Kilometers Cycled Today: 112km
Purwakarta to Majalengka
Dream.
Thinking while cycling is like dreaming; the thoughts are stirred up as I speed by, settle, then are left behind. In retrospect, the journey from Purwakarta to Majalengka was my favorite day of riding - climbs, mountains, rice paddies, tree-lined roads, fewer cars. This sort of day is what makes me contemplate cycling across the states.
The roads were bumpy and beautiful.
We stopped at a restaurant at about the top of the climb. I love this picture of the goat herder foregrounded by an array of modern bikes and uniformed female cyclists. Like in many places, cycling is male-dominated.
My Place.
When I started this cycling tour, I wasn't quite sure where I stood. I wasn't signed on as a medic, an assistant coach, a cook, or even as a waterboy. I was just a boy tagging along, unsure whether the meals, snacks, and drinks were open to my taking. I wanted someone to make it clear one way or the other. I was like a leech - was I medicinal or parasitic? This question I dealt with for much of the tour with respect to the coach; a serious and unreadable man. This day I grabbed a bright neon green marshall vest and made myself part of the support team. Essentially, I gave myself a job to trail the back and keep tabs on those having trouble and occasionally signaling traffic to stop or slow down. No one approved or disapproved, so I continued. Somewhere along the way, I became the team joker and kept people as entertained as my confusion and lebay-ness (over-the-top-ness) would allow.
The Ride.
It was hard, yet beautiful. I went with panniers all the way! I'm proud of myself. I've now realized the need for a cross-country bike and not a road bike. Cycling Indonesia on a road bike is definitely possible, but I can foresee a need for lots of repairs en route. The night before I think I passed out with my mouth open so my throat started to kill me and my nose continually ran. Still... I can't emphasize enough how much I liked the day's ride.
The Equipment.
Two corporate sponsors are Eiger outdoor gear and Polygon cycles. Both are Indonesian-made/originated brands. My bike happens to be a Polygon by coincidence. The Srikandi got a whole array of equipment from both companies. The bikes themselves held up relatively well with some gear issues (Shimano gears). I didn't have any of the Eiger equipment, but it was pretty obvious that the panniers had issues. When the panniers weren't fully packed they tended to curl inward towards the tire and sometimes got caught in the spokes. Even given the shortcomings of the Eiger panniers, I think both brands are good and affordable if you're cycling in Indonesia. My experience with Eiger's other outdoor equipment has been decent so far.
The Support Team Expose.
Pictured are David on the left and Ulil on the right. David is a hilarious guy who, I thought, wears swastikas on his motorcycle helmet. He insists they are related to the Hindu/Buddhist symbolism. We were always joking around; I think he made me feel the most comfortable among the support team guys. Ulil is the friendly, but reserved mechanic of the team. He's always willing to help. Those neon green vests they're wearing was what I wore for most of the journey.
Approximate Day's Journey
April 14th, 2011
Days Left to Journey: 45 Days
Training Kilometers Cycled: 252 km
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