THE PRISON JAMBOREE

                                2nd Simpang Renggam Prison MTB Jamboree -- 30 June 2013

I am yet to write something about the last mountain bike jamboree I went to last month -- the 2nd Simpang Renggam Prison Jamboree 2013. My participation in mountain bike jamborees has  been somewhat  less active this year compared with last year although my biking per se, has not. In fact, I have recently been exploring new areas in cycling, the latest being my attempt into road biking. I had always wanted to try a road bike before but found the need of having to do so on our roads too daunting for me to try. Our drivers are well known for their notoriety when they are behind the wheels.

Cycling continues to be my main daily physical activity. My day would not feel right if I didn't go out cycling. I would say cycling is now a habit and a part of me. As one cyclist has aptly put it, cycling gives one the opportunity to get out of the house, cycle with friends, smell the roses, and see the views. And when one does it for the love of it, a cyclist gets a high quality low impact exercise without even having to try. Like many others, I too believe it's the perfect activity for me after my retirement and as I get older.

                Participants at the 2nd Simpang Renggam Prison Jamboree...

                               1100 mountain bikers were there...

Although my participation in mountain bike jamborees might have slowed down a little this year, still I have managed to participate in at least one jamboree or organized ride each month since January. July however, is the month of Ramadan by the Muslim calendar and no jamborees are expected to be organized during this period. But some mountain bike jamborees and other cycling events have already been scheduled in the coming next few months and I am planning to participate in at least one or more events come August next month.

As I said, cycling is my main daily physical activity which I perform either  in the morning or sometime late afternoon. At times, I even go out cycling twice a day, morning and afternoon. I am glad that I am a 'want to' exerciser and not a 'need to' exerciser as some choose to describe it. I cycle because I love cycling and because I want to not because I have or I need to. It's true that I love cycling for the fun and challenge the activity offers me, but more importantly, I also love it for the health and fitness benefits it gives me and for the chance of avoiding becoming a 'need to' exerciser if I don't. So, it isn't just all fun for me. I believe that cycling can help keep me young physically. Sure it wont prevent you from getting older but it should help slow the biological process to help us remain fit, strong and healthy longer, in sha Allah.

And talking about mountain bike jamborees, everyone seems to be organizing one these days and doing so quite frequently. I am referring to the mountain bike gatherings and rides that are organized by the many cycling clubs or groups registered or otherwise each week that you see being broadcast via the online social network service such as facebook or blogs. These are apart from those cycling events organized from time to time by the national cycling federation or other recognized sports bodies in the country. Many mountain bike jamborees as they are referred to, are organized by these cycling clubs/groups each week at various venues all over the country. There are also jamborees organized by government agencies or departments such as the police or the army or even by such public institution as the prison other than those by the relevant ministries. I participated in two mountain bike jamborees organized by the police  last year and in May this year, I went to one organized by an army unit in Kluang, Johor. And end of last month, I went to this prison jamboree that I mentioned about earlier in Simpang Renggam, Johor. Mountain biking it seems, is catching up well with Malaysians and its popularity is steadily rising. If we look into the Malaysia cycling calendar or browse the online social network service, we will notice the number of mountain bike jamborees and other cycling events that are being organized weekly. But it's all a healthy sign and a wholesome development that should be encouraged and one that augurs well for the health and well-being of the country's population.

Like all other jamborees that I went to before this, I looked forward too to this prison jamboree. The jamboree did not let me down and I enjoyed the ride as well as the challenge it gave me. But there are certain aspects related to its organization and conduct which I feel should be looked into for the betterment and success of future jamborees.

As for the trail we rode, I haven't much to gripe about though I wish I had ridden on one that was set in a more pristine environment than what we had for the jamboree. But under the circumstances, I suppose that would only be wishful thinking considering the rapid social and economic development currently taking place in the country. But all is not lost though since there are still some assets of mother nature left for us to enjoy. Worth about 40 kilometres long, the trail passes through the usual topography you would expect to find in most mountain bike jamborees organized here in this part of the country: a mix of sealed and off-road double and single tracks and paths running through oil palm, rubber and secondary vegetation including some populated areas. There were a few hills that we had to deal with. One was quite stiff with a track quite long and deeply rutted and broken in some parts that no biker I believe, would have been able to pedal up to its top without being forced to dismount and push their bikes. Furthermore, any attempt to do so would have been rendered  impossible by bikers who were pushing their bikes up along the track obstructing the way to the top. I am not aware though of anyone who could have done it without any problem.

While I would rate the trail at the jamboree a decent one, I thought the safety arrangements should have been given a little more attention especially when some parts of the trail turned slippery after an unexpected shower fell half way through the ride. When I rode one of these slippery sections which happened to be a long and steep downhill stretch, I did not see anyone manning the trail to warn bikers of the potential danger such a trail could pose. I was lucky to have been able to save myself from possible injury when I fell off the bike while riding this slippery section. Experience gained from previous falls had taught me to be extra cautious of such trail. An inexperienced or unsuspecting biker could fall victim to the danger such a trail could pose. I believe some bikers did fall off their bikes while negotiating these slippery stretches although I am unaware of the nature or severity of the injuries suffered.

My reduced participation in mountain bike jamborees has however, been offset somewhat by some interesting and enjoyable bike outings I had with members of my biking group. There have been rides of close to or more than a hundred kilometres each to some selected destinations including a day spin up a hill resort more than a thousand metres high, some off-road rides on a local cross-country trail nearby,  and over several weekends, day and night rides on an old twisty road with little traffic that goes uphill with plenty of curves around hills through tropical forest to a mountain pass worth 20 kilometres long.

                                Fraser's Hill -- Jan 2012

                                Fraser's Hill -- May 2013

It never occurred to me that I would one day climb Fraser's Hill, one of a handful of hill resorts (formerly known as hill station under colonial rule) you find in the country  -- with a bike; what's more doing so at the age of 64 and again at 65. It isn't a lowly hill, biking-wise; it's about 1200 metres high and from where we started, 20 kilometres long. It's an attempt I am certain I wouldn't be able to make even when I was 30 if I didn't bike. But not so for a cyclist my age or past my age. Cycling can make one become so fit that one can continue to ride strong long into the golden years of one's life (remember centenarian Robert Marchand?). Many who are in the golden years of their lives today are still riding and competing. A hill higher than Fraser's would not appear to be a challenge that would seem impossible to take until it's tried. And that's what I did. I cycled up Cameron Highlands, another highland resort higher than Fraser's a few months after I climbed Fraser's. Cameron Highlands turned out to be just another challenge a hardened cyclist wouldn't  mind taking on.

                                Riding Cameron Highlands -- May 2012

                                          .......the home of BOH

I never really liked cycling that much in my childhood or younger days. I did have the chance to ride two of my late father's bikes for some spins as a kid but I wasn't really crazy about riding them. His first bike that I could remember was an old Raleigh he owned circa 57/58 which served him for some years that I can't really remember how long exactly;  while his second was of another make he owned sometime in the late 60's that I can't remember what its brand was. Still I thought his second bike was another good bike though not as good as a Raleigh. But all bicycles seemed to be good those days and made to last and many of them were Raleighs. I also remember those solid one-speed steel machines the village folks used to ride to work with to tap rubber, carry loads or perform their daily chores in the village; or, those that the roti, or ice cream or textile sellers rode to peddle their goods with.  But as I said, I never did really like cycling much those days and I can barely remember what the other makes or brands of bicycles were at that time other than those that really stood out which were mainly Raleighs. Raleigh was a British product and so its popularity during that period is quite understandable.

And that was it as far as cycling goes for me as a kid. Only once did I really try a long distance cycling when I got persuaded into biking to school which was twelve miles away by friends one particular day instead of riding the bus. And I didn't like what I did. I remember getting so burnt out at the end of the ride that I told myself I would never do it again. I guess twenty-four miles wasn't short for someone who didn't do much biking. Cycling back for the return journey under the glare and scorching heat of the tropical sun without proper hydration proved to be a real ordeal for me. We didn't have bidons on our bikes then; not the kind of bikes we rode. It wasn't the right thing to do. But I was only a kid and there were many things I didn't know about biking back then. And mind you, I was pedalling a single speed steel machine to boot!

And cycling just ended there; no more cycling for me after that, not even a slight thought about doing it again for whatever reasons and for many years after. Perhaps, cycling never appeared to be an attractive option for commuting back then. Driving a car was the dream to aspire for. But that has nothing to do with riding bicycles. So until then, enjoy your rides.