Cycling at Pengalengan

In leading up to Wakatobi Trip, I need an exercise to prepare for the long trip. Mawan, the Company Cycling Club Coordinator, asked me to join the cycling exercise at Wayang Windu, Pengalengan West Java. Since I need an exercise I agreed to join the trip. Mawan promised the trip will be fun and there will be no rush. The cycling exercise is organized by Petro Bikers; a club consists of Bikers from all Production Sharing Contract of Oil and Gas Companies in the country.

On December 16 at 1400 hours, we gathered at the car park in front of transport office. Besides Mawan, Iwan the from Engineering Department and also Klaten residence, Selly from Hills, Security Company and Ari from Finance who was later appointed as a photographer also participated in the cycling exercise. Pak Dewo, from Maintenance Badak, joined us later in Bandung as he was on vocation with his family.

We used two company's cars, one 7 seater Serena and a pick up that carry our bicycles. Pak Pri, a senior driver, and Kosim, previously Security, drove the cars. The trip to Pengalengan just south of Bandung took around 4 hours.

The trip was full of laughing and everybody keep on teasing each other. The night before, I was a bit worried with lack of cash so I kept thinking to search for Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) along the trip to Pengalengan. However, I managed to get the cash at the 1st floor of Wisma Mulia just before meeting at the car park. So, when we stopped at the KM 19 to load the food and beverages, I was a bit amazed with the availability of abundance ATM at the highway stoppage. Iwan then warned me to be amazed with sophisticated woman instead of ATM. A long the journey, Selly kept repeating and we are all laughing on the incident.

When we arrived at the Citere Hotel, we went directly a cottage provided for us. There were two rooms, one toilet and a dry kitchen. Selly occupied one of the rooms while the coordinator and Ari took the other. The rest sleep at the lounge. At 2000 hours, there was a briefing provided by Petro Bikers President. Briefing for local terrains and track conditions were given by Sudarmadji, a doctor from Star Energy. He used to bike in the area. His picture taken by Ari was depicted above. He warned us on extremely steep hill conditions and we should watch out for marker along the route.

Later, due to very cold weather at hotel as it was located at the mountain hill, we go around looking for hot beverages. After driving about an hour, we cannot find a trolley that sell Bandrek. We then shop at Alfa Mart for Bandrek and Sekoteng in sachets instead.

The next morning after early breakfast, we took a ride to the new well of Star Energy near the top of a mountain. After a warm up exercise, we set up our bike and take picture of course. The track was maily down hill and very much fun. There are many stoppages whereby we take a lot of photos and drink water.

At 1330 hours we finally arrived at Cibolang and have a lunch. After packing our bikes, we headed home. On the way home, we shop for milk as Pengalengan is very much famous of its milk. We also searched for sekoteng in sachet but could not find any in Alfa Mart. We stop at Kampung Sawah resto, to performed Zhuhur and Ashar prayer together. Then we ate the Sundanese food again as the trip to Jakarta still take approximately another 5 hours.

We arrived at the office car park around 1800 hours feeling exhausted but happy.