FakawiTribe.com | TribalTalk

[adil]

This is an excellent mountain trail that takes you thru remote mountain villages with some really amazing panaromic views of the mountain range. You start off at 1500m and wind your way down to about 780m elev - in between you have some really wild wild downhills and mother of all mothers hill climbs.

I let the stats do the talking ..

Elevation Gain 1,905 (some were really really tough climbing)
Elevation Loss 2,639
Net Elevation Change -733

Ascent Grade 12.3% avg 47.8% maximum!
Descent Grade -13.3% avg -34.9 maximum!

Ascent distance 38.9%
Descent distance 51.2%
Flat 9.9%

Total distance of 35kms.

The ride starts with a furious tarmac downhill with blind switchbacks to the small village of Bundu Tuhan. There is just no slowing down here since the grade is pretty acute. We dropped down by almost 500m of elevation over a span of 4kms only!

Cross the bridge and onto our first of many many climbs of the day. In almost as short as distance we had to climb out of the valley leaving Bundu Tuhan behind.

What followed was really sweet .. except maybe the climbing bits. I'd say in total there were almost 2 solid hours of descending in total. Trouble was - most of the time, you wanted to stop and take pictures as the scenery was simply postcard perfect! The pleasant temperate temperature and the butterflies! They were everywhere!

It was super!

The guides on the day were Ahmadul, Arkin and Amin. I believe some of you here would know them from the old days when they were keen traithletes / ironmen. They claim to have retired - Ahmadul certainly was lying as he cleaned all the ascents on the saddle with no problems!

[img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/busternuck/bundutuhan.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/busternuck/elev.png[/img]

[img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/busternuck/aIMG_0527.jpg[/img]
Looking back across the valley at the furious 500m elevation loss over a span of 4kms (and the subsequent 400m elev climb immediately thereafter! Bundu Tuhan village straddling the valley.

[img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/busternuck/aIMG_0616.jpg[/img]
Making friends with the locals at sleepy mountain villages.

[img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/busternuck/aIMG_0611.jpg[/img]
It was downhill after downhill after downhill .. i'd say close to 2 hours were spent barrelling down the sometimes smooth, sometimes gravelly, sometimes pebbly, sometimes rutty mountain tracks! Rear brake fade was a constant problem at some of the descents (and I thought it only happened to cars!)

[img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/busternuck/aIMG_0597.jpg[/img]
Going up another ascent and looking back towards the valley from where we came .

[ScottUSA]

Dang... Looks like an absolutely beautiful ride, Adil! Well done, and thanks for sharing...

[fakawichief]

Double Dang!
look at the sky... those clouds..
very very nice shots!

organise another similar ride?

[dh]

Whoa nice! If i have that time... man i gonna try it once oO(know that it will push more then ride) ... Saw those Elevation damn scary ..sumo those guys cleaned all even scary.

[Joshie]

another destination for a fak epic. someone start Planning!! hehe. how long was the total ride time?

[HYH]

Adil, thanks for sharing the info with us.
How about posting the contact info here, too.

[adil]

You can contact the tour company [url=http://www.busat.com.my]here.[/url]

The Bundu Tuhan trails is not generally offered to the public unless you manage to convince the guides that you won't drop dead halfway! :smt005

Since I was a solo rider, I had to pay a surcharge. All in all, the road transfer for the whole trip from KK --> Bundu Tuhan; Garas --> KK was about 190kms. The biking segment is 35kms. You could do more lengthwise- but it will involve road-riding. The tour includes lunch, tidbits and unlimited water supply.

Busat offers decent bikes for rental : they offer Trek and Giant hardtails with V-brakes. In total they have about 100 MTBs.

Since I flew-in my own bike, they gave me a little bit of discount.

On bike carriage :

You need a used bike box (any bikeshop should have some lying around). You dont need any specialist tools except for the bike tool that you (should) already have. Basically 3 types of allen keys to remove : the handlebar, the pedals, and maybe the front calipers (depending on fit in the box). Some cable ties too.

With everything in the box : bike, shoes, helmet, tools, pump, spare tubes - the entire package clocked in at 20.3kgs.

So you have to put your clothing and garments in a hand carry to avoid busting the 20kg weight limit any further.

Malaysia Airlines didnt fuss about the slight overweight but I believe Air Asia certainly will with their 15kg limit.

[yikerk]

fuuu...very menarik ingin lorrr!!!!

[andrewawi]

[quote="adil"]
With everything in the box : bike, shoes, helmet, tools, pump, spare tubes - the entire package clocked in at 20.3kgs.

So you have to put your clothing and garments in a hand carry to avoid busting the 20kg weight limit any further.

Malaysia Airlines didnt fuss about the slight overweight but I believe Air Asia certainly will with their 15kg limit.[/quote]

Hey Adil, very impressive ride and post-ride report. The 3d terrain gives a visual impact to your epic. Also, thank you for posting the info on the Airlines. In the past I've contacted Air Asia about the limits BUT no response till today. I'd suggest that the the weight limit for regional flights be posted as a sticky-pretty useful info. for those wanting to bring their own bikes and ride in Malaysia.

[jazlany]

I'm always in Kuching in December every year.... now...why don't we all go to KK instead this year... Adil, GPS gdb files at malsingmap website?

[Butt Ruff]

fuyooohhh.. so nice..
great stuff ... we do have excellent riding spots in bolehland

[OIIIIO]

Awesome. Makes me wanna go out and ride.