Club promotes recreational and fun cycling events

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Malacca: Around 1,800 cyclists from all over Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, along with Japanese, Korean and European expatriates residing in the state enthusiastically participated in the second edition of the ‘Burung Hantu’ Night Ride Jamboree organised by the Environment Cycling Club of Malacca (ECCM).

Formed in 2008, the ECCM launched by Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, is strongly advocating recreational and fun cycling activities and competitive rides apart from creating awareness of healthy lifestyle pursuits.

The recent recreational ride edition was extra meaningful.

Massive: Some 1800 cyclists caused a huge congestion at the start of the event.

According to organising committee spokesperson Daniel Tay, RM5 from each participant’s RM50 entrance fee was donated to charity.

A total of RM10,000 was raised in this manner and forwarded to the Mahkota Medical Centre cancer patient welfare fund, said Tay.

With the principal venue for the start and finish being the Stadiun UTeM Ayer Keroh, the 45km route had a 8.30pm flag-off and comprised road, off-road and a single jungle track trail route mounted by five check points.

The ride also blazed through the new district of Hang Tuah Jaya.

Lasting from two to five hours, the ride raised riders’ endurance skills as well as it was a first time night biking experience for some.

The route itself was lit up with over 2,000 LED lights for every 50 meters to guide participants, especially along the off-road trails.

Night terrain: Riders making it through on the single track jungle trail in the night.

With ride marshals and off-road motorbike officials to accompany participants, no accidents and mishaps marred the event.

Just like the previous two years, all participants especially those from outstation and Singapore, had an enjoyable outing and promised to be back for the 2012 affair, remarked Tay.

For the record, Kuala Lumpur’s Shahrin Amir was tops in the men’s section where 1750 riders made the start.

He completed the 45km route posting a time of 1 hour 54 minutes 7 seconds. Selangor’s Mohammed Khaniz came in second clocking 1 hour 56 minutes 52 seconds while Kuala Lumpur’s Bastian Doellig finished third with a time reading 1 hour 56 minutes 9 seconds.

Kuala Lumpur’s Lydia Tan was best in the women’s division returning a time of 2 hrs 27 mins 10 sec for the 45km course.

Team mate Laura Avila Adrain came home second clocking 2 hrs 30 mins 10 sec while Hong Kong’s Maybelline Chow was third registering 2 hrs 50 mins 15 sec, from a field of 50 starters.

The ECCM also comes to the forefront with novel ideas and projects on preservation and respect for nature as well as pollution reduction and recycling measures. Other activities include night rides for mountain bikers and day time stints for road cyclists twice weekly.