BIKE sEMATAN! SUNDAY 20 NOV 2005

Thanks to all the mountain bike riders who came to ride in the Bike Sematan 05. Thanks too to the Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism who sponsored this ride in conjunction with the Sematan Fiesta.

Some of the bikers after the lucky draw session

70 riders took to their mounts in two loops - a short loop for beginners and a longer one for the more seasoned riders. The trail was marked with paper, thanks mainly to Ah Mang and Ah Kee who the day before re-receed the routes again. Thanks too to Seng Khai who led the riders on the smaller loop and did a head count at every stop.

Those riding on the long loop was without incident... the paper trail was relaid by someone (from the village?) and that led some riders on the wrong path. Thankfully all (expect one) took the loop back to meet the trail leaders. Some rode as though this was a race but the unexpected detour made them think about charging off.

On that one incident, Dominic's son took off alone from the main group when they (front runners) took the wrong path. He went round the palm oil plantation until Ah Mang and Ah Kee who went on mini-cross motorbikes found him... asleep under a tree... tired from sheer exhaustion. Apart from this one incident, the ride went well and was fun.

The long loop went through the palm oil plantation, up the three tier hills, steep downhill, then to the Gading Waterfall where all the riders took a rest and cooled off, then it was back up the climbs through the Silk Farm and then downhill into Pueh and to the Palm Beach Resort.

En. Michael Saweng was on hand to hand out the lucky draw prizes... 10 High Sierra 2 liter Hydration packs went to happy owners...

The two heroes who could have taken LOST off the air...