Finally, the CAKE.
With all the icings and cherries consumed that was Camerons and Frasers……it was time to take a bite off the cake.
We opted for the Batang Kali ascent which is actually steeper compared to the ascent via Genting Sempah (or the old road). Got lost a little trying to locate the road but thank goodness for my GPS Garmin, we found our way! 15km from KKB, the climb starts and tells your legs almost immediately…..typical gradient 7-10%...relentless and that’s just a good 16km climb to Gohtong Jaya…there’s still that 10km to the peak.
Ben and I were suffering quite badly. Probably tired due to the climbs from previous days…..for me, I had an aching right rib and sore right thigh. We saw a lone cyclist dancing his pass us as we rested…bugger looked relax while we were down in spirits at every rest point. I could see Ben’s soul-less eyes at every stop! He consumed all his food stuff…..that’s when I knew he wasn’t going with me to the top.
At about the 14km point, I got my 2nd wind back….and could climb much easier so I went my own pace until the skyway and waited for Ben at Gohtong Jaya roundabout. We had wan tan mee (probably a bad idea for me!) and I left my bags with Ben. I set off for the 10km climb to the top. First 2-3km, past the police post….gradient 8-9%.....still ok….then I’m hit by THE WALL. A left hairpin turn…and as I’m cycling on the left hand side I had to tackle literally a step (>20% but only a couple of metres)….I grunted, stood up on the pedals and got through it only to be met by a slope of 10%. I stopped dead. Legs were aching like mad…..breathing heavily. They say the last 4km is the worst….man, I’ve not even there yet!
From then on it was a rest every 300-400m for me. I wish I could do better but on that day this was my best! There were quite a few hairpin turns….the left ones are the real killers. Took a good 1hr 40mins to do the 10kms up…..as I reached the misty top, I could not help but feel thank god, the suffering was over! Then it was going downhill…. The initial descent from First World hotel, was like 15% downhill! Man I gripping on to my brakes for dear life….and after about 2km, I could smell my brake pads! To avoid losing total braking power, I stopped at the 9% slope (it was a struggle to not roll down!) and poured water onto my brakes/wheels….I could steam coming from the wheels….just imagine what would happen to carbon wheels! Melt?
2 hours for 10km: Gohtong Jaya – Genting Resorts. I must do better next time!
Met Ben, who nearly fell asleep at the restaurant and set off downhill (there was another short uphill). At Genting Sempah we stopped and asked for directions to Jalan Gombak…this is the old road to Genting….rarely used and replaced by the Karak highway. This is a really nice 20-22km route, gradual 2-3% downhill and twisting through nice green forest and refreshing air….I really enjoyed this portion of the day. As we reached KL, it started to rain quite heavily….it was about an hour in the rain before we got to Putra Train Station at Gombak…..we were refused entry due to our bikes….only foldable bikes allowed. At the taxi stand nobody wanted to takes us. Well, everything changed when we offered to pay more…so we got 2 taxis, loaded our bikes into the rear seat and set off for my Sis’s place at Kelana Jaya.
Finally, we had a true place to rest for a day before leaving the next day to reality land called Singapore.
On the right track @ Batang Kali
Self shot, before the pain distorts this
Our man in pain
Yes, 15km more ONLY.....
These weary legs are about to get wearier
Parked @ Gohtong Jaya wan tan mee
So near, yet so far
Reached the Pagoda...what a feat for me!
Misty roads
Some kind of rock, taking pictures is a good excuse to stop and rest
Nearing the top..
Made it...the machine rests
Have not been here since 1980!
Beautiful road : Jalan Gombak
Ben, all drenched up
The Haze takes on the rain
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