Crashed!

I don't look good in red.

I fell off my bike yesterday morning during my usual Sunday morning long rides. We were nearing Muara Tebas fishing village when I hit a speed bump and I must have inadvertently squeezed on the front disc brake of my hard tail just a little too hard. I have not ridden my Giant XTC Team for quite a while now since I started training on my Surly LHT which has cantilever front brakes and which requires quite a strong squeeze on the brake lever to slow it down. A deadly mistake on my Giant XTC Team which has powerful hydraulic disc brakes which only require finger pressure to halt it. Now I’m licking my wounds – to be more precise 3 stitches to my lower jaw, two badly grazed and swollen knees, chipped tooth and various cuts and abrasions to my hands, arms, neck, face etc. And this has to happen with slightly over 2 weeks before the charity ride. Sighs.

Countdown: Less Than 3 Months to Go!

A quick ride before dinner cut short by a sudden thunderstorm.

Yes! It’s now September and less than 3 months to go before I begin my big ride from Kota Kinabalu to Kuching. It’s the Hari Raya holiday break this week from Tuesday to Thursday which sort of disrupt my normal cycling routine; so starting next week I’d better be more disciplined with regards to regularity and mileage. I really need to get on with my LSD training – long slow distance (not lazy sunday doldrums) and I hope the hot and hazy weather conditions will improve. No excuses though; I just need to get on with it!

Rained On (And Almost Deflated)

I thought the rain had already stopped when I set off for my night training ride. It has been raining very heavily late in the evening and I thought the skies had already emptied during that sudden downpour. But I was wrong.

It started as a slight drizzle and as the kilometres went by it starts to get heavier and pretty soon I was soaked to my socks when I have to ride through puddles upon puddles. Have to, as I have to hold a straight line following the white line so as not to stray into the traffic lane and onto the path of drivers with impaired visibility of the road and the way ahead.

I prodded on regardless eager to complete my training distance and while it’s not exactly enjoyable; it was bearable. And then the front steering went wobbly suddenly and I stopped to check to discover a puncture in the front tyre. I had a spare tube and small hand pump with me but after changing the tube; I decided to call it a night after which the rained eased off and stopped!

The next day as I drove to work; I had another puncture – this time on the rear tyre.

And while these two consecutive punctures did not dampen nor deflate my spirit; the callous remark from an old friend who called me a “weirdo” for doing this charity nearly did! Anymore discouraging or disparaging remarks anyone? *sighs*