Penang : The Cleaner Greener Penang Ride 2013

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Penang : The Cleaner Greener Penang Ride 2013

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AhPek Biker - Riding Adventures
Penang : The Cleaner Greener Penang Ride
Tanjong Tokong to Pulau Jerejak Jetty : 6th January 2013

Public Event Ride from Tanjong Tokong, Penang to Pulau Jerejak Jetty & back.
Distance covered : 33.4 km. (Actual Ride should have been 38.3 km.)
Time Taken : 2:30 hrs (incl. eats & photo stops)
Recommendation : A good route to ride, with good view of the Penang Bridge from the Jelutong Expressway. But do be careful as traffic can be heavy especially along the expressway.

PRELUDE

Many of us had registered for the event "Ride for Cleaner & Greener Penang 2013", and I had taken a bus up two days prior to the ride.
Cycling from the bus station, I totted a red bag full of Christmas goodies to be delivered to my relatives. I must have looked like a Santa on wheels. I was a late Santa; but then early or late, a Christmas cheer will always bring smiles.

Front View of riding jersey

Later I went to the Straits Quay mall to collect the ride jersey.
It's was a stunning looking jersey.

Rear View of riding jersey

When I posted myself wearing the jersey on FaceBook, there were a lot of wolf-whistles, the jersey sure made this AhPek look trimmer and more attractive. Haha!

To make things even more interesting, my close biking buddy Sin Tai Lim & me rode from Penang Island over to Butterworth via the Penang Ferry (see Penang Cross Channel Ride).
Sin is also an avid blogger and write very interesting blogs (see his blogs @ hApPy HaPpY)

Oh.....
I had new tatoos done on my arms too.
FIERCE!
That should liven things up and set the mood for the ride.

PRE-RIDE

Greener Cleaner Penang Ride Map (click for Map Link)

The ride was was in line with the Penang state government drive to promote a Cleaner & Greener Penang.

It will start from the Straits Quay Mall in Tanjong Tokong to the mid-point at the Pulau Jerejak Jetty and then back - covering a total distance of 38 km.

But for me there was a small hiccup, more on that later.

In the early morning we gathered at the mall. The ride starts at 7:00 am, and we reported at 6:30 am.

Pretty lasses from the St. John's Ambulance Brigade were there to render first-aid if necessary.

So were the police, to help out in traffic control.

After a few speeches, the Lions Club received a check as contribution for their SightFirst Project.

And we are ready to GO!

THE RIDE

Cyclists queued up and ready to kick-off.

Harry, Nash & Sin

Among the crowd were my cousin Harry Tan, and my friends Nash & Sin.
It was the first time when Harry Met Sally (Oops! I mean Harry met Nash), they have chatted frequently in FaceBook.

And...... we are off!
Harry rode his metallic red Oyama folding bike.

They were 2,500 registered for the ride.
Among them was this pretty lady, the jersey does make one LOOK GOOOOOOD!

And this husband-wife team riding a Matrix Tandem Bike.

Riding on, we passed by the Tanjong Tokong fire-station.

At the Gurney drive round-a-bout we stopped to wait for our friends from the EZFC (the Easy, Fun & Joyful Cycling Club).
Together we took this nice group photo.

Along Gurney drive, we rode pass the tall sky-reaching condominiums, and then continued on to...

... Northam Road (Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah)...

... to Light Street passing by the Penang Court-houses, with the sun shining a yellow tint onto us.

At the Tanjong City Marina in Weld Quay, we stopped for a short breather.

Continuing on towards the Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu Highway (or also called the Jelutong Expressway), with the Komtar in the background.

Riding up on of many fly-overs at the Jelutong Expressway.

Somewhere along that stretch, there is a scenic view of the Penang Bridge.

Further along, on the other side of the road, the faster cyclists were making their return journey.

Somewhere at the interchange to the Penang Bridge, we were told to turn and make our return ride.
Hey! Aren't we suppose to ride till the Pulau Jerejak jetty.
Seems like the organizers were in a eager to finish the event. And it was only 8:30 am, just one hour after the start. What's the hurry?

Well, what can we do? But ride back along the Jelutong Expressway.

Haven't had any breakfast, at the coffee shop in front of the Chew Jetty at Weld Quay, I stopped to have a bowl of one of Penang's favorite dish - Penang Hokkein Mee!
Looks good! Yes... it was delicious and invigorating.