Wide logging tracks, flanked by lush tropical forest, snake through the rolling terrain of Sarawak’s interior. What better way to explore the place than on a two-wheeler? LEONG SIOK HUI got on her bike for a fun, three-day trip.
Maria Coca felt a lump in her throat when she approached the first of many sheer slopes ahead. “I thought, ‘Oh my God! I’ll die. What will I do...’,” recalled the mother of a seven-year-old boy. But the gutsy lady clenched her teeth and doggedly cranked her pedals.
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Maria Coca. |
“I just went on and on, one hill after another,” grinned the Rumanian housewife who has never joined a biking expedition before. It was great to feel my body gaining strength. I was telling myself, ‘You can go one more hill’.”
A recreational cyclist, Coca, 35, goes out on weekly rides with the “girls” but has never ridden more than two hours at a stretch.
But over the three-day Long Bedian Mountain Biking Expedition, Coca and 24 riders hit the tangled web of logging trails from Mulu to Miri.
Packed with strenuous and easy rides, and interesting pit stops, the expedition took off with an amble around Gunung Mulu National Park, an overnight stay, followed by a boat ride to the Kuala Melinau trailhead.
Riders than tackled the steep, undulating terrains and stopped for a frolic at Tenyip waterfalls en route to Long Bedian village.
A Kayan village of about 1,000-plus residents, Long Bedian was also holding the inaugural Highland Music Festival that showcased dancers and musicians from the Kelabit, Kayan and Lun Bawang communities.
Riders hobnobbed with the locals, did an overnight homestay and pedalled home to Miri via Loagan Bunut National Park the following day.
The expedition stemmed from a simple, fun idea. Michael Lu, a fat tyre buff and executive of Sarawak Tourism Board, tossed the idea of a mountain biking recce to find a new tourism product.
Richard Hii of Tropical Adventure Tours and Travel (one of Borneo’s seasoned outdoor adventure operators) suggested the 107km Mulu-Miri trail.
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Participants giving their all for this hill. |
Tropical Adventure has been running a 4WD tour to Mulu and they were more than willing to provide the 4WD support for the bike expedition.
“I wanted to make it a holistic thing, with attractions like waterfalls, highland festival and caves. Not just pure riding,” said Lu, the co-organising chairman of the expedition and advisor for Miri Mountain Bike Club (MMBC).
“From (Sarawak) Tourism Board’s point of view, domestic tourism is my primary focus. I want to let Sarawakians understand, with a little bit of creativity, we can create something interesting in our own backyard.”
In less than a month, Lu, his committee members (MMBC members) and Tropical Adventure designed the route, did a trial run on 4WD and garnered sponsorship rom Tourism Malaysia, Sarawak Tourism Board, Miri Marriott Spa & Resort and MMBC. MMBC and Miri Hash House Harriers’ members snapped up the 20-plus slots in no time.
The trip saw riders from a variety of backgrounds, and from first-timers to expert riders. The oldest rider was 53-year-old welder Hii Lian Yu.
Hii, who claimed he’s never been ill in 10 years, is more likely to trek up a mountain than ride a fat tyre on most days. But he tagged along to savour nature and see the remote villages.
“It was tough going up the steep mountains and my butt hurt after the long ride,” confessed Hii with a smile.
“But I felt really happy when I reached the crest and saw the beautiful scenery.”
His fellow riders nicknamed Hii “Volkswagen”. The gritty father of five just kept pushing on, slow and steady.
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The oldest participant, Hii Lian Yu. |
The wide gravel road was beginner-friendly except at the backbreaking hills (an altitude gain of 500m) on the first day. And the treeless tracks meant a blistering afternoon. Riders hardly encountered timber trucks and, on a few busy stretches, the bikes were piled onto the 4WD for transfers.
Jee Mui Lan, 41, has never ridden a mountain bike before. But she took up the challenge and tackled the first day’s route. After a few hours struggling with the bike gears, the mother of three threw in the towel.
“I’m disappointed but I’m now psyched up and will pick up mountain biking after this trip,” said the restaurant owner who is also an active Hash runner.
Apart from a rider’s scraped elbow, and another rider’s slight detour from the route, everyone coasted smoothly into Marriott Spa & Resort for the farewell party on the final day.
“Safety and fun were my concerns. I think in those aspects, this event was successful,” said the beaming Lu.
As for Coca, she’s glad she decided to join the trip.
“I really enjoyed every minute of it. But next time, I’ll be more prepared and pack my own food for the ride,” smiled Coca, who felt the food wasn’t appropriate for a cycling expedition.
