29-30 Mar: Warning - millipede crossing
To Desaru, 162 km. I see a one inch long millipede crossing the road. Inching its way across, just like most of us inch uphill along them hills to Desaru. We make it. But some creatures didn't: a baby monkey (with a trail of blood from its mouth). A chicken. A snake. A couple of monitor lizards. Guess they weren't monitoring the road and became road pizza.

There, but for the grace of God, go I. Was buzzed by a bus on the way to Changi Village to start my longest trip ever. It was the earliest I'd ever set out for a ride too - 6 am. It's cool, it's dark, and traffic is light. But amazing how many people are on the road getting to work.

In Malaysia, one of the riders get recalled to work. Others get lost. A couple of punctured tyres and what sounds like a hub with stones thrashing about in it . My front derailleur is OK. And I twist my foot but get away with it.

What I did't get away from was a thrashing by one LCT. I spin at 39 kmh, this guy just cruises by. He cuts a lonely figure, silhouetted on the hill tops on the road to Desaru as he waits for the rest of us. Inspiring, yet demoralising to see him "flatten" the hills while the hills flatten me. I put my head down and keep pedalling, keeping my eye on my bike computer. My wheels turn slowly, the sweat pours furiously. I think I make it no. 2 behind LCT. But along the way ... I forget to enjoy the ride. The blue sky, puffy white clouds, swaying trees, friendly visitors ... all forgotten. All because I want to keep the speck-in-the-distance that is LCT in sight. All because I want to perform. Grim determination does that - it gets you there, but without the fun. Anyway, all of us eventually get to the end point - just a matter of time.

Time overtakes us. I cleverly leave my lights in my bag at Pengarang as we scoot off to Desaru. Night falls. It's dark. Now I have to ride close to someone to "borrow" the light. It also means I lug the heavy lights all the way to Malaysia just to decorate the inside of my bag.

In the night, unknown things rustle about in the grass alongside the road. And unknown things buzz about, hitting me and my helmet. Some of this unseen stuff is big - it hurts when exoskeletons whack into me. Watch your air intake; keep your mouth shut! As is typical Malaysian courtesy, cars give us a wide berth, or trail along behind us. No horning, just gentle patience, lighting the way for us with car lighting.

The next day, I have a huge breakfast, then eat a rather large lunch a few hours later. Some of them, including EK, leave our lunch spot Mary Brown (we had lunch there too yesterday) first. This is EK's first major ride, on the first bike he ever owns. He keeps up with us, sore butt and all, still cheerful. I stay back to enjoy the aircon (Mary Brown is the only eating place with cool air). Soon, our glorious leader D says it's time to go. So I go. But there's no sight of EK and the rest of the Giant gang who'd set out first. Am I lost?

I see the Singapore city skyline in the distance, so I know I'm heading in the right direction. Still no sight of the Giant gang - and no sight of any rider behind me. Without any indication of progress, I keep my head down and do the best I can, pushing myself, keeping my eye on my speedometer. And then, round the corner, a sight for sweat-stained eyes - the Giant fans. I keep up the pace. Anyway, fast or slow, we all end up in the same boat together.

Tech note Having seen LCT on his Norco, I wonder about getting a new bike - there are 11 of us so there's stuff to look at. Some say aluminium frames only last a few years. Get a titanium frame, I'm told. Well, my bike seat has titanium and it's performing really well. But I'm not sure I want such an expensive bike - would be terrified of losing it, scratching it. And what if it doesn't flex as well as chromoly? Anyway, along the road, we pass other groups of riders on fierce-looking bikes. We leave them behind.

Back in Singapore, I head for a bikeshop and reach in time to see the shutters come down. So I head for another one and replace my chain, bottom bracket and chainset - I'm just fed up of all that wasted energy. Besides, better parts tend to reduce effort and injury. The replacements cost me $118 and saved about 1 kg. That's double the price of the headset change (see entry 23 Mar) for the same weight savings. Bikeshop man tries to adjust the front d for me. Not really satisfactory.