Sunday 22Mar15: Second time on the Sungei Kroh Route.

This morning's long ride with Kampar Golden Riders. From Kampar to Mambang Diawan, Sg Kroh, Kg Timah, Tg Tualang (stop for refreshments) and back, altogether a 56 km loop.

First ride in March: the shortest in history.

Sunday 01-03-2015

Today's group ride was supposed to take an off road track behind Taman Bandar Baru Jaya (near the old Makolin factory) to get to the main road and proceed to northwards to Malim Nawar via a riverside off road trail.

I got no further than 30 metres into the rugged downslope track just out of Bandar Baru when I fell heavily on my right knee. Had some abrasions and a 3mm puncture wound right on top of the patella.

Ooi Kay Beng came to my rescue, lifting up my bike and calling out loudly to Ganesan to turn around. After I applied some direct pressure on the wounded knee, the bleeding appeared to stop and we, having decided to abandon the route, turned around and headed back towards the Bandar Baru main road, with OKB and Ganesan escorting me all the way..

Managed to cycle home with a bloodied handkerchief tied around my right knee. Went to see Dr Ng who did a fine job in cleaning and dressing the wound, administered an ATT injection, prescribed a course of amoxycillin plus mefenemic acid (Ponstan?) painkiller and some germicide and cream for me to cleaning and dress the wound at home.

Before the ride: posing with Ooi Kay Beng.

This was where I fell. Sitting down to gather my composure.

St John Ambulance Cadet training to the rescue. Applying direct pressure with a clean handkerchief.

A close up view of the wounded knee after cleaning away most of the dirt and controlling the bleeding.

The dressed up wound, after returning from Dr Ng's Clinic

Chinese New Year Evening ride to Malim Nawar

Sunday 22-02-15, the fifth day of Chinese New Year.

Left Kampar from the railway overhead bridge with Mukhvinder, Ooi Kay Beng, Eugene and Ganesan (event organiser) for a short leisurely ride for a late afternoon tea at Kenneth Sai's Coffee Shop (Yen Lee Thong) about 9 km away.

On the return journey I had to break away from the group and hurry off to meet my sister-in-law and nephew who have arrived at my mother's house for dinner. Despite my almost "top-speed" of 25-27 km/h all the way, Ooi Kay Beng caught up with me on ascending the slope to the overhead bridge at Kampar.

It was a pleasant evening with fine weather.

I arrived at the foot of the bridge to meet a Kamparian jogger Jacky Lo for the first time

Chit chatting, after Ooi Kay Beng arrived, but still had to wait for Mukhvinder

Finally Mukhvinder arrived and needed help from my mini pump to inflate his bike tyre

Kenneth gave us a hearty Chinese New Year treat at his coffee shop. The bachelors received ang pows

Final pose before we left for home at about 7 o'clock

Country road, take me home, to the place where I belong . . .

Off road northwards to Batu Gajah

Sunday, 15-2-15

After yesterday's 53 km ride down south to Tapah, today I joined Kampar Golden Riders on a 56 km ride up north to Batu Gajah:

- westwards out of Bandar Baru Kampar,
- then north to Kota Baharu on A110
- from Kota Baharu, we went off road along the eastern bank of the Kinta River, continuing northwards to Kampung Pisang on the southern fringe of Batu Gajah, covering a total of 26 km from Kampar.
- we then turned south on A15 for breakfast at Chenderong village, 6 km away.
- after a slow and satisfying breakfast, we pushed on southwards for another 10 km along A15 to reach Tanjung Tualang for a pit stop.
- the final 14 km stretch brought us home non-stop to Kampar via A114.
Kong Foo Low Winston Ooi Kay Beng Ganesan Raju Eugene Lim Hor Kar Choon and me, six riders in today's loop.

Photoshoot by the eastern bank of the Kinta River before embarking on our northbound riverside ride to Kampung Pisang, Batu Gajah.

A odd excavator on super-sized tracks parked on the riverbank.

Yay! We arrived at Chenderong village after 32 km of pedalling. Time for breakfast.

After failing to keep up with the unrelenting pace of Winston Ooi and Hor Kar Choon, I took a road side break with Eugene, Ganesan and Kong Foo Low.

Sunday morning ride to Tronoh Mines

08Feb2015

A group of eleven riders took part in this morning's 37 km loop to Tronoh Mines, a breakfast stop at Kampung Timah, a stop at the Sunday morning open air market at Tanjung Tualang and finally back to Kampar via the new road.

Gathering at Ganesan's house before setting off

With Louis Chang, a neighbour across the road from my home

With Dr Teh Chee Seng

Setting off on the long straight road ahead for Tronoh Mines

Onwards to Tronoh Mines

Here am I, trying to keep up with the leader

Breakfast with the gang at Kg Timah

Bargaining for a seamless scarf at the Tg Tualang open market

Out of Tg Tualang, at the intersection to Kampar

The home stretch, eastwards to Kampar town

Saturday morning ride to Lawan Kuda - Kopisan

Saturday 17Jan2015

Went in a group of seven riders to Malim Nawar for breakfast at Sai's shop very early in the morning. Dr Tey Chee Seng drove there in his car to join us.

Left For Kota Bharu shortly after 8 am, with Kenneth Sai and his wife, Ganesan, Han, Mike and rookie rider Louis Chang and me.

Reached Lawan Kuda after 9 am, with several pit stops along the way. Turn right into federal trunk road A2, at Kopisan Baru and headed southwards for Malim Nawar. Another two pit stops, one at the Petronas station near the Gopeng highway exit, another just before the Gua Tempurung junction.

Finally arrived back at Sai's shop just after 11:00. About 50 km.

Waiting for the other riders to arrive at the foot of the overhead bridge.

Breakfast at Sai's Shop. Kenneth Sai taking orders

After breakfast, we were on our way

Posing for a group photo on arriving at Kota Bharu

Mike led us on a short-cut through Lawan Kuda. No off-road, he said. Haha!

After leaving Kopisan, we soon arrived at the Gua Tempuring junction

Pressing on towards Malim Nawar

Back in Malim Nawar, we took an unusual shortcut to reach Sai's shop: pushing up the stairs of a three storey footbridge over the railway tracks

After some cold drinks at Sai's shop, we set off on the final stretch home to Kampar

New Year's Day 2015: Ride to Sg Kroh - Kg Timah - Tronoh Mines

New Year Day 01-01-2015

50 km ride with Ganesan, OKB, Cheang Chee Cheng, and Kok Hong Sing, the last two of whom I met for the first time.

We cycled from Fei Hoong coffee shop to The junctions outside Ganesan's house, onwards past Mambang Diawan, turned right into a new road near Sg Kroh just before reaching Air Kuning. This quiet and straight narrow road took us past the junction to RPT Sg Kroh, all the way to a junction to Chenderong Balai and Kg Gajah.

Turning right again towards Kg Gajah direction, we rode on, crossed a wooden bridge, followed shortly by a small iron plate surface bridge before arriving at the t-junction leading to Kg Gajah on the left and Kg Timah on the right. Took the third right turn of the day and it wasn't long before we saw Kg Timah on our right.

It took us one more right turn, the fourth, to enter Kg. Timah for a breakfast stop at our favourite coffee shop opposite the market. After a brief half hour rest, we proceeded with the final leg of the day's journey, taking the road throught Tronoh Mines all the way back to Ganesan's house where OKB harvested lots of rambutans for everyone.

Waiting for one more rider to catch up before we embark on the long ride

Shortly after take off, heading towards Air Kuning

At the right turn to begin the long road past Air Kroh

OKB and me in similar colour scheme, passed Air Kroh, heading towards the Chenderong Balai junction

It was a long straight road ahead, good for speeding

Pit-stop at the Chenderong Balai junction. Admiring each other's bikes before we turn right to push on to the Kampung Gajah junction

Had to dismount and push across a wooden bridge. Was this the Sungei Kroh?

Happy to see this sign. The junction is in sight. Will turn right towards Kampung Timah.

Finally, a well-deserved breakfast at our favourite coffee shop in Kg Timah

The last 15 km of our ride, after breakfast, we headed for Kampar via Tronoh mines

Last ride of the Year 2014.

Sunday, 28Dec14:

With . Adrian Wong, Leroy Roy, Mukhvinder Singh, Winston Ooi Kay Beng, Lim Eugene, Hoor Eric Chew and Ganesan Raju.

A 55 km long ride, my furthest distance so far, down south to Mambang Diawan, then Temoh for breakfast, further south to Chenderiang town, followed by about 4 km of hill climb (it was tough!), then downhill looping back up north to Sahom village where we made a pit stop, and back to Kampar.

I'd like to thank everyone of the eight cyclists in the group who waited patiently at several points along the way. To Winston Ooi for your Sloan's ointment and for reminding me to change back to large chain ring on the downhill stretch, to Ganesan, Eugene, Adrian Wong , Leroy and Mukhvinder for your kind words of encouragement and advice. Also to Hoor Eric Chew for your interesting story about your experiences.

All in all it was a thoroughly enjoyable ride in cool weather through very pleasant surroundings. My cyclometer clocked 3:22 hr of cycling time at an average speed of 17.1 km/h with a max of 34.5 km/h.

Sadly the morning was marred on our return when ooi kay beng received news that air asia flight qz8501 has gone missing.

I pray for the safe rescue and return of all passengers and crew on board.

Setting off from Ganesan's house, S.E.K. Kampar

Arriving in Temoh town. Breakfast stop

After breakfast, embarking on the most arduous leg of the journey: the eastern hills of Chenderiang

A pit stop after Chenderiang town, at the junction to Lata Kinjang waterfalls, just before the daunting climb ahead

The climb begins. Shifting to smaller chain ring and lower gear

Yay! We've reached the top. I was the last to arrive. There was some festive mood up here

After a leisurely downhill stretch, final rest stop at Sungei Siput South

At the entrance of the coffee shop in Sg Siput South

And finally the home stretch