I'm back to scouting for our annual charity pub ride.  It's getting difficult to find new and different routes.

first step, though, is to confirm the principal pub sponsor.  If the sponsor changes, we'll inevitably have a different route

Beer sponsor sorted

Proposed route, to check practicality this weekend.

Date agreed.

Now to finalise the runners and riders.

"it's no' a race, Cowboy"

Except for the boat races at the end...

9th September, if you happen to be in KL on the day...

I did my first full route check for this year.  It's a tough route.  For comparison, here is the data for previous years:

 

Year	Pubs	Distance	Elevation	Riders
2014	5	45	874	3
2015	6	42	933	6
2016	6	55	1023	10
2017	6	53.5	1100

 I think we've managed to raise about RM1,000 per rider for the local orphanage.  We're aiming for 10 - 15 riders this year - any more and it will take too long to get served in the pubs.  Also too much risk of people getting lost...

 

This year's route is hard, though - or maybe I'm just less fit than last year.  I'm thinking about taking out some of the hilly detours, at the expense of making the route slightly less varied and interesting.

 

SC

Following a review, we've opted for a shorter 45 km route, which is also slightly less challenging, for the benefit of novices and the chronically unfit, like me.  However, to maintain the excitement and novelty, this year we will be riding clockwise for the first time, and I've added a couple of wacky roundabouts into the mix.  Safety briefing "Just hammer it, fast as you can".  I still need to learn one section of route in the city centre if we want to avoid the worst of the buses.

 

SC

The Pubcycle ride went as well as could be hoped. Sid's Pubs were extremely hospitable, we had eleven riders, and we managed to lose the rescue truck at least twice.  I think we raised about 100K baht equivalent for the orphanage - we'll go along on 1st October to hand over the money