PCC INTERSTATE 2001
KL-Mersing 350KM
The PCC Interstate ride is an annual event organized by a cycling club. This is
their 3rd series of long distance rides. The 3-day (31 Aug-2 Sept) long road
ride is held in conjunction with the Merdeka (Independence Day) celebrations
in Malaysia.
My partner/stoker decided that it'll be 'fun' to
ride with a big group for a change. 
It has always been touring solo (or duo, in
this case) for us. I was really keen to find out how the tandem would fare with
the single bikers. There were about 100 cyclists from different parts of the
Malaysia. As the ride was fully-supported, we didn't have to fix our racks and
panniers. That was a relief! The fun part was fixing a 'stereo hi-fi’ system
to our tandem. We had the mini-disc (MD) tucked away below the captain's seat and
we each had a speaker attached to our top tube bar......now that’s what I call
a real mobile disco. We also attached a flag pole to the rear wheel dropout –with SCHICK flag, (our sponsor for this
ride) and our respective national flags all waving in the wind.
DAY 1 (110 KM)
KL - Kajang - Semenyih - Broga - Kg. Beranang - Lenggeng - Kg.Paroi - Kuala Pilah
We started off at about 4am. Riding through city in the wee hours of
the morning seem so quiet and surreal. The air feels so refreshing too. Everyone
was very excited and basically rode together. At about 35 km into our ride we
were treated to breakfast at Metro Inn....sandwiches,
bananas and milo....where's my roti canai?? The weather was also very kind as it
was mainly fair and cloudy. The tandem performed remarkably well on the flats.
We maintain a moderate tempo on the flats. The last 30 km was rather hilly and
the roads were narrow too. Had to fight with the other vehicles for our space.
But luckily we had safety in numbers. The tandem reached at speed of 80kmh going
down the hills. I wonder what our speed would be like if we were full loaded
with our panniers.. Accommodation was at Desa Inn - the attached rooms are clean and comfortable though
smallish.
Kuala Pilah was just a stepping stone for the whole peloton before moving to the next
stop. A sleepy town and probably the only happening is at where we were staying.
DAY 2 (120KM)
Kuala Pilah - Pelangai -- Juasseh - Bahau - Kota Shah Bandar - Perantau Damai -
Muadzam Shah
The 2nd day saw a group of us leaving earlier than usual.
It was just as well as the weather turned hot and nasty later in the day. A
funny thing happened that morning. Our authorized wheel sucker Pauline decided
to brighten up the start of the day by 'endoing' into a pothole. Later did we
find out, she was "Ai Leng My Meng" (die die also must look good). She
was wearing her dark dark sun-glasses at 5.00am in the morning!!! As usual, like
all cyclists, she wanted to see if there are any scratches and bruises on her
'baby' first before surveying the damage she has done to herself.
We topped up our water bottles as water stations along this route are few and far
in between. Maintaining a decent pace of 33-35 km/h was made more tolerable with our on-board-full hi fi system.
Westlife, N Sync and Andrew Lloyd Webber were our companions on that day. What
more, we had an entourage of about 5 cyclists behind us perpetually drafting
away. Stay at the Universiti Inn - big rooms, big compounds, good food. Pity the power lines kept tripping.
We were lucky that we arrived here on a Saturday because there is nothing else to do over here in a Muslim State but to walk
around in a Pasar Malam (night market). Most women and ladies here in Muadzam Shah cloth in their traditional fully covered
from head to toe malay dress. We felt as if we were dressed obscenely in shorts, T-shirts and thongs.
DAY 3 (130KM)
Muadzam Shah - Kg. Leban
Condong - Kuala Rompin - Kuala Pontian - Padang Endau - Mersing
This was the last day of the cycling trip. The early
morning ride together started slow and easy. All made even more pleasant by the
bright moonlight and the twinkling stars above us. 
The 3rd day saw us on the
most direct route. One good advantage about this trip was that we were able to
read the map directions (courtesy of stoker) and still continue riding. As the
day got brighter, our speed got faster and we were able to pick up stragglers
along the way by asking them to " naik
bas" (draft behind us). The first 100 km was rather flat and we were
picking speed at 34km/h before being requested to slow down to 30kmh to accommodate the folks in our bandwagon. Sigh!…what a party booper. At
about 80km mark, someone took great effort to ride beside us. We were thrilled initially, thinking that this guy decided to have a chat
with us but instead he was requesting us to stop for a rest. "Stop??? Rest??? Nope.... we are not stopping" was our reply and you should have seen
his face. But eventually we did stop for a quick 10 minutes break.
The last 30 km were hills and that’s when the wheel-suckers behind us had a field
day and zoomed pass the tandem. I know the tandem has a reputation of bad hill
climbing but I'd like to think that the guys behind us just had enough of our
singing and screeching "Uptown Girl" and "Cats" at the top
of our voices and when the destination was in sight,...........
At Mersing, we were escorted into the Mersing town by marshalls and greeted by a
group Malay boys with Kombong (malay drum). The Mersing council welcome us and gave us a high tea reception.
ALL IN ALL
It was our first time “touring” with other people. A good ride for both of us.
It was also very well organized and well supported. A very pampering experience
too.
ROUTE DIRECTIONS
DAY 1 – KL/KUALA PILAH
Start Point
Mamak Stall, Jalan Development, Taman Kepong, Kuala Lumpur
Direction
Head for Jalan Kepong. At junction near Caltex
Station, turn left and make U-turn at traffic lights 100m down the road to get
to KL direction. Travel straight along Jalan Kepong. At KM5, keep left to take
the roundabout to get onto Jalan Kuching. AVOID taking the
flyover.
Travel along Jalan Kuching. Go pass the first toll plaza and
keep going straight. AVOID making any turns. You will pass several flyovers
before going up the Loke Yew flyover at KM16 to get onto Jalan
Cheras and then Cheras Highway. Keep going straight. You
will pass through 3 toll plazas. Follow the Kajang/Seremban signboards.
At KM34, you have to make a left exit at Exit 708.
Just follow the ‘Kajang’ signboard. (Avoid the flyover to Seremban)
At the end of the exit, there’s a traffic light junction. Keep right and turn
right at the traffic lights and you are on the outskirts of Kajang. Go straight
and regroup at the Esso Station next to Kompleks Kota Kajang at
KM35.5.
500m from this regrouping point, there is another traffic
light junction with the Kajang police station on your left. Turn
left here to get onto Jalan Semenyih.
Go straight along Jalan Semenyih. You will pass 9 traffic
lights along the way – significant landmarks near traffic lights include Metro
Inn, Kajang Hospital, Mobil station, BP station, Shell station,
NTL signboard, BP station, mosque and Semenyih police
station. After travelling 9km from the Kajang police station traffic
junction or at KM46, watch out for a Petronas station on the right
side of the road. The junction to Broga is on the opposite side.
There is a huge signboard that says ‘Taman Tasik Semenyih’. Turn left here.
At approximately KM55 in Broga town, there’s a right
turn. Take it and head for Lenggeng. At approximately KM67
in Lenggeng town, you have to take a left turn in direction of Pantai.
Watch out for ‘Pantai/K. Klawang’ signboard. There’s also a red arrow and
PCC initials marked out on the embankment of the drain at this junction. This
junction is quite obscure so be alert. Good spot for regrouping to minimise
chances of getting lost.
About 9km from this junction or at KM76, you’ll come
to a T-junction. Take the right turn here. There’s a red yellow
and PCC initials marked out on the road. Hopefully, they’re still there. As
you approach an industrial area about 9.5km from here or at KM85, you
have to make a left turn over a bridge to cross a river running
parallel on the left side. This is a very obscure turning but we have marked out
a red arrow and PCC initials on the cement structure on the bridge. You should
be able to see it as you approach the bridge on your left.
Keep going straight and after passing an Esso
station, you’ll come to a major traffic light junction (approximately at KM88).
Turning right takes you to Seremban but we are taking the left turn here in
direction of Kg Paroi. Significant townships along the way are Seri
Menanti and Terachi. After that it’s a breeze all the
way into Kuala Pilah. Just a couple of hills along the way.
Finish Point
Shell station at KM115. We will regroup here and
proceed into town together. For early birds, there are clean toilet facilities
and food available at adjoining stall.
KEY LANDMARKS/TURNINGS
|
ODOMETER
|
LANDMARK
|
DIRECTION
|
|
KM5.5
|
Jln Kuching roundabout
|
3 o’clock turn
|
|
KM7
|
Jln Kuching toll plaza
|
Go straight
|
|
KM16
|
Loke Yew flyover
|
Go straight
|
|
KM20
|
Taman Midah toll plaza
|
Go straight to roundabout and take 12 o’clock turn
|
|
KM25
|
Plaza Phoenix toll plaza
|
Go straight
|
|
KM29
|
Sg Long toll plaza
|
Go straight
|
|
KM31
|
Exit 707
|
Go straight
|
|
KM34.6
|
Exit 708
|
Take left down to traffic light junction and turn right. Follow
‘Kajang’ signboard.
|
|
KM35.5
|
Esso Station, Kompleks Kota Kajang
|
Regroup here.
|
|
KM36
|
Kajang Police Station traffic light junction
|
Turn left onto Jln Semenyih.
|
|
KM46
|
Petronas station on right side of road. Broga junction on the left.
|
Turn left.
|
|
KM55
|
Inside Broga town. Watch out for a right turn here.
|
Turn right.
|
|
KM67
|
Lenggeng town. You’ll pass some shanty shophouses. Watch out for
‘Pantai/K Klawang’ signboard for left turning. Red arrow and PCC
initials sprayed on drain embankment at junction.
|
Regroup here for breakfast. Turn left following ‘Pantai/K Klawang’
signboard.
|
|
KM76
|
T-junction. Turning left is to K Klawang. Turning right to Pantai.
Watch out for red arrow and PCC initials on the road.
|
Turn right.
|
|
KM85
|
Industrial area with river running parallel on the left. Look out for
bridge on the left. Red arrow and PCC initials sprayed on concrete
structure.
|
Turn left on the bridge.
|
|
KM88
|
Pass an Esso station and you come to major T-junction. Turning right
takes you to Seremban.
|
Turn left and keep going straight.
|
|
KM115
|
Shell station
|
End point. Regroup here.
|
DESIGNATED STOPS FOR SUPPORT VEHICLES
|
ODOMETER
|
LANDMARK
|
|
KM25
|
Plaza Phoenix toll plaza
|
|
KM46
|
Petronas station, Semenyih
|
|
KM55
|
Broga town
|
|
KM67
|
Lenggeng town
|
|
KM85
|
Bridge near Industrial area for left turning.
|
|
KM105
|
Seri Menanti golf course
|
|
KM115
|
Shell station – end point
|
PCC INTERSTATE 2001
ROUTE DIRECTIONS
DAY 2 – KUALA PILAH/MUADZAM SHAH
Start Point
Desa Inn, K Pilah town
Direction
From hotel, move to main road and turn left. At traffic light junction, turn
left. Pass Pelangai town and at KM10, turn right in
direction of Juasseh. 1.8km later at KM11.8, road turns
left in direction of Bahau.
At approximately KM22, you’ll approach Bahau town. On
entering town, you’ll pass 2 traffic lights, with a Shell
station at the second traffic lights. The road splits left into a one-way. Round
the bend, you’ll see a big ‘Kurnia’ signboard straight
ahead. Just follow the road as it turns left. After KM23, look out for a
left turning over a railway track going in the direction of Serting.
Take it and head in direction of Serting.
After some 10km or at approximately KM33, watch out for a ‘X’
junction. We turn right here in the direction of Kota Shah Bandar.
Going straight would take you to Ayer Hitam. At approximately KM57,
there’s a Petronas station. There are other stalls further down
and you may want to regroup for breakfast and refuel here. Beyond here,
watering/feeding holes are sporadic.
At KM72 near the Kota Shah Bandar junction, there’s
another watering hole. At KM79, you’ll be riding over a long
bridge. As you approach KM94, you’ll see a T-junction
ahead. Turn left here in the direction of Perantau Damai. At KM101,
you’ll be passing Perantau Damai. Look out for Muadzam
Shah signboard. 16km from here or at approximately KM117, there
is a diamond interchange. Along the way, you’ll see an ‘R&R’
signboard. At the interchange, keep left and head for the junction under the
interchange. Turn right at the junction. You’ll be passing the underneath the
interchange. 500m ahead, stop by the roadside. We shall regroup here before
going into Muadzam Shah.
End Point
500m after passing under diamond interchange to Muadzam Shah. Rest under the
trees.
KEY LANDMARKS/TURNINGS
|
ODOMETER
|
LANDMARK
|
DIRECTION
|
|
KM10
|
Junction to Juasseh
|
Turn right
|
|
KM11.8
|
Road turns left.
|
Follow road turning left.
|
|
KM22.3
|
Bahau town centre. ‘Kurnia’ signboard.
|
Follow road.
|
|
KM24
|
Railway line on your left. Left turn over railway track.
|
Turn left at railway crossing.
|
|
KM34
|
‘X’ junction to Kota Shah Bandar
|
Turn right.
|
|
KM56
|
Petronas station
|
Go straight
|
|
KM72
|
Kota Shah Bandar junction
|
Go straight
|
|
KM79
|
Bridge
|
Go straight
|
|
KM85
|
Palm oil mill
|
Go straight
|
|
KM93
|
T-junction to Perantau Damai/Muadzam Shah
|
Turn left.
|
|
KM101
|
Perantau Damai
|
Go straight
|
|
KM117
|
‘R&R’ signboard. Diamond interchange to Muadzam Shah
|
Keep left and turn right at junction underneath interchange. Stop
500m by the roadside. Shady trees.
|
DESIGNATED STOPS FOR SUPPORT VEHICLES
|
ODOMETER
|
LANDMARK
|
|
KM10
|
Left turn to Juasseh
|
|
KM22
|
Shell station, Bahau
|
|
KM34
|
Ayer Hitam/Kota Shah Bandar ‘X’ junction
|
|
KM56
|
Petronas station
|
|
KM72
|
Kota Shah Bandar junction
|
|
KM93
|
T-junction to Perantau Damai/Muadzam Shah
|
|
KM117
|
End point after interchange
|
PCC INTERSTATE 2001
ROUTE DIRECTIONS
DAY 3 –MUADZAM SHAH/MERSING
Start Point
Universiti Inn, Muadzam Shah
Direction
Least complicated of all 3 routes. Just head straight and watch out for major
towns highlighted on the map. At KM55 is the Kg Leban Condong
T-junction. There are plenty of feeding holes here. Suitable for
regrouping and breakfast. Turn right at the junction.
There’s a Petronas station at KM68. At KM93,
we’ll be crossing a long bridge with seaview. Only point on the
route where you can see the sea!
At KM96, there are roadworks in progress. So slow down.
At KM130, we will reach the Petronas station designated as
the end point. We will regroup here and ride into Mersing as a
procession.
End Point
Petronas station at KM130.
KEY LANDMARKS/TURNINGS
|
ODOMETER
|
LANDMARK
|
DIRECTION
|
|
KM24
|
Feeding hole
|
Go straight
|
|
KM44
|
Kg Bangkang
|
Go straight
|
|
KM55
|
Kg Leban Condong junction. Feeding holes.
|
Turn right
|
|
KM68
|
Petronas station
|
Go straight
|
|
KM71
|
Bridge crossing
|
Go straight
|
|
KM92
|
Bridge crossing
|
Go straight
|
|
KM93
|
Bridge crossing with seaview
|
Go straight
|
|
KM96
|
Roadworks in progress. Slow down.
|
Go straight
|
|
KM130
|
Petronas station
|
End. Regroup.
|
DESIGNATED STOPS FOR SUPPORT VEHICLES
|
ODOMETER
|
LANDMARK
|
|
KM24
|
Feeding Hole
|
|
KM44
|
Kg Bangkang
|
|
KM55
|
Kg Leban Condong junction
|
|
KM68
|
Petronas station
|
|
KM100
|
Padang Endau
|
|
KM130
|
Petronas station
|
Photos by Izzy * Written by ling
All information courtesy of PCC
Check out www.pcc-cycling.freeservers.com
It has always been touring solo (or duo, in
this case) for us. I was really keen to find out how the tandem would fare with
the single bikers. There were about 100 cyclists from different parts of the
Malaysia. As the ride was fully-supported, we didn't have to fix our racks and
panniers. That was a relief! The fun part was fixing a 'stereo hi-fi’ system
to our tandem. We had the mini-disc (MD) tucked away below the captain's seat and
we each had a speaker attached to our top tube bar......now that’s what I call
a real mobile disco. We also attached a flag pole to the rear wheel dropout –with SCHICK flag, (our sponsor for this
ride) and our respective national flags all waving in the wind.
