cZjWJ9iD Retweeted by @sivasothi
• Start of the second OCBC Cycle Malaysia! pic.twitter.com/FhZPPGdW





• Taman Botani Perdana @OCBCcycleMY pic.twitter.com/FRjuGJEe



• Sharing the road, Jalan Dato Onn, start of second climb in The Challenge, #ocbccyclemy2013 my last of four laps pic.twitter.com/FY0nMTHy



• Ampang! pic.twitter.com/9LJkIfI9



• Just completed a 39.01 km run - OCBC Cycle Malaysia - with Kevin, Adrian, Shawn. rnkpr.com/a2d9czx #RunKeeper [was 48km but my iPhone GS was spluttering the GPS signal]
• Foldies galore at OCBC Cycle Malaysia! pic.twitter.com/z6GqvFir



• Nasi Lemak after OCBC Cycle Malaysia, nett caloric gain, but we're happy! #ocbccyclemy2013 @brainopera pic.twitter.com/cS5HB9eW



• Riding back to the hotel. Traffic unleashed on Jalan Ampang but it's a wide road and Sunday. pic.twitter.com/mJn9Ko3e



• @OCBCcycleMY eight of us from Singapore all agreed: lovely route, good job, thanks for the ride! Back next year with more, for sure.
• Our bus heads south to Singapore as rain descends on KL. Fascinating lunch time chatter about incidents we witnessed during #ocbccyclemy2013
• @motorman @brainopera @mrbrown @kcfevolve thanks for a great weekend guys. Precious times. Next: NTU Bike Rally? bikerally.ntusportsclub.sg

Tuesday 22 Jan 2013

• Julian Lim@motorman - OCBC Cycle Malaysia 2013 rough cut: youtu.be/48s4-gLE14s?a via @YouTube Retweeted by @sivasothi
• @Sivasothi: @motorman sweet!
• Kevin Lim@brainopera: @sivasothi mrbrown motorman: Here's the heroic road marshal at #OCBCcycleMY2013 who stood in the middle of instagr.am/p/Uufcbmy-c1/

Links

• Blog post (MY) - "OCBC Cycle Malaysia," by alchemyrider. Coming Home as a Roadie, 21 Jan 2013.
• Blog post (MY) - "Kuala Lumpur - OCBC Cycle KL 2013," by Jotaro Zen. AhPek Biker - Old Dog Rides Again, 21 Jan 2013.
• Blog post (MY) - "OCBC Cycle Malaysia 2013,":by Sam Cheong. The Samosauran Chronicles, Part 1, Part 2.
• Blog post (SG) - "Chionging our way through KL at OCBC Cycle Malaysia 2013," by mrbrown. mrbrown.com, 22 Jan 2013.
• Route - Kevin Lim's Runkeeper plot of the route
• Photos - by Kelvin Lim on Facebook
• Photos - by N. Sivasothi on Flickr
• Photos, video - "OCBC Cycle Malaysia 2013: Racing with the Surley Pugsey," by Kevin Lim. YouTube, 23 Jan 2013.
• Article - Downtown Cycling Fun," by Shawn Chung. Cosmone, 28 Feb 2013.
• Video - OCBC Cycle Malaysia 2013 v2," by Julian Lim. YouTube, 26 Jan 2013
• OCBC Cycle Malaysia: web, fb, twitter

The adventures of Robert Tan: the 70-year-old will retrace the Japanese invasion route

Paddled around Singapore Island when he was 13, now wants to cycle down Malaya to end at Reflections at Bukit Chandu. Article says year-end, anyone seen him and his kakis? This POSKOD article from 28 Jul 2011 says he will ride year-end.

"The Adventures of Robert Tan," by Dan Koh. Poskod, 28 Jul 2011.

Cycling in Malaysia (TNP article, 30 May 2011)

"Cycling for hours without traffic lights," by Diane Louys and Kwan Hui Xian. The New Paper, 30 May 2011.

"MORE Singaporeans are going the distance for cycling. To Malaysia, to be exact.

Some are even helping organise cycling trips for other Singaporeans.

Cycling enthusiast Mark Cheong, 27, observed: "Two years ago at the annual Pedalholic Cycling Club Interstate ride in Malaysia, there were about five Singaporeans. This year, there were about 55."

Mr Cheong, a bicycle shop manager who is based in Kuala Lumpur and who plans to set up a bike shop there, now organises cycling trips in Malaysia for about 15 of his Singaporean friends.

He said he started cycling upcountry in 2004,when his army friend,who cycles there regularly, took him along.

"It's a place where you can get an endless route and cycle for hours without coming across a traffic light. You don't have to stop and start again," said Mr Cheong.

He organises the trips in his personal capacity and does not charge his friends.

"When friends come by, I help them by sorting out routes, taking them on routes and advising them on accommodation.

"I cycle with the locals here, so from there, I fix an interesting route for my friends. I can alter the route based on their fitness," said Mr Cheong.

And he is not the only Singaporean to organise such trips to Malaysia.

Madam Kathleen Seng, 40, started cycling in Malaysia in 2006.

She said: "We (Team Bandung) started with about five or six girls. Now we have about 120 who go with us, the majority of whom are triathletes."

Madam Seng, a manager, travels with 20 or more people each time she goes up north.

Most go to enjoy the scenery and get away from the city.

Recalling how the team started, Madam Seng said: "We were a group of like-minded triathletes and we wanted a change of environment for training. Malaysia has long stretches of road without any traffic lights, few cars and fresh seafood."

Local cycling groups like Joyriders have also been venturing across the Causeway - from Genting to Cameron Highlands.

The group, which was formed five years ago,makes trips there almost every month.

The coach they hire can accommodate only so many people and their bikes, 20 to 30 Joyriders go at a time. For their next trip to Ipoh in July, the group plans to hire two coaches for 56 people.

When they started out, such trips were made less than five times a year.

Said their founder, Ms Joyce Leong, 55: "At first, people were a bit scared because of the mountains and all.

Support car

"But I arranged for a support car to give people more confidence. People are more gung ho now."

Mr Kartick Thapa, 35, a software engineer, is one of those who have gone cycling in Malaysia.

"Usually,we cycle 150km a day.When we go for weekend trips and we start at 5am, we have two big breaks where we all regroup," he said.

Even teens aren't left out of a Malaysian cycling adventure.

One of the youngest cyclists who rides with Mr Cheong is Jenevieve Woon, a 16-year-old student. She goes with her mother, Ms Anne Chua, 48.

They either fly up north with their bikes or drive, then cycle over 100km in the mornings until about noon.

Said Jenevieve: "I go there mainly because Singapore is only so big and you can do only so much. There are big climbs like the Cameron Highlands, Fraser's Hill and Genting Highlands in Malaysia."

Her mother, Ms Chua, said the trips are a good opportunity for her to bond with her daughter. She said: "We enjoy climbing the routes in Malaysia. We sometimes drive to KL for a few days and go sightseeing.

"My favourite memory was cycling across Penang Bridge on New Year's Day."

Engineer Dennis Goh, 29, was introduced to cycling in Malaysia by a friend.

"The rides in Malaysia take more time and are usually over longer distances. It's only the really hardcore cyclists who will go to Malaysia,"Mr Goh said.

But it's just not the young cycling in Malaysia.

Mr Robert Tan, 70, has been cycling there since he retired some three years ago.

In fact, Mr Tan has plans to re-enact the cycling route Japanese soldiers took during World War II when they invaded Singapore.

"The route is about800km and we plan to do this over 10 days," he said.

Still, Mr Cheong advises newbies to make sure they are up to the rig ours of cycling upcountry before they sign up for such trips.

He said that his first major cycling trip in Kuala Lumpur last year left him battered and badly dehydrated.

"I had cramps everywhere. Myneck, everywhere.

I couldn't even walk up the hill," said Mr Cheong, who cycles an average of three times a week. He underestimated the terrain and did not pace himself enough for the climbs despite training in Singapore.

Mr Goh agrees, and offers some advice to those willing to pedal up north.

"It's definitely better to cycle in groups or with a buddy who can offer help.Obey traffic rules and try to keep to the left of the road."

Mr Goh also says to look out for hazards and to dress for safety and comfort.

"The roads in Malaysia are not as well maintained as the roads in Singapore, so look out for potholes," he said.

"Wear bright coloured clothing, have lights and do pre-ride checks each time."

And like Mr Goh, Mr Cheong says it's mostly the seasoned rider that would enjoy Malaysia for all that it has to offer.

Said Mr Cheong: "You really need to train for it. You can't go out wanting to hammer the ride and think that you can get away with it."