My 'sisters'

This is a picture of my sister.
She joined the family on 22nd Feb, magical numbers 2-2-2 ( my birthday on 11th Jan is equally magical, 1-1-1 ).
No...no...no, the girl at the back is my cousin sister Wendy. I am talking about that ‘soulful’ piece of metal in front.

My sister – a 18 lbs 2003 S-sized Giant TCR compact geometry roadbike, has a beautiful orange-purple chameleon coating on its SLAluxx aluminium frame and carbon fork, that comes complete with Shimano 105 triple chainring 52-42-30 x 9 speed group set.

The Giant

I have another sister - a Schwinn MOAB aluminium hardtail mountainbike matched with RockShox Judy SL fork, Shimano XT drivetrain and Avid 7 Digit brakes, which mama rode much during her formative cycling years in 2001 and 2002.















Mama with the Schwinn (fitted with 1.25 road slick tires) during Kuala Kubu Baru to Fraser Hill Gap ride 2004. In the background is the scenic Hulu Selangor dam


My sisters have taken my mama far, and fast.
Mama (with papa), cycle mostly with the PMJ Ipoh group, PCC KL group, and sometimes even wheel-sucking the Perak boys or whipping the 50+ year old uncles along their favourite weekday 35 km Sea Games Lap circuit.

PMJ rides are normally weekend rides, ranging from 2 to 4 hour for a 50 to 100 km journey. To the north, are the tranquil towns of Chemor and Kanthan, rustic rendezvous with Orang Asli at Sungai Siput, Lasah and Lintang, right up to the royal town of Kuala Kangsar, which could be extended to the challenging camelbacks of Sayong and Parit. To the south, cruise into the ex-mining towns of Gopeng and Kampar with plenty of KL bound lorries for company, and of course my pama’s favourite Tour de France look alike (but feel different la) Kuala Dipang - Chenderiang rolling loop. Sungai Itek mossy off road ride all the way up to the water dam is also memorable and not forgetting too, ‘Tour of Perak’ criss-crossing the trunk road, highway and Gua Tempurung. Towards the coast are many simple and serene settlements like Lahat, Tronoh, Bota and its scenic new link to Parit, or even Sitiawan and Lumut. Mama has even ridden the hilly round island Pangkor on a rented bike. Majestic mountains beckon Simpang Pulai to Kampung Raja 60 km climb with +12˚ gradient at the ‘divider & last km’ stretch. Return trip will hurl the bikes at more than 60km/hour! Those seeking century climb, can crank up Simpang Pulai-Tapah-Kampung Raja- Simpang Pulai loop, 180 km in total. As a newbie, mama participated in PMJ 2001 annual fun ride from Ipoh to Bukit Tambun, 138 km away, just for seafood LUNCH! 48 riders started at 5.45 AM, with 4 scheduled stops and finally completed at 11.30 AM. Return trip – bikes on lorry, people on bus. *Ask mama for the VCD recording.

With PCC (PCC = Pedalphiles Cycling Club or Perfect Cycling Companion), mama rode some off road trails - the supposedly rideable Jim Thompson in Cameron Highlands and Ipoh Fellowship Ride in Tanjung Rambutan. Mama loves the interesting InterState excursion organised annually (since 2000?) The PCC InterState is a long-distance 3 days road tour held in conjunction with the 31 August Merdeka Day celebration (over 300 cyclists and 400 km in distance)! Mama has been to 2 InterStates :

b 2002 KL to Banding InterState




















2002 InterState Day 1 KL to Teluk Intan : Mama and AhGu posing in front of Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan upon arrival.
















I told you so...300 cyclists, 300 bikes! Mama in the high security room safe-keeping the bikes.
















French participant Jean Marie having dinner with papa and mama. Jean eventually becomes mama good friend and even offered to host mama's trip to France to watch Tour de France. He has since gone back to France after completing his engineering consultancy work in Lumut for Alstom.





















2002 InterState Day 3 Kuala Kangsar to Banding : Mama grining and grinding Gerik-Banding climb. Jean and papa in tow.
















Welcome to Pulau Banding : 2002 InterState completed!

A picturesque place! Pulau Banding is actually an island in Temenggor lake. Note the bridge at the background that connects the mainland to the island.





b 2003 KL to Batu Pahat InterState





















2003 InterState Day 1 KL to Melaka : Mama (2nd rider) smiling and spinning into Melaka. AhGu and friends right behind.





















2003 InterState Day 1 : Mama resting and sight-seeing after arriving in Melaka. Another 'sister'?!
















2003 InterState Day 2 Melaka to Batu Pahat : Mama in a breakaway.

















Mama's legs - toned and tanned!


Mama and papa, just the two of them, have had wonderful moments too on the road. Both enjoy the traditional way up Cameron Highlands from Tapah, for pancakes and hot barley-lemon at the dumb-loving-couple stall in Tanah Rata (check out the place beside Maybank Tanah Rata). Fresh air. Free sunshine. Other interesting rides include :


b Blue Ride – the Tour de Langkawi leisure ride around KL+PJ for publicity.




















2003 Blueride : Papa at foreground, yellow fork bicycle. Mama just behind papa, with black hand warmer. 500 riders, that’s what the paper says!


b Penang Jamboree treasure hunt. – the food and heritage hunt of GeorgeTown.

b Races! Mama has gone as far as Shah Alam & Kuala Kubu Baru to race – for the thrills and not the trophy?















2004 Kuala Kubu Baru to Fraser Hill Gap race : Take note, no registration = no racing numbers = illegal racer!


Mama surely has enjoyed much with sisters but mama has stopped riding for the past year since conceiving and delivering me (she put mothballs in her cycling shoes box). The last I heard, mama is now thinking of getting a new carbon roadbike, of course, unless the tree starts bearing fruit again...