My OperaIpoh Century Ride
Sunday, August 8, 2010 4:41:35 AM
Time to post another short update here. I was hoping to make it a race report from Port Dixon International Triathlon, however, due to lack of sleep as a result from jet lag and work, I decided not to enroll. Instead I decided to do my very first bike road race. But before the race report, a quick update since last. As always coming back from Norway, I wall struggling a lot with jet lag. normally do this, on the other hand, I don't struggle at all going the other direction. Work was busy, but that is nothing new 
Over to the slightly more interesting news. I've been invited to take part of the Project Aware clean up day, and will take part in that. If you are interested, have a look here - http://www.projectaware.org/
Maybe you will find some activities nearby your place.
Also, I sent some pictures in to the Through The Lens international Photo contest for the Malaysia International Dive Expo. None of them even close to make it to the final cut I guess - but still - fun to give it a try. I visited the MIDE Saturday the day before going to Ipoh, and ended up buying a dive package to Sipadan for my friend Anders and myself. Sipadan is without doubt my favorite diving destination on the planet, and Barracuda Poing must be one of the absolute best divesites in the world.
So, back to the Ipoh Century Ride, a century ride is 100 miles long, or for those of us that prefer the metric system - 160 kilometers. This being my first road race (I've ridden in a peloton once before on the Sepang international race course, but that is very, very different) - I was really there to learn and have a nice ride. I got up 02:45, drove over to my friend Nazli and picked him up at 03:30. Driving the 180 km up to Ipoh in the dark and rain was an OK experience, even though not a perfect preparation for a race . We reached the venue ten to six, registered and was ready for the 07:00 start. It was a 5 km rolling start, so no warm up required. I dropped my chain only 2 kilometers into the race, and fubled a bit, worrying that the front pack would just take off. Fortunately I caught up with them rather quick. After barely avoiding a couple of nasty crashes, I managed to stick with the front group, with two riders in a breakaway. I dropped the chain again at approximately 100 km, and this time I really though I was out, but I managed to get back up to the front group, and help chase down the breakaway at around 125 km. I was even leading the race at a couple of occasions, and once by as much as a couple of hundred meters. Just me and the police motorcycle .
The final kilometer was very fast, and I ended up in a very satisfying 18th place overall, 9th place in my category. Not bad for a novice, Norwegian rider in hot and humid Malaysia
After having lunch, picking up the trophy we sped back to KL in time for dinner and a relaxing evening.
This is really something I would like to do again
Over to the slightly more interesting news. I've been invited to take part of the Project Aware clean up day, and will take part in that. If you are interested, have a look here - http://www.projectaware.org/
Maybe you will find some activities nearby your place
. Also, I sent some pictures in to the Through The Lens international Photo contest for the Malaysia International Dive Expo. None of them even close to make it to the final cut I guess - but still - fun to give it a try. I visited the MIDE Saturday the day before going to Ipoh, and ended up buying a dive package to Sipadan for my friend Anders and myself. Sipadan is without doubt my favorite diving destination on the planet, and Barracuda Poing must be one of the absolute best divesites in the world.
So, back to the Ipoh Century Ride, a century ride is 100 miles long, or for those of us that prefer the metric system - 160 kilometers. This being my first road race (I've ridden in a peloton once before on the Sepang international race course, but that is very, very different) - I was really there to learn and have a nice ride. I got up 02:45, drove over to my friend Nazli and picked him up at 03:30. Driving the 180 km up to Ipoh in the dark and rain was an OK experience, even though not a perfect preparation for a race
. We reached the venue ten to six, registered and was ready for the 07:00 start. It was a 5 km rolling start, so no warm up required. I dropped my chain only 2 kilometers into the race, and fubled a bit, worrying that the front pack would just take off. Fortunately I caught up with them rather quick. After barely avoiding a couple of nasty crashes, I managed to stick with the front group, with two riders in a breakaway. I dropped the chain again at approximately 100 km, and this time I really though I was out, but I managed to get back up to the front group, and help chase down the breakaway at around 125 km. I was even leading the race at a couple of occasions, and once by as much as a couple of hundred meters. Just me and the police motorcycle . The final kilometer was very fast, and I ended up in a very satisfying 18th place overall, 9th place in my category. Not bad for a novice, Norwegian rider in hot and humid Malaysia
After having lunch, picking up the trophy we sped back to KL in time for dinner and a relaxing evening.
This is really something I would like to do again
