KLMBH #281 @ SG BUAYA - 01 JULY 2018 - LONG SCRIBE REPORT
“First Bash? You should do it” said Les, chuckling in to his pint “it’s an easy ride and it’ll be fun, all of it rideable and no hike-a-bike sections”. Clearly he’s not being entirely honest, I mean is any ride entirely rideable in Malaysia? Only one way to find out…
Sunday brought perfect cycling conditions, no rain, a decent amount of cloud, and yet more assurances during the briefing that I wouldn’t be carrying my bike and I was headed for 28km of blissful trails.
After a short tarmac start the route led across open ground, and then in to palm plantation to the first check. Only a few moments here and it was on-on out of the plantation and into open ground, reaching a summit and some surrounding hillsides which looked uncannily ‘English’. Is this really Malaysia?
The next stretch was a fast, dry descent down to where the routes divide, left for long, straight on for short. Up and in to the trees and then to a sketchy bit of route marking which may or may not have been a check (to be honest I didn’t see another all day, so who knows?) and had a few people listening out for muffled shouts from the trees. Being a clever kind of bloke I tagged on behind some riders who looked supremely confident and experienced with this kind of thing and, sure enough, within a few metres the paper reappeared.
Onwards and upwards through some younger trees, drink and a snack and carry on…. alone. Nobody in front, nobody behind, but theres the paper, I must be doing OK. Through another palm plantation, along a river bank, no bikes, just paper (and trees of course). Eventually I meet another rider, somewhat worryingly, he’s on the short ride and I’m now convinced I’ve been tricked. Whatever, it’s a good ride and I’m not lost.
The terrain changed again and it was back into the jungle for a climb, this time with company and then down a very sweet little drop to the left of the main track. I’m guessing this wasn’t a trail a few weeks ago, so well done to the master craftsmen responsible, it was sweet
By this time I’m starting to lose track of things and one tree-lined trail is looking much the same as another, all I can recall is a bit more jungle, then some plantation, a rusty coloured stream and eventually a shallow river crossing:
A quick break here and then continue through the plantation, the path getting progressively steeper until I decided walking was quicker. Yep, it was hiking time, but in fairness to the hares, it was still a rideable track. Sharp switchback to the left and down, down some more, one hop-off or drop-off and it was back to the tarmac for the spin back.
To summarise, a fantastic route, lots of variety and Les was right, all pretty much rideable. See you at the next bash!
