Bali Cycling Operator

Bali Audax 410 km In the southern part of Singapore, is an island with a size of approx. 120km by 80km. Over the next two days five Joyriders would be sweating and burning calories in this beautiful island. The first Bali Audax 410km was schedule from 28‐ 29th Nov 2009; it was also the first Audax for most of the participants. The JoyRider contingent to the first Bali Audax was lead by 46 years old CMH (Chief Mother Han) Anne Chua; Otto Rusil; Hadisan Sridjaja; Jamie Lim and Nicky Ting made out the rest of the team.
We arrived on Friday, a day before the actual start of the Audax. This was to allow time to put the
bikes together and test it before the actual adventure around Bali. It was also for the body to get
used to the soaring heat in Bali with heat wave blowing from Australia summer season. Puri Bambu
hotel www.puribambu.com is located 10 minutes away from the Airport in the south of Bali, a town
called Kuta was our first hotel for this trip. The traditional Balinese architectural surrounding
comprises mainly natural stone/ rock; lot of greenery and sun ray reflected away from the crystal
clear pool; lifted the holiday mood instantly when we check‐in to the hotel.
Our host for the next couples of days Mr. Wayan Kertayasa, 42 years old , owner of Bali cycling
operator http://balicycling.com/ was once the best Climbers in Indonesia who still hold on to his UCI
coaching license. He offers different riding packages in Bali and also cycling clinic for the elite cyclist
wannabe. We have learned many techniques and gained good knowledge from him throughout the
entire trip especially over meals, our CMH never failed to make sure all meal sessions became a
cycling clinic for all.
The Roosters around the village near the hotel crowed in the early morning, while still half awake
and half in the dream land, the sound from the rooster brought back the good old days memory of
the village life where most people lived close to the nature. The only problem this time round was
that the roosters crowed much earlier than they should normally do, Jamie told us later, the
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rooster’s internal bio‐clock probably needs some calibration. They are out of synchronies with the
Garmin that many have brought with them.
Next morning, the inaugurate Bali Audax was kick off with high spirit and light mood from all the
riders. Rolling on Bali road was the first experience to many of us, the life in Bali started early in the
morning, even on a Saturday at 630 am. People and cars were everywhere on the road. Joining us
were 3 other participants, Cheng Jing Hean from Singapore‐ the younger and stronger rider for this
trip who has another 70 days to go before ORD. He took official leave to ride with us; Peter a British
who works in Jakarta and his pretty niece, he rides with JoyRider whenever he is in Singapore.
Together with the two lead riders from Bali, total 10 of us started our journey in Bali took the
westbound route towards our designation 210 km away in the north of Bali.
We had quite a few stops in between (every 50km) for drinks and hot coffee at the road side stores
and also for comfort breaks. (Some guys’ actions were captured in digital form while doing their
business). Jamie broke the record of having 3 flats within hours after we rolled off from the hotel.
The nuisance only lifted after he gave his Orbea a few good hugs and being gentled and stopped
complaining about her. Peter; Cheng and Hadisan were three of our stronger riders who led the pack
all the time. Hadisan happen to be our banker for the trip, he provides best currency exchange rate
and cash in advance 7x 24, we felt so secure riding with a mobile ATM with us, and you will never be
alone!
Riding behind Cheng was particularly enjoyable as his big body provided a good refuge sweet spot to
escape the head on resistance. However, Nicky could not catch up with them on one of the slops,
within second he had lost sight the three lead riders, while cycling alone for the next hours Nicky
missed a critical turn and did some extra mile.
The last 50 km route on day 1 was scenic and cool as the sun was getting ready to take a break for
the night to spare us from any further ultraviolet ray that we had been subjected to for the last nine
hours before. The body supposed to be tired and wear off, in contrary, the group sudden surge of
energy started attacking from nowhere on the mainly rolling route. Without power gel; disposable
syringes and whatever energy boosters; Nicky could only look afar at the pack getting further and
further away from him while running low on fuel; with no more energy left in his legs; liver; stomach
and muscle except some will power ….that would see him through to the end of the first day ride.
Aditya Beach Resort http://adityabeachlovina.com located at Lovina beach, north of Bali was our
second night resting point. The beach was just a stone throw away from the hotel rooms. The guys
could not take the temptation any further and headed straight to the beach and surrounded
themselves with the uncontaminated clear sea water. Meantime, Anne and Nicky decided that they
should go back to their respective room to give the tired iron horses a good rub down. On the dining
table, we understood that the beach boys, instead of cleaning their bike, they actually having great
fun rubbing each other with the black fine sand in the sea, out of politeness we did not pursuit
further which hands did they use to rub each other and which parts did they rub. But from their
faces, it seem a happy ending….Pascal Pong famous phase.
After a good night rest, we gathered at the hotel front yard for the 2nd day briefing by Wayan, the
hill climber before we took on the last 200 km back to Kuta town‐ Puri Bambu Hotel, the same hotel
we stayed on the first night. “Flat for the first 80km follow by two short climbs then typical rolling
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hill” he said with his usual low husky voice. With the first day experience we had with him, then he
mentioned the road was flat but it end out with lot of rolling. So this time, when he said “short
climbs and typical rolling hill” did not give any comfort at all.
However, the cycling operator was honest this time round, for at least the first part of the ride. It
was surprisingly pleasant ride with good road, cool ambient and sea breeze coming from our left.
We were all smiling inside us that what a good start and looking forward for the same for the rest of
the journey. A funeral procession took place at a main road junction just after the 80km mark and
the entire traffic abruptly came to a complete halt including the cyclists. The 15 minutes break gave
a good breather for all and also for the slower riders to catch up with the main pack.
After attending our first funeral in Bali, we speed off to catch up the lost time. “LEFT TURN”, shouted
the lead rider, after the uneventful left turn, what greeted immediately before us was this 100 meter
11% climb…… shift gears…… shift up some more, no more gears…stand up…rock the bike from left to
right and from right to left….phew!!…..close shave…..
After recovered from the shocking true, the actual climb started merciless for the next 5 km. Along
the extremely winding road to the plateau, that stand 300m above sea level, made it much steeper
than what we experienced in Cameron Highlands. What we just went through spiced up the entire
experience for our Bali Audax and was the talking point over our lunch break. After lunch we had an
easy descend that brought us all the way to south‐eastern of Bali, at this point we were within 50 km
to our final designation.
Knowing we were almost there, we rode into the city in a single file cruising just below 40 km/ hr all
the way to Kuta. The policemen on duty stopped the traffic for us. Along town of Bali, the peloton
was attracted by this big sign board on top a building “Cheery Bunger, Avatar Hand bunger”…wow…I
wanted one of that….shouted our baby boy Otto and start snapping away with his mobile camera.
What for dinner was then the discussion for the rest of the journey back to the hotel.
High five and handshake were the order of the day. We were finally backed to where we started two
days ago and the feeling was great and memorable. The first Bali Audax was successful conducted
with no incidents; by itself it already a success. Everyone safely backed to the hotel. We were
grateful and thankful for that.
It was a great holiday cum biking tour, a good starting point to engage in long distance noncompetitive
cycling that test the rider’s endurance; courage and spirit. Many of the participants
would want to go back for the 2010 Aduax Bali, be prepare as our nagging queen second Anne Chua
will be coming your way soon.

By Nicky