October 28, 2003

  • My writeup for the Bintan trip


    Bintan 26-28 Oct 2003



    26 Oct


    Picked up Joyce at her place and having my bike in the boots, she carrying her own bike at the back seat, we managed to get to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in good time to slowly register our ferry and check in our bikes for an additional S$5.Esther Tan will join us at Bintan on a later ferry.A bit piffed at having to bring our own bikes onto the boat despite paying check-in.Joyce had her carbo loading of imported chocolates while I was still trying to diet, rather unsuccessfully.



    Last to get off the boat with the bikes, last at the immigration at Bandar Bentan Telani (BBT), we somehow managed to get out and find (or was found by) the hotel transport people who help us load the bikes onto the back of the van and at the hotel in time for lunch.Bad news: lunch was in Sing Dollars at the hotel and the prices were no cheaper, if not more expensive, than hotels in Singapore.Surprised that Esther arrived soon thereafter, and she watched us eat our Nasi Lemak and Nasi Goreng… mmm.Joyce went to check but the room was still not ready at 2pm plus (we decided to use Singapore time rather than switch to Bintan time) so we decided to change and go cycling.Conveniently, we each went to pick up our stuff and used the toilet at the restaurant for changing.We set out for a loop of 80km (wah, so ambitious already).



    http://www.holidaycity.com/bintanhotels/index.html


    http://www.holidaycity.com/indramaya/



    Rain started the moment we hit the 1st km.We covered 1.09km before taking cover for half an hour at Banyu Biru.Rain got heavier and lighter, heavier and lighter… and finally we decided to head out again, this time travelling very carefully because the roads were very slippery.I think my tires had some part to play too, and fortunately air does leak out of mine faster than usual so I’m supposed to have more traction (although that would still be less than 23C tires – I use 20C thinner tires).The ladies soon drop me as I struggle to gain balance on the slippery roads both on the uphill and downhills.With the weather drying though, we started moving from the under-20 kmhs to just-below-30kmh speeds.Roads were narrow but in pretty good condition.We headed up and down the nice hills… these are hills better than those found at Desaru, comparable with the hills at Batam which I had done before.Longer, steeper describes it.After passing the 66km-to-TPI mark (that’s short for Tanjong Pinang, which is the bench mark for arrival) where there is a guard house, we turned left in the TPI direction.Then we were hit by the rain again and just in time too, to hit the multiple durian stall in the area of Anculai.Another half an hour spent here, and we realize that we were fortunate to have stopped here for we found out that the East West Highway is not completed!!!Looks like our loops will have to end here and make a turn back.We have managed 33km thus far.



    After durian loading and some Powergels eaten, we headed back home.More hills, nice rolling and finally back to the hotel at 65km, distance covered in Day One.We got a buggy but with our bikes the guy drove the buggy up while we tailed him with our bikes, going up another steep hill to where the villa was located.Private pool, two rooms, ladies got to share bed, while I got two beds to put my stuff on and sleep on the other.TV in their master bedroom with large toilet and they had their own external-shower area/soaking area.I had my own toilet, and good view of the empty private pool – gee, how exciting.Kitchen and another toilet (which will be Esther’s private toilet as Joyce took the one in their room) so we all didn’t have to fight for anything.We had planned to go to Pasar Oleh Oleh but in the end had our buffet dinner in the hotel (yes, in Sing Dollars).Still it was worth it, with lots of good food, soup, rice with mutton satay, beef rendang, chicken, mussels wrapped in some sort of otah and vegetables which I didn’t notice (I’m a carnivore).This was when Joyce stared at the menu, rolled up like the bill, and asked who settled lunch.Ooooops.Oh well, most likely it was charged to our hotel bill, after we had conveniently left to change to our cycling apparels.



    Back to the room where I helped lube their bikes and commented on the black state of their chains.Watched a bit of TV before I retired, and managed to find the switches to all the lights, including the ones for the pool, which were located outside.Woke up at 6am and switched on TV, to find that Joyce had already woken up earlier.We let Esther sleep in and went for breakfast.Mmm… yummy.Esther apparently was up just slightly after we left, and we had da-bao back some bread for her.



    27 Oct


    It will be a long day as we plan to head out for 111km of cycling towards Tanjong Pinang (TPI).We were already behind schedule by more than an hour but were lucky the weather was better today.My chain dropped twice and got me into a foul mood.I was also feeling under the weather for not having rested prior to the ride, signs of overtraining starting to seep in.Rain hit us just as we got to Anculai again, but the durian stalls were mostly closed this time, either because it was a public holiday or it was too early.Still there was one stall for the ladies to have their mangosteen.Travelling was faster today, in the 30kmh speeds prior to the rain.The stop got mud into my cleats and I couldn’t clip my right foot in.The next hill was a full 40 degrees up; at least that’s how it looks to me.Tried to call Joyce but she couldn’t hear me.Halfway I couldn’t get it going anymore and had to get off the bike and push off.By the time I got to the top the ladies had disappeared.I couldn’t go down fast either, because I was not clipped in and was virtually balanced on just handlebars.Got through the next few hills and then the slopes got gentler and then rain started falling again, which was a blessing because puddles of water started forming.At one part I saw a relatively huge puddle and stopped the bike to wash off whatever I could from the cleats.Managed to clip in and finally went on a chase after the ladies.



    Turning at the 46km-from-TPI had no signs (either that or I didn’t see) but the ladies were waiting for me.By now I have an excess load of energy to work off so I decided to just take off. After a while I decided to pull back and Esther pulled ahead.One in front and one behind… decided to wait for Joyce to regroup.Three of us got back into a group and we headed towards the coastal line, stopping by a provision shop to top up our water. Bumpy road along the coastal, and rain had us stopping again.Time was now 2.30pm, a bit behind schedule so we were certain to be taking a cab back from TPI.



    Turning right at 46km-from-TPI brings us along the coastal beaches, relatively flatter but with an additional 30km of road to travel on.Going straight on will have us hitting the hills, shaving 30km off the road but with rolling hills (really steep, really long) like none you can find in Johor or Singapore.Travelling along the coastal line was too bumpy to ride fast – 24-26kmh in the wet weather.There was one 40 degrees uphill that Joyce and myself decided to come out of the bike and push our way up.Finally it was on a flat, dry road when Esther pulled at 32-34kmh and, after checking with Joyce, pushed it up to 36-38kmh.This is a nice comfortable race pace that I will try to hold for the Singapore Tri and just wanted to test it out.Felt like I could go on forever at this pace… finally pulled off to let Esther do the pulling again.



    Navigating through the town area got more difficult.We pulled off for a short coconut water stop then continued towards TPI.Came to this development area where the roads were soooo wide, steady uphill then steady downhill and into the TPI area.We thought we were lost a few times but apparently were still headed in the right direction and finally got to a temple, checked the map, had some food - 10 sticks of Satay and ice drinks which we regretted immediately because we knew the ice wasn’t boiled water.Next to it was this Police Station where Joyce (team leader) got us a cab back that could go all the way back to hotel for RP45,000… per person.RP135,000 was about S$30 but we were all too tired so haggling was short but still the best deal then.The driver also had to drive back fareless from BBT to TPI.



    Homeward bound we stopped to get rambutans and durians.Checked out the route if we had taken the “hill” side instead of “coastal” side to TPI.I slept in the taxi.Hotel was a good rest, food at the kelong including chilli crab, fresh garlic prawns, fried sotong, fried tofu, brocolli, rice and err… steamed bun.Again, price was in Sing Dollars.Ouch.Home and sleep… ladies were still planning ride the next day, starting at 7am on a 3 hour ride and back in time for breakfast still.Ladies had durians and I had a beer; been a long time since I’ve had an alcoholic drink if you don’t count sniffing alcohol which I use for massage, cleaning of wounds and saddle sores.Surprisingly no saddle sores for me after the long ride, which normally will happen during the long stops – taxi ride back was about one hour plus.



    Cleaned up Joyce’s bike and then my own.Esther cleaned her own bike.All done at the external shower/soaking area.We soaked our wheels in the outside fountain, very convenient.This place was made with cleaning bikes in mind!Spun out the water from my chain at high speed and wiped the brake and transmission wires – these are the main rust parts.Lubed all three bike chains.



    Had problems locating the final light for the swimming pool before sleeping.I went all round the house three times trying to find it, and in the process discovered that the outside switches could control the inside room lights too.Gave up on the pool lights eventually.Woke up at 5am and stumbled outwards to find both bikes missing but didn’t give it a second thought.Did wonder why they brought their bikes in.Was it because I had brought my bike into room the previous night?Brain was still a bit dead.Slept till 7am.Knocked on their door and no response.Went outside checked … no one.Tried room door, locked.Both outside doors were locked too.Then it sunk in why both bikes were missing.They had wanted me to think they had gone out riding, and didn’t expect me to be up at 5am.The two came out giggling like school girls.Found out also that my searching for the pool lights the evening before got Joyce rubbing her eyes wondering if the room lights did come on or not (I knew that only right after I switched it on what the switches were for so I turned them off immediately).



    28 Oct


    Went round in the buggy and had a swim in the big pool, breakfast and checked out the gym before going back room and sleeping till after check out time.Took the 3.30pm Bintan time ferry and back to Singapore, having skipped lunch but with plenty of food da-bao from breakfast.Esther decided to ride back with her backpack while Joyce and myself took separate cabs back.



    Technicals


    Total ascend on the first day was 550m.Including the durian stop, we were on the bike for more than three hours, for 65km


    Total ascend on the second day was 660m.Including the hour we spent at Tg Pinang, we were on the bike for six hours, for 109km


    Ascends could be a bit kooky as rain affects the readings on my watch.