Team AEG - MTB Blog

Penang Hill MTB DH Race on 27 Sept 2009 prt 2

2009-10-01T19:48:00.000-07:00

Second part of the race, longer version of the video.
Hope enjoy the video

Cheers
Dan

Penang Hill MTB DH Race on 27 Sept 2009

2009-09-28T08:29:00.000-07:00

Penang DH team had successfully organized the Penang Hill Mountain bike downhill race on 27th Sept 2009 Sunday.

I was been told by Johnson that we have an assignment from Penang DH team 2 days before the race, we been assigned to be videographer for that day. It’s our pleasure to have chance to be videographer in such great event. Johnson was trying to get another Canon 500D for me so that both of us can take full HD video but the plan was turned down the night before the race and I have to use a normal quality viewcam to record the race but Johnson still can record full HD video by using his Canon 500D, that is still not total bad news.

Total 30 downhillers participate in this race. The qualifying race starts around 9.30am. After qualifying race all qualified for final race rider have chance to take some light breakfast before the final race. Final race starts around 11.30am. The race end 12.30pm.

Here is the video and hope all enjoy the video.

Cheers

Dan & Johnson

Mountain bike jumping and resting

2009-09-27T00:20:00.000-07:00

I like mountain bike jumping very much. Not really good in it, always crash after jump but sometime just forgot the lesson learn and start to pedal faster again and pull the bike up and jump over the bump.

Recently just did the mountain bike jump again in Penang Youth Park MTB trail and this time is with Johnson's full HD video SLR camera. In earlier post I did mentioned about this and I not going to repeat again here.

In this post, just thought of sharing some short video of jumping riding and some photo resting after battle the whole hill.

Cheers
Dan

Full HD, Canon 500D, Mountain bike

2009-09-23T05:25:00.000-07:00

Canon, the world leading manufacturer in doing camera business. SLR camera - Single lens reflex camera is one of highiest end camera in the camera line up. Most pro, semi-pro photographer or photographing lovers will like to use SLR camera to take photo, you will never see a pro photographer from any famous bridal house will take a slim body, light weight, limited parameter adjustment camera to take photo for a pair of bride and groom or any sports photographer will use small compact camera to take photo in MU vs Arsenal match or super fast Red Michael Schumacher Ferrari F1 over taking Alonso Blue Renault. There're a lot of models for SLR, cheapest below RM2.2k and most expensive could be over RM20k.

Few years back, digital camera with video recording feature is no more new thing for user but SLR camera with video feature is definitely new technology, thanks to camera manufacturer, they never stop to bring new technology to us - consumer, they come out with embeded video feature SLR camera. In another word, we need to save more money to buy new gadget. SLR camera is the highest end camera in the product line up and for sure the camera manufacturer will not put in any cheap skill video technology in it, they introduce the new full HD video SLR camera. Full HD - full High Definition, 1920 X 1080 pixels in 16:9 ratio wide screen which creates a frame resolution of 2,073,600 pixels in total.

Now a day, a lot of movie maker starts to make their movie in full HD format. What is benefit of full HD video versus normal conventional video? I believe a lot of people knows the different between full HD video and conventional video. Full HD video produce sharper and finer image. The latest full HD video recorder offers reasonable low price but yet still provide very high quality video.

One of our team member - Johnson, just bought a Canon 500D SLR camera, the camera is with build-in full HD video feature. He made few HD videos by using this new camera. The quality is superb nice with non fast moving video. We would like to show you a sample of the video and hope everyone enjoy the video below.

After the non moving video testing, we decided to test the camera with some fast moving action video such like our favorite sport - mountain biking. We decided to re-visit Penang Youth Park Number 3 trail again but this time is with full HD camera. Our intention this time is not to record the trail, we had the full trail last time in one of June posting, our purpose of this trip is to test out the HD video and capture some nice scene of Penang MTB trail and promote Penang MTB trail in our blog.

Hope everyone enjoy the video, especially the green of the trail. This is the short one and hopefully Johnson can edit a longer version one soon and sure we will put it in our blog again once we have the longer version video.

Cheers Dan & Johnson

Mountain bike, suffer, fun, 最緊要好玩

2009-09-17T07:40:00.000-07:00

Mountain biking, one of thousand sports. Some people play safe, some people play aggressive and some people play crazy. Play safe riders will have their own fun with little sweat, play aggressive rider will also have their own fun but with accompany of some unwanted "presents" and play crazy's rider need very much courage to repeat the action which just cause him/her almost dead. Everytime they get through the fears, they able to upgrade their skill to next higher level and they all is crazy rider.

I am not a crazy type rider, I play aggressive but definitely not crazy. I have very lousy skill and I learn a lot of lessons when everytime I push myself beyond my limit. No matter how much price I need to pay, I just can't resist to try it again and again. I cracked my helmet, crack my ribs and palm bone but I still hop on my bike after recover. Mountain biking is a sport you will get addicted after you try for the very first time. It has magic power to attract you to continue.

Palm bone fracture after Nibong Tebal Jamboree 21 June 2009, from the X-ray photo, can see a small screw put inside the bone to align the bone to original position.

The X-ray photo before put screw, obviously can see the bone is break into 2 and already dislocation.

We didn't capture video how high I airborne flying and how I crashed, all I heard from Johnson is he saw me airborne and landed but he not too sure why I crash after the landing. But we did capture some videos after crash, Teoh is giving me some anticeptic spray. That's real pain.
No matter how, after 1 month plus be a good boy stay at home, then I start to hop up on my bike again to try out something mild, riding in my flat's multi storey carpark and some road riding.

Mountain bike sport is very depend on the rider's thinking to see how he/she enjoy the process. The process of pedaling uphill could be exhausted and suffering, everytime I will ask myself why I want to take this suffer, by this clock I should still lying on my lovely bed and just kill the time by doing nothing, why I just not to do so but come to nowhere in the middle of jungle and suffering leg muscle pain and lung explode pain. Well, the rewards is something can't describe with words, when after all efforts put in to pedal uphill and finally standing at the top of the hill and see down, the earth is under my feet. The feeling is so much enjoy. And the most important thing is the next thing you going to enjoy is the downhill. This is the greatest rewards. Mountain biking is a fun activity, just depend on you, how to enjoy it. You find the way to enjoy it then mountain biking will be fun and if you don't then you will find some crazy people doing some crazy thing. Sam Hui (許冠傑) sing a song name 最緊要好玩 (Fun is most important thing), we just need to enjoy every moment in our life no matter it is pain and joy, just like doing mountain biking. No matter how suffer uphill, then the joy will come. Play hard and enjoy is the most important thing. I hope all will enjoy my video below.
Cheers Dan

Gambir Hill Trail prt. 1

2009-09-13T19:54:00.000-07:00

Gambir Hill trail is XC type trail and is definitely perfect offroad trail for high speed rider. It doesn't have any superb tough technical drop or jump but holes, rocks and drain on the trail is enough to get the rider's adrenalin rush when go high speed. I believe most of offroad type rider will not fully enjoy cemented trail, me too, this trail mixed with cemented trail (40%) and loose soil offroad trail with rocks and holes (60%). This trail not consider very steep and thus, if want to go real high speed, rider need to do some pedaling to gain enough adrenalin rush speed.

Sunday morning, heavy rain in midnight. The trail become wet and slippery. After do some preparation, such as seat angle adjustment and tires pressure check up, Teoh and I start ride. It's easy ride up, can still chit chating while pedal up (I would consider this trail is super easy ride up) while enjoying the green of the trail. If you look carefully on the grass beside the trail, you can see frogs, some unknown insects, bugs, lizards and some time you can see snakes (eventually I saw snake yesterday). But, this trail is very safe to ride, those creatures will not attack human unless their life in threaten. We take the trail heading to Paya Terubong, took us about 40 minutes to reach the junction to Paya Terubong. Take some rest then we start our video action.

Every time do video, sure very exhausted pushing the bike up again and again to get best shot. Teoh and I quit after few times push up our bike again and again and we decided to continue the video for the rest of trail section next week. Just to share the video we got yesterday and hope everybody enjoy the video. This video is just sneak preview part 1 and we will do another video this coming Sunday and will be sneak preview part 2. We have no idea when we will have full version video for this trail but for sure we will try to do our best to record the whole trail and share with all riders. Nothing big deal than sharing, cheers Teoh and Dan

Bike and free time

2009-09-02T06:29:00.000-07:00

Every people has 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Everybody has 168 hours a week. 9 hours a day sit in office and 5 days a week. Spend 8 hours a day sleep and 0.5 hours a day doing some 'daily important business' (may vary depend on each individual, some loves to talk to the toilet for longer time and they will spend more time), probably 1 hour a day do some day dream, spend probably 1.5 hours a day stuck in traffic jam and 3.5 hours eat breakfast, lunch, tea break, dinner and supper, after deduct this and that, everybody still have 21.5 hours a week and that means everybody got 3.07 hours a day as free time. Each person may use different way to spend their 'earned' time.

Some people spend their time shopping

Some people spend their time enjoy natural scene

Some visit to famous place

Some spend their time walking around and take photo
Some enjoy good foods

With friends
And gathering with friends
Some spend few hours a week do sport such like badminton, soccer, basketball, tennis and many more... and kung fu action

For me, I will spend 70% of my free time with my bike (I am so glad that my wife allow me to spend 70% but not 0%). How could it be possible I can spend my 70% of free time to do biking? I don't have other things to do? Let me tell you all how I do it, everyday come back from work I always can do some riding near my house area. It not necessary to be hill, the fun biking place can be just in the multi-level car park, curb of road side and many more... Here, I would like to show you all a mtb video taken after I come back from work in weekday. Doing some skill practicing, staircase descent. It's not too hard for me to do with my Kona CoilAir. In fact, I just feel like I am sitting in a very comfortable car which the absorber of the car 'eat' up all the steps.

Again, nothing big deal than sharing and enjoy the ride. Everybody can enjoy their ride in their daily free time.

Kona CoilAir Supreme build diary

2009-09-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

Oct 21, 2008, Tue night
Won bidding of a Kona CoilAir Supreme in ebay. The frame is 90% new, the first owner is pro rider. Communicate with the seller in few emails, get to know that he decided change to XC riding instead of Freeride. To me, I gonna to build the bike into All Mountain type. Will put a XC type crank on it. Very happy after won the bidding but also start to worry about my pocket, I gonna to fainted next month after receive the card bill.

Oct 31, 2008, Fri noon

Received an email from my friend who in US that moment for his business trip saying that he received the package. So happy the shipment arrives in time. Ask my friend to snap a photo of the parcel to show me.

The parcel nicely packedThe bike also nicely packed

Nov 01, 2008, Sat Morning

Received email from my friend he has to ask his colleague who is re-locate in US at that moment to help me bring back the bike frame due to the frame packaging is over the standard size and cannot be shipped. His colleague only will be back on June 2009. OMG!!! What a nightmare. What else can I do, just can wait.

Wait... Wait... Wait...

And Wait... Wait... Wait... Wait... again...

Time flying, very fast celebrate last day of 2008 and welcome the first day of 2009. Then CNY, then June come.

June 9, 2009, Tue Morning

Received email from my friend's colleague, the shipment arrive in Penang safely. What a good news. I can get my long-waiting frame finally.

Happy smile when holding the frame

June 13, 2009, Sat Morning

Bring my frame to Lim Bicycle shop to assemble into complete bike. Swap all the components from my old Giant NRS to the new frame.

Work in progress

My old red Giant NRS hanging on the wall after remove all the components, feel sad :-(

After fully build up then take a photo of the bike. Can see all old component

Luckily Johnson (AEG member) willing to take up my old NRS. I know he will be a good owner for the NRS. This also mean that I need to return all the components that I 'borrow' from his NRS after he buy over the NRS. OMG!!! Pocket punctuated again... Well, this also be a good reason for me to get total new bike (new bike and new component)

Items need to upgrade:

1.) Crank

2.) FD

3.) RD

4.) Seat post (borrow from another AEG member, Kona seat post size is very odd size 30mm diameter, need to pre-order)

5.) Handlebar

6.) Stem

7.) Wheelset

8.) Pedal

9.) Chain

10.) Headset

Part by part purchase... slowly build the bike into totally new bike...

Get Kona Wah Wah pedal for better grip performance

Then get Ritchey handlebar 710mm wide
Then get a pair of white wheelset...
After 100% fully build Kona CoilAir Supreme

The next thing after build up the bike, sure is take photo lah... and of course hop on and ride...
Cheers and happy riding.

Bunny Hop Practicing

2009-09-01T06:53:00.000-07:00

Bunny hop is a very fundamental skill for mountain biking, it looks easy to learn but takes time to master it.
We can use bunny hop skill to clear some obstacle objects such rocks and roots on trail while doing XC riding. Some time in our riding, we meet some unavoidable obstacle in front of our way, some time if we just hit on the obstacle, could possible cause some unwanted circumstances happen. Rider always can stop in front of the obstacle and push their bike over the obstacle and then continue the riding but we also can just sit on saddle and use bunny hop technique to clear the obstacle and continue pedal without put our feet on ground. It just sounds so easy in the paper. Can start practicing the bunny hop by jumping off a low object first. Pedal some speed and lift the handlebar then lift rear wheel to clear the object. I been practicing the skill for long time but I still need very long time to able to master this skill, be frankly. From the video attached, you can see me trying my best to do the best bunny hop but seems like I still need more practicing to make it perfect. I am just beginner in this mountain bike hobby, a lot more need to learn.
This just a sharing. Nothing big deal than sharing and enjoy.
Cheers and enjoy the video.

Our 1st Round Island Trip

2009-07-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

Team AEG had our 1st Round Island trip !!

Too bad Dan Ooi can't join this round as he is still recovering from his fracture.

It was raining in the morning.. from 3am till around 8am.. Our initial plan was to push off at 7am but was delayed to 8:15am because of the rain.

Pushing off from Tesco Egate.

Me with the Giant NRS3 from Project NRS. It is fitted with 1.5" Slicks for the trip.

It was a successful trip. And we covered 80km on this route : EGate - Jetty - Gurney - Tg Bunga - Bt Ferringgi - Teluk Bahang - Balik Pulau - Genting - Teluk Kumbar - Bayan Lepas - Bayan Baru - EGate

The only problem we faced was me getting bitten by a stapler !

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Check out our video !

Project NRS - Day2

2009-07-03T07:17:00.001-07:00

By the end of 2nd Day.. Project NRS completed.

Added the missing items:

- Shifter cables (learnt how to measure and cut cables to fit)

- 1.7" Tubes on 1.9" Tyres

- SR Suntour Crankset

Additional items added :

- New set of Tektro Mechanical Brakes + Haynes 160mm disc

- Cateye VELO 8 cycling meter

- Bottle + Carrier

- Saddle Bag

The completed bike weighs 13.5kg.. Surprisingly light for a full sus bike with standard components... May get 12kg if I upgraded to some XT components.. but, that will come later..

Project NRS - Day1

2009-07-01T10:05:00.000-07:00

End of Day 1... middle of the night...

I have gotten the NRS frame setup with :

- RockShok Judy Fork

- Stem

- Headset

- Handle bar

- Tektro Mechanical Brakes (Front and Rear)

- FD and RD

- Shifters (missing cables)

- Seat post + Seat

- Rear Cassette + Rims (Missing Tyres)

I am stuck as I can't get the Crankset taken out from the donor bike... (Which I later found out how to use the tool from the Bike toolbox I have..)

This is the Donor Bike... Don't be surprised.. A Kona Coilair Supreme... Looks familiar ? Yeah, it is Dan Ooi's bike.. assembled from the Frame imported from US... and now, I am hogging his parts.. hehehe

The bike tool....

Stay tuned.. for the next episod of Project NRS....

Project NRS

2009-06-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

Team AEG's Dan Ooi recently upgraded from his Giant NRS 3 to Kona Coilair Supreme... Leaving behind his old frame, we decided to re-build this frame..

Stay tuned for the development of Project NRS... We will begin with building up the bike using left over spare parts from our personal "Store room" Then later on make it into an ultimate Lightweight XC machine... (IF the bike wasn't sold yet... hehehe)

Mt Erskine DH

2009-06-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

Team AEG was invited by Penang DH Team to Mt Erskine. We were honoured to have CKOoi teaching the techniques starting from Beginner to Advanced.

Here are some of the practicing moments... enjoy !!

Next videos.. We will be trying to get Helmet Camera's for rider's view...

Team AEG @ NTMTBA

2009-06-22T08:29:00.000-07:00

NTMTBA... and we were off !!! 1,030 riders on the road.. this is what it looks like..

TEAM AEG members had a full participation in the recent NTMTBA Jamboree. We also flew our Team AEG T-shirt... as you can see in the picture below.

This is the first time I am joining a Jamboree, I just realise, if you end up at the middle of the group when you are offroad and uphilling, you are doomed.. You are forced to join the crowd to push the bike up...

This was the Team's worst nightmare. KMChew's fork leaked !! All the air and oil came out from the middle of the tube..

Finally, with some Mc Guyver trick by using Allenkeys and high pressure pump.. The fork is serviced... We stick together as a team.. !!

The 2nd Casualty was Dan Ooi, took a serious hit when we were Downhilling the Checkpoint 2 to 3 section extremely fast... The crash was serious and alas, he broke his palm bone.

Although at the end, we did not manage to complete the 4 checkpoints (we got 2 and then guided by the marshalls to cycle on the tarmac back to starting point)... The team stick together, helped each other and we had a great time !!

Looking forward for more Jamborees... and to Dan Ooi : A speedy recovery (Doctor's advice : 3 months of rest)

Saddle for weight and comfort

2009-06-18T19:46:00.001-07:00

My IronHorse came with WTB Pure V Race Saddle. Which I thought it was really good as it is comfortable and quite light (Compare to my other bike's Royal Selle)

* WTB "Pure V Race"
* Anatomic groove
* Synthetic leather cover
* Hollow chrome-moly rails
* 150mm width
* 277mm long
* Black
* 355gm
* Combines the wedge tail of the Rocket V and the drop nose of SST
* Flex-tuned Comfort Zone dual density shell. Love Channel soft tissue pressure relief groove
* Kevlar corners, lightweight DNA padding

Then recently, I got a great deal for a Bontrager Race Lite Saddle. The moment I lifted it, I felt that it was really light !! And the material was quite good too. My doubt was, it will not be comfortable.. However, after a few test rides.. It was proven to be as comfortable as the WTB... and since it helped me shave 150g off my bike's weight.. I am very happy with it

Bontrager Race Lite Saddle

* Superlight padding helps keep the saddle weight low
* Same great design as the Race X Lite
* Lux model has double the padding of the standard Race Lite saddle

Specification
* Cover : Synthetic Leather
* Rails : Hollow Stainless Steel
* Size : 278mm / 135mm
* Gender : Unisex
* Color : Black / Black
* Weight : 200g

Shimano DX Pedals PD-MX30

2009-06-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

A new toy... Shimano PD-MX30... The only Shimano Platform pedals designed for DH... It comes with 10 exchangable studs each side... So 40 all together..

More info : http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/pedals/mountain/product.-code-PD-M647.-type-pd_mountain.html

The box contains 2 pieces of manuals and warnings with instuctions to change those grip-pins, 1 pair of pedals (of course) with pre-installled shorter grip-pins and a bag of longer grip-pins..

Here are the pedals with pre-installed short grip pins.. For flat shoes and XC usage...

The bag of grip-pins includes an AllenKey to install or remove those grip-pins.. .I started by removing them one by one.... :( Takes ages to remove all 40 of them..

Compaing the longer ones (one the right) with the shorter ones (on the left)

Another comparison, installed on the pedals itself...

The pedals side by side with my Wellgo pedals which came stock with my Iron Horse. Looked more futuristic.

Weeee..... Looked nice on my IronHorse...

Closer look of the grip-pins... and the markings on the side is DX... not XC !!! hahahahha

After riding test riding it, trying to jump a few bunny hobs and riding down some stairs.. I immediately posted my old pedals up for sale. There is no turning back after installing these pedals.. The grip is very nice.. and I managed to shave 100g off the weight of my bike !

Kona CoilAir Supreme - Dan's new Frame

2009-06-11T01:09:00.000-07:00

Team AEG shares the excitement of Dan Ooi's new frame... a Kona CoilAir Supreme !!!
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/bikes/freeride-full-suspension/kona/coilair-supreme/PRD_416377_1543crx.aspx (Click for MTBR's review on the frame)

The frame is currently under completion to be an ultimate All Mountain/Freeride bike.. Which Dan will later use it as an Ultimate Penang Hill Downhill machine... Stay tune for his review...

Penang Hill : Ultimate DH paradise in Penang

2009-06-10T23:26:00.000-07:00

Penang Hill. 168 hilltop as referred by Hikers or Bikers.

Getting up to Penang Hill, you can choose the hard way (Video Below)

Or the easy way :

Penang Hill Tram !

Both ways.. brings you to the top eventually...

The downhill experience in Penang Hill is so far the best that Team AEG have had. Let's show you a sneak preview of how fun it can be.. and how "eventful" too...

Stay tuned for more.. we will be heading there soon again to get better videos...

Youth Park MTB Touge Movie

2009-06-07T07:22:00.000-07:00

To make a Downhill trail movie more interesting, Dan and I choreograph this video to make it look interesting. With the help of my wife Jessie as the Videographer.. I think we did a great job.

Location : Youth Park #3 , Penang

Enjoy !

Duo on a BP - TB Dam - BP Road Trip

2009-05-22T23:47:00.000-07:00

In conjunction with the Penang Dragon Boat Festival. Jessie and I decided to cycle from home (Balik Pulau) to Teluk Bahang Dam. It will be a 30km round trip.. and we will also be able to witness the opening ceremony of the Dragon Boat Festival 09.

We left late around 10am... We are on our way !!

Our first stop... The starting point of uphill stretch along Sg Rusa -> Sg Pinang.

We are then intimidated by some superbikers.. who later on turned back and overtook us at 10 times the speed..

Yeay !! We reached the Dam.. We are allowed to cycle into the park where the Dragon Boat rowers' tents are and the sponsors tents too..

We got free 100 Plus :P Jessie and I took turns to grab them as we were kinda thirsty..

After taking pictures around the Dam.. we headed back...

Oh my... 18KMs to reach home.. and it is already lunch time..

The downhill section.... wwweeeee...... Jessie nearly fell, emergency brake and the bike skidded nearly 90 degrees one way and then the other... Thank God she did not even fell off the bike.

Our route today... Total of 30.5 km... Not too bad... Let's see what awaits me tomorrow..

IronHorse - Down the Stairs

2009-05-20T22:22:00.000-07:00

Video by Chye...
My first attempt down a flight of stairs. Location : Air Itam Dam (1/2 stop).

I gained more confident by doing this.. Now, I am ready for more extreme rock jumping maybe ?

Team AEG's 17th May Video

2009-05-18T06:11:00.000-07:00

Balik Pulau 25km round trip

2009-05-17T11:36:00.000-07:00

May 17th.. A long awaited date for our long distance round trip. Found the trail in Everytrail.com http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=133031 and we loaded into our bicycle GPS. We had it in 3 units.. GPS 60, HT Diamond and another one.. just in case we really got lost in the jungle.

Started off from Taman Mutiara, we took the Botanica.CT road to avoid traffic and head towards Balik Pulau town for brunch and to stock up on energy bars, lunch packs and water...

Cycling up from Balik Pulau town towards Kpg Titi Serong is simple. Mostly tarmac and slight climb. However right after the first Hut built in the middle of the road, the climb became intense. Certain parts are as steep as 30 degrees. So, I ended up pushing my bike in most parts of it. To add on to the pain, it started to rain. We sheltered under a huge Durian tree for 25 minutes and alas, we were drenched, so decided to continue on... the rain stopped right after we had out lunch on the hilltop hut.

From hill top hut, we cycled another few KMs and we lost out way.. found out that we had to make a turn in the a jungle track.. to our surprise, the track is a 1 foot wide cemented path in the jungle ! Some of the cement path were cracked or washed away, but 80% of it is still quite nice.

We also met with a few fallen trees. Had to push the bike over it, under it and sometimes adventurous enough to ride thru it..

We met another gang of riders shortly, and the world is so small, we found Jane Lim's blog with their ride's updates.

Some part of the track, our GPS signal was lost due to thick trees and valleys.. But we were on track as we can follow the trails that the others left behind. Our main problem was always the Y junctions and the cross roads.. We need to ride an additional 50 - 100m to check out the trajectory. (we went off course a total of 3 times.. )

Anyway, right after we reached the cross roads to Tiger Hill, IronX, Dam, Sg Pinang.. The ride became easier.. Weee....

Then we reached this Vegetable Farm.. with Water Crest plants and Mint plants !! The air was filled with smell of fresh mints. We stopped and took some pictures... and me, the crazy one tried an Iron Man pose.. which I regretted later as it ached my already tired muscles on my body...

The ride from there towards the final stretch of cemented road towards Titi Kerawang main road was nice... I was nearly bitten by a dog...

and Ooi drifted and nearly crashed..

We cycled a bit uphill to Titi Kerawang Waterfall after reaching the mainroad. All because our CamelBaks and HydraPacks are all dried up already.. Went there to wash our faces (and hair), bought drinks and we even washed our bikes..

After which, we just cruise our way back to Taman Mutiara.. and I got the GPS tracks loaded and plotted this out.. Our first contribution to GPX mapping.. hehehe

- THE END -
Stay tuned for more next week...

2009-05-16T07:15:00.000-07:00

Team AEG's first event of the year will be NTMTBA's event on 21st June 2009 !!

We have got ourselves registered !!

More info @

http://ntmtba09.blogspot.com/

The trail :

Elevation - Click here

KEDAH JAMBOREE 2009

2009-05-16T07:07:00.000-07:00

KEDAH JAMBOREE 2009 is coming !

I heard from Ooi, Teoh and Chye as they have joined the last event by Kedah Jamboree; The event was FUN ! Ooi puncture a tire and a late friend of theirs lost his way 3 times and still end up a Champion !

We will be joining this event !

----------------------------

Date: 1 August 2009 (Saturday)
Organiser: Yayasan Sultanah Bahiyah
Fee: RM50
Trek: Tasik Jitra (starting point) - Trek Balak - Ladang Jati (will be detailed later)
Goddies: Jersey, Socks and more will be announced later

Iron Horse Warrior 4.0

2009-05-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

We heard of people getting presents for Birthdays, Christmas, Father's Day.... But I think this is first time in history, someone is buying a present for oneself on a Labour Day !! (Well, just grab any excuse you can.. ) I bought a new bike for myself on Labour Day, as a Labour Day present... All my hard work/labour in office, this is the reward !

Iron Horse Warrior 4.0 Trail Bike

http://www.ironhorsebikes.com/bikes/warrior/warrior4.php

Size 17", FRAME 5" TRAVEL TRAIL DUAL SUSPENSION, SINGLE PIVOT W/ SEALED BEARINGS,
REAR SHOCK FOX VANILLA R COIL, 7.5"X2"
FORK MARZOCCHI Z1 Sports 160MM TRAVEL
HANDLEBAR ALLOY RISER, 31.8MM CLAMP
STEM ALLOY XC, 31.8MM CLAMP
HEADSET NO 10, ZEROSTACK
BB FSA POWER DRIVE, 73X113MM
CRANK FSA DYNA DRIVE 170MM,
RINGS FSA, 42/32/22T
PEDALS WELLGO ALLOY PLATFORM
CHAIN KMC Z-72
SADDLE WTB PURE V SPORT
SEATPOST ALLOY MICRO ADJUST, 30.0MM
F. HUB ALLOY DISC, 32H
R. HUB ALLOY DISC, 32H
F. DER SHIMANO Deore, 34.9MM CLAMP
SHIFTER SRAM X4
CASSETTE SRAM 11/32T, 8SPEED
BRAKES TEKTRO IHB W/ 160MM ROTORS
BRAKE LEVER TEKTRO (Which I later upgraded to 8" Shimano)
RIM WTB SX24, 32H
SPOKE 14G STAINLESS
TIRES ITS NINJA, 2.35" FRONT/2.1" REAR
COLORS BLACK SATIN

Well, no more excuse for not able to cycle up a steep hill .. or unable to ride downhill very fast.. hahah..

Team AEG's First Video

2009-04-25T06:43:00.000-07:00

Enjoy our first production

Penang Hill 84/Youth Park Offroad DH

2009-04-19T08:41:00.001-07:00

After warming up from our previous week's ride, Team AEG joined some of the experts in DownHill biking to Penang Hill !! And yet again, this time it turned out different from our plans again. We were suppose to be there early to catch a Truck ride up to the top of Penang Hill. Instead, the truck was full and we were forced to cycle up to 84. While the rest on the truck will go up to the peak of Penang Hill and offroad downhill to meet us at 84... Hmmmpmmm

Well, we arrived at 84 at last, after much stopping and pushing. Actually just on time too as the rest from the hill top had also arrived at 84. Having hot drinks and chatting.

See the boy in orange ? He is SuperBoy I think.. he cycled with us from the foot up to 84. As we were too slow, he went ahead to 84 first... but after 25 mins of waiting.. he came back to look for us and cycled back up to 84 again... and did not even sweat !

First shot of me along the trails. This time I am riding a Polygon Axion 2007 - Full sus. Overall, the bike is quite good. A bit of the heavy side, but it is kinda comfortable. But I wasn't in a good position to comment much as this is my first Full Suspension bike.

Another shot of the Polygon, this time, stuck in a Ditch ! And rain clouds are all over us.. it was about to rain !

Well, it did rained.. and we did get wet. But after that, we manage to reach Youth Park trail and the sky cleared to have some nice pictures !! Too bad I only brought my handphone along.. pictures wasn't quite nice.

KM, Ooi and Teoh. We are all wet and the bikes are kinda muddy after the rain... But we are anxious to have a blast along Youth Park Downhill trail. (For more video on this trail, you can click on the videos on the right)

Reached the car park.. and this is the shot of my shin/knee guards... DIRTY !

Anyway, this is really a nice trail. Especially the Youth Park one.. I will surely come back for more Penang Hill Off roading.. but, with a better Full Suspension bike.. Gonna throw sell off this Polygon...

Team AEG's First big adventure

2009-04-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

Team AEG's First adventure after the Team was formed was on 12th April. Initially we planned to have just a normal Air Itam -> Air Itam Dam and back kinda trip. However, we then changed the plans to downhill to Balik Pulau and take the same route back.... None of us thought that this plan is about to change again !!

A last minute tweak on Ooi's hydro brakes. His AVID Juicy 7 were leaking, so loaned one from Teoh. Chye helped to hold the bike still while Ooi and Teoh is using all their force to pull out the Grip.. hahaha... While I do the most useless thing of all... Take pictures..

Story cut short.. The uphill part to Air Itam dam was normal of us.. I did not take pictures but instead, some videos..

It was tiring.. especially for the newest MTB riders amond the team, me... We had a lot of stops, because of me too..

Reached Balik Pulau, had lunch : the usual Famous Balik Pulau Laksa (just like any other MTBer in Penang) and we had a crazy idea! Let's ride back to Air Itam using the Tun Sardon road ! It is easier...

Here I am, looking fresh as if nothing happened.. Actually I am very tired..

Ooi and Teoh.. They are not acting fresh, they are still fresh and not tired at all.

Downhill from Jalan Tun Sardon was GREAT !! I manage to break my land speed record (on bike that is).. 61.5km/h on a Kona Roast !

After reaching the foot of Jalan Tun Sardon, instead of taking a turn to Air Itam, we made a right for more downhill action towards Relau...

We sort of gave up actually.. and parked the bike at my parents in law's place and took their car to get our cars in Air Itam.. haha.. Well, it was a great adventure nevertheless !!

What is Team AEG ?

2009-04-10T06:51:00.000-07:00

Team AEG was started by a group of people who had almost the same hobbies. Cars, R/C, Jungle Technical Games, Outdoors, MTB, Internet Research... just to name a few. We were having so much fun all the while but never thought of forming a team. (Some of us belongs to other teams depends on what activities... )

Anyway, finally we got together in our favorite outdoor activity : Mountain Biking, and started to form a team as we took up an oath to join and complete this year's Kayuh Lasak 2009.

We called ourselves TEAM AEG. "All Extreme Gang". Which, in fact, we were not really extremist in most of the things we do. Jack of all traders, Master of none.. haha. But we do went all out (Financial wise) in every of our hobbies.

This is our logo.. and we are having Jerseys made with out team signatures on it.. Hopefully to be spotted by other MTBers and will be able to make more friends.

Stay tuned for more.