TELEMUNG SLEEPOVER – Self Support Ride-n-Camp

Time for our first sleepover of the year! A bunch of us regulars and some Singaporeans are going. Yet another siao siao adventure not to be missed!

26-27 May 2012

Telemung, Pahang (near Karak)

We are targetting the waterfall campsite but if this is packed with 4x4 crowd, we shall head for the horse-shoe campsite a couple of KM further up the trail...

The river is one of the most beautiful natural spots we’ve seen.  A cascade of falling water creating mini jaccuzzi's amongst the rocks that it flows over and a sandy beach to wallow in and brush your teeth in the morning. The horseshoe campsite is not too bad either as it is surrounded 300° by a nice river.

Game Plan

Plan’s to meet up at Mc Donald’s, Genting Sempah RnR just after the tunnel along the Karak highway (East bound) where there’s a Petronas Station  for you to stock up on munchies, water and toilet paper at the.  From here, we will convoy along the Karak Highway and come off at Telemung.  The convoy will continue to Chow Kai Peng Enterprise, a private yard for harvested oil palm fruits. We will go seek permission to park our cars inside here and have the caretaker to keep an eye on the cars over night.

From here we ride, 2.5km to the trail head.  The trail is 13km of gravel and ex-logging/4x4 track.  It’s quite open for the majority so expect to get hot and sweatty but that’s why there is a great river at the end!

It’s generally flat initially until the ex-logging trail starts, then it’s an undulating climb for 8km with a couple of fairly steep sections that must be tackled with a big back-pack.  The remainder is downhill to the campsite. There are other trails to go exploring on the bike if you feel up to it once camp is set up and another beautiful waterfall further up the trail.

The trail back in 2008

As with every self-supported ride-n-camp, you are responsible for bringing your own tent and food, thus it makes sense to drag a buddy or two along to share the load if not the ride. Trick is in the packing and you can lighten the load considerably by pooling common equipment like stoves and tents. Bring light and ready-cooked food. Forget sleeping bags as they are pretty bulky. A sarong will do and is more versatile. Really, it’s not as difficult as it seems to ride with a load! Take our word for it, do it once and you’ll come asking for more!

Tentative Programme :-

Day 1 – Sat 26 May 2012

8.00am            Meet at Genting Sempah RnR on Karak Highway (just after the tunnel)

                        Breakfast on your own

8.30am            Convoy to Telemung. Convoy will leave SHARP on time.

9.30am            ETA Karak town. Pack lunch

10:00am          ETA Car Park at Chow Kai Peng Enterprise

                        Unload and get ready for ride.

10.30am          Ride commences

12-12:30pm     ETA campsite

Set up camp

Lunch (BYO)

                        Swim and clean up

Free and easy

6.00pm            Dinner time! (Of course you got to cook first!)

                        Campfire/Tok Kok time!        

12.00am          Bedtime

Day 2 – Sun 27 May 2012

7.00am            Rise-n-shine with the sun

8.00am            Breakfast

                        Break camp & clean up

10.00am          Ride out commences

11:30am          ETA car park

                        Pack up cars

12:30pm          Lunch at Telemung

2pm                 Depart for KL at your own leisure

Participation.

NO PARTICIPATION FEE! Fresh air and sunshine is free. Come for the ride and camaradrie. Just pack your own stuff and meet up at Genting Sempah RnR at the appointed time. Do call Simon on 012 233 7760 or Danny on 013 330 3325 or Pete on 012 227 4443 to let us know you’re coming or if you need more info.

Things to Bring

·         Tent (flysheet is a lot lighter and you can share – tie round your top tube)

·         Light-weight waterproof ground sheet (the shiny aluminium type)

·         Sufficient food for dinner, supper and breakfast and your preferred juices!

·         Water filter (or carry in extra 3L of water for drinking only – for cooking use river water)

·         Camping stove (those light-weight foldable use-n-throw type)

·         A change of clothes to wear at camp (waterproof it!) and wear the same set off dirty   jerseys and shorts out next day.

·         Raincoat/windbreaker

·         Torchlight/candles

·         Light slippers

·         Usual cycling gear



Wildlife spotted.



Cameron Ride Report

Jim Thompson Ride 21st MARCH / 22nd MARCH 2012
   Waited for an entire week for any of the riders to throw in a ride report. Futile wait it was. Seems the riders were more interested in stealing yellow PCC shirts. Over the grapevine, it says the ride was hugely enjoyable. Managed to attract many unseen rider coming out from the closet. And yet you would think we will have some stories to hear or read in the media. None came along.

More creatures spotted

   This is basically it. One measly photo of a Gollum lookalike found hiding in one of the bushes up in Camerons. At least this fella looked like he was having a gala time.

Cameron Ride 21st and 22nd April 2012

  Apologies for the lag in any post being published for the past weeks... Had been knocked down by some teeny virus for the past week. The ego is still trying to recover from the multiple puncture wounds suffered during Kajang excursion. Prime suspect seemed to be a strain of virus which i came in contact with during puncture repairs. Or could  be from the abuse received from the bunch of barbarians present. It also did not help that yours truly was properly fingered in Facebook as the lame ape thinking a stick could work as a tube pump. I know who my accusers are... be warned.
   Anyhoo... the ride this week will be in Cameron Highlands. Totally skipped my mind that the ride was this weekend. The mind was focused on learning the correct tube technique for the past week... So. Its fun fun time in the cold highlands for the participants. Details follows below.


Jim Thompson Revisited 21/22 April 2012:

  

   We will be riding Jim Thompson again this year on the April 21-22 weekend. Plan is to drive up to Cameron Highlands on Sat afternoon and check into our regular hotel in Habu, the Golden Mountain Villa. In the evening we shall hit Ringlet for a sumptuous steamboat dinner before returning to the villa for a round of talk cock over some beers/stout.

   Next morning, at the crack of dawn we shall roll down to Ringlet for breakfast before starting the ride from the Shell station, hopefully by 8.30am. We should arrive at the teahouse inside Boh Tea by 2pm for the slower riders where we can catch some tea and scones before rolling back down to the villa. Will arrange for extended checkout so that we have a place to shower and clean up before rolling home. On the way, Gerard shall take us to Sungkai for the famed pig knuckles (sorry lah, unker Danny and Gan) unless we have better dinner suggestions.

 Its been raining the past days... Fingers crossed that we get to play with mud like the swines we all are. Good luck guys. This one is for me getting 4 broken tubes in Kajang... Game on.

Kajang Perdana Ride Report

Kajang Perdana Ride Report 8th April 2012.

 Easter Bunny must have taken leave last Sunday. We were left with someone else up there making a sick joke of the weekend for us. Started off with the Tourist showing up from nowhere. We wouldn't mind if it was a Furry Cute Bunny showing up for the ride. But, like i said..It was a twisted Sunday. We ended up with a Hairy German instead. Sigh... Times are bad.

The height of German cycling Fashion.

   11 riders showed up. The usual chatter follows. Most were surprised to see the Tourist. He was supposed to have been casted away to some island down under. Somehow, this one always comes running back. Regardless what you throw at him. This time around, he claims he is back to share his new found cycling fashion sense. Please refer attached photos. That my friend is the Height of it all..

   So off we went, Shooting Range came along. Took a right into the climb. It is easy to forget how long this climb gets. It also doesn't help that the mozzies went for us like a Malaysian Buffet. Climb climb.. Clearing came. Took a break. KY Jelly has a flat. We had no choice but to wait for him to change. Then it off into the downhill section. Very overgrown. Bashed through like a bunch of Communist that we were. Exit at the rubber plantation. Took a left towards the weather station for a break and make a decision on whether we go loop the long trail or shortcut it.
   I had my first puncture at the weather station. No problem there, all 10 riders help watch me change my tube. No sweat there. Done in 5. Took off for the trail hunting. Crossed our first stream for the day. Went off into the bush. Can't see nuts. No trails anymore. All overgrown. The original trail along the sugar cane plantation was fenced up. Decided at this point its probably best to swing it short and head towards the rubber plantation for the river crossing.

   Rubber plantation we went. Trail head was also changed. Took us about 30 minutes of bush whacking to search for the junction to cross the river. Tourist getting feisty at this point. Bulldozer was sent ahead to bush whack. That where i got my second puncture. No worries there. Started to change the tube. Waved to the boys to carry on. Rim out. Check. Tyre out. Check. New tube in. Check. Pump Pump.. The tube valve snapped. Tourist started laughing. It's alright. Tube number 3 out. Check. Tube in. Check. Pump Pump Pump... Tube valve snapped AGAIN. Tourist stopped laughing.
" Let's just walk across the river first ya? "

Dot the Supervisor.

   Crossed the river. Caught up with the group. Showed them all both my brand new broken tube. Dot and Bulldozer shook their head. Stole a tube from Dot. The group had a gala time supervising the tube change. Received 10 different advise on how to change the tube. Tube in. Check. Tyre Body. Check. Pump Pump Pump...Taa daa!! Tyre inflated. Tourist shook his head.
   Hmm.. The tyre is not sitting correctly. Bulldozer agrees.. A tad more air will probably pop it in place. Pump Pump Pump....
   Tube Valve Snaps AGAIN...
   Tourist put on his helmet. "This is not safe. Better put on my helmet just in case the group decides to go on riot mode..."
At this point, you could hear a pin drop. Even the monkeys stopped laughing.


This is how you squat correctly.

 Dot takes rim away from me. Bulldozer stood up. Victor points stick at me.
" Patrick. You Stay AWAY... We will sort this out."
Victor starts waving stick at me. Tourist winces. Yellow Manta stopped chewing his bun. KY Jelly stops massaging midway. Tourist starts sweating.
   OK... This is gonna get ugly. Better to just sit under the tree while the group decides which is a better option. Throw me into the river or abandon me with the monkeys. After 10 minutes of twig twiddling. The rim was handed back to me with clear instruction NOT to pump anymore air. Victor shows me the stick again as a warning. Point taken. This is what you call a mob huh?
   So it was back towards the start point from there on. Back on tarmac. Through the rubber plantation towards the cement factory. Looking forward to the Curry Laksa at the apartment. Pedal pedal pedal... Tourist started salivating at the thought of having Curry Laksa post ride. Yummy...
   Reached the restaurant. And lo and behold. Its closed. Victor started to reach for his stick. Group decided to move on towards the car. Tourist whimpered.
   So we ended up having buns and 100Plus as post ride lunch. That was as bad as it gets. 2 punctures with 5 tubes. No post ride lunch... Hot as hell...Wow.. Do we really need to wait another week to do this again?

All is not lost actually. The river crossing was excellent... Thanks for the ride guys...I enjoyed having my tubes changed on my behalf.

Sunday Ride 8th April 2012

Sunday Mud&Dirt Ride - Kajang PerdanaDate: Sunday 8 April 2012
Time: 8.00AM
Venue: Kajang Perdana, off the Cheras-Kajang Expressway. Ride starts from here. Park at the row of shop houses in front of the 7 Eleven (N2 59.610 E101 48.991)
Ride distance: 20-30km depending on route taken.
Ride description: A combination of tarmac, broken tar, fireroads and singketracks in orchards, plantations and secondary forests with possibly a couple of killer climbs and fantastic downhill. If crowd is not too big, we might go exploring the hills opposite Nirvana to see if some of the old Presidential tracks are still intact. Suitable for all levels of riders but must have physical fitness to last 30km off road.
Things to bring: A 3-litre water pack, usual trailfood and favourite energy bars/gels and a bike that's tip top in condition. A parang would be handy too especially if we go exploring the hills opposite Nirvana.

Contact: Pete on 012 227 4443 or Gan on 016 2017 217.