Surviving the Sahara

It's been some time now since all of you had your tanning session during the Sahara ride. No need to thank us for the gorgeous bronze tan but if you insist, the comment button is at the bottom.

Yes we hear you. The cry of joy when you were downhilling and the cursing when you reached check point 6. You want reports and photos of the ride. Most of us at the organising level are almost recovered from sleep deprivation, teh tarik overdose and stress and we will post the link to the photo album once it is ready.

Those of you who didn't get the finisher medals, don't worry, we'll post to you.

What we'll do at the moment is to provide links to other riders blogs. What better story than coming from the riders that had first hand experience right?

Please let us have your links to how you Survive the Sahara!

Writeups and photos links

Fakawitribe forum

Azealea's blog

Cyclemotion forum

Macam bagus

Norizzuddin's blog

WCR1414

Caulyo's blog

Jane Lim's blog

mbikejbc's blog

Petebayang's blog

more to come

Appreciation Notes

Good day,

Congratulations and thank you to the “Melaka Heritage Mountain Bike Jamboree 2008”
participants.

Our sincere gratitude and appreciation to all involved directly or indirectly to the success of the 1st ever Melaka Heritage Mountain Bike Jamboree 2008 event.
Special thanks to the main sponsors and co-sponsors for being so supportive in making this event a successful one.

Organizing the 1st Mountain Bike Jamboree is not an easy task for a new club formed in July 2008, many challenges and hurdles that we need to overcome in just 3 months time before the event.

Thanks to all committee members, marshals, helpers, PDRM, Bulan Sabit Merah, RELA and others for the support and commitment throughout the event.

Not forgetting our family members for being so understanding and supportive.

Please accept our apologies for those things that we’ve overlooked unforeseen circumstances, shortcomings and etc.

We’ve learned from our mistakes and will try to improve in our future event.

To all participants,
Thank you once again and we do hope that you all will come to Melaka again.

“YOU SURVIVED THE SAHARA” – CONGRATULATIONS.

chairman

Notice 4

Saturday - Cycle Hunt

• Lots of parking area at Taman Rempah (Spice Garden). Look out for event banner.


• Participants are required to use the sponsored T-shirt that will be given upon registration. This is for easy identification when riding in the city. Police personals have been briefed to watch out for confused cyclists riding haphazardly in the city, which brings you to point no. 3


• Obey traffic rules. (The organising committee are all busy and we'll only bail you out on Monday)


• Questions are designed to let everyone have fun and the opportunity to explore the historical areas. Take time to savour the local delicacy while you hunt for the answers.
  In case of accidents, please look for any committee marshals for assistance.

Entrance of Taman Rempah

Google earth map with GPS coordinates

Boardwalk, one of the cyckehunt trail

Sunday – The Environment Ride (Survive the Sahara)

There will be 9 check points (CP) where you will receive stickers.

Starts from Cowbow town parking area. Ride on road (approx 10km), kampong road and off road starts to:

• CP 1


• CP 2 – cut off time 11 am. Chicken trail available.


• CP 3 – Water stop. Located behind Petronas high rest stop. You can buy additional Isotonic drinks, bread, etc. Emergency vehicle (EV) will be on standby


• CP 4 – Water stop. EV on standby


• CP 5 – cut off time 1.30pm. EV on standby. Chicken trail.


• CP 6 – Bukit Botak


• CP 7 – cut off time 2.30 pm. Water stop. EV on standby. Chicken trail.


• CP 8 –


• CP 9 – EV on standby


• You're on the way home, baby!

CP 6 and CP 8 are not accessible by vehicle. If anyone encounters problems in CP 6 & 8, please push your bike to CP 7. We need you to help each other if you see your fellow rider encountering bike or health problems. Emergency contact numbers are on the bike plate.

Event hanging medals will be given to those with minimum of 5 CP stickers

Don’t force yourself, just ride according to your fitness level. Have fun but be safe.

Helmets are compulsory. No helmet no ride.

Environment

We have put sufficient paper to mark the trail. Please do not throw additional Powergel/powerbar wrappers or plastic bags to mark the trail. Bring back the wrappers and dispose at the proper rubbish bins. Play your part to be conscious about the environment.

Weather

It has been unpredictable lately and it will either be dry which means hot sunny day or wet. If it’s dry, we recommend long sleeve jersey/arm covers or apply sun block. Bandanna or towel over the head will help prevent heat stoke. Remember to rehydrate yourself often.

If it rains, avoid riding on the soft top soil earth as it will coat the tyres and cause problems when it goes into the chain and rear derailleur. We had 3 bikers breaking the hanger on one of the ride. Try riding at the side on the grass instead. Going downhill will be slippery, go very slow or better still, push.

Please help your fellow bikers when you come across deep trenches and steep hill slopes. Team work guys and gals!

Sunday night - Dinner/Lucky Draw/Prize giving

Please bring your bike plate along. We will give you a wrist band and dinner voucher when you present the bike plate. Wrist band is for entrance to Cowboy town. Present the voucher to the controllers at the dinner hall entrance. Additional dinner vouchers can be bought on site

Keong with the goodies bag.

Lucky draw - to qualify for the lucky draw, you need a minimum of 5 check point stickers. Riders with all 9 stickers will get additional chance. You will need to present the bike plate and identification when collecting lucky draw prizes. Remember - bike plate, very important to bring along for dinner.

Presentation of Cycle hunt prizes

We are grateful to get the support of so many companies for freebies and lucky draw prizes. This is our first time organising such a big scale event and they trusted us. Thank you to all sponsors and donors.

Thule bike rack for grabs

This is the one everyone will want to get their hands on. The grand prize.

Those of you who make your local bike shop as your second home will know which brand with one look. Look closer and you might even see the interwoven carbon fibre markings. Nuff said!

From all of us at ECC Malacca, we welcome each and everyone of you with open arms.

Notice 3

Check list of things that will help make "Surviving The Sahara" easier

CLOTHING/RIDING GEAR

• Riding Short
• Cycling jersey
• Socks
• Cycling Shoes
• Helmet
• Camelbak/Dehyration bag
• Gloves
• Sunglasses
• After Ride Clothes
• Rain Gear
• Cap
• Watch
• Umbrella
• Towels
• Bags

FOOD/WATER

• Fresh Water
• Energy Drink
• Energy Food
• Chocolate bar / bread
• Dehydration Salt

MISC

• Sunblock/sunlotion - very important (apply to get desired tanning level - Rare, Medium or Well done)
• Basic First Aid (eg. bandage, Pain Killer, Opsite Spray)

BIKE STUFFS

• Bike (don't leave home without it)
• Pump
• Spare Tubes
• Patch Kit
• Emergency Repair Tools
• Seat Bag
• Water Bottles
• Cyclocomputer

BIKE MAINTENANCE

• Inflate tires
• Oil Chain
• Skewers
• Derailleurs
• Clean Bike
• Clean Chain
• Headset Play
• Wheel Trueness
• Spoke Tension
• Brake Pads
• Pad Clearance
• Bolt Tightness
• Cable ends
• Tire Wear
• Pedal Release
• Cleats
• Seat Height
• Gear Selection
• Oil Moving Parts
• Suspension Tuning

OTHER SELF MISC ITEMS

• Wallet
• Money
• I/C & Driving Licence
• Keys
• Toiletries
• Mobile Phone and Charger
• Pen & Notepad
• Copy of JAMBOREE Registration form and Bank In Slip

Name List of Registered Participants

Please contact us immediately if you have registered and don't find your name in the list.
Cycle hunt participants are highlighted in orange.

List A

List A - C

List C - F

List G - J

List J - L

List L - M

List M

List M

List M - N

List N - R

List R - S

List S - U

List V - Z & additional entries

Notice 2

Please be informed that registration is closed.

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We would like to inform that the early bird registration fee is over.

We have exceeded our target registration of 500 participants and only the first 500 registered participants will receive extra goodies besides our event T-shirt. Those registered above 500 will still receive their T-shirt.

Late bird fee is RM70.00 (including T-shirt) and closing date is 10th October.

Thank you for the overwhelming support.

Complete name list will be up this weekend.

Notice

Please indicate on the payment slip for whom the payment is for when sending the fax or email.

Sila sertakan nama peserta bila hantar faks salinan pembayaran.

Terima kasih/Thank you.

Directions To Event Site

Directions to A' Famosa Resort. Exit Simpang Ampat toll

Jamboree Itinerary

MELAKA MOUNTAIN BIKE JAMBOREE 2008

First Day

25th October (Saturday) - "Melaka Heritage Cycle Hunt"
Venue : Spice Garden car park (GPS coordinates N2 12.467 E102 15.110)

8.00 am : Registration and goodies collection
8.45 am : Cycle hunt briefing
9.00 am : Start hunting!
11.30 am : End of event

2.30 pm - 6.00 pm : Registration and goodies collection
Cowboy Town A'Famosa Resort car park area

8.00 pm : The Environment Ride "Survive The Sahara" ride briefing
Registration and goodies collection
E1 Hall Cowboy Town, A'Famosa Resort


Second Day
26th October (Sunday) - The Environment Ride "Survive The Sahara"
Venue : Cowboy Town, A' Famosa Resort, Alor Gajah

7.00 am : Registration of riders
Cowboy Town car park area
8.00 am : Flag off
2.00 pm : End of event

8.00 pm : Dinner, presentation of souvenirs & lucky draw
E1 Hall Cowbow Town, A' Famosa Resort.

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Hari Pertama

25hb Oktober (Sabtu) - "Melaka Heritage Cycle Hunt"
Tempat : Taman Rempah, Melaka Bandaraya Bersejarah.

8.00 pg : Pendaftaran peserta dan pengambilan goodies bag
8.45 pg : Taklimat aktiviti
9.00 pg : Pelepasan peserta
11.30 pg : Acara berakhir

2.30 ptg - 6.00 ptg : Pendaftaran peserta dan pengambilan goodies
Tempat letak kereta Cowboy Town

8.00 mlm : Taklimat kayuhan The Environment Ride "Survive The Sahara"
Pendaftaran peserta dan pengambilan goodies bag
Dewan E1 Cowboy Town, A' Famosa Resort

Hari Kedua
26hb Oktober (Ahad) - The Environment Ride "Survive The Sahara"
Tempat : Cowboy Town, A' Famosa Resort.

7.00 pg : Pendaftaran peserta
8.00 pg : Pelepasan peserta
2.00 ptg : Acara berakhir

8.00 mlm : Jamuan makan, penyampaian hadiah & cabutan bertuah
Dewan E1 Cowboy Town, A' Famosa Resort

Promotion flyer2

The Trail Route

This is the full trail route of The Environment Ride.
GPS coordinate for A'Famosa resort for the start and end ride
N2 26.787 E102 12.541
Thanks to Pang KN for tracking the route

ECC activity featured in the press

Kayuhan Ambang Merdeka 2008

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Bike club members ride for the environs
4th August 2008

MALACCA: About 80 mountain bike enthusiasts from the newly-launched Kelab Berbasikal Alam Sekitar took part in a night ride in the old city here to attract more members.
Club president, Toh Kian Keong said, besides taking up cycling as a hobby for a healthy lifestyle, the members wanted to create greater awareness among locals on environmental issues through their activities.
He said the club would carry out voluntary social activities such as gotong royong during their biking rounds to help preserve the environment.
As part of the club’s launch, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam took part in the ride with the members along Malacca River from Spice Garden to the 17th-century Stadthuys Dutch complex.
The club will hold activities every Wednesday and Friday and is planning the Malacca Mountain Bike Jamboree 2008 in October.

The Environment Ride

Night Ride with Melaka Chief Minister

18th July Night Ride was special because our Chief Minister consented to ride with us and also officially launched the Environment Cycling Club also known as Kelab Berbasikal Alam Sekitar Melaka.The ride started at Spice Garden where Keong presented YAB Datuk Seri Mohd Ali, our club cycling jersey on his arrival. We rode along the streets of Malacca with 2 police outriders as escorts to control traffic. It was estimated about 60 riders from various cycling clubs and groups joined in as we cycled into history books.
More information on the first part of the ride is available in cyclingben blog.

After going through some historical and business areas, the ride ended by a cafe by the Malacca riverside, a stone's throw from the clock tower.
Refreshment for everyone, self paid of course!

It was good team work with MC Norhisham who is ever natural with the microphone and Wahid and his team in preparing the booklet for CM and reporters for reference of reports, photos of previous rides and most importantly, the request for state assistance in making ECC's Melaka Heritage Mtb Jamboree a success. CM giving his speech and pledging RM5,000.00 to launch the club

The riders lending their ears to CM
A good effort to everyone who made the ride possible and participated in this historical event.

Melaka Boleh!! ECC Boleh!!

Ride Trail Inspection1

1st Trail Inspection by the committee members.

Looks good so far.
We were supposed to ride the whole lengh of the trail which is about 50km but the first 20km tough even for some of the season riders. We may need to trim some of the trail as we do more inspection. Our target is to have everyone out by 4pm and enjoy the Grand dinner in Cowboy town.
Can you spot the riders?
Yusri on a uphill climb.
Nice view of the valley

Yep, that's our jersey.
Racing for King of the Hill title
Doing the world a community service. Making sure the clouds don't fall.

Firdaus contemplating whether to give girlfriend a treat or upgrade bicycle.
Why so serious.

Remember to bring chainsaw on the next trip.
More photos available in MrMobic blog.

The Environment Ride Entry Form

To download entry form in pdf format, please click on this link The Environment Ride Entry Form