LP for Love Pedaling

August 5th, 2012 was the day, for the first time, we joined some 300 cyclists who absolutely must be crazy about cycling. They all came to celebrate the grand opening of a coffeeshop called LP MTB Station, off Jalan Ong Yi How in the Raja Uda area of Butterworth. The gentleman (or men) who owns this joint is one of the prime movers of the LP MTB Club. And I am a member, via Facebook (of course) currently with 2,369 members). There is no fee. You just click "join", and then the moderator will decide (I don't know the qualifications needed) but I presume anyone who asks to join will not be refused (unless you a known nuisance).

I am what you may call a casual member. They have cycling activities almost every weekend and even weekdays but I have never joined them. It's one of those tight social circles with a lot of camaraderie (and lots of drinking and eating). I will only join them for the bigger events, just to be part of the crowd. Slowly, maybe, I will become part of the inner circle, but really that's not my ultimate goal. My goal in picking up cycling is to keep fit (or staying alive). It is one of the sports which I can do alone and still enjoy it (though once in a while, when I have cycled really long alone, like maybe 60 km, and I wonder, why am I "punishing" myself. Hey, lighten up, this is mere psycho analysis to rationalise my current craze).

So, I join not so much looking for social interaction - that would come when it comes. I join so that I get updates on the what's happening and to encourage me to keep going.

So, 300 or more showed up. I think it was the lovely T-shirt. (Grin). And also because they mobilised their network of cycling clubs. Each cycling club sent their representatives. They support each other's activities. And of course, what's a Grand Opening without the free food?

The cafe is only about 6 km from our home so we cycled there early, stopping at the petrol kiosk to get some gas. Emmh, air that is. Air is gas, right?

We cycled through the padi fields (bendang), a circuit of about 28 km. No sweat, really. This is what they call a fun ride. No jostling for first place and no trophy for completing the circuit. Many of these chaps are serious riders and ultra-males (and females) and really fast on their road bikes.

Yes, that's me in red with my wife meeting my facebook friend from Alor Setar for the first time - the guy on the right, Khaw Eng Soon and his neighbours from LM Bikers at Laguna Mas. Photo courtesy of Khaw ES.

Here's some really nice shots of us at the padi fields taken by professional photographers. Thanks Xing Fu.

Can you find us? I'm all red in the back. Oh, we bought that sports shirt just the day before. Damn expensive, about RM120 but my wife had RM60 of coupons so it was a good buy. And the shirt is really good, for me. Know why? After 2 hours of cycling, still no smell. That's the ultimate test of a good sports shirt. Just smell your armpit. No smell, two thumbs up. (Grin). I'm not kidding. Even Uniglo t-shirts are not that good in the smelly department.

We arrived back at the finish point very early and the anouncement said the "makan-makan" and partying would start only in one hour's time. Go back, take a bath, put on the special t-shirt and come back, said the announcer.

Ah, about the t-shirt. After the ride, I went to claim two t-shirts. The lady said, "did you register?". I said yes. "Name?". I gave it to her. "You are not in the list". But I registered. "Where?". On  facebook. "But on facebook not valid". And then I noticed the guy who organised the event standing beside me (I think he saw me and came to my rescue), also my facebook friend, whom I  am not really familiar with. So, I pointed to him and said I registered with him. The girl looked at him. He said, "facebook can". The girl asked for size and how many. I said "two, S and M". The guy says "one only". No S, she said. I shrugged and said OK. I only wanted the t-shirt so that we could fit in with the crowd. But it's a nice design. I can't imagine getting a new t-shirt at every cycling event. And there will be many more to come. The next one is September 16, 2012 in Alor Setar. I will celebrate my birthday in grand procession.

Huh, yes, I get a little confused with the communications via facebook. Open events, invitations only, invited guests .... as I said, time, give it some time.

Oh, and the picture of me with the coffee? We did go back several days later to try the coffee. It's not bad but I forgot to say "no sugar" so my taste bud was little off. And I did join their shop membership for RM10. But I'm still trying to figure out the MTB connection. I think they need to work harder on the concept.

Yesterday, I discovered that my hair-treatment specialist is a good friend of the daughter of the coffeeshop owner. Wow, talk about 6 degrees of separation.

For some entertainment, watch how a grown up teenager learns to cycle.

He gave us anxious moments, nearly crashing into the cars parked at the roadside. Apparentlly, the brain can handle only one thing at a time. He was focussed on keeping his balance and keeps forgetting to use the brakes.

Within one hour, with much determination and cheering, and cuts on the shins, he was balancing and cycling ... watch his concentration.

This younger teenager also managed to learn the joy of cycling, after three sessions.

Good bye, my yellow bicycle. Hope your new owners will give you lots of TLC.