6 Reasons why I think cycling is better than running

Well, let's start with the fact that I've been fat for as long as I could remember and I haven't been actively doing much exercise. I do enjoy hiking occasionally, but it's kind of hard to find the right kaki as my stamina requires the kakis to take a lot of rest iduring the hike. So usually after a hike or two, they would be reluctant to let me join and I have yet to find a hiking groups that is at my fitness level.

And then one of my friend encouraged me to start jogging with the aim of completing a marathon some time in my life, possibly in two years time. I started my jog on the treadmill and barely reach 1 km before I ran out of breath... Subsequently with the help of my friends and some search online on how to optimize a jog, I could jog a good 5km in about an hour for a good workout. Yeah, I know 5 km/h is like walking, but that's about as fast as I could jog...

Then I found cycling and voila!!! I've talked about my 1st ride of 6 km back home in my previous post. My next ride was then a 10 km ride to port Klang followed by a 20 km ride to Botanic and around Bukit Tinggi and Pandamaran with Jinq and Yin. Cutting the long story short, I just completed 120 km Kayuhan Hari Sukan Negara (113 km according to MapMyRide) last week.

So here's why I think cycling is better than jogging

1.) The distance
You can cover a far longer distance cycling than jogging. For the record, I have cycled 113 km in 5 hours with 3 stops in between... And I do enjoy exploring Klang and surrounding on my saddle. I could do a quick 20km with bah kut teh or the infamous Chong Kok coffee for breakfast before getting to work. We have seen many cyclist exploring the world on a bicycle, but I have only seen one guy doing it by running, and that's Forrest Gump.

2.) Gourmet experience
With the distance that I could cover, I can enjoy many more food with my ride. Usually places that are difficult to find parking will have ample space for a bicycle. And that's my inspiration in starting this blog as I have found many great food on my saddle that is easily within the reach of a bike. Most of the time, a great ride is always a ride planned around good food. You know, we are Malaysian right?

3.) You put in half the effort and gravity will take care of the rest
All cyclist will know what I meant. Remember the breeze we enjoy on the descent? That's the most enjoyable moment of a ride. While cycling uphill is a test of endurance, stamina and strength, you will be rewarded by the joy of free rolling on descent. However if you are on your foot, whenever your pace stop, you stop. Moreover, your knees and back will have to absorb extra pressure while you are running downhill.

4.) Cyclist are fun

No offence, it doesn't mean that joggers are boring people, but how often do you see 2 joggers having conversation while jogging? Cyclist do it all the time, especially on a long ride. I get to know a few cyclist whenever I participate in a cycling event, and we talked and joked during the ride. In the following week, we will ask each other out for a ride and have good time. It's also easy to find the cyclist that cycle at your pace...

5.) Cycling is also for fatty

Look at this!!! They have a category specifically for the oversize people like me. Any running event do this? Besides martial art and weightlifting, I can't think of any other competition that have a heavyweight category.

6.) It's a mode of transportation too!
Since I got my bike, whenever my mom ask me to buy her lunch or a trip down the grocery store, I would cycle there. I could even buy her favorite coffee some 8km away from house and return with a warm coffee. Again, I have yet to see people jog to tapau chicken rice... These are in addition to the call of cities for it's residents to cycle to work.

7.) Cycling is less harmful to your body than running!
I didn't say this, I was just googling cycling vs running and that's the conclusion I draw from the 1st page results. Don't believe me? Google it yourself! Below are some quotes:

• Long-distance running causes more damage than cycling, even when both sports are done at the same intensity, according to a new study published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity
• Cycling Vs Running - Men's Health
• A new study shows that cycling is better exercise than running.

In conclusion of the above articles, while running do burns more fat and provide a better total body workout, cycling is less harmful to joints and less prone to injury

So, get your bike and let's start cycling for a greener environment and most importantly, a healthier and fitter body.

The longest ride ever....

How do you get your friend up for a 100km century ride? ( Yeah I know, century means 100 miles, 160 km, but hell we are in Malaysia using the metric system, so what's wrong in saying a 100km is a century ride???)

Step 1. Ask for a leisure morning ride for breakfast. In this case, going from Kota Kemuning to Jenjarom for a breakfast. (45km)

Step 2. Add on the miles. Why not cycle from home to the meetup place instead of driving? It's a hassle to load and upload the bike to the car, which I try to avoid. This will add approximately 20 km or for my case, 40km return to Kota Kemuning.

Step 3. After breakfast, let's burn some calories. Since we are already here in Jenjarom, why not let's head to Jugra/Morib for a scenic and leisure ride? Especially after consuming the sinful roast pork.... Need to burn some of it. (45km)

And that's the formula for a century ride! You will get blame, but then 1 week later your might get call to go for another round of century ride... It's fun, tiring and addictive.

So here's the story. In preparation for the 10/10 Kayuhan Hari Sukan Negara which I signed up for the 120km ride, Uncle S organized a trip to Jenjarom for breakfast and back, estimated to be a 45 km ride. And I was thinking why not cycle to the meeting place, adding another 40km to the whole ride? But the idea of the planned demonstration of 16 September put me off. Hence my 100km plan didn't work! 

Meeting up with the group at Mcd at 6:30 sharp, we saw a few cyclist there already. And then there is this "Starbucks" brother that came to the ride with just singlet! Woah brother, we are in Malaysia ler, our sun show no mercy one... Then I heard whisper from those experienced cyclist that "Sure become roast pig!" Then I look at myself, I am not better with only a T-shirt. Hence I bring my sunblock and apply from time to time, phew!

At 7AM, we rolled off and going through the kota kemuning area, then passby the industrial area  and suddenly the peloton came to a stop... Mr L got a slow puncture. And I always have this thought in me when I see a road bike puncture "tsk tsk, rb puncture, mtb better". Instead of seeing a rb changing the tube, he announced that he will go home and change a bike. "Woah, rich fellow, puncture then change bike!" The last time I got a flat, I turned and go home.... 

土豪

Waiting at the edge of Kota Kemuning and Jalan Kebun, I chatted with M from Taiwan and learned lot's of knowledge of cycling as well as the industry in Taiwan. Maybe one day I shall visit Taiwan and have them fit a road bike for me... As well as touring around Taiwan with their newly completed bicycle trail around the island...

M from Taiwan enjoying local breakfast

30 mintues later, L came back with another bike. 土豪！The ride then continue on small village road along Jalan kebun area. That's kind of scenic and I can't stop but started singing 走在乡间的小路上。。。The stretch of country road continue uneventful for around 30 minutes until we reach the junction of Jenjarom. Finally we are here!!!

After regrouping here, Mr. L took us through Jenjarom new village to come to a secret spot for breakfast. Apparently he booked a table here... with warm red bean soup and freshly made youtiao.... What else can you ask for?! Siew Yok of course, Uncle S came back happily with 2 packs of it from the morning market.

Breakfast on the table

Chatted a bit, get to know the group of new friends and then some said "Not enough la, recently a few rides cancelled due to haze", " Yalor, so much siew yoh, must burn it off la", "Let's go on to Tanjung Sepat lor" "How far?" "45km" "Ehhh... too far la" "Then go Jugra lor" "how far?" "Not far, 5 km only" "On!" "OK!" "Let's go" "Kia lor"... 5km indeed, that's like when hiking u ask how far and the fella in front of you tell u another minutes or 2......

Group photo in front of FGS

We took the highway no.5 and turn off at the junction to Carrey Island, then cross the Sungai Langat flyover which is the first challenge of the day. Almost the whole team went pass me and shouting “faster faster" "Pedal harder"..... I was like "%$&^%#" Then another 20km of flat land through some plantation as well as villages. Stopped for a refuel in one of the sundry shop, and then a temple at the foothill of  Jugra, praying for the power and energy to reach the peak in one piece.

Prayers b4 attacking Bukit Jugra

After 500 meter of cycling..... my leg gave... I came down and started pushing. On the next turn, I saw B gave up too. After a minute of rest, I encourage him to keep on and we managed to pedal another stretch til the next turn and started pushing again... Saw SC in the next turn taking photo to cover up his hard breath, lolz... And finally, with some advice from SC, I started to zigzag up til the Rumah Api.

After 15 minutes of chit chat and photo taking, we saw a pretty rider up in her foldie, Miss A was slowly but steadily cranking up, we cheered for her on the peak. More group photos and some RB fellow showing off their lightweight bike by lifting it above head, we pack up to go downhill...WOoooshhhhh 1 minutes and we were at the foothill, 30 minutes of more of climb but 1 minutes when gravity is at your side... Unfair!!!

We stopped by the riverbank, took some group photo and headed to Jugra town for pit stop, We enjoy roti bakar with 100 plus to refuel and continue our journey back through the village and plantation road. When we regroup after the Carrey Island flyover, One of the starbucks brother gave in as he has been suffering a cramp for the past 40km...

Roti Bakar after Jugra

The ride back from Carrey Island to Kota Kemuning was uneventful, as I was sweeping Miss A (More like accompany each other as that's as fast as I could ride) and with the help of Waze, we were able to miraculously get back to McD ahead of the crowd. Loading up my bike into the car, we head to one of the many kopitiam for late lunch before getting home.

Another group photo by Sg Langat

Once back, I went straight to take a bath and a 3 hour nap.... Sleep like a baby to regain energy... We shall do it again, and the team did it 1 week later when I was out of town...

How I started cycling...

It was a fine Thursday afternoon when C send me a photo of a MTB with a promotional price tag in a fair and asking my opinion if she should buy it. As a "best friend", I tried my very best to convince her to get it! 2 hours later, she sent me a message "I buy liao". Yes, mission accomplish! I then offer to accompany her to collect her bike at Klang.

On the day of the bike collection, being a "best friend", she did her very best job to convince me into buying a bike too! This time round she got a super helper, the guy who is eager to increase revenue from the bicycle shop. 1 week later, I visited the same shop together with Nee and get my bike.

A Lerun Evo Team featuring Shimano 9 speed Alivio RD and Tektro hydraulic disc brake. That was all I can understand from my 1 week of research for an entry level mtb. A bike that is good enough to enter offroad as well as touring around. Later, I found that the bike was fitted with Schawlbe Smart Sam which perform well in offroad terrain. In addition, the bike also come with lockable suntour fork which again comes in handy when you are offroad.

How the bike looks like in the shop...

After getting the bike, I decided to cycle it all the way back home from Ambang Botanic since the car have no more space to carry the bike after carrying the bike box. Hence, Nee drive the car back home after getting lost a bit in klang and a havoc created by inconsiderate parents picking up kids. Yes, it's around noon, the hottest time of the day and my first ride, 6km home.

After coming out of the shop, I was happily cycling my 1st km, enjoying smooth pedaling of the bike while trying out the different gear and was thrilled by the good response of the derailluer. Into the 2nd km of the ride, I started to get the burnt of our lovely sun, and hence pedal harder and turned the gear for a sprint. And lucky enough, there was enough shade in the bukit tinggi area and I relax to calm my burning thigh... Into the 3rd km, my butt started to curse the hard saddle and farted a few times as a sign of protest. 4th km and I started to feel some dehydration as the stretch of trees is gone and now I'm getting tanned. Into the 5th km, I just wanna get home! and finally home, exhuasted, dehydrated with a sore thigh and a pain in the arse.

So that's my first ride and I didn't really enjoy it... And no, my saddle didn't smell like shit though...