Days Left to Journey: 5 Days
Polygon Cycles.
Sponsorship from Polygon Cycle rocks! Our bikes are part of their 2012 touring series. Yes, we got future models 6 months in advance! They even offered to service our bikes at their Roda Link bike shops along the way. I’m tempted to just take a bat to my bike so I can take advantage of the service – I definitely will not though! I can’t wait to take these babies out onto the road and see how they ride. We haven’t set them up yet and our first ride will be this Friday, May 19th 2011 in Jakarta for a 40km fun bike night ride. It starts at 7:00pm from the West Gate of Daya Monas and will end at Gate One in Senayan. It's free of charge, just bring your bike and your energy. The route is: Monas - Thamrin - HI - Sudirman - Putar Bunderan Senayan - Pintu Satu Senayan. This event is hosted by Bike2Work and supported by Polygon. Come and join! I should be there if I can retrieve my passport AND not get stuck in traffic. I’m giving myself 4 hours to get there. For those of you who don’t know Jakarta traffic, 4km an hour is about average on Fridays. If only I could strap my suitcases to my back and hop on my bike. Heather may be there depending on how the transportation flow is from Surabaya for a job interview (good luck). Mas Wang will be there for sure.
I rode a Polygon mountain bike during the Srikand tour from Jakarta to Jepara. Simply changing the tires allowed me to ride the whole way without much trouble. The only trouble I had was a sudden flat tire from using an older tube and needing some slight adjustments after hitting countless potholes. I actually borrowed the bike from a friend and I think it was already a couple years old. I’ve got high hopes for these new bikes, but of course they’ll need to be worked in a bit.
Short ETA Reflection.
I’ve lost track of the days. Although I’m not sure about the chronology of events in the last week, I remember clearly all the great memories in the last week. Dinner with some dear students and teachers, laughs, and some teasing to cover up the sadness of parting. Great food with the Bogor Hash House Harriers; I will forever yearn to hash in Bogor. A new badminton racquet, but I was beat soundly. Arriving 4 hours late to my last night of Pencak Silat because of Jakarta traffic and chaotic trains. Eating some great homemade food. Getting tackled by the boys then thrown into the air a few times. Student plays and so many pictures. Goodbyes are hard. Should we go cold turkey or drift away after saying goodbye so many times it almost becomes campy? Do we leave on a high note or do we drift away like last night’s dream? I’ll miss you SMA Dwi Warna, Parung, Duren Maker, and Bogor – I spent 8 months with you and you will stay in my life to remain unchanged in my memories until I return again.
Plug-Chug-Chug.
Now, it’s time to prepare for the ride! Please donate if you can for the organizations we will support. Remember none of the money goes to our cycling, and all the money goes to Indonesians working to improve their communities. A couple students at SMA Dwi Warna let me know that BikeJava motivated them to put their social project into action. They are working to build libraries in Papua and other parts of Indonesia with a shortage of educational materials. Last I saw them they had big smiles on their faces going from class to class to ask for book and/or money donations. I saw a multitude of colorful bills in their box. Good luck girls!
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