Part 3: Salak Mountain 11 March 06

Hi guys,
Let's be focused on something. More specifically, downhill section of this ride. It's definitely not my game though, especially after I got my ankle twisted during the first section of the ride. So I'll just share with you the excitement, glory, and doom...hahaha

This particular downhill section is covered with slippery earth and plenty of roots. There's no way you can control your bike slowly by pressing your brake lever. It'll only make you loose traction. This is the place where you're gonna need that long travel suspension and good control of your rear section. In the middle of the downhill track, there is a short stepping terrain which require the rider to do small bunny hop and carefully adjust their riding position in order follow the track. It's not easy since you won't be able to use your brake properly.

Those freeride lover guys are quickly attacked the downhill section before I got a chance to set a proper photo stance. Here Hendro Isnanto from Solo Power was blasting downhill with his Giant Reign. He described this particular section as a "premium ride".

After Hendro Isnanto, Jemmie Tauw took his turn in blasting this particular section with his Giant VT. The new Manitou Nixon he installed a week before the ride seems working flawlessly and clearly improve his downhill performance.
Putri, Jemmie's fiancee also showed her best effort to rule this section. Unlike Jemmie who used full suspension VT, she used hardtail Specialized Cirrus. So she must have put more effort in controlling it's rear end from bouncing all around. She made it through the first part, but failed to escape the tight switchback. Fortunately she was fine. Two thumbs up!!
Next 'contestant' was Eric "the freeride guy". No doubt, Manitou Stance equipped Giant AC Team rules!
Harry was next in line. In the beginning of the descend, he already lost traction and end up hitting the soil. Good for him he managed to took his right side of the track, otherwise it's gonna be a long way down to the cliff. At least he came up unharmed.

Here's the next Nixon user. Tony with his XT equipped Giant Trance. He used Crossmax SL for a long travel trail bike setup. Kinda ironic, ain't it? (no worries bro, I also use similar setup hahaha).

The next daredevil riders is a mystery. He blasted the downhill section with a big smile, using dual crown suspension with Bike to Work tag on it. So I asked to B2W mailing list if anyone recognize this guy and tell me who he is. But no answer so far....soooo it remain misteeerious...
Some didn't escape the cruel & slippery descend. Here are the proof...well, kinda missed the right-moment shot, but at least there are evidence that bikes are over the soil or over the bikers...hahaha


Aaaaand for the rest of us...lets walk the bike!...eeeeeeeew



END OF PART 3

Part 2: Salak Mountain 11 March 06

OK I admidt I want my own picture in my own blog. So here it is. It was taken before we enter the pine trees. It's a beautiful scenery towards Bogor city.

This is the second part of my mtb trip to Salak Mountain March 11, 2006. Here I still bragging about my riding friends. They are great riding buddies. I always look forward to ride with them in the future.





Next picture consist of Ietjung "Gading Serpong rider", followed by Irawan "more uphill for me", Levy "Racer X", Eric "The Freeride Guy", Beben "biker n diver" and Andre "gimme the uphill section".

Pictured below is KHS rider from Bogor City, Harry, followed by Kurs & Juheri "the sweeper".

This is the only female rider in the group, Putri. Shown here with fellow Gading Serpong rider Arief..

Jemmie, Putri's fiancee, was riding in front of her. So sorry guys, I couldn't take both of you in one picture. Here's Jemmie with his Nixon equipped blue Giant VT..

Aaaaaand....from the black corner, wearing black shirt & black trunks, weighing 75 kgs with 11 kgs Scott scandium....presenting Mamen Depe....finally he decided to ride his bike, after gruelling truck ride. Don't be shy Mamen...I know your age is catching up, so we fully understand why you need the truck ... hahahaha

This is Yongki "I don't have any of my bike picture", also Bogor City permanent resident and Giant VT user.

This is the toughest kid on the block. Can you imagine using rigid bike on this type of terrain? If it were myself, I would have lost all my bones like hell...hahaha...Please welcome Mr. Muda Saputra with his classic bridgestone MTB.

Entering the forest, it was still climbing uphill singletrack. The track got more and more difficult along the way. I sprained my ankle when I was trapped in the middle of very slippery climb. It hurt, but what concerned me was the fact that we were only about 4 km of total 20 km rides. ouch!

This track happen to have lots of 'unrideable' track. So you can imagine how painful each step I took with my injured ankle. Lucky for me most of my riding buddies are very helpful, especially when I need to clear big rocks and small rivers. Thanks guys!

End of part 2

Salak Mountain - 11th March 2006

Saturday March 11, 2006, was truly a great day to ride. The sun was shining brightly, and rain didnot pour the day before, despite Bogor's reputation as the rain city. Anyway the gang gathered at the NISP Bank parking lot in front of the famous Bogor Botanical Garden. Man! there were more than 40 bikers from Jakarta, Bogor & Serpong area. This ride was special, since there were three senior bikers from Solo - Central Java who happened to be in town. And they were fully prepared to attack the trail. And I mean prepared.

We hired around 10 minibuses to take us uphill to the end of the road. The destination was Sukamantri Camping Ground. The minibus ride last around an hour & cost us Rp. 50K per bus. But there are some of the hardcore-diehard XC riders who opted to ride uphill. Not surprisingly they arrived at the same time as the bus, strong guys!

After quick bike assembly, we continued riding uphill to the camping ground. It was a 3 km uphill under beautiful pine trees. Picture below is our Bogorese fellow, Buchan entering the Sukamantri camping ground

Some guys found an easier way to reach the camping ground. I wouldn’t say they were cheating, but maybe close enough…hahaha.

After all members reached the camping ground, we continued riding to the forest. I managed to took some pictures of all participants before we enter the forest. Below is H. Ujang, leading a whole bunch of MTBR.

Our distinguished guest...Hendro Isnanto from Solo Power..

Sugeng "The Hulk", also from Solo Power. A skillful downhiller and strong climber. Ripping all the climbs with Dual Crown equipped Giant AC. Whew!

Next is Sapto (nice goatee...), followed by the one and only Mr. Arya...

Next picture is my young friend from Bike 2 Work community, Sunu "the mad cow". Despite his daily town commuting, he was very comfortable riding off the road.

End of my part 1

My MTB Photographs are on the news & Mags!!

On August 2005, one of my MTB photograph was printed in one of Indonesia biggest national Newspaper "Kompas". I was very excited. However Kompas did a mistake by not putting my name as the photographer. They had acknowledged their mistake and made a correction a week after. But you know how it feels, lah.

My photograph on Kompas Newspaper, end of August 05

It came to my surprise when yesterday my good old friend Ozy told me that my picture was on a magazine. I rushed down to ask the driver to get me the copy of "Warta Ekonomi" Magazine, volume 4 February 06. And voila!...There are two of them. Sadly they didn't print my name either. Oh well...I'm not a in there for the money or fame anyway. I just glad that my pictures are good enough to be put inside a national newspaper and magazine.

Below is one photograph that printed in Warta Ekonomi magz.

Below is the photograph taken by my colleague Cailendra. It is also printed in the same magazine.

MTB rides at beautiful Gunung Mas tea plantation Puncak. Warta Ekonomi Feb 06

Cheeers

Hendro Purwanto