NXT MTB: May 2010

Monday, May 31, 2010

In Remembrance

Assalamualaikum, pada tanggal 31 May 2010 NXteam telah dikejutkan dengan satu berita yang menggemparkan. Salah seorang dari ahli NXT telah kembali menemui Ilahi pada pukul 7.00 pagi. Beliau telah terlantar di hospital selama lebih kurang dua bulan atas sebab rawatan lanjutan bersama pakar. Sesungguhnya pemergian beliau meninggalkan kesan yang besar kepada NXTeam dan rakan-rakan MTB sekalian. Tiada kata dapat disusun apabila mendengar berita tersebut, lemah rasa seluruh anggota, kelu lidah tidak berkata . Beliau adalah seorang yang "steady" , suka berjenaka dan kadangkala menjadi bahan usikan manja rakan-rakan NXTeam yang lain kerana pelat Mata Ayer yang agak pekat. Amat susah sekali untuk mendengar beliau meninggikan suara. Merida HFS 2000 beliau akan kami rindui dan yang paling akan dirindui adalah gurau senda dan jenaka beliau.

Semoga Allah meletakkan kamu bersama orang-orang yang beriman wahai sahabatku.

Al - Fatihah.

(Gambar-gambar dibawah ini adalah antara kenangan kami bersama Arwah Balqis.)

Semasa Menawan puncak bukit Kodiang.

Senyuman yang menjadi penawar rindu kami kepadamu wahai sahabat.

Puncak Bukit Kodiang

Bersama Veyron semasa pendakian menuju puncak.

Tekun Mendaki

Kenangan di Ayaq Katoq, Ulu Pauh.

Kepada Keluarga Arwah terutama isteri dan anak lelaki yang baru berusia setahun diharap banyakkan bersabar dalam menghadapi ujian dari Allah ini. Kuatkan semangat dan hidup perlu diteruskan. Ingatan kami terhadap beliau akan sentiasa berada diingatan. Al-Fatihah.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Kayuhan Terang Malam - Adventure In Pitch Black.

Kayuhan Terang Malam (KTM 2010) was the first night off road jamboree in the Northern Region. It was indeed an event awaited by many. There are riders who really trained for this particular event including me and my other mates. The experience gained during the previous two rides at CP 3 kedah Jamboree Trail and B Zone of RUN 10 trail has somehow give us the idea on how it's going to be on the event day (KTM 10). The journey to Kulim begins at 3.00pm and 6 NXT members managed to join and ride.

Gurun RnR. Regrouping

Chan , Tiung and Ee Bintong

Hairi of Bintong MTB

Location : Goodies Collection centre.

Bike prep. (Pics. courtesy of www.adiharriman.com )

Starting point

Man @ Man SunQuick

Team Potrait : (L-R) Man, Tiung, Veron, CK Own, and Khairul

NXTeam In action - Picture Courtesy of Adiharriman.com

Man

Khairul

Veron

After the event.

It was muddy and sandy, this is due to a heavy downpour 4 hours before the flag off. Well, this is what we call offroad right!

Bike wash! Bike Wash! Bike Wash!

Summary :

Except for the wet terrain the rest is all right. Looking forward to come back and explore the trail again. The climb is medium and suitable for night off road. The LEDs is a bit small but still visible. The downhills is a bit technical because the trail is wet and slippery (ed: Good training for balancing). Water station at every checkpoints and banana at the 4th CP saves a lot of thirsty riders.

Moto X riders can be seen at the strategic location o guide the participants

Starting and finishing location is good, lots of parking spaces and there are place to hide out if the rain comes falling again.

CONGRATULATION! to the organising Comittee.

NXT MTB

We welcome any suggestions from all of you in objective to improve mountainbiking scene here in Malaysia generally and Perlis specifically. As we can see nowadays the public has started to realize the importance of exercising and one of the way is cycling. It doesn't matter if it is road cycling or off road cycling as long as we give a hard time to our heart and let the sweat flows from our body. So, don't stop cycling and let us make this scene as big as ever. Cheers!

"NXT WELCOMES EVERYBODY "

RIDE SAFELY AND INTELLIGENTLY.

Setting Your MTB for Race!

Setting/Preparing you MTB for race.

Let's Try This At Home.

Step 1
Remove any additional accessories from your bike including racks, reflectors, mirrors, bells or lights (leave lights on if you'll be racing at night).

Step2
Inspect the frame, fork and all components on the bike for cracks or other signs of trouble. Repair or replace any obvious problems.

Step3
Set your saddle height by placing your heel on your pedal (in your riding shoes) and raising the seat up so that your leg is straight on the bottom of the pedal stroke (6 o'clock position). Your seat should never be so high that your hips rock when you pedal. You may want to lower your seat if the course is very technical and has many steep downhill slopes, but you may pay for that on the uphill portions. When your seat is at the optimum height it allows you to get full leg extension and full use of your leg muscles.

Step4
Set your saddle position - start by having it level with the ground and try it that way for a little while. If you are putting too much weight on your hands, raise the saddle's nose by a degree or two. If the nose is uncomfortable and you experience any numbness, lower the nose a degree or two. It may take a while to find the perfect saddle position for you.

Step5
Set your saddle's fore/aft position by adjusting it so that when your are seated and have your pedals in the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, your forward pedal spindle is in line with the small bump just below your kneecap.

Step6
Position your handlebars so that they are between an inch and 2 1/2 inches below the seat. The lower they are, the more control you'll have when climbing, and higher bars give more control when descending. Look for the perfect balance of the two to find the best handlebar position for you. You can adjust your handlebar height with riser or flat bars, different stem heights, and spacers under the stem.

Step7
Be sure that the ends of your handlebars are covered by the ends of the grips or are filled with plugs.

Step8
Position bar ends anywhere between parallel to the ground and a 45-degree angle from this parallel. Go to the lower end of the spectrum for more performance-oriented positioning.

Step9
Inflate your tires to a tire pressure that works with your weight, the tires that you are using and the course conditions.

Step10
Choose clipless pedals over platform pedals with toe straps. Although clipless pedals are a bit intimidating at first, you get a better connection with the bike, and they are much easier to get in and out of than toe straps.

Step11
Check to make sure that the chain is clean, lubed and not stretched. Chains stretch over time, and this will lead to bad shifting and gear slippage.

Step12
Check the front and rear derailleurs to make sure that they are shifting properly and cables are in good condition. Bad shifting is not only very frustrating but can also blow the race for you.

Step13
Be sure that your brake cables, pads and levers are in good condition and working well.

Step14
Turn your handlebars from side to side and see whether there is any play in the headset or whether you hear any grinding noises. Disassemble, clean, grease and adjust if necessary.

Step15
Check your suspension fork for smooth performance and no play in the fork legs. If your fork isn't sliding easily, refer to your owner's manual or check with a local shop for maintenance.

Step16
Ride your bike after doing any adjustments or repairs. You'll want to feel comfortable and confident at the start line.

Tips & Warnings

i.) The best upgrade that you can make for better performance is lighter tires and wheels. The rotational weight has a huge impact on how a bike accelerates and climbs. Start with kevlar-beaded tires and then go with a nice light wheel set. You'll notice the difference on your first ride.

ii·) When selecting a tire for racing, choose a tread design that works with your riding style and the course conditions. Semislick tires are great for racing, but they do take some getting used to, and they aren't for all riders and courses.

iii·) Higher tire pressure gives less rolling resistance and reduces the chance of pinch flats. Lower tire pressure gives better traction.

iv·) Many full-suspension bikes have different settings for the rear suspension, ranging from firm to soft. The firmest setting is usually best for cross-country racing.

v·) If you're unsure of how to check or adjust anything on your bike, such as the shifting or the suspension, bring your bike to a local shop.

vi·) Mountain bike racing is an inherently dangerous activity that can result in serious injury or death. We recommend that you seek proper training and equipment before attempting this activity.