Chapter 2 Pusu Pioneer Report / Archive

Chapter 2 of the Ride Feedback Archive from 2003.

Roughing it Out – Mountain Bike Camping! by Yellow Manta.

   It was close to 5.00pm when Leyienne dropped Danny de Kompressor and me at the trailhead in Kg Sg Pusu last Saturday. Due to unavoidable circumstances, both of us couldn’t join our buddies going in that morning for the Sg Pusu Sleepover. Dark clouds loomed overhead and thunder could be heard rolling in the distance. On antibiotics and running a fever of 100°, my main concern despite that was not avoiding a drenching but to get to campsite before nightfall. Between the 2 of us, we only had a micro LED keychain lite! A lucky draw prize at last year’s annual dinner actually.  And contrary to what I was led to believe, Danny had never been to the actual campsite and it would be entirely guesswork 3km beyond the first river crossing! Consolation was it was one-way in only. Still we weren’t sure of the terrain…

   The Kompressor had disappeared beyond the horizon as I pushed slowly up the second rutted hill, like I did the first, balancing a 10kg pack on my back. There was no sun but sweat was streaming down my face and I could feel this burning sensation coming from within my body. My head felt steaming hot inside the helmet. Perhaps it was the still and humid air coupled with my fever. At the top, all I could do was to dump the bike, drop the heavy knapsack and plong heavily onto the ground, gasping for breadth. That’s when I spied this track cutting through the trees in the distant valley below. It dawned on me once again that Malaysia is truly a paradise for mountain biking.

   Logging tracks, both current and ex, plantation trails and forest singletracks all of which we have in abundance right here at our doorstep and offering a wide choice of terrain. They range from laterite tracks on level ground providing easy riding for all levels of ability to rock-strewn and rut-filled paths which may be the only way down a steep mountainside, demanding top physical fitness, excellent techniques and steady nerves. In between these 2 extremes, we have hard packed dirt tracks interspersed very frequently during the monsoons with knee-deep mudpools in which wild boars frolic! Indeed, it’s one of the marvels of the modern mountain bike that it is capable of dealing with such diverse environments.

   But bike camping is a totally different kettle of fish, especially if you are headed for the tropical rain forest and not some nicey campsite off the highway or by the beach. Agree with me or not, mountain bike camping is the ultimate in roughing it out and one of the most intense experiences in nature. There is something truly liberating about riding on an overnight trip, powered completely by your own body and carrying everything you need by yourself. No need to rely on 4x4 support, like our previous HOBs.

   Mountain bike camping is certainly not for everybody, especially wuzzies who fear leeches (de Orange, how was the ride at Putrajaya?). The last thing you want to do after a long hard day’s ride is to set up a campground, start a fire and cook your dinner. Also most mountain bikes, especially the full susp ones, are not exactly designed to efficiently carry the extra load whilst still allowing you a good degree of control and balance on a rutted track, uphill or downhill. Bike camping is definitely not easy. But it can be done and is extremely fun as proven last weekend by 22 pedalphiles at Sg Pusu. Key is to pack sensibly, keep everything as lightweight as possible and sharing the load when it comes to common equipment like tents, burners and cooking utensils. Check out the stories below.

   And yes, Danny and I made it to camp before nightfall, just barely. Except for a few drops, the rain held back. The trail was superb and the downhill stretches were some of the best I’ve ever ridden! Best of all, there wasn’t a single leech in sight! And the benefit of coming late into camp is everything has been set up nicely, dinner cooked and hot coffee brewing. I can’t wait to do it again and find another excuse to ride in later… Yong, you missed a great one, and to think you were the prime mover of the whole thing! PainMaster, thanks for organizing it! You did it again!

I LUUUV YOU SG PUSU by Moh Tuck Teng

   Our Doc Pain and Dark sides is got many troubles now. Mud & Dirt got launch counter attack by give this very shiok shiok HOB. Poor Izzy not go for this ride and miss the best toilet in the worlds.

   Izzy! Please imagines this…. Biggest toilet in the world and got bird sing sing as the poop lands on the wet leaves. Also got offer nice place for painful back sides on nice smooth stones with immediates flushing system in very beautiful stream.

   Meng is hero for this ride ride. First he got offers Emilia donkey service and carries her McDonald bag on head. Other peoples got offer to pay Meng RM 200 for same service but Meng do wan mah! Even after got fall fall many time. Maybe Meng got shiok shiok sama itu Emilia and wants to get more pitty? When Emilia got feels bored in jungle he got sing sing for her in sleep. On very high bass base (got pig sound one) Meng sing by day and Cool lane sing by night some more. This is very excitings for sleeping peoples.

   Sleep sleep time is best. Our members can got sleep with SYT on same bed one. PainMaster do good job for everyones but now must change name to frightMaster. He very clevers one. First he got wear sarong on head and quietly go look for food when everyones is sleeping.

   I think he got like Emilia punya Nasi Hangus very very much until got quietly look for food in middle of night.


The Original Itinerary from 2003.
HOB 1/2003: SG PUSU SLEEPOVER – NIGHTTIME STORIES

   A smashing success! PCC’s first ever fully self-supported mountain bike camping went beautifully without any hitches other than a broken rear carrier that couldn’t take the weight and thrashing! And many a bruised ego as we tried maneuvering the ruts/roots/rocks and 20lbs on our back failed to stop some of us from flying over the bars! Trail was fantastic (interesting, extremely fun and challenging) and campsite was paradise! Whoever built and maintains the campsite, you truly have our appreciation and admiration. Kitchen, dining table complete with benches and stools and huts with raised platform, all made from bamboo and tree trunks, alongside a crystal clear stream! We couldn’t have asked for more. Check out the stories below, especially Izzy’s, oops sorry, we mean Moh Tuck Teng’s account despite his not being there.

The Stats

Date: 22-23 February 2003

Trail: Loop from Melawati to Sg Pusu to Kemensah, including 1km of river walk!

Total ride distance: 32km

No of adventurers: 22

Weather: Couldn’t have been better!

Trail conditions: Godsend! Despite the wet weather of late. Superb downhills! 

                          Of course lotsa killer hills before that!

Leechometer: 1/5

Campsite: 5/5

The Pioneers:

PainMaster, Cool Lane, Ivan, Annie, James Bak, Oneil Ah Siang, Louis Cheong, Dr. Eric ‘Orang Gunung’ Tan and ‘Smokinn Babe’ Adrian of Singapore, Mark Adams, Eric and friend, Emilia, Ariff, Simon, Rob Schorr, Thighland Meng, Danny Ng, Keith ‘Hilux’ Lim, Patrick, Kompressor and Yellow Manta.