merdeka nite ride

well....the much anticipated NR was finally over....just got back home from Larkin....reached home at 2:30am...after a quick shower, decided to start writing the event coverage...while it's still fresh.......=p

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Reached the RV point at 10pm sharp....seems like that most of the guys were already there...they came early....surprisingly....hehe

I started unloading almost immediately, assembling my front tires and gearing up…in less than 8 minutes....and when I'm done, I noticed that the car park was already packed with riders...I estimated that a total of 60 or more riders participating in the NR...whoa...a new record....not bad....there were a lot of new faces amongst the regular guys...some of em looked familiar....well I guess it's normal for us to meet these familiar faces who coincidently shares the same interest in events like this...and it's also an opportunity to make new acquaintance...and so…while waiting for the ride to kick off….errr…paddled off…I went on to greet some of those familiar faces…=)

After much delay...short briefing by Hafiz, a photo and interview session by the media (yup…that's right...the event was covered by both RTM and ASTRO)...we started riding at 10:50pm...we also have police escorts for the NR…well...actually he's one of the regular rider riding with his reflective official police vest...with approval from his superior of course...Hafiz has made the necessary arrangements with the authority for the NR...for safety purposes...an escort was one of the requirements......but I think, one escort is not sufficient enough to watch over 60 riders...let alone to guide them to safety...for that reason, some of the riders took the role as marshals for the ride...one of em was Nizam, riding a motorised bicycle (err...do I have this right?)....hehe

since the event was covered by the media....everybody was told to put on their best behaviour while riding...meaning that we were prohibited from racing or riding recklessly....darn it!...hehe...we were instructed to ride in pairs and in some cramped areas, to ride in single files...man!....imagine....these guys are used to ride fast and sometimes compete among themselves but this time...they were told to ride slowly....hehe....me?...I took the opportunity to ride extra leisurely....enjoying every seconds of the ride...hehe...

the initial riding route has been changed last minute….from riding to Stulang Laut for the Merdeka Countdown to the usual spot, Danga Bay…so the ride was more or less, considered as a routine ride for me…nothing special except for the media coverage…
speaking of which, has been covering the event from starting point, to the RTM junction, the traffic light junction at Kotaraya, along the Lido stretch and finally at the RV point at Danga Bay..

we reached Danga Bay with 15 minutes to spare before the count down…and so, we took the opportunity to take a break (not that we need any….didn’t even break a sweat..really!)…we gathered in the parking lot in front of Iskandar Investment office to wait for the countdown…imagine…the place were already packed with people and cars…for the countdown event…add in another 60 guys on bikes…the place was cramped….with all the noise and commotion…one could not say that he’s actually taking a break….me….I’m just enjoying the moment….watching people…chicks….hehe…..Mat Noor and his group came minutes before the countdown…kinda great celebrating the Merdeka ride gathering with fellow riders…

it’s finally 12am…and people were cheering the countdown….so were we….we waited for a while more before started riding again towards Dataran Bandaraya, a few kilometres away…we were riding in the traffic….the road was packed with motorists…all making way back home or just driving around town not knowing that it’s jammed everywhere…

reached Dataran Bandaraya some 15 minutes later...the place were also crowded…but I’m sure it was packed earlier for the countdown….there were a large group of “miniature riders”…kids on deformed looking bikes…which I believe was pretty stock when their parents bought for them….hehe….but I guess you gotta have some respect for these kids….they came riding from far…some even from Tiram…riding with no protection at all….I mean…no brakes (yup…you heard me right!)…no blinkers what so ever…no proper riding gear (wearing those selipar jepun only!)…and no freakin helmet!....I mean these kids must be crazy or something….with their odd looking bikes (pretty sure they won’t pass any safety inspections)….they truly are risking their lives…daredevil?....nahh….little devil maybe…hehe…

we hanged out for half an hour….just taking a break (again)…meeting other groups of riders….before we were on saddles again…heading to Larkin….

I hanged out with them at Larkin till 2.20am before leaving for home…

I guess the ride was more or less enjoyable….fun because of the large number of participants…hanging out with friends…making new acquaintance…and the less fun part was the slow paced riding….hehehe…and also the change of riding route….quite disappointed actually….=p

Well…they’ll be other NR’s….as a matter of fact, next Tuesday…same time..same route…same riding buddies….hey? I’m not complaining….it’s just that I really feel that we need to change the riding route a bit…to make it more interesting…..just my two cents on things…hehehe..