Cycling At 50 Plus: Slaloming Down Hill From The Gap

Starting from Kuala Kubu Bharu at 7.45.am. The town is at the foot hill of the mountain, and has just woken up when we arrive. This is where we park our car. We have light breakfast at a Mamak restaurant nearby and cycle down hill to meet the main road which gradually rises for the next 5 km. We meet joggers who are already on the way back to the town after an uphill jog.

The dam in view in the distance. The climb to the dam, a huge man made structure, from km 5 is the first serious test of climbing and is a stiff challenge to the fitness. If you can make to the top without dismounting, you do have the minimum fitness to carry you to the summit of Fraser's Hill.

After this bridge, will be the start of the climb to the dam. It is through a road carved on the mountain slopes and the gradient is not made to please your average cyclists. Past the dam the contour climb starts at km 11. Roads following the contours are friendly to the environment, less cuts are made on the slopes since the giant machineries were still to come. Consequently, the gradients are not taxing and we are closer to nature but the trade of is the winding and narrow road, which to a motorist in a hurry, is an ancient curse that slows down travel time.

A fiver at km 20.

We stop for natural refill of our water bottles

Historical site, where the British High Commissioner was assassinated in 1951. This is at km 31. The sign is too cheap and easily overlooked for such a historical event. The murder, or elimination of an enemy, depending on which side you are looking from, is a watershed event that determined the future of British Malaya. If Chin Peng had won, I would be writing this blog in Mandarin characters.

The Gap is at km 33 and is reached at 10.00 am after 2 1/2 hours of cycling. There is a small kiosk where we rest and have carbonated sugared drink to replenish the body from the lost calories.

We pass the climb to the top of Fraser's Hill which is 8 steep km away as rain clouds are gathering and we want to avoid the cold mountain rain. I had done this stretch before at 1 hour 15 min, Mirza had done it in 40 minutes though I know good cyclists who raced through in just 30 minutes.