My (blog) ride @ Kiara - 08/10/2006

I think CS The Major has done a very good job with the introduction of our ride on Sunday morning. And for the record, the video hor, I was the one holding the camera ! How good ar my skills ?? Blowing my own horn..

Anyway back to the ride blog... Lets just keep it short this time and not another novel...

So.. Started the ride, everything was okay. But then once reached the tarmac X-road, started to feel tired liow. At that time the haze nowhere to be seen / smelt. Break for a short while and then continued on up towards Twin Peak and stopped awhile @ Tokong, needed to catch my breathe. Resting also @ Tokong, was Jimster and Fish.. Along with many other DHill'ers (KSH group).. OH ! Also the German guy with his TOMAC ELI <-- sweet sweet frame. Who eventually joined us from Janice Junction onwards. Finally got to see Kit back in action. Another short powerstick break, we (NKs, CS, Fish, Jimster & Tomac Eli) headed to Twin Peak. Coming to an open area, Twin Peak (i think).. It was clear that the haze was getting worst ! Makes me wanna go home and hide indoors. As you can see from the photos taken, damn ! From this point onwards I was feeling tired liow. Drinking much more water than usual.. Doesn't matter, still very determined to finish the ride ! For sure, thanks to the Vanilla R, my arms weren't feeling as tired. Plus more confidence in clearing the drops / downhill.. Though I was going quite slow, but at least I managed to clear most of the trail. Slowly but surely type of thingy. After coming back out through Snake & Ladder, I was already feeling washed out. Managed to rest longer this time, thanks to Fish and his bunny hops. He punctured his tyres or rather tube. Ironically, he asked us before the start of the ride if we were carrying spare tubes. Jokingly we told him of our RM20 per tube change charges, and RM25 price from CS. Never thought that he would need a tube, in fact TWO tubes. He kind of spoilt the 1st spare tube, while he was inflating it. FUNNY man ! 2 tubes in less than 10minutes !

Once that is done with, we started to ride 2K. Don't know which way we went also, at the place where to video was taken. I was dead tired liow.. Almost to seeing stars.. Still can tahan.. Certain parts of the trail, just dun think GO only. Somewhere along the way, dunno what happened, I fell down the ravine ! YEAH MAN ! Suddenly I was slidding down the ravine.. Cause the soil was soft, I was simply slidding down. Had to support myself with my leg to keep me from falling more. My handlebar was caught with my CamelBak strap, so I was pulling the bike down on me at the same time. Thought I wanna rest awhile on the soft ground. BUT then I realised that I destroyed an ANT NEST !! Sigh... Just dunno what happened, bike mabuk la.. Luckily had help from NKeat and CS.

Wait... The best part is yet to come.. Continue on, wanna finish up 2K. Caught up with the guys, then suddenly my legs decided to fall asleep. I stopped, rested my hand on the tree trunk. Wanted to put my foot down and get off the bike. Next thing I know, I have fallen (again) sideways ! As if I was on clipless.. Gonna blame it on the haze !

Finishing 2K, we set off to Shriner.. The climb up to the Shriner enterance was really tiring. Resting at the enterance, met up again with those DHill'ers from KSH. So we offered them to go down 1st, since they should theoretically be faster than us. Starting to go down Shriner, I was totally tired.. Only thing I can think of is to complete and go home ! Plus I have to add that my stomach was growling liow... Going down Shriner was smooth.. Cleared like 80% all the way, only few of the tight drop switchbacks couldn't - mental blocked out. Just wanna faster reach home...

Realised something new today, feeling darn tired.. So certain drops, the brain refuse to think liow, just whack only ! The Carnival 3 drops, usually I approach it slow and steady, this time (tired out liow) I just let go brakes and zoom down.. CLEARED and Survived = So happy ! I still think it is cause of the Vanilla R upgrade. OR it could just be psychology.

At the IBM (now VADS) traffic light junction, saw Fish pushing his bike. Can't believe it that he punctured his front tyre AGAIN ! Sigh... This is just not his day.. Tiring ride for all, TCSS at the mamak. Off to home...

(Finally) THE END...

Brought to you by...
::NK Merida @ the wOOfer::

WTF?? Kiara Again?

Time: 8:15 wheel roll
Vanue: Kiara
Route: Xroad => Twin Peak => TNT => Peak 2 => Upper Short => Snake & Ladder => Xroad => 2k => Shriner's Convention => Carnival => Mamak Stall TCSS
Riders: NKs + Cs + Fish + Jimster

Here the slide show for today's ride


Here the movie clip


Write up Coming Soon!!!

:::Hardtail'ers Major:::
:::Hardtail'ers Resort:::

KHS Vs Giant @ Carnival Trail

Simply drop us an email @ hardtailers@yahoo.com or leave your email @ the chat box if you need trail guide, or you feel you want to join our ride. Check it out @ our Yahoo group by click @ the Yahoo's icon located @ the side bar.

We are more than happy if someone join us.

too happy with with today's ride. Had compose some short lyric. Use the intro of the TokyoDrift.

c'mon baby, lets rap together:
I wonder if your know,
how we ride with the hardtail,
if you buy it, then you feel it,
then you really really know,
Hardtail so furious, (rideit rideit rideit) X2

I wonder if you know,
How we ride with vanilla,
if you buy it, then you feel it,
then you really really know.
Van're so furious (whackit whackit whackit) X2

mid part of the song:
My machine, is so light
the switchbacks are so tight
Changing adding upgrade trying,
money spending, i still pok kai.


P/s: hello guys, we make no offense to FS rider and other forks user. We create the lyric for suka suka sendiri. Sorry if i offend you.

:::Hardtail'ers Major:::
:::Hardtail'ers Resort:::

The Beauty of Kiara

Hello, guys.
I knew that a lot of you are saying kiara is too technical. I admit that kiara is technical to a certain extend. But not to say very technical. You can choose to go technical section or also choose to ride @ the easier section.

"Someone" might shout at you, "dont come to kiara to spoil MY tree and trail." You dont need listen to him, as long as Penghulu not yet say anything, we still can ride @ Kiara. And the tree does not belongs to him. Someone might say to you do zero contribution to kiara. Dont worry, you can drop your donation to TNT fund @ BikePro anytime. Just dont listen to someone who is free enough to TCSS. By the way, TCSS means talk cock sing song. He himself might not have done any contribution to Kiara also, beside shit and urine. Don't let this kind of barger stop you from riding somewhere.

Enough of the TCSS, now let me show 1 of the styles.


Beside that, do you know that kiara got something like this??


Don't let people's comments stop you from riding Kiara. Kiara is technical but you can choose to be not technical. Do not hesitate to join us to ride in Kiara. Beside Hardtail'ers there are still alot of groups out side you can join. Drop me an email if you need a trail guide. Hardtail'ers will be more than happy to help.

The cycling community is small enough. Why we differentiate our categories? No matter what is our riding style, regardless to what bike we ride, what brand, who made it, we are still mountain biker. I just can't understand why there are riders cursing each other. I know that sometimes there is fun in arguing with your "friend". Friend and not strangers. Even i myself sometimes TCSS with "friends" and flame certain bikes. But it is to friend, no to the stranger who own the bike.

Some of the rider even look down at certain country made bike. WTF? You earn extra and you go for better quality. I earn less i look for something cheaper. WTF that you come and curse my bike? It is none of your business rite?

So guys, this post is not to create any offense to any one. But just want to let you know the BEAUTY of Kiara . You can ignore all my bull shit and enjoy the 4 photos that i took in Kiara. Some Kiara regular might know where is it. If you wanted to know, simply post your msg @ the chat box which located @ the side bar.

Again i would like to highlight, beside FR/DH, Kiara can do some very leisure riding. If technical and not confident, just push your bike. No 1 going to laugh @ you. If someone did, just F8ck him off. Don't need to care how people look at you. As long as you had tried your best.

Hardtail'ers always your best friend to guide you. More and more pic coming soon. We will show you there are certail places in kiara are not as technical as you think.
Stay tuned. ;-)

:::Hardtail'ers Major:::
:::Hardtail'ers Resort:::

Carnival Training Tips From Penghulu Kiara

Training starts about 3 months before Carnival race. Not neccessarily ride more but the rides are more focused, it's particularly important that one ride a week is long and continuous at a steady pace. A long ride will be about 3 hours at 70% to 80% full effort.

At 2 months to go, 1 session of hill intervals a week, building the intensity week by week. This is the one that hurts but it's neccessary for maximum race performance. This is the workout that teaches the body about lactic acid and what to do with it. In a race, you'll build up alot of lactic acid, you've gotto let your body get used to it. The long ride is also getting more intense. It's important to get good recoveries from each of these harder rides. Otherwise you'll lose the strength you built.

About 3 weeks before the race start making regular laps around the Carnival course to get a feel for it. Try to max it out on interval laps. The weekly long ride will be the climb to Genting or some similar masochistic pain fest. The interval session will be extremely stressful, perhaps something like 5 reps of 5 minutes at 95% of maximum, with a 5 minute break between. Thoughts of vomit abound.

With 2 weeks to go, no more big rides. This is called tapering. Hit the Carnival course hard at least 2 or 3 times that week, and work towards a string of 4 back to back laps at maximum effort as a race preview. Anything that needs to be done to the bike should be done by this point so that it is eliminated as a variable.

In the last week don't ride anywhere near maximum effort. Talk walks up the big climb and spin the rest in the lowest gear. Take a couple laps every other day, just to maintain a feel for the course conditions as it's seeing a lot of traffic at this time. Experiment with alternate lines, but the number one thought is not to mess up by crashing or something equally silly. The bike will get a final check over to be sure everything is still fine. No changes unless absolutely neccessary.

p/s: This is the edited version. Click here for the original version.

Sweetness of Vanilla R

Really don't know where I should start... Maybe I should start from the very beginning of my conquest of getting a FOX Vanilla.

Previously I was using RockShox Reba Race 100mm. Naturally it would have been a good upgrade from a Judy C. The problem I face with the REBA is the setting of the +ve and -ve air ! 1st off following the suggested air settings given is not recommended. Coz that is where I started from, but the fork felt too rigid. At the end of it all, the most comfortable settings was at about 110psi (+ve) and 100psi (-ve) or something like that. Bare in mind that I'm a 100kg rider. I was unable to find the balance between the plushness and the sag of the fork..

So I decided to give it up and give FOX Vanilla a try, after much poison from CS. Landed ourselves in Bike Pro, Tmn Megah. I must add, despite all the reviews of Boon Foo being a lan si seller. This time he was exceptionally friendly to us.. In fact he was friendly to all of us. At that time, the 07 Vanilla weren't available yet. But he assured that if were to order, the fork would arrive in a week or less. Nevertheless, there was a 06 Vanilla still available at his shop - KIV... Spoke to Boon Foo and Lim (MTB) to make sure that the Vanilla forks were able to convert travel to 100mm, for normal XC use mar. Plus my bike frame is not built for long travel forks.

On Monday, I called up Bike Pro to check on the stock of the 07 Vanilla. To my luck (and my surprised) NEW 07 forks just came in.. Once again asked more details about the 07 Vanilla, especially on the price and if it is able to travel adjust. IF I'm not mistaken, on Tuesday nite I confirmed with the buyer for my REBA + an original FOX air pump for RM1000nett. Thus on Wednesday morning, I called Bike Pro again, just to reserve 1 Vanilla 07 for me.. Guess I was speaking to Lim (MTB) at that time, reconfirmed with him again, that the 07 Vanilla was travel adjustable. I wanted the Vanilla to be at 100mm. Okay ! Confirm got fork and confirm can change travel.. Even booked the time slot to bring my bike in. Went to the shop with CS, only when Lim (MTB) dismantle the fork.. Realised that the 07 Vanilla model is not travel adjustable ! After checking the manual, it confirms so. Oh well, just not my luck of getting a new fork. Thankfully there was another 06 Vanilla in the shop. So I opted for that, and of course, the travel has to be adjusted to 100mm.

I have to add, at that time there were few other ppl/riders hanging out at BikePro. Most of them thought that I was stupid to change the travel to 100mm. But they'll NEVER understand.. Someone even asked me a few times to take the Talas, coz that is travel adjustable - on the fly. I keep telling them, I get Talas (another air fork) then what is the difference from using a REBA ? Kept asking me, until Lim (MTB) snapped at them.. "No point asking him to take Talas or Float R, what he wants is the spring coil feel. Some riders just want the spring coil feel. When speaking to him over the phone, I also know liow." May not be his exact words. But his comment was a direct HIT ! I was shocked ! He knew exactly what I was looking for.. Me and CS couldn't stop praising him, finally someone that understood ! From there on, everyone left us alone.. Hahahaha !!

Back to BikePro on Thursday nite, wanted to bring my bike home.. Sadly, after a very very spin on the tarmac.. Something was wrong with the fork ! The rebound was not working. Sigh... back to the hands of Lim. So pai seeh coz I held them back till 8pm. It meant that the bike had to stay for another nite. Damn I was pissed. It could possibly be the last chance for me to own a Vanilla fork.. Boon Foo also gave up, offered me a lower price for the 07 Vanilla / Float R. Just to solve off my problems. SEE ! Who says Boon Foo is arrogant ?!

Give it another last chance.. Heading back to BikePro on Friday evening, to my luck, there was no electricity. Headed straight into the shop and looked for my bike in the dark. Once I saw the bike installed with the 06 Vanilla R, damn relief ! Apa lagi ! Took the bike out for a test run ! If fact, not only we tested the bike... CS went on the test the fork and adjusted the settings for me, which I'm quite happy with ! There was not much of a problem with the SAG vs PLUSH, as I experienced with the REBA. Lim also proceeded to test the fork, he also agreed on the plushness of the Vanilla. Though there were still ppl asking me why I put it to 100mm, and asking me to change to the harder coil spring (red color). But I'll know once I test it out in Kiara. Since no electricity, Boon Foo allowed me to take the bike 1st, and pay him only the following day. I actually tested the fork 1st, then only paid for it. He assured me with the full package, 1 year warranty + 2 coil springs, manual and the FOX sticker.

Saturday morning... Woke up and it was drizzling outside. Because of the urge to test out the Vanilla was too strong. We headed to Kiara also. Just lepak for almost 40mins, before we started our ride. Since fish arrived all the way from Klang. Lets not like a little bit of rain dampen our spirit !

Instantly could feel the difference on the Vanilla. It was bobbing with every pedal I made. So my bike was like on ecstasy, feeng tou all the way up to tarmac X-junction. Doesnt matter lar, still can live with it. It only shows the plushness of the fork (??). Proceeded to ride up to Tokong, after a power stick break of course. Could feel that it was easier to climb, rolling over the rocks and roots was a breeze. Unlike using REBA, if ride too hard over roots/rocks, the bike feels like flipping over. The Vanilla is absorbing the terrain better. Though I did pushed most of my way upto Tokong.. =)

That aside, once the downhill from Tokong towards the Shriner's Convention entrance. That was when the feel of the Vanilla HIT me right in the face ! I realised that I was going down faster than before, it felt so much smoother. Cause of that, had more confidence and laid off the brakes. Till I reached the ramp, which I stopped. Cause I thought that I had a punctured tyre ! Checked nothing wrong, so proceeded down again, didn't press brakes till I could see the rest of them waiting at the junction. It was a feeling that I never felt before. WOW !!! It was smooth downhill all the way ! Was going faster than before, made me feel bit scared.. It was pure adrenalin rush !

Difference on a REBA is, it is more rigid. I think due to the +ve and -ve air settings, I was unable to find the correct balance. Feels like there has to be a threshold pressure applied on the fork, before the fork / travel begins. It created a very bumpy feel and sometimes pushes you forward. Having the REBA requires a lot of trial and error with the settings. You will just have to test all possibilities till you find your own ideal air settings. Those REBA users out there, share your setting experience with others.. It really helps !

Okay.. From there on, we entered Shriner's Convention, but then exited at the Carnival loop entrance to the tarmac. All the way, I was following CS line down. I think he foong shui.. So that I could follow him. I always have a problem with switchbacks, that ride, I managed to clear a few of them. SO HAPPY ! Since now rolling over roots / rocks weren't a problem.. Cleared a few parts which went on so smoothly, despite the damp condition. Damn Happy ! Was laughing and smiling down all the way !

From there we entered and did part of 4K and exited at the KLGCC... Sigh... sadly couldn't ride more due to time constraint ! But it was good enough for me to realised the sweetness, plushness and smoothness of a coil spring, specifically the FOX Vanilla. For sure the next ride (coming Sunday morning), it is gonna be another experience of the Vanilla ! Can't WAIT !

Basically, in terms of weight the Vanilla R is only 0.5pound heavier than the REBA Race. And since this is a coil spring and not air, won't be hearing the air blow-off anymore. BUT instead you'll be hearing me screaming and laughing all the way down.. Wooo HOooo !! The handling and cornering of the bike felt more stable. Definitely more grips over the rocks and roots. Bare in mind, it was still raining during the whole ride. The only thing that needs to overcome is personal fear / phobia. Certain sections where I've had bad falls, still haunts me till today. Something that needs to be overcome internally.

To those looking for a new fork, or have doubts with a coil spring fork. Trust me, no regrets ! This especially goes to those riders, who are in the HAPPY weight (90kg above) category. No need to susah trouble yourself with the air settings, just a few clicks and turns on the Vanilla, kaw tim !

p/s - Since the other parts of the ride has already been blogged, there is no need for me to repeat. And fish, hope that you are recovering well from the roll...

NK_Merida @ The wOOfer
::who needs a SOFT 6inch, when mine is HARD::
Hardtail'ers

Morning Ride @ Kiara

when?: 1st 0ct 06
Start:8:30am
Venue: Kiara
Route: X-road=>Twin Peak=>Tokong=>Twin Peak=> TnT=>Boulder=>Barracuda=>X-Road=>2k=>X-Road=> Climb to Shriner's convention Entrance=>Carnical=>TCSS @ Restaurant=>Fork Service @ Project Maheez
Riders: Major+Red Dragon XTCBoy+LaywerMa+Yang+Nick(New)+ Jimmy's Group + Eddie(only Shiner's onward)

Reached to KSH @ 8:00. After TehTarik and TCSS, wheels roll about 8:30am. Started the ride with only 4 riders. RD,XTC,Ma and I. Then we meet Yang and Nik @ X-road. Without any rest @ X-road, i continue to climb to twin peak then reverse to Tokong. Saw some riders playing freeriding @ the Tokong Ramp. Raymond and others. Then, we climb to twin peak again. Go down to TNT, my first time to there. It was fun. Not as technical and bumpy as Upper Short but a lot of switch back. There are easy switch back unlike Shiner's. Good for beginner. It end up @ SnakeN'Ladder entrance.

We didn't manage to go into the SnakeNLadder, but we take a reverse to the boulder. Then went Barracida. Took the steep climb tarmac back to X-road. Met Jimmy's group who just came out from 2k. So, we went down to 2k. Damn, today damn good form. All 2k DH cleared. Then climb back to X-road again and met Jimmy's group again because they were waiting for us to go Shriner's convention.

Then we climb all the way up to the Shiner's entrance, then we play with the switch back. XTCboy's gang waited @ certain corner to study the line. Hell. Today i clear all the switch back. Back track abit, met Eddie @ X-road then only we went to the Shiner's. Then of course it joined to the carnival. The LittleGhost(Shang), over took me easily there. Then TCSS @ restaurant YTD.

After the ride, RD and i went to the Maheez. Serviced my fork there. Credits to Jason. I can see he is sick and still work patiently on my fork. Thx a lot. Now it is as plush as i 1st bouhgt. Project Maheez hurray!!!

Photo? Left my camera @ Maheez. Photo coming soon. Only some scenic pic.

:::Hardtail'ers Major:::
:::Hardtail'ers Resort:::