Cycle to work - choosing route

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cycle to work sound interesting  .. but to put in the action .. there are plenty of things and considerations before you take out the bike and hit the road .. in depends and vary from one person to person .. as for me, safety always a priority ..

cycle to work should be fun and safe .. you know yourself better than other people .. you know when you are ready .. now it is time to think about the environmental factors of safety .. the route .. choose the best route .. for me the best route is the less traffic and the shortest in distance .. from klang to Bandar utama it will be 30-35km one way .. there are plenty of access .. the main is federal highway and LDP, second is NKVE, third using KESAS and NKVE or LDP and list goes on by mix and fit the combination of the road .. but all the routes mention was dominated by motorist .. which advantage in speed compare to bicycle ..

so, where should I ride and hit .. google maps are very helpful during scouting and planning the route .. I put away the motocycle lane aside, highway as well and definitely there are restricted for bicycle to be in the highway .. it is illegal and breaking the rules .. none and never ever any vehicles without engine to be in the highway .. it is apply almost at all highway in Malaysia .. but some highway still allow this to happen .. and they record the death tolls of the unlucky cyclist being hit by typical reckless drivers .. so sad when this happen .. when it can be prevent before it happen .. why choose highway to cycle ? enough said ..

back to the ground .. from klang to shah alam .. I’ve got two options .. via town and hit the federal motorcycle lane .. quite dangerous and the shortest way to go thru shah alam .. the second one is via CEB to sg rasah along jalan batu tiga lama until it cutoff at the carlberg .. mix traffic of cars, buses, and lorries .. the exact word doesn’t come across rite now .. I’m mark up the risk taking level and boost my confident level to ride in motorcycle lane .. phase one complete ..

now second phase, shah alam to subang .. again the federal motorcycle lane provide the shortest in distance .. whahlau !!! but other than that I’ve glenmerie in the list and kampong melayu subang .. glenmerie landscape and moderate hill climb and less traffic after a junction to subang jaya .. while jalan kampong melayu subang almost flat but a bit longer .. ok I kick out federal highway and jalan kampong melayu subang .. climb some hill sure will pay you with downhill .. hah .. I could save my energy and put little push on the momentum to drive forward ..

last phase of the journey .. subang to Bandar utama .. where can I ride if not using LDP or use back way via dataran prima ? both ways are heavy with traffic and killing the breath .. the CO2 level are high .. ohh now I’m an environmentalist plak .. no no no .. I just wanna say that the asap from other vehicles could distract your focus in riding .. and the tension arouse while ride along the heavy trafficvroad .. thanks god, the development on surrounding area of subang area intensive after subang international airport has moved the operation to KLIA .. new place called ara damansara suddenly appeared in between subang and Bandar utama .. I’ve see ara damansara as another luxury residential .. full with guarded and gated housing estates .. as well planned new township the area provide wider road and path of pavement along the way for pedestrians and cyclists .. thank you developer .. even the traffic are increasing it still managed to coupe for the time being ..

that’s it .. when I put it all together, klang > shah alam > glenmeri > subang > ara damansara > Bandar utama = +-33km .. yahhh it is crazy distances for some .. but I think it is still in my cycling distance .. and I make it ..  it almost like my Sunday loop .. home > kpg kuantan > klang > lontong > Bandar botanic > andalas > home ..

it is unexpected to see or meet with other riders whose also cycling to work .. today just after subang I’ve met kota damansara specialized’s mechanic. With same objective and interest we ride along ara damansara area .. hmm  I’m not alone cycling to work .. other people also ride mehhhh .. we split up at Tropicana junction .. I’m off to Bandar utama and he off to kota damansara ..

till next time .. be safe on the route and enjoy cycling .. cycle for smarter planet ..  

Trail Sg Kandis > Shah Alam > Klang

It is Christmas today ..

Usual Suspects - Bro Wahid, Wak Ros, Mas Cocok and me

Peaceful day to ride - Dataran Shah Alam

i-City Home of Christmas and New Year Celebration

It is Christmas in December not June

Self portrait at Ambeng Point

It's never been enough with these guys

On the flyover Off Lorong Azmi

End of route. Enjoy ride, be safe.

Nite Ride Kota Raja > Alam Impian > Shah Alam > i City

Arrived at home around 9pm and laid lazily playing with Nissa and Qaireen to kill some time .. Felt a bit tired and think to forget about tonite ride to Shah Alam .. The phone rang. It was Abg Wahid over the line.

"So how? I'm ready. I'm going to pick up Emad first. We'll meet at Lan's place. Ok?!! "

"Oh Ok Ok, but I .. "

"See you there", he cut before I could finish my words.

Take a shower, quick one. And straight to Lan's Bike Shop. Wahid and Emad arrived and we cycled to Apartment Seri Proton, Sungai Kandis the meeting point for Klang MTB riders. Let's rock and roll.

All riders from various clans of Klang

We heading to Shah Alam via Alam Impian. The group split to 3 packs. Front, middle, and back. Depend on speeding level of every rider. I put myself in the middle. Right after Alam Impian Plaza Tol, one bike has broke it's RD.  The ride was held a while to fix the incident. The clock showed 2315hrs, by 2345 the incident couldn't solved and the emergency tour had been call in to take the bike out. We continued the ride just on the midnite.

On LKSA Highway

Dataran Shah Alam, meet up with other groups

At the Dataran, Kayuhbeb group and some riders from PUJMAC were there already. No head count was made, just a warm chit chat about their Ramadhan experience this year. The origin plan was to i-City, via Section 8, and Section 7.

First ride in Ramadhan's nite

My buddy, Bon Rudy

i-City is the new nite tourist spot of Klang. It was fill with glowing artifial trees and other decorations.  And accessible from Bukit Raja Industrial and Section 7 Shah Alam.  During weekdays, it received around 5000 visitors and reached to 10000 visitors during weekends nite.

Lord Rotrone of Dream World

Next week, we had plan to ride to Awan Besar via KESAS Highway. Let's rock and roll.  Last nite distance ride was around 43km around 4 hours including injury times, t break, rest and relax. End of route.

The Wrong Timers - Bro Kulat, Bro Wahid and Wak Rusni

All images courtesy of Wak Rusni. Thank you very much. Enjoy ride, be safe.

Trail Bukit Bandaraya, SHAH ALAM

The bike was just having a full service. Met with Rashi while online. He invited me to ride along this evening with his gang of Shah Alam at Bukit Bandaraya Offroad. Actually his approached is more to poisoning rather than inviting me. It's ok. So i could have a light test on the bike.

An easy evening offroad ride

A big climb of Bukit Tangki, tarmac road

The excitement of the evening. Downhill along gas piping

Overall the ride was fun and easy. No sweat, hehehe .. Thanks to all guys, enjoy riding with all of you.  See you next time on Bukit Bandaraya > Bukit Ramli Adventure. End of route.

Nite Ride Kota Raja > Alam Impian > Shah Alam > Jeti Pulau Ketam

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The distance is equal from Klang to Kuala Selangor ..

Trail Kota Raja > Desa Latania > Alam Impian > Shah Alam

This Friday was Public Holiday for Selangor. Abg Wahid has arranged a ride to Shah Alam. The ride had gahthered few elite riders of RotorX like Lan, Abg Wahid himself, me as to name, Sutna, Wak Kayuhbeb and Haji Hamid. This ride supposed to be join by Wak Rusni, unfortunately there was unexpected matters had happen that need him more than this ride. It's ok.

As planned the ride started from Lan's Bike Shop at 0700hrs and will combined with Sg Kandis riders, on the way to Alam Impian. Started 4 riders from here, Haji Hamid had waiting us in front of Taman Maznah. We turned to Desa Latania, crossing Kampng Sg Kandis thru shortcut to Alam Impian. It is kampung environment, with small tarmac road. On the left and right are kampung houses, dusun durian and old palm oil trees.

Across into Alam Impian is Spira, the double stories link house estate. The infra and houses still under constuctions but almost 90% completed. From far we could see Menara UiTM and some high buildings of Shah Alam. The ride continued to the main road till we reached Plaza Tol Alam Budiman of new LKSA highway. We take left to the brigde crossing over Sg Klang to Seksyen 24, Shah Alam and headed straight to Dataran Shah Alam.

We take a break for an hour at Plaza Alam Sentral and was joined by Bro Salim of Andalas. Later Faruk and Herman arrived to join the breakfast session. With these two guys, the breakfast was longer than the time we were ride from Kota Raja to Shah Alam. Lan decided to stay longer, but we couldn't hold any longer. The sun rose higher and start to shine and bright.

We paddled back to Kota Raja with 4 riders. Abg Wahid and Wak sprint back. Sutna just behind them and I left far far away at the back. Go ahead, just wanna ride back without tortured myself physically nor mentally. Reached home at 1030hrs, safe and sound. End of route.

Enjoy ride, be safe.

Trail Kota Raja > Shah Alam

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Its been a long break after Bagan Lalang Touring. Due to tight working schedule and some personal matters to attend. Last nite Farid held a nite ride to Shah Alam. For me this would be coming back warm up session.

The ride start after Isya' at Lan's Bike Shop. We heading to Klang town and ride along Federal Highway to Seksyen 7, Shah Alam. The ride was very tough for me. Everything just not rite. The breathing technic, the mind state, the body strenght and the bike condition were not syncronized. All this had put me down and fall back far away from Farid. The breath was heavy and difficult. The mind keep yeilding to stop. The body try to push harder to catch up. And somemore the gearing are out of control. The situation held for so long.

From Seksyen 7 to Seksyen 8, there were a big climb to the pick. Slowly paddle up little by little. Get down to Seksyen 8 the were downhill. Fuhhh!! That's not for long, another climb was served rite after that. This time more harder than the first one. Ouchhh!! Push a bit harder to the pick and I'm there on top. Fuhhh!! for second time.

We took a break at Dataran for half an hour before continuing the ride back to Klang. On the way back, we climb to iCity. Like usual, the was heavy traffic up to the hill. iCity has become another recreational spot for Shah Alam and Klang people, and surrounding area till Petaling Jaya.

Down from iCity, we're heading back to Klang via Cannaught Bridge Power Station, Jalan Raja Nong to Sentosa and Uganda before stop at N'CHOM restaurant for break and supper. It was exhausted nite ride for me. I shouldn't stop cycling for long. Even I couldn't ride at least i have to jog or walk. Let the machine and engine in running condition. Huh!!!

Total distance cover are 38.61km around 3 hours ride including injury time. Enjoy ride, be safe.

Trail Kota Raja > Shah Alam

The sky look so clear and blue. No sign of rain. It was around 1545hrs.

"Good, could start early today", I said to myself. 

Took out the bike and plan heading to Shah Alam in my head. But which way to take? Should I took Federal Highway or Alam Impian. Since it was early, I used the route via Alam Impian which was riden before with Farid for nite ride. Alam Impian is another new planned middle to high cost housing area development. The infrastructure was developed first before other things. The road was complete and the public park almost done. Only the highway section still under construction but it's already open for traffics as alternative route.

It took me 55 minutes ride time to arrive Seksyen 7, Shah Alam. The sky has changed dramatically, so sudden the blue sky had turn to dark and lightning struck and flash. The rain pouring down a minute later. So heavy, thanks God you gave me a chance for a shelter. Waited for half an hour, the rain show a sign to stop. 

"Better, take off before its pouring back".

The ride continued to Klang via Federal Highway using motorist lane. Managed to arrive Jalan Demang 6, sharp at 1800hrs. Totally wet and splashy. Huh!!! Covered distance 29.67km at 22.23km/h average speed. End of route.

Enjoy ride, be safe.

Trail Kota Raja > Shah Alam

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Feels so energetic, even after 12hours long day shift. I decide to ride after work. But, to ride alone at nite is not wise. So, I've pick up a phone and call Farid. Wish he is free and could accompany me to ride. Luckly he has nothing to do and agreed to ride along.

By 2045hrs, I reached home and took out the bike. Farid was ready at the RV waiting for me. Like usually, he will lead the ride and I will just follow. The objective of the ride was heading to Uptown Seksyen 24 and shop for flash lights and blinkers. When safety come first, all this stuff are compulsory for a rider, reflector is a plus safety feature. It is very important to be notice by other traffickers while riding in the dark.

The nite was dark without moon and stars in the sky. The road are busy along Jalan Kota Raja and Jalan Kebun. Different story when we turn into Jalan Batu 4 to Alam Impian, neither motorists nor dogs. It's very quite and uncomfortable. The road is dark without any light. The only light we have is from Farid flash light. I think, Farid also felt the same. I saw him increasing the speed, without any doubt I just follow as close as I could. Who one to be left alone in the dark.

We reached Uptown in one piece, fuhhh!!! Like usual, Uptown is happening with every type of people. Farid and I also contribute to the types, but we totally different, definitely. Get inside the compound with helmet and bike has make us an alien. Somehow, I feel likes a rock star when every eyes are pointing at us. They use to see a star but maybe they seldom see a bicycle at nite. Rock star ride a bike, yeah!!!

About an hour spending time in Uptown, we continue the ride back to Klang. Using short cut at the back of Section 17 Vocational School, we reach Jalan Mat Raji and ahead to Jalan Sungai Rasau, Padang Jawa. Time was about 2300hrs, and we decide to put on another route that nite. Off Jalan Batu Tiga Lama, we have turn into Kampung Kuantan via Jalan Bukit Kuda instead of using Federal Highway to Klang.

 

The ride was smooth as we reached Kota Raja at 2330hrs and stop at N'Chom for supper. Having a cup of Nescafe Tarik and roti canai at the end of route is not advisable. Order something healthy next time. While slurping our drink, suddenly the rain was pouring down heavily. Gosh, we are lucky to arrive earlier. End of route.

Enjoy ride, be safe.

Trail Bkt Cahaya > Bkt Bandaraya > Seksyen 7 & 8 SHAH ALAM

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Distance 30.95km

On lazy Saturday morning, I've dissemble the bike to throw it in the car. Drive lazily to Shah Alam and have some breakfast. In my head still thinking where should I take this bike to ride. Pickup the phone and called Adznee of Putrajaya. Huh, on the way heading north. Another phone called to Hafiz. Hmm, couldn't make it, have to pickup his son at school. Leaving me no choice just to ride alone. 

Drive to Bukit Cahaya and asked the entrance officer if I could ride with my own bike in the park. Negative. What to do? I've park the car here. Well, if I can't ride in, why not I ride outside! Yeah, reassembled the bike at start to ride. Bukit Bandaraya is housing area nearby and only one way in and out. While ride out, I saw a single trail in between the main road and Bukit Cahaya fences. Look interesting, but maybe it will lead to Indon settlement in the jungle. 

This morning I've covered Seksyen 7 & 8, head toward Mahkamah Shah Alam and SUK and coming back to Bukit Cahaya in an hour thirty nine minute. End of route.

Enjoy ride, be safe.