Interstate T- Shirt and Briefing

Hey, the organizers will be passing around T-Shirt as part of the package.



There will also be a briefing tentatively on the 28th at McDonald near Curve (if I am not mistaken). So watch this space.

Interstate2007 - Day 3 Route

Day 3 - The trip to Independence. Its a Sunday Ride, starting from Bukit Mertajam, we will hit Penang Bridge and go to Balik Pulau and then hiting Telok Bahang and then to Batu Ferenggi.

Interstate2007 - Day 2 Route

Total Distance 130km, we will be doing this on a Saturday 1st September. Starting point Taiping, end point Bukit Mertajam

Day 1 Route Path

This what day 1 route will be. Total distance 150km tentatively. Caveat, there maybe changes in route until final recee

Riding to Independence (Part 3)

This part of the journey is the shortest but definitely not the most unexciting. Early on a Sunday morning, we will be facing one of the most historical rides ever, the crossing of the Penang Bridge. As we ride slowly towards the starting point of the bridge, the toll house, we will be greeted by the outriders.



We will then be issued tags to let us pass the bridge, no tag, no passing the toll house, no bridge crossing.

As we make through onto the bridge, we will be allowed approximately an hour of travelling window for all 300+ riders to cycle pass the bridge. What can we expect after crossing the Penang Bridge, well, one of the most challenging but scenic route ever. We will be going to Gurney Drive but through Balik Pulau ie the reverse side and back road of Penang. To get ready for the route, herewith attached is the route profile



Cyclist will have to climb almost 190m climb in Balik Pulau as we head towards Batu Ferenggi and head towards the hotel near Gurney Drive. What this route lacks in distance, it makes up in challenge. We will then be putting up in a hotel near Gurney Drive.
We will end our journey here with a scrumptious dinner before our nap. Tommorrow, we will be pushing off back to Ipoh.

Interstate2007 - Enjoying Company - (Part 2 - From Taiping to Bukit Mertajam)

Now, what has the organizer had planned for us on the second day. Just another interesting 130 km of ride into Bukit Mertajam. Its a good time to have a chit chat to meet new people to take your mind off the the ride. Will there be a surprise hill or mountain for us to climb, well judging from the profile, just one minor hill from kilometer 10 to kilometer 38. Having a hill in the early part of the journey is good as it will be a recovery ride to Bukit Mertajam later.We can also take pits stop along the way for fruits and drinks as there will be a lot of dusun as we take the back roads of Perak. We will be crossing borders of Perak, Kedah and Seberang Perai as we venture into Bukit Mertajam. What are the sort of roads will we be facing? What kind of picturesque views will we be seeing. Well, there will be rolling hills and straight roads for this leg of the journey.

There will also be old roads, which can be very tranquil and long.
There will be many windy stretch for us to test the turns and twist.
And we will be passing small towns to make it interesting and for some of us to refuel and restock.
This will be a sight for sore eyes for some of us. The end of our 130km of journey. The hotel that we will be putting up.I am sure some of us will want to lepak in our hotel room and enjoy the plush carpeting and the soft bed. Wooowee, and end of the day and looking forward to cross the Penang Bridge the day after. That will be one historical event to look forward to on the third day. Lets dream about it in this hotel room as we wait for the morning after. Check out the next posting for our ride into Penang.

Interstate2007 - A preview to Fun (Part 1 - Ipoh to Taiping)

What can we expect to Interstate2007 this year round.? Well, for the first Leg of the journey, an intro to heavenly torture of endurance. The organizers will start the journey (tentatively I heard) from Casuarina Hotel Ipoh at 7 am on the 31st August. So, cyclist may want to arrange own logistics and accomadation the night before. Some of us may just drive down early the same morning though. Lets have a look at the prelude of the route profile. This first day journey will cover a distance of approximately 150km and is expected for most cyclist to finish this leg in about 7.5 hours.
The profile for the first day is doable even for social cyclist. Its only the endurance that has to be trained for. The only major climb is near Bukit Berapit and is no more then a 100m accend. However, correspondingly, since its more of a Holiday on Bike, the picturesque view of the first day journey should be able to cool many a cyclist heart when you get to view some of the following:-


Some rolling hills to be expected. What is biking without rolling hills ;-)
Some bridges to cross near Kuala Kangsar
The ride up near Padang Rengas to Bukit Berapit, the only major climb prior into Taiping.
After all this view and ride, we would be able to get our get together and chit chat at the hotel accomadations arranged by our organizers. What a relief after the first day to see the sights of out condotel and place where we will refuel for carbo.
The rooms to rest our legs.......
The swimming pool to cool down our bodies, yes guys and gals, bring your swim suit along.
Wow, really looking forward to this years ride. There are already 300+ registration. Hope I don't have anymore incidences.