Merdeka Folding Bike Touring, Klang to Langkawi: Prologue

The original touring plan...

Decided to attempt the touring trip during the long week holiday in Malaysia (which both Hari Raya Puasa & Merdeka Day celebrated in that particular week, and apply for leaves). With a total of 8 days of holiday, suddenly cycling from Klang to Penang/Langkawi look feasible. Rough-estimate distance from Klang to Penang is slightly more than 380km, and further 100km from Penang to Langkawi via jetty from Kuala Kedah.

Preparation have never feel so rush, especially when you have only 3 months of preparation. And even worst is that when I start planning for this touring trip, I don't even have my folding bike yet =P

Originally I bought the Dahon Vitesse P18 folding bike just mainly for bike commute, somehow I decided to use this bike for touring. Managed to receive it by mid-July from pre-ordering. Now as for equipping the bike for touring...

First of my purchase is the Handlebar-mounted bag. The Lotus SH-8404R, not only have a large compartment, it also have the map pocket, front pocket, top pocket (in between the map pocket & large compartment), the bottle holder & the mesh side pocket.

One problem about this handlebar-mount bag is that it occupy the most of the handlebar, which block the front light. To counter it, I purchased the Minoura Space Grip SG-100N, install it on the vertical steering column, just below the handlebar-mount bag.

As for the rear rack I ordered the Dahon Traveller Rack (Rear). And it even came with the Luggage Strap. Pity it didn't come with Dahon Premium Rear Light I have hope for...

As for the pannier bag, the shop managed to find the affordable pannier bag from Vietnam. Not too big and not too small. Just nice for the light touring usage.

It is the separate pannier bag design with bit of weather-proof capability.

The complete setup of my folding bike, ready for touring... I hope.

My equipment list.

2 set of cycling attire
2 set of normal wear
1 cloth bag
2 bottles
2 socks
1 spare pump
1 slipper
1 Bell X-ray helmet
1 Shimano cycling shoe
1 bicycle lock
1 towel
2 front light (with 1 charger)
1 duct tape
Several zip-lock plastic bags
2 spare tube
1 spare tyre (folded)
2 bungie cord
Topeak Multi-tool
1 small swiss army knife
1 box of tyre patch
1 stow bag
1 pack of disposable toilet seat cover
Notebook & pen
3 removable chain-link
1 point-and-shoot camera with HD video recording (with one spare battery)
1 mobile phone
Garmin handheld GPS

Personal hygiene kit (Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, disposable razor)

Medical kit (Panadols, anti-diarrhea pills, mini bandage)

Cooking kit (Mess-tin, metal cooker, 8 tablet of solid fuel, lighter)
1 maggie mee
2 sneaker bar

Water purification pills

One thermal cup

6 packets of Japanese green tea

Weight Info:
Rider: 77kg
Bike with rear rack: 12.58kg
Handlebar bag (packed): 2.2kg
Left pannier bag (packed): 4.8kg
Right pannier bag (packed): 3.6kg
Total weight (rider & loaded bike): 77kg + 23.18kg

And now... to my very first self-supported touring ride!!! Hope everything will turn out all right =S

2nd day of bike commute

Today managed to wake up early (despite me an anti-morning person), but have to challenge my body whose is still in sleeping mode. By the time I prep myself for the ride, I have wasted one hour. Gonna need to speed thing up.

Did a 20km ride trying out different route. But today it was kinda a single-speed ride, despite having 9 speed cassette. The RD (Rear Derailleur) keep jumping around like a monkey, and I could only use the smallest cog. To make thing worst, there was a lot of headwind. To reward myself, I went for breakfast (when the last time I have a proper breakfast...hmmmmm)

After breakfast, took another long-way round to cycle back to the workplace. Was tinkering my seatpost when I spot this. Hmmmm.... Could this be the reason why my RD keep shifting around like it have it own mind? Later will bring it to the bike shop and rectify it. Let see if I can progress into a medium distance riding in next few days or so.....