Life begins after 50

That's me on my brand new Giant MTB one saturday in early Jun 2012 in the middle of the padi fields about 5 km from Kepala Batas town - right in my "backyard". I couldn't wait out the 2 months so went to the shop at Bagan Ajam (next to the wet market) to get one first to get the feel.

Actually, about three years ago (that's how long it takes for me to buy stuff), I had told a few people I wanted to buy a mountain bike and was willing to spend a thousand ringgit for one. A colleague said I should be spending at least RM3,000. (I think another one suggested RM5,000). Of course, I was shocked. But those are for the diehard hardcore bikers who go through really tough and rough terrain. Or maybe they just want style and glamour. I think I am too old to take the tumbles. So an "entry-level" MTB will do just fine.

Of course you want to know how much I paid for it. A princely RM1,400 without the "bells and whistles". Oh, actually it does come with a cute bell. This price compare to the >RM10,000 and even more than RM20,000 you see in the shop, is really entry-level.

The verdict after about 2 weeks riding is 2 thumbs up, even from my wife. It's smooth and quite effortless, even climbing steep ramps (even for my wife!). The only small "complain" is the little cluck sound when changing gears. I was expecting soundless and without the slight jerk. But overall, gear change is still nice.

This was me, one day after getting the bike (less than 24 hours). It was very early in the morning and I had cycled more than 15 km to Kuala Muda (Penang side) but made the mistake of the newbie. I thought the tyres were invincible and rode onto some rough dikes with rubbish strewn and brought in by the tides. About 5 or 10 minutes later, I left the back tyre go limp. (BTW, I look really skinny in this photo. It's the trick of the lights.)

There's bike shop in that tiny fishing village but they don't open until late morning. So, either I waited, or push 15 or so kilometres home. Or sweet-talk the RapidPenang bus driver to give both of us a ride (me and the bike). I think I am getting quite good at putting on the "please, please, please" face. LOL.

Of course now I have a repair kit comprising a mini-pump, an extra inner tube, a set of levers to prise open the tyres and a bag to hang it to the underside of the saddle. That set me back about RM140. Yes, you can also get a repair kit which lets you patch the hole, but that's risky on long solo rides. And the guys at the bike shop says : "professionals don't repair punctures". Ooooo, I need to behave like a pro too.

Our route last saturday morning (16 Jun). We were a little concern whether the old bike could take any more long rides but, like they say, once you catch the craze, well, you just go crazy. I rode the old blue bike and my wife got to ride the new Giant. Gentleman, mah. We started saying we would do a short route. But as we went along, I would turn and ask whether she wanted to ride some more. "Can or not?", I would ask. The only thing which fuzzed her was the growing heat 'cause we started late (wanted to start before 7 am but left home only at about 7.30 am; blame my funny tummy, I always need to do the all clear before I dare go out. Wouldn't be fun having to do it along the roadside).

In the end we completed 36 km, one big round. Hey, applause, applause. We rewarded outselves with wantan mee and hokkein mee in Kepala Batas town on the way back. Now we know a good hokkein mee stall in KB.

I wanted to take her to the Kamloon Recreational Park north of KB. This was my second attempt but still got lost even with the aid of the GPS and Googlemaps. The assess point is a little obscure. But we were treated to some fresh rambutans by a local man while taking a rest along a tiny kampung path (15 km from home).

That's me, facebooking in the middle of padi fields. Behind me is the Kamloon Recreation Park. I finally decided to activate the 250 MB "free" data plan so that I can see live Googlemaps while out on the field.

Now, my mission is to get that second MTB. So that I don't have to struggle to keep up with my wife as she zips way ahead of me.