Making friends through cycling

Ageing and the shrinking social circle...
Some guys can cope with middle-age while others look for ways to stay young.
The vain ones are still hanging out in clubs, hoping to score a one-night stand while living in denial.
Reality creeps in pretty fast.
At 40+, all the issues that shorten your life expectancy seeps in.
Heart problems, hypertension, diabetes, erectile dysfunction and the list keeps piling up.
One of the things that I really appreciate is that I keep making friends. 
Some are good, others are just there for you, a handful, well, they put you in place and remind you that the world isn't exactly what you see.


Cycling and meeting people
Michelle and I started to join peer groups. 
We needed to gain experience and as one of the gurus had stated it: "When its time to go, its time to go.."
We've met some really wonderful people and some really nasty ones too!
Nowadays, with work commitment piling up to my chin, joining social rides would be a real challenge. 
I've been put to work on days where such an event is held.
Being a leisure cyclist on a folding bike, I don't see myself on the starting line, so, competitive events are considered a no-no

New found friends: At Putrajaya with Mr KW Mui and son Samuel

The good, bad and ugly
I must say that 70% of the people I met are good, while 20% were ugly and the rest are just plain simple bad.
With folding bikes gaining popularity, the pioneer batch of cyclists whom I met a couple of years ago had moved one. Some had dropped out of the scene.
There are more new cyclists nowadays and I can see them popping up at events.
Most were too new to explore the great outdoors on their own.
Nowadays, I rather keep things simple and do my own trips with Michelle.
We agreed that there are people out there who are shameless enough to take advantage of the more experienced cyclists by making them do everything from planning trips, changing their inner tubes and even paying for their meals. 
Sad, but true...


Light at the end of the tunnel...
Well, I got to say that not all is lost.
Some folks are still sincere and the reason why they take up cycling is to have fun.
Gone on my list, are the ambitious ones who take credit for things they didn't do, people who take full advantage of cyclists to promote their goods and idiots who endanger the lives of cyclists who ride with them..
I've met some people who are stand-up guys. They do things without putting themselves in the limelight and never let ego get in the way. I wish there are more of them, but these guys are there to pull things together, which is a blessing! You can never ask for more...

Keep on Truckin'

I had a chat with an old-timer who noticed 'something strange'.
Well, strange in a way, that Michelle and I have been 'bumped' out from cycling group's internal discussion.
I was told earlier that at some point in time, people drop out from the scene.
They would find the rides either too boring or simply too hard to catch up.
The friend told me that he sensed that the group had broken up.
That don't seem to bother me as Michelle and I had pretty much held up on our own.
We've been doing our own thing of late and had moved on.
Even the guys from Le Run had felt the rift. Wow!
My take on this? Well, no point crying over spilled milk. Just pucker up and keep on truckin'
With our bikes, gear and the enthusiasm the size of planet Mars, I guess a whole new world of adventure is waiting for us out there! ahahah!

Malaysia Dahon Folding Bike Club meeting

A proud owner of the Dahon Speed P8 at the meeting

Pioneer members of the Malaysia Dahon FBC with Chanson Lau (middle)

Interested folks enquiring about the bikes at Rodalink

The first Dahon Folding Bike Club meeting here in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur was given a warm reception by a dozen or more bicycling enthusiasts.It was held at Rodalink bicycle shop in Jalan Telawi and I was one of the first guys to arrive.When I asked the sales people, the meeting was yet to take place.So, naturally, I didn't want to waste time there and took off to Bangsar Village to browse around.After 20-minutes, I returned back to the store and found Chanson Lau, the organiser a couple of members from the Club.This was the first time I signed up for an official cycling club that specialises only on folding bikes. During the meet, I met up with a few people, namely, Encik Ahmad Tarmizi Mahayuddin who works with the Bursa Saham, Businessman Wee Chong Siang who claimed he read about my Pulau Ketam post and veteran riders Uncle Billy and Mr Teoh Siang Teik who will organise a trip to Chiangmai, Thailand later this year.To me, its an eye opener to see a few passionate riders especially Uncle Billy who has in possession: one of the earliest Dahon folding bike.I also met a staff member of architect Ng Sek San who ride the Speed P8 bike.During the meet, I exchanged views with a couple of the cyclists who are new to the folding bike scene.Later during lunch, Uncle Billy told me about organising some commuting trips to the North involving folding bicycles. I am very keen on the prospect and was told that the Malaysia Dahon FBC would set up its internet forum soon.