OCBC Cycle Malaysia 2011 Part 1

Team Jetstream

It was early Sunday morning and there were some chores at hand.
First, load the bikes in the car, then, final check on all the gears.
We were packing load, at least 8kgs each for the OCBC Cycle Malaysia 2011 ride in Dataran Merdeka.
Our plan was to rendezvous with my buddy Billy, at the Bukit Aman carpark near Lake Gardens.
We managed to score a light meal from McDonalds to fuel up and met Billy at the planned location at 06:00am.

Cycling towards Dataran Merdeka

It took us less than 10 minutes to get to the venue and people were already starting to pack up the square. 
There, I met Chanson Lau and Ruey Chan from Le Run Industries. 
We chat a little bit and made our way to the pen area where Billy had decided to give the 52km challenge a go.
Michelle and I watched on the sidelines as Guan, a foldie friend of ours made his way. This dude is celebrity in the folding bike world. He was with his friend Alvin.

Foldie with an environmental message: Guan 

These guys had entered the 52km challenge with their little bikes, a minority in a world dominated by 700cc wheels.
By 06:15am, the starting grid was already packed with bicyclists.

Starmetro cycling team captain Kevin Tan and the gang

At the distance, Billy pointed at the Media Prima cycling team. It was unmistakable, orange long sleeved jerseys, mainly riders from Berita Harian. Some of them, I had the chance of being their acquaintance. These were our challengers.
As daybreak began to fill in, I heard my name shouted in background.
It was Kevin and the Starmetro team. They made their way slowly into the pen.
I was surprised that they wore their training jerseys.
When asked, they said: "Aiya! The size too big la!"
The 52km challenge started a bit late.
We were told that traffic conditions were not favourable to the cyclists. 
Many roadies were eager to paint the town red and I as I see it, it was the amateur cyclists who made up a large majority in the group.
Moments later, the airhorn blared as the cyclists slowly inched their way on the road...