Bukit Kiara Trail Ride 2011

Bukit Kiara Trail Ride 2011

Location of Bukit Kiara Trails.(click on pic to get larger view)

I went on my first exploratory ride to the often talked about Kiara Trails in Damansara sometime in December 2011. Located between Taman Tun Dr Ismail (to the West) and Bukit Damansara(to the East) in Kuala Lumpur

The Local Bike Shop (LBS) Rodalink Hartamas in Desa Sri Hartamas  organises rides into the Kiara trails on weekends. KS was the person who informed us about this. So one Saturday we decided to join in their rides. 

I was at the shop bright and early about 6:30am. We had to wait for the main riders to arrive. So we only set off about 7:30 am. A “mamak” shop next to the LBS made it easier to wait as we could have a light breakfast while waiting for the ride to start. The 3 of us rookies followed the group of about two dozen or so riders.

The first thing I noted about the trail (at least the part that I was on is that the trail was really narrow. Bikes with longer handle bars will definitely have problems with the trees. We could only go in single file most of the time.

Met a couple among the group and they said that they were on the same trail about two weeks ago and it was really muddy as it had rained that time.  This time round the ground was not so wet.

RD hanger

I did not have my mobile and hence could not map out my route and therefore was not able to relate the route that we took to the map of Kiara bike Route (see below). The map was created by a certain Pat in 2007.  Thank you Pat.  I can only remember that we went into the trails past the Sri Hartamas school along Jalan Bukit Kiara. We then immediately went uphill and there were some very tight turns as I followed the group along the narrow path.

My rear derailleur (RD) hanger broke as I was pedalling in the trails. It just broke all of a sudden without warning. That was the end of my ride. I had no idea how to repair it.  We stopped at a clearing with a gazebo beside a tarred road somewhere in Kiara park.  On reviewing google map once back home, I realised we came out of the trail on to Changkat Haji Abang Openg. There were many trekkers along this road and is very popular among the local residents. One of the more experienced bikers came by to help me cut my chain so that at least I could still cycle with one gear.  

(NOTE: Bring your tool kit that has chain link remover with you whenever you go cycling).

Map of Bukit Kiara Trails (Courtesy of Pat)

I packed my rear derailleur and the remaining lengths of my bike chain into my back pack. That was the end of my first exploratory ride into Kiara.  I decided to abort my ride as it was no fun using one gear up and down the trails.  The few of us who did not /could not continue were led back out of the trail onto the LBS.  I remembered we cycled onto the tarred roads into the Bukit Kiara Equestrian park searching for a way out to the main road.  We could not get out and we doubled back into the trails and came out of the trails at the same spot where we went in earlier.

The employees of the bike shop at Rodalink were helpful but they could not find a spare hanger for my rear derailleur in their stock.  I had to take my bike back to the shop where I had bought the bike and luckily they had a spare rear derailleur hanger. Quick as a jiffy my bike was ready again. Cost of replacement hanger RM50.

NOTE: Found out the RD hanger is the part that usually breaks. One need not have to buy a whole set of RDs.  Just get a replacement RD hanger and you are all set to go again.

There are a lot of trails in Bukit Kiara. I only managed to cover only a small portion of the Map (South Eastern part only) Many more trails to be discovered.      To be continued....


NOTE 1 :  Bukit Kiara is also one of the last few remaining green lungs around Kuala Lumpur
http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/bukit-kiara-park-don-t-meddle-with-mother-nature-1.121274

NOTE 2: Bukit Kiara Trials - the beginning of the end?
http://traks.org.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=83&Itemid=1

NOTE 3: below is a video of the history of Kiara trails
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=E51dq5f4WQ8